Doing more tape transfers in the studio today and had a moment to compare stock (modified?) Studer electronics against the Doshi.
First the biggest difference I heard was noise... or lack thereof in the Doshi. I could turn the volume up to max and just hear a whisper in the speakers. With the Studer electronics at max volume I head noise, sounding like pink noise, about 12-15 dB higher than the Doshi.
Playing music though the Studer electronics is sometimes a little big and bloated. It's certainly fat with a big bottem end, but sometimes makes it feel sluggish. It certainly sounds good and you can hear all the good properties that we all hear with tape. Very soothing.
With the Doshi, everything seem to be a little tighter. Transiets are a little snappier, no more sluggish feeling. Guess audiophiles call that PRAT.
Mids are a little crispier and you can clearly hear and understand vocals. Playing Dylan or Petty, sometimes they slur their speach, though with the Doshi you can make out what they're actually saying.
Highs are clear as a bell... .literally. Sometimes with the stock electronics, cymbals, bells and other percussion get a little washed out, especially with multiple hits. With the Doshi, each strike is clearly delineated.
Now back to your Saturday afternoon festivities!