Thanks for all the help and of course you're right. I've learned (the hard way) that all sensory perception is just that - perception. Had Covid a year ago and never regained my sense of smell. Things I now smell don't smell at all as I recall them which has made me wonder how others smell...

Good luck indeed, there's always a risk in oversimplifying anything as complex and subjective as listening. Given the limits of my knowledge in the area......

The more I learn the more it seems like where MQA (at least in theory) is an effort to get closer to what the sound engineers intended runs in the opposite direction from the Walkmen where Sony's engineers are using DSP to shape the music through AI (or whatever) to be more pleasing. Probably...

That's really helpful, thanks.

That you all for your input on Tidal & Walkman options, I appreciate it. I think I have a better handle on it. I have a Hiby R8 and the Tidal files sound pretty good to me playing from it (mostly jazz). That said, I've read so much about how Sony's sound is on a different level from other...

There are obviously many knowledgeable audio folks on this forum who have discussed the new Sony Signature Walkmen and how it works with 3rd party Android streaming Apps. I'm a 100% Tidal hi-res streaming user and unfortunately despite my best efforts, a simpleton when it comes to audio...

I'm using the Meridian Prime & power supply with my LCD-X & sounds great.  A little hiss, but otherwise they play very nicely.