@tomthiel Right, I switched back to the “normal” configuration one week ago Tuesday and listened over the weekend. It sounded similar: open, clear and relaxed. One conclusion is that my DAC must have needed >500 hours to fully break in. But I do think the parallel configuration sounds just a bit more more relaxed and open. I had the thought to compare side by side in mono like I did during the XO work but haven’t been motivated enough to do that. One issue with the parallel configuration is that the cables are more elevated off the floor and for more of their run. My right channel is near the back door and house guests occasionally kick the cables off their risers even in the normal configuration.
But, hey, no house guests during a pandemic! I’ll probably try the parallel configuration one more time. It did seem magical even if I’m now uncertain it made more than a small difference.
