Firmware 12.3.0 + DOS 2.2.2

[David A]

Does anyone have any sound quality observations with respect to FW 12.3.0 DOS 2.2.2?  I recall that earlier in this thread (P2) @ogs & @David A has some interesting observations, but nothing since.

Has anyone else noticed anything moving from Beta 12 or 14?

Can I recant my earlier comments?

Yes, there are differences to the previous firmware but I've found out once again that it's easy to be negative about differences when you first notice them. There seems to be a large component of familiarity involved in what we prefer and when we hear differences we're into unfamiliar territory. I've found out once again with this FW that my opinions can sometimes change when I get used to the new.

In my system I now think there was a drop in the noise floor which let me hear a little more detail in the bass, something I initially interpreted as "dryness", and more solid/specific imaging which gave me a feeling of less spaciousness in the soundstage. After living with the new FW for a week and a half I no longer feel that the bass is dryer or that the soundstage is any less spacious. Yes, I still think the presentation is different but I think it has improved slightly and now that I'm used to the change I like it.

I think that this is the best my setup has sounded since the amp got the CI board upgrade. Devialet seem to be slowly improving sound quality as well as implementing the new streaming functionality the CI board provides.

David - I would say that you bass observations are very consistent to what I observe when making changes that should improve clocking / reduced jitter.  The immediate reaction is that there is a little less bass, perhaps a touch less bass warmth, but then you notice just how much more detail there is in the bass, and how much more realistic things like bass drums sound. 

I would love to know what Devialet are actually doing with these firmware updates.

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You and me both. They are definitely doing something and so far I'm liking what they're doing, but sometimes the change seems to take a bit of getting used to.

One of the things I'm appreciating more is the sound of drums, especially the greater variety and range to skin tone that I'm hearing. There are times when I can get lost in appreciating the things the drummer is doing with tone from drum strike to drum strike.

I suspect that part of the reason I've gone off SAM and am now running without it is that having SAM on does extend the bass but it also reduces tonal range in the bass slightly and I lose some of that variety in bass tone and attack. Another part of the reason I've gone off SAM may be that I'm appreciating the designer's choices for bass voicing of my Sopras more. Whatever SAM does, it does change the voicing slightly.