This is where the mod helps improve things along with the Hifi Tuning Supreme fuse in the FA-10. Details, resolution, soundstage, and technicalities are all bumped up quite a bit. I do feel the mod maxes out the FA-10 performance. Listening to the modded FA-10 next to my V281 the sound is very competitive only losing out in ultimate resolution in the treble region. The V281 sounds more open and airy from the upper midrange on, but the gap is lessened with tThe mod. The Formula S is a step up on both even without the Powerman, which I don’t have at the moment.So I'm still wrestling with my excitement for the pending Volot release. The general positive feedback and excitement for Flux in 2020 was around the FA-10 (standard) and that you get hifi performance at the MidFi price. I won't step on the other products (FA-12 and FA-10 Pro) but that was my general takeaway.
I had a few contacts that paired the FA-10 with Susvara, HE6SEv2, and 1266 Phi TC that came away happy but still wanted more in terms of resolution, sound stage, and technical performance. Hence I think this is where the Volot will step in with it's fully balanced topology improvements.
I guess my general question is the "fun" or musical sound signature that made the FA-10 a hit is there risk that to achieve the technical improvements does it take a step back in those aspects? It is possible to still maintain the musicality but get the top level details in the mids/treble that both the susvara and 1266 can show off?
After comparing the FA-10 to both the Formula S and V281, I do think the Volot with be even better. Only because of the FA-10‘s singled ended topology design. I doubt I’ll pick one up since I have both a XI Audio Formula S and Violectric V281 now. Even with those amps, I still prefer my Susvara’s on the modded FA-10. The Susvara/FA-10 combo is really special.