21-Nov-2016, 15:47
(21-Nov-2016, 15:03)Rufus McDufus Wrote: Well... I was wrong! the D220Pro is *significantly* better. Firstly addition detail, bigger soundstage (almost as if the left-right separation seems more distinct), and everything is more in focus so easier to follow.
That sounds very much like what I heard going from 400 > 440.
(21-Nov-2016, 15:03)Rufus McDufus Wrote: What I was really interested in, as I've always felt the D200 was a little lacking in power/grip for my Raidho C-1.1s, was how it would perform with the extra 10% power. I found the 170->200 upgrade in firmware a little underwhelming on the D200 and couldn't hear much of a difference. The D220Pro however, despite being only 10% more power, seems to have the speakers well and truly under control and it's transformed things. I'm wondering if the efficiency is improved because that extra 10% seems to be making a big difference. The only snag is it's made me want more power!
I very much doubt the extra power is responsible for the improved sound, when I went from 200 to 400 there was a real improvement in grip, but it sounds in retrospect like brute force was being used to try and solve a problem, but the pro upgrade sounds like much better engineering that fixes the underlying problem. I'm slightly tempted to see what how a 220 sounds like in my system, but I know I cannot be bothered to do this currently.
Roon, Rega P9 + Dynavector XX2Mk2 > 440 Pro > Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolution