Peter, effects "snapping into place" is better described as a speeding up of the shift in cognitive ease, when the improvement stops 'shouting' at me and then becomes a natural part of the soundscape.
I have to say that improvements which significantly change the perception of bass, normally a lightening of such, cause quite a mental challenge in working out whether it is indeed an improvement or a loss of quality. When I in the past installed a BAT phono stage I got a big increase in what I thought was bass, but soon became aware was an increase in effect of bloat and euphonic low frequency colourations. Not a keeper.
Conversely, trying Symposium isolation esp under my spkrs seemed to strip out a whole strata of bass impact, very much like my active i4 demo, but further listening reveals more information, incisive and precise. In fact the lower frequencies are all there, but they're not leaking into the mids to colour the whole sound.
So much so, I've been able to turn up the volume on the Sub bass drivers of my Zu Definitions 4 spkrs, and am getting more accurate and extended bass performance, really potent kick drum esp, with no interference higher up.
But even now, this is getting some getting used to.
I have to say that improvements which significantly change the perception of bass, normally a lightening of such, cause quite a mental challenge in working out whether it is indeed an improvement or a loss of quality. When I in the past installed a BAT phono stage I got a big increase in what I thought was bass, but soon became aware was an increase in effect of bloat and euphonic low frequency colourations. Not a keeper.
Conversely, trying Symposium isolation esp under my spkrs seemed to strip out a whole strata of bass impact, very much like my active i4 demo, but further listening reveals more information, incisive and precise. In fact the lower frequencies are all there, but they're not leaking into the mids to colour the whole sound.
So much so, I've been able to turn up the volume on the Sub bass drivers of my Zu Definitions 4 spkrs, and am getting more accurate and extended bass performance, really potent kick drum esp, with no interference higher up.
But even now, this is getting some getting used to.