just checking back in, but the battery finally died on these earlier today after exactly 2 months of use, approximately .5 - 1 hour of use every night sometimes a little more than that.
needless to say, I’m extremely satisfied with them. Not having to recharge them every week is amazing.
So with the recent purchase of the Stellaris, I felt I needed a bit more out of my DAC to get the most performance possible. I felt there was a bit of a bottleneck and I was leaving performance on the table. The Wavelight has been great to me, and I absolutely love the DAC for the price and where it sits in the used market. I feel you get a lot for what you pay. I’d take it over the May and TT2, it’s just a solid DAC IMO.
But I needed a bit more. I’ve been doing a lot of research and thinking about my next move. I wanted something that could take upgrades, be updated remotely, and last me a long time. I wanted a solid built in streamer if possible and good software. Icing on the cake would be a nice UI accessible via an app. This would help with tweaking the DACs settings, updates, and even playing local files. Sound wise I wasn’t interested in anything too analytical but wanted something detailed enough without approaching that level, smooth up top (don’t like harsh, peaky highs), solid bass, and a nice stage if possible. I was hoping to get an improvement in layering, texture, and timbre. @ValentineLuke mentioned the dCS line and the options they have, so I continued my research. Well I came across an option and I couldn’t pass it up. It’s basically everything I was looking for.
Can anyone guess? 
Well, it’s obviously a dCS…
But which one?
Who is this guy?
Rossini!
Side note, when doing my research I noticed dCS uses composer names for their devices. So after reading up on Rossini, I had no idea he liked the Utopia. He even upgraded to the 2022 version before he died in 1868. Wild! Guy has amazing taste.
@Rhodey Congratulations!!
Thank you, truly blessed!
So many options, so many decisions with this hobby as you climb and try to figure out your next move. I think this one will be a long term pickup (hopefully!). I just love the features, upgrade options, and of course the sound. For me, it works very well with the DNA. Helps it in some areas that could use a bit of improvement, stage and macro dynamics.
Amen.
Well said. Good reminder that, just like anything else, we can get so deep in audio that we forget perspective.
I have my next big move incoming in the next few weeks (being built), after which to amend my 2024 goal I’m not buying any gear for the remainder of the year.
I say that around this time every year…….
Hasn’t worked out yet.
I just do all of my buying in January and coast the remainder of the year. I’ve spent enough for a late model used hatchback. But I’m done, for real. This time, for real.
But bits are bits… sucker.
I don’t have a use case with my current network but if I did, I would tried it.
Whadafak. It changed my bass response and my play volume. WHAT THE BITS.
I am no longer believer in the matrix. I want out.
edit: omg the top energy is more too. 
It’s when a tweek messes with your play volume is when you really start believing that there is a one.
Told ya’ that the bits up front made some kind of positive change for incomprehensible reason. 
Nothing forward of the DAC should be expensive or beyond standard but adding the fancy stuff tricked my brain too into accepting and enjoying it for what it is 
Congratulations on the new acquisition. 
Bit more of a niche end of the market but recently picked up the cm2000ti. I know earbuds are not ideal for most people but if your into them the cm2000ti>DF Cobalt with Samsung’s UHQ upscaler is an insanely good combo. Extremely fast and technical with solid tight mid bass, not so solid sub bass but its a earbud. and with this combo it lands in a brighter but still neutral sound signature to my ears. Definitely had a heavy burn in period the first couple of days but this honestly might just be my portable end game since in ears have never been ideal for me and Bluetooth just has too much grain for me personally as well.
My potato arrived today
Initial listening is very positive… I might not be feeling well enough for work tomorrow… cough cough…
This reminds me, i need to check my cable as i think it is on the fritz (due to my own mistake and not the cables).
That is a nasty cough, please isolate until it passes.
It is interesting how feeling “under the weather” often corresponds with the arrival of new audio equipment.
It must be something that comes from the area it’s sent from that’s a different bug from what your immune system is used to. 
Got myself the iBasso DC-Elite dongle last week. Really been enjoying this thing a ton. Sounds great with the also newly acquired IE600, and pretty stellar with the A8000.
P.S. Do we have a dongle related thread?
