The DAC changed a few times, MSB, Aqua, MSB. The preamp was Spectral. Everything is through an Equi=tech. MIT cables w/ Spectral, with the VAC were MT cable and something else, different times. I have no idea what the server was, something nice.
The Spectrals just were not as involving. There was nothing technically wrong with them. But the VAC 450 has a little tube magic that brings a pleasure factor into the equation. I think tube linearity helps with vocals, too. The VAC's are not annoyingly juicy, but they have a little bit. While my sensibilities tell me "it's not real!" I nonetheless enjoyed them. The CH M1 is very adjustable. The feedback is kind of a toss up because the more you crank it, the better some things sound, but not others. The bass is more natural without it, but not quiet as articulate - one example among several. But overall it is simply more harmonically rich than the Spectrals at any setting, which really pushes the experience into something more involving that keeps you selecting tunes.
The Spectrals just were not as involving. There was nothing technically wrong with them. But the VAC 450 has a little tube magic that brings a pleasure factor into the equation. I think tube linearity helps with vocals, too. The VAC's are not annoyingly juicy, but they have a little bit. While my sensibilities tell me "it's not real!" I nonetheless enjoyed them. The CH M1 is very adjustable. The feedback is kind of a toss up because the more you crank it, the better some things sound, but not others. The bass is more natural without it, but not quiet as articulate - one example among several. But overall it is simply more harmonically rich than the Spectrals at any setting, which really pushes the experience into something more involving that keeps you selecting tunes.