Firmware 12.3.0 + DOS 2.2.2

[David A]

I am not so sure. I've run beta14 for a couple of weeks. After I upgraded to 12.3.0/2.2.2 yesterday I felt after a while I did not enjoy music as much as before. So I went back to beta14. There is a difference. The new version is better from upper midrange through treble, but beta14 sounds more organic and 'real' in the lower range. Beta14 also has a little better separation within the sound stage and a wider sound stage. I must emphasize that this is my room, my speakers etc. Others may find the newest version to be a better match for their system than beta14.
All this is with the Mutec to the AES/EBU input. I did not listen to Roon AIR this time. Would have been too many variables. I will also say that I've heard something similar before. I used to like the old 7.3beta very much with my 250, but ended up enjoying 10.1.0 much more. It was simply better in all respects. So what I describe above does not worry me much. Devialet will sort it all and bring us a firmware with top sound in the end.

I use Roon AIR to the ethernet input and I'm noticing a bit of what sounds like a similar thing. The bass sounds a bit "drier"/more clinical than beta 14 did, but it's a small difference. I'm not noticing better separation within the sound stage, that's always been excellent, but I am hearing a slightly narrower sound stage. I don't use SAM but I did try a very slight bass tone control boost and that helped with the character of the bass but over-emphasised it a bit for me. Actually just raising the volume slightly seems to do best at reducing the "dryness" in the bass and making that a bit less clinical plus giving a sense of a more spacious soundstage again.

I don't want to go back to beta 14 because of the "transport device in use" bug which I've had a few times so I think I'm going to be listening with the volume set a dB or so above where I normally listen.