Romulus CD player--

Grannyring,

Unfortunately, your "Signature" upgrade doesn't allow you to hear how good a Signature Romulus/Pandora sounds with DSD files.

BTW, a Romulus/Pandora with the VC needs more than just the .22uf coupling caps.

I don't use a computer and DSD is not important to me at all. Yes, the 12
caps and 4 resistors do make a significant improvement over stock.
Suggest this be done to stock players for better music!

I would never go without a great preamp so the volume would be a waste
for me and many others. I have tried direct and passives so many times
and they never matched the full scale authority, body, richness of tone, and
meatiness of my tubed preamp.

I will report back after the Sistrum stand as I know from experience it will
bring more musicality to the Romulus.

"I would never go without a great preamp so the volume would be a waste."

Since your Romulus doesn't have a VC, how do you know?

I don't care what preamp you're using, less is more.

Kana, we disagree on this. No problem as we all have different tastes.

BTW the Signature version does not have to come with volume. One can have a Sig version with no VC. One can send a non VC unit in and have the Sig upgrade done.

I have owned many top end players with built in volume and no go in the end. More simple, as you say, does not automatically equal better sound. I suppose your reasoning would make an integrated amp, or better yet a receiver with dac the top of the audio chain:-)

Grannyring, You know I am a fan of the Romulas, maybe you have not found the best direct to amp set-up yet, look at Mattnshilp's thread, The absolute best for top tier redbook dac, you will see Guidocorona sold the Top model Roland pre-amp to use the Roland Aeris dac with Volume control to use straight to his amp, I wonder why he did that?, I understand what may work for him may not work for you, Guidocorna may be on to something.