Caesar,
Can you explain what you mean by "snappiness of PCM"? IMHO the snappiness of DSD in the Vivaldi is quite similar to that of the PCM. I can even add that particularly for the Aliavox dual layer hybrid CD/SACD recordings the SACD is "snappier" - much more energetic and livelier because it sounds very natural and with better transients. IMHO jazz and blues sound great in DSD!
I don't think I haven heard the Vivaldi 2.0, so maybe it matches my taste, unlike other DSD DACs I have heard. But, unfortunately, every dac that converts the signal to dsd has left me me wanting PCM (even despite the occasional glare of that medium!) ...
I know a recording engineer who has been doing it for 30+ years. He ripped the same albums to pcm 192/24 and dsd using $250K of equipment. Dsd sounded overly smooth to me, lacking the dynamic “snappiness” and being overly harmonically rich, soft, gentle, and smooth. Honestly, I felt bored.
(But just because I say that, doesn’t mean that it should take pleasure away from what others enjoy… I'm not trying to offend anyone, but just share experiences. It is all taste after all, so there’s no point arguing about what we like better or worse…)
In contrast, what I enjoyed about pcm on those professionally done vinyl rips - generally - was bottom end foundation was noticeably muscular and deep. Drums were punchy and detailed, bass line was thick, deep, and driving – just like in my favorite bars…in other words, the rhythm section sounded strong and stable - just right to what I am used to in my live clubs.
Also, the PCM rips had better images in space and less homogenization (possibly due to apodizing filters that guys like meridian and ayre have been championing).
I am not an audio writer, and even the best ones have trouble describing experiences...I wish we could transport into the same room so we can actually compare in person, but I hope that helps a little bit...