Hi guys,
Sorry this took so long but I finally got my K10s back 2 days ago, and I made a short trip earlier today to one of the local stores to do a comparison of my Migel modded DX90j against the standard DX90.
(yes that AK240 screen is screwed up. One of the store staff dropped it the day before)
This is NOT an apples to apples comparison; my DX90MM is running 2.1.8L0 and using a Japan Samsung battery while the store unit is using 2.1.0 and the default Pisen battery. Note that any differences I describe may have possibly been enhanced/attenuated by this difference in firmware and batteries.
After A/Bing between the two with my own music (and also listening to the AK240 for reference/to see what the hype is all about) these are the major points I took down:
- The DX90MM has improved instrument separation with a very slightly expanded soundstage.
- The DX90MM has an overall punchier and tighter bass with slightly less presence due to reduced bass bloom. I also hear rumble that extends deeper than the stock unit.
- The DX90MM has much less sound signature variance at different gain levels.
- The DX90MM has a much blacker background. When listening to some RHCP vinyl rips on the standard unit I heard some hiss that I dismissed as vinyl artifacts only for them to not be present on the modded unit.
After my short comparison, it was evident that the mod nudges the DX90MM closer to a reference sound without losing much musicality and becoming as clinical and thin as the AK240 and other AK players (honestly not very impressed by them now that I've given them a spin).
Credit goes to Mikhail for producing the mod. For anyone considering the mod, he's a pleasant guy to deal with, works real fast (can't say the same about the Russian Post though) and charges extremely reasonable prices. Makes me wonder what other modders are thinking commanding the prices they do.
Really happy with the final result, and I hope I've described enough to allow those considering the mod to make their minds up.