Now if we want a better TRANSLATION of the specific acoustic trade-off conditions in some specific music recording, we must create a room able to optimally make possible this translation , nevermind the relative qualitative variability of the gear components ... It is acoustics domain i spoke about ...
The gear pieces are more or less optimal for each one of us to convey this recording trade off choices as an analog/digital information processed line for sure, gear matter for sure , but they will not beat the room conditions for this acoustic TRANSLATION from the living recording Hall or studio into the acoustic conditions of your room...Acoustic room conditions change impact way more than a dac change in most case..
TIMBRE is first and last an acoustic concept nor a gear engineeering concept...
Then buying a tube pre-amp to improve "colors" or "balance" between components is notenough for solving the acoustic problem about tonal color perception from recording playback in YOUR ROOM for your ears... Buying a tube pre-amp is only good to improve the performance of your system but in the SAME room acoustic condition...Upgrading may be not always the solution...Acoustics rules nevermind the level and price of your system...This does not means that acoustic improvement will compensate for bad gear design , it means that gear design will NEVER replace acoustics defects ..