[quote=VirusKiller]That you can hear the drummer move suggests that something is very *right* with the filter. In fact, I would have expected the opposite based on certain commentary: that the linear phase filter led to better spatial awareness and that the minimum-phase filter led to better high frequency instrument reproduction.
This comment rings true to me (pardon the pun!). When I compared the Sooloos Ensemble's digital out (linear filter) to the MC200's digital out (upsampling apodizing filter) into my Simaudio 650D DAC, the former sounded much more open and live, with more decay and spatial cues. The latter sounded more direct, with less decay and a reduced sense of the recording space and a greater focus on body and tone. Of course some of these differences could be due to the pairing with the Simaudio DAC but I noticed that the same sonic traits of the MC200 filter when using the MS600 as the DAC.
Another thing I would add based upon my comparison of digital outputs between the Ensemble and MC200 is that the up sampling/apodizing filter in the MC200 does impose a strong sonic fingerprint on the digital output signal. This is not the case with the linear filter in the Ensemble. Using the digital output from the Ensemble, I was hard pressed to distinguish differences from CD play through the Simaudio 650d's on board transport. The Ensemble may have sounded a bit better specially and a tad smoother but it was a tough call. Digital output from the MC200's up sampling/apodizing filter sounded distinctly different than CD play through the 650d, however. Subjectively for me, the difference was not an overall positive one as it sounded like the MC200 was altering the music but I'm someone who likes the sound of the Simaudio stuff so it may just be my preference. The point is, though, that the Meridian filter does have a distinct impact on the sound in my experience. Whether that sound is for the better or not is up to the listener and probably depends on their associated equipment.
A few weeks ago I borrowed an Ensemble and tried it vs my Squeezebox Touch in my 2 channel system. The SBT runs into D1 on the 6ks and the Ensemble into D2. I imported a couple of my albums onto the Ensemble and, while they weren't perfectly synched I got them pretty close. Switching between the SBT and Ensemble I had a distinct preference for the SBT. Obviously there were no filters or upsampling here, just one on one. My network is hard wired. The Ensemble sounded brighter and actually had a bit more gain so I had to drop down a couple of points in volume but it really wasn't much of a contest. The Ensemble was not any more detailed at the top, just harsher. So if you prefer the digital out of the Ensemble into your DAC your DAC might be adding its own "special sauce".
Ken [/quote]
I looked at measurements for my DAC and it does roll off the high frequencies slightly so it probably likes a little extra hit in the ultra high frequencies. I didn't hear graininess in the high frequencies in my trial of the Ensemble but maybe my DAC takes care of that? Time will tell when I trial the Source One. Could be that both the Simaudio DAC and the Meridian apodising filter are both trying to provide a more "analogue" sound, each in their own way, and together they are too much of a good thing. Or maybe the rest of my system is less bright/darker sounding than yours. Back to Chris' synergy comment again...
Choice of a variety of filters in the Meridian Sooloos equipment (at addition charge, if neccessary, to keep costs down) would be a nice option for those who want to take advantage of all the great things Sooloos has to offer and have a better chance of system synergy with their existing (expensive) downstream equipment without having to go to an all Meridian system.
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