Teajay, while this topic has run it's course, it helped me arrive at a sound that surpasses my wildest expectations. I have heard a wide number of Audio Note systems. My own system's DACs have been Audio Note for years.
I did not care for the Audio Note transports. I heard spacial distortion that displeased me. I used PSA Lambda successfully for a couple years. The combination was very good. It was not the last word on detail, or frequency extension, as, you pointed out.
For my DAC, I stuck with my Audio Note while adding cutting edge diodes. these diodes pass on the full array of digital information, hidden by the usual AN diodes. I can't remember if I read it here or somewhere else, anyway, I had the pleasure of finding the 47 Lab site. Just reading their philosophy, I became a devoted advocate for their transports. The 47 lab DAC, in conjunction with their transport, was lovely, true toned, an is the ultimate in musicality IMO.
On the other hand, the 47 Lab transport used with my Audio Note * it became a musical event producing a sound I had not dreamed possible. It gives full expression including PRAT, ultimate extension, decay to black, alarming dynamics, and a spritely micro-dynamic play that is most satisfying in piano solos.
bugles squeal, violins sweetly sear, cymbals crash, clang, and ring, Giant drum skins hit have that soft whack, a quick ripple crack, then a deep chested boom.
Singers are presented forward and are so lovingly living. The tiniest inflection can be heard, but never does detail trump realism. The highs are exquisitely fine. Bass is fully expressed, remaining a musical part of a musical whole in harmony.
It goes one important step further, though. The music as a wonderful flow. Harmonies, positional seating, roll off in a way only the best Vinyl systems can approach.
My system eschews all oversampling, upsampling, and filters. They all sound contrived on my system. I have not heard some of the highest brands you love. I would like to give them a try, though I hold little hope for them.
I have found every components must be designed to do the least amount of harm to the music signal. Every time the signal is switched, filtered, made to jump hoops, the more the signal looses bits and pieces.
......
..
I did not care for the Audio Note transports. I heard spacial distortion that displeased me. I used PSA Lambda successfully for a couple years. The combination was very good. It was not the last word on detail, or frequency extension, as, you pointed out.
For my DAC, I stuck with my Audio Note while adding cutting edge diodes. these diodes pass on the full array of digital information, hidden by the usual AN diodes. I can't remember if I read it here or somewhere else, anyway, I had the pleasure of finding the 47 Lab site. Just reading their philosophy, I became a devoted advocate for their transports. The 47 lab DAC, in conjunction with their transport, was lovely, true toned, an is the ultimate in musicality IMO.
On the other hand, the 47 Lab transport used with my Audio Note * it became a musical event producing a sound I had not dreamed possible. It gives full expression including PRAT, ultimate extension, decay to black, alarming dynamics, and a spritely micro-dynamic play that is most satisfying in piano solos.
bugles squeal, violins sweetly sear, cymbals crash, clang, and ring, Giant drum skins hit have that soft whack, a quick ripple crack, then a deep chested boom.
Singers are presented forward and are so lovingly living. The tiniest inflection can be heard, but never does detail trump realism. The highs are exquisitely fine. Bass is fully expressed, remaining a musical part of a musical whole in harmony.
It goes one important step further, though. The music as a wonderful flow. Harmonies, positional seating, roll off in a way only the best Vinyl systems can approach.
My system eschews all oversampling, upsampling, and filters. They all sound contrived on my system. I have not heard some of the highest brands you love. I would like to give them a try, though I hold little hope for them.
I have found every components must be designed to do the least amount of harm to the music signal. Every time the signal is switched, filtered, made to jump hoops, the more the signal looses bits and pieces.
......
..