from the first note, it's a different level of product. another realm.
i've just spent 3 hours straight listening since dinner, and an hour prior. it's been turned on since about 3pm today. the word that comes to mind is 'complete'. it's always the word i used to explain how analog compares to digital. digital has been accurate but by degrees not complete....even the Wadax. before. this step is all the way to complete. tonality is fully fleshed out, but with textures and nuance along with it. no warming over here, just more meat on the bones. and bass, bass, bass. not "demo wow" bass but musically complimentary and immersive bass. interesting how the extra push to the small bits wakes up the music with familiar cuts. and the degree of flow and propulsion is remarkable. and nothing flat or lacking a sense of space or air. the music is organic and has substance. i'm hearing deeper into vocals and every instrument. more harmonics, more leading edge agility and overtones. there is a spooky 'live-ness' on many cuts. 'alive'. vocals 'pop'. listened to a few golden age jazz cuts and the energy from the horns and pianos is like vinyl, the grain less and projected energy and lively soundstage is vinyl like.
and i know what vinyl like is.
the grip and authority to the music adds to the level of realism. digital large orchestral and chamber music, my first love and most listened to music, is now on another planet from where it was yesterday. as great as the Wadax has been doing that stuff, it pales to what i'm now hearing.
my guess at how this can happen is that Wadax has already done the hardest work by correcting digital distortion with their look forward correction, cleaned up the server/dac interface with the Akasa interface, and brought superior over-the-top execution and single brand synergy. now they bring superior power to light the fire to the music. just my mind trying to make sense of what i'm hearing. better power is just part of the equation.
still have to install my footers. and give me a few weeks to listen to some vinyl and spend more time. i'm gone Tuesday to Alaska for a week, when back i'll be doing some vinyl compares. see how this shakes out.
agree. mightily rewarding indeed.