New equipment

I like the destination too.
After my little (or big) diversion I think I’m there. (again!)

@rvpiano 

😊⛵️🏝

The human condition. See image below.

Satisfaction is the dotted line. "Pain" could just mean "frustration" or "dissatisfaction."

https://preview.redd.it/9ov7lu80dod21.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=e013b17348772fb5f2470fdb29de380bf9ee9687

That's why it's important to make one change at a time and if at all possible kept the component you are replacing until you are sure.   

I just bought a new DAC.   At the dealer and initially I liked it.   Then I listened to it with all types of music and was really enjoying it and then for what ever reason my brain was at odds with my ears.  Was this Non Oversampling DAC  tube really outperforming something with much better specs?  

Fortunately I connected the original DAC and did some comparisons.   The new DAC is clearly better and can be heard when switching between the two.  They are definitely different presentations.   I will trade a little detail for a lot of texture and tone any day. 

Sounds like new equipment syndrome. Initial insertion inherently brings on analytical mode of listening. Generally, we give new item at least 100 hours for burn in or adjustment of perceptions, could be more hours in some cases. We then, over time, almost imperceptibly fall into music lover mode, or we can't seem to get back there. New piece stays on one hand, out the door on the other.

Sometimes, in thinking about this, I wonder about all the cast offs people sell on used market, obviously, replacements bettered the item being sold. Usually, I like to ask what replaced item sold, appearance of lateral move can be bewildering, but then some people like to churn equipment.