@sirnui It’s still good. I haven’t actually done much a/b comparisons, tbh, just letting the music flow lately, and honestly I’ve been using different headphones than what I’m used to for past week or so, so hard to tell. I did do a blind a/b test with my father, I let him hear A) wall power, then B) battery power, then a random power source A or B and he tried to discern which power source it was. Results were inconclusive, but he swore that wall power sounded more digital and battery power sounded more analogue, that was the basis of most of his statements.
One day recently my battery wasn’t used much so I didn’t charge it overnight, I left my DAC idling at about 20W all night and the next day I used the rig a bit. Well the battery died, I had to use wall power for the first time in a while and it sounded pretty good, but was a bit grungy sounding to me, like the signal was muddled with noise, less realistic. As soon as I got back to battery power it seemed more clear and bold with better attack.
The Giandel is good, it takes my rig to that next level where I’ve yet to feel the upgradeitis condition. Just sounds good.
I do NOT have any type of power conditioner after the inverter. I do have some aftermarket power cables, but they are DIY. Basically the build is AudioQuest Mistral bulk wire with Rhodium plated Viborg connectors for male and female. They made a small difference in the sound for me, more for ease of mind than anything else.