Firmware 12.3.0 + DOS 2.2.2

[David A]

Of course.

But the point is, in terms of listening alone, it’s not always obvious which is the case - particularly where subtle changes are ‘heard’.

I hear changes in my system often. Is it the mains quality, atmospheric pressure, ear sensitivity, mood, tiredness, or some other physical factor that has changed? Or completely imagined? Who knows.

Just to be clear I don’t have the CI so haven’t heard any of those firmwares. But I do recall hearing non-Pro firmware differences in the era when Devialet actually released them. Looking back I wonder how much was really there, and whether I could pick the different versions out under controlled conditions. In general it always kind of sounded the same over prolonged periods.

I am in total agreement with you. It can be really hard to know whether some differences exist.

My approach these days if it's a small difference or I'm in doubt in any way about whether a change is for the good or not is simply to live with the change for some time, a couple of days or a week or so if possible and then to swap back. If I find myself relaxing into the music after the swap back then I figure that either I made a mistake or the change wasn't worth it. I find the usual A/B tests aren't reliable for me when it comes to small or subtle changes because I know I can get it wrong. When I swap back after living with a change I don't pay too much attention to whether I can hear a difference though I do listen for that. What I pay attention to is how I feel about the music after the change back. When I make a change it's usually because I'm trying to improve something or to get rid of something but the end goal is to get a bit more enjoyment from the music. I've learnt over time that when I first make a change I can often assume something is better simply because it's different and that I tend to focus on differences when I make a change but after I've lived with it for a while and change back I've learnt that I tend to be a bit less interested in whether or not there's a change because I'm changing from something I'm familiar with to something else I'm familiar with and that it's easier for me to focus on whether or not the change is adding to my enjoyment when I'm comparing 2 things I know and am familiar with than when I'm comparing something I'm familiar with to something that's new and unfamiliar.

And even that method of comparing things isn't perfect but it's the best approach I've come up with over the years.