19-Sep-2018, 20:26
I decided to give 7.1.3 a go after reading about it on this forum. I wanted to briefly share my thoughts. But most of all my thanks, because I wouldn't have known about or been able to acquire this firmware without this forum.
For reference, my setup is a 120 previously running 10.1.0 and Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 speakers in a studio apartment measuring roughly 23' x 21' x 8'. There are GIK Soffit bass traps at the four corners. Cables are Shunyata Venom and Audioquest Vodka. I use Ethernet and AIR 3.0.4. Source is a PC running Foobar (WASAPI).
I use SAM at 25%. (One weird thing I've noticed about SAM is that it makes a big difference even at 0%.)
The change I noticed right away was the disappearance of the tweeters. Previously, I always felt like I could hear the tweeters playing separately from the mid-range driver. With 7.1.3, the overall sound becomes cohesive, and the drivers blend into one another. The imaging is 3D, holographic, floating in a space seemingly outside of the dimensions of my room.
Other words I would use to describe 7.1.3. are natural, organic, warm, lush, liquid, and colored. It's colored, not neutral, but I like that.
If there is a trade off, I think there is less bass than before, and it is not as well controlled. The Venere 3.0 speakers have kind of flabby, lazy bass to begin with, so the new firmware does exacerbate that.
But bass was never my priority. I'm a midrange and 3D vocal imaging guy, and I'm blown away by this older firmware.
I'm glad I stumbled on this forum a few days ago. This tweak has put a big grin on my face, and it cost zero dollars.
For reference, my setup is a 120 previously running 10.1.0 and Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 speakers in a studio apartment measuring roughly 23' x 21' x 8'. There are GIK Soffit bass traps at the four corners. Cables are Shunyata Venom and Audioquest Vodka. I use Ethernet and AIR 3.0.4. Source is a PC running Foobar (WASAPI).
I use SAM at 25%. (One weird thing I've noticed about SAM is that it makes a big difference even at 0%.)
The change I noticed right away was the disappearance of the tweeters. Previously, I always felt like I could hear the tweeters playing separately from the mid-range driver. With 7.1.3, the overall sound becomes cohesive, and the drivers blend into one another. The imaging is 3D, holographic, floating in a space seemingly outside of the dimensions of my room.
Other words I would use to describe 7.1.3. are natural, organic, warm, lush, liquid, and colored. It's colored, not neutral, but I like that.
If there is a trade off, I think there is less bass than before, and it is not as well controlled. The Venere 3.0 speakers have kind of flabby, lazy bass to begin with, so the new firmware does exacerbate that.
But bass was never my priority. I'm a midrange and 3D vocal imaging guy, and I'm blown away by this older firmware.
I'm glad I stumbled on this forum a few days ago. This tweak has put a big grin on my face, and it cost zero dollars.
