Intriguing. Jim’s experience is almost 180 the opposite of mine. And I wonder if a large part of this differential perception may relate to our transducers. In my headphones, I have several electrostats, ribbon, and planar transducers, all known for their detail. To my ears, the MSB Select can sound hyper-detailed (I often use the word “ruthless” to describe it)—but less so through the Trafomatic Primavera amp and Susvara headphone than through the T2 amp and Stax 009S—while the Vivaldi stack seems to have a more organic wholeness to it (for want of a better term). The Vivaldi is driving the Legacy Valor speaker system, and there simply is not a headphone that can compete with it, including the Warwick APERIO, Senn Orpheus, and Hifiman Shangri-La. there really is no direct comparison possible for me between the two DACs.
Before anyone asks, I have never swapped the Select and Vivaldi between the systems. Jim’s observation about cables is one reason, but the truth is I am not interested, because I am so happy with both exactly where they are. Teddy Roosevelt once observed, in a completely different context and with different meaning that “comparison is the thief of joy.” While his admonishment was oriented toward how to live life, I have often found it very apt in this hobby or any other where one is besieged with equipment choices. Forget about anyone else’s system that we might admire—“man, those Von Schweikert Ultras at $300k put my Valors to shame”—we can easily drive ourselves crazy inside our own homes just comparing cables or DACs or turntables, speakers, etc., and robbing ourselves of musical joy in the process. Both the Vivaldi and Select are exquisite. They are not the same, and yet they are almost not different. Not to trivialize parenting, but like my four daughters, who are all distinct, remarkable individuals and magically alike.