It just might not be your flavor. I have the same DAC and love it. I also have the Teddy Pardo power supply and in my system it was a substantial improvement, fuller sound, better and extended control on the bottom end and the top end definitely more polite.
I’m guessing with your JVC as a transport you are going coax out to the RME, but what is the cable? Are you also going coax out of your Node? If you’re using the stock power cord on the switch supply that came with the RME, your first step should be to get a better power cord as it helps.
I agree it is a complex piece but manageable to learn, but that being said I run my with everything fix, the volume is fixed, no tone controls or EQ and I run mine on the sharp filter and find it not at all dry, fatiguing, or lifeless but has great PRAT. With the Teddy Pardo power supply, among cables on the RME that cost significantly more than the DAC, I run mine direct to my amp bypassing a really good, no, great tube preamp I also own. I also run balance out of the RME.
To recap, what’s digital cable are you using? The RME is very revealing so it might be tattling on your cable or source. What are you using for a power cord? If stock, spend $150 and get a better cord because it will improve things. You mentioned you find it complex; have you gone in the settings and messed with the tone controls or EQ and now have it all whacked out? If your not running it direct to your amp, then bypass and set everything to direct and run it only as a DAC. Lastly what filter are you using?
Good luck
I’m guessing with your JVC as a transport you are going coax out to the RME, but what is the cable? Are you also going coax out of your Node? If you’re using the stock power cord on the switch supply that came with the RME, your first step should be to get a better power cord as it helps.
I agree it is a complex piece but manageable to learn, but that being said I run my with everything fix, the volume is fixed, no tone controls or EQ and I run mine on the sharp filter and find it not at all dry, fatiguing, or lifeless but has great PRAT. With the Teddy Pardo power supply, among cables on the RME that cost significantly more than the DAC, I run mine direct to my amp bypassing a really good, no, great tube preamp I also own. I also run balance out of the RME.
To recap, what’s digital cable are you using? The RME is very revealing so it might be tattling on your cable or source. What are you using for a power cord? If stock, spend $150 and get a better cord because it will improve things. You mentioned you find it complex; have you gone in the settings and messed with the tone controls or EQ and now have it all whacked out? If your not running it direct to your amp, then bypass and set everything to direct and run it only as a DAC. Lastly what filter are you using?
Good luck