One other thing worth checking is the polarity of your power cord. On my Heisenbergs the Phase or positive connection is on the right hand side of the IEC inlet. (earth pin on top) It should be on the left according to the IEC standard. Looking at photographs it also appears to be the wrong way...
The Mscaler definitely is worth the investment. It takes good recordings to another level, but also really improves poor recordings, making them much more natural and enjoyable.
Chord Dave, Mscaler and intel NUC running Roon Rock with optical connections and separate digital and analogue power supplies. Rob Watts is the only person doing digital correctly imho. The Dave and Mscaler use a long tap length reconstruction digital filter to reproduce transients correctly...
I have only compared the Dave direct to the Heisenbergs with the Stern and Audionet Planck. Speakers were Focal Grande Utopia EM. There was no comparison. The Stern and Planck were bright and fatiguing the Dave was superb. Alive, incredible musicality and prat, one of best listening sessions...
Thanks. No, I have no plans to add the Stern. I have no analogue sources so do not need it. Dave has no problems driving the Heisenbergs direct and has a transparent digital volume control. I don't agree that it would be a substantial upgrade. It would entail considerable additional expenditure...
I have Heisenbergs and Borresen 05s, driven direct by a Chord Dave and Mscaler and the system is really incredible, natural, effortless and really musical.
I heard the MSB amps at the High End show in Munich with Magico M6 speakers and the Select DAC. The were way too smooth and lacked dynamics IMHO. The signal path also appeared to be a very complicated. The line input appeared to be on a separate circuit board to the power amp section. These were...