New firmware 8.1.3

[wikeeboy]

Sorry for being a bit Lazy today and not reading all of this thread first (been too busy exploring new music with Roon/Tidal), but can anyone say how this compares to 7.1.1?

My replacement unit had come back to me with firmware 7.1.2 installed.  No idea what that is really, but I found after a couple of days listening I had a bit of ringing ears and a headache.  It had seemed a bit aggressive in the treble, albeit very detailed, and I couldnt get it quite right even with EQ.  So I went back to 7.1.1 which is what I'd stuck with before, but I'd forgotten all about the firmware trials as I hadn't used it for so long.  Anyway, things are instantly better to these ears.  More natural.  Better (more) bass.  I think I was compensating to get the bass levels and sound to what I was used to by listening louder.  Music seems so relaxed by comparison now.  Perhaps a bit less detail, but so much nicer to listen to.

I'd be very interested to hear from anyone else that loves (or loved) 7.1.1 as to whether the latest is more along those lines or further away?

Install 7,1,3 Beta and use it with config file You have now with 7.1.1.

Than compare it with 8,1,3 Beta

These two firmwares are IMO the most musical ones.

I'd already ruled out 7.1.3 in my previous listening.
So I plumped straight for 8.1.3beta downloaded from here.

That lasted about 5 mins, maybe less, and I was straight back to 7.1.1.  It just seemed brighter and bass-shy and more grating.

I guess 7.1.1 is my thing and where I'll be for the forceable future - which is fine by me, so far all the new features are things I don't use. Perhaps its my source, or my hearing, or my system or all those things, but 7.1.1 is the only one thats not felt fatiguing and a bit harsh.  But then as I always say, in my setup I feel I'm already running on that line of things a bit too bright or borderline….

I've found the same as you. My system is very open, transparent and revealing and since moving to the 8's the sound has stopped me from listening for extended sessions. It's too fatiguing for me.

I swapped back to 7.1.1 and the sound is much more enjoyable. 8.1.3 seems to place too much emphasis on the top end.

The problem I have now though is my SAM profile is V8 only so I can't use SAM with 7.1.1. With SAM enabled in V8 my speakers are significantly more weighty in the bottom end and the greater extension is mightily impressive. Unfortunately I can't have the best of both worlds at the moment.