Digital source was stock Jerome pwr supply > stock Squeezebox Touch w/ Soundcheck mods (oxymoron I guess) >Black Cat Veloce digital cable that I can't even tell you without looking if it's into the RCA or BNC of the DAC.
After more critical listening to a variety of music I think I'd like to have a little more snap from the Dexa'd dac. More bite to the snare drum.
I'm not sure that the Dexas will be the best choice for everyone's system, after hearing what op-amp rolling did to my previous EE original dac (Want smoother and more luxurious? Add an OPA627; want more zing? Add LME 49710/20 (IIRC) etc.).
From what I've heard from others, Pete's system is dynamic as heck and so I can see the Dexa dac working perfectly for him. In my system I am usually trying to add some more life w/out getting a too aggressive sound - also my room is pretty dead so what my speakers put out is pretty much what I get. Sometimes the sound kinda gets "stuck" in my speakers - like I want it to sound like it's easier for the sound to jump out of them - not a problem Pete has on his million db sensitive horns
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Tubes vs SS, Robin? I guess I'm biased, having liked the SS of my original so much more than the 3-4 tubes I tried in it. Probably explainable by my system description above. Problem is if I add too much spice to the system, some music gets a bit too aggressive and I'd rather have a few more cuts be too smooth than a few cuts be too aggressive. But I still want some jump factor too. Picky picky...
-Mike