Just another vote of confidence I guess... I've been through a lot of components (including dacs) at various price ranges and I think the Gumby is one of the most musically fulfilling components I've had... and has been around in an otherwise volatile system for 2 yrs.
But I hear you, because I've heard the Gumby in setups where it seemed just a little better than a dac a third its price... so it does require a resolving system to come to life. I second the suggestion to try a different source (sms-200, etc)... you might be surprised at how much music is being left on the table by a computer source (I was!)
Fwiw I'm currently running the gumby w/ tube pre and power... Modwright LS 36.5 and Rogue M180s, both of which are pretty neutral and quite resolving for tubes. Given the gumby's personality, the end result is detailed, clean, very slightly warm, and very revealing of virtually any change in the system.
It does need to be left powered on all the time to sound right, but you probably figured that out. At any rate, I hope it sheds a little light on the potential for the gumby, and hope you enjoy it.
But I hear you, because I've heard the Gumby in setups where it seemed just a little better than a dac a third its price... so it does require a resolving system to come to life. I second the suggestion to try a different source (sms-200, etc)... you might be surprised at how much music is being left on the table by a computer source (I was!)
Fwiw I'm currently running the gumby w/ tube pre and power... Modwright LS 36.5 and Rogue M180s, both of which are pretty neutral and quite resolving for tubes. Given the gumby's personality, the end result is detailed, clean, very slightly warm, and very revealing of virtually any change in the system.
It does need to be left powered on all the time to sound right, but you probably figured that out. At any rate, I hope it sheds a little light on the potential for the gumby, and hope you enjoy it.