After sitting and listening for the past few hours, I can honestly say I made the right upgrade choice. Wow!
Dimensionality is the first thing that stands out with the G1 vs the CXN V2. The G1 just has a larger “space” that it operates in. There’s more detail retrieval beyond the physical placement of the loudspeakers, stretching out beyond the side walls and rear (front) wall behind the Maggies. Instruments and vocals within the larger space are more solid and palpable.
There’s more treble energy and air with the G1, giving the presence of a more open sound stage, which in turn helps out in the midrange clarity, especially with vocals. However, with that extra energy and air comes a very clean, refined treble. There’s zero hint of edginess or grain. It’s quite unreal as I have never heard this type of performance from my system before.
Oh, and just as a test, for the very first time ever, I bypassed the preamp and connected the G1 directly to the amp (running balanced of course). I did this about an hour after I was listening to it through the preamp. I then ran it direct to the amp for about another hour and half or so. To my surprise, the system didn’t sound as good. Some of the vibrance, refined top end, impact and dimensionality had vanished. I was not expecting that!
That says quite a bit for the little Quad Artera preamp. Then again, when I first got that Quad preamp, it ran circles around the Schiit Freya+ that it replaced. But still, for the Quad to have that kind of impact on the system between the G1 and amp, to me is quite impressive indeed.