Okay, I wasn't impressed once I brought the new rig home (V-Dac to V-Can to Grado SR325is).
It seemed to have too strong of a bass emphasis, to the point of clipping, to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. I knew that it wasn't the volume because it happened at all levels whether I changed it in iTunes or on the app...
Bit rate of the tracks were 900kbps and above and the file types ranged from Apple Lossless, AAC and AIFF out of iTunes...(mostly AIFF files.) All of the latest updates installed on Mac OSX Snow Leopard on a pre unibody Macbook Pro.
I remember feeling this way when I first got my Grado SR80i, I thought it was the biggest waste of money, and I should go and get my money back. Before doing that I thought that there maybe something to this burning process that I've read about in forums so I left it playing and left for a couple of hours. I came back and it was still crap...
So I decided to check what the deal was by testing a few things out. Finally I remembered that I a hip hop setting on the iTunes equalizer although I don't remember why I ever thought that was a good idea. Ridiculous the difference this...
The biggest difference between the system before and now is the balance of all the ranges. I heard the instruments before but now there is a separation between them they stop and start playing quicker. This must be the response that I've read about and never heard. Because of this defined timing between them The sound placed in an environment rather that all coming at me at the same time. The bass is still slightly pronounced but it doesn't clip or sound limited as it did before. These are my initial thoughts and I look forward to understanding more about what everyone talks about here.
PS Check your EQ's
