Upgrading to Phantom Gold?

[Jean-Claude]

Self-justification is strong in us who spends more than a few quid on whatever our hobbies are..

 I agree, and that's why yesterday, when I installed two Golds one year bang on after two Sivers (Christmas demands it) I choosed to first listen to the same track (Beatles' "Because" a cappella remix version from "Love" compilation), just to have a chance to compare two first impressions. I admit it was more a sort of ritual than laboratory test condition but I didn't find another way to try a first comparison. Me and my wife sat at the same place to listen to it, and what happened was not expected at all. We've listened to that song a million times since it was released but for the first time we both had tears in our eyes at the end of the track, looking at each other without a wordcoming out of our mouth ! And we are not the kind to easily shed a tear. Of course, I'll need much more to make me a solid opinion, but that first day with Golds was very exciting. The common point to my first listenings* is enhanced presence, better spatial precision, very distinctive trebbles and slightly distinctive bass improvements, with, as a result, the sensation of an increased body media (vs strictly ears) use in the final perception.

(*) I listen to blues, jazz & rock (classic and alternative) mostly.