Very late to this party, I am thrilled with the iTube2.
Thanks ifi - and thanks to all the contributors here!
This thing is a "Swiss Knife" for modifying your sound, with multiple features at the ready.
I rode the controls obcessively, early on, but now, I know exactly what I want as soon as a track starts playing. Here's hoping those toggle switches can take the punishment.
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I use "SET" when I want to take the edge off of bright tracks (or bright headphones) - or whenever I intend to enjoy a long, fatigue-free listening session.
I use "Classic" when I want maxiumum detail and transparency, yet still retaining a good measure of analog tubeliciousness - this is definitely not a "bypass." I probably spend more time here, than on the other two settings.
I use the "Push-Pull" setting when I want to add warmth, dynamics and texture to an otherwise lifeless recording, but this is my least used setting of the three choices.
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None of my headpones (or loudspeakers) sound good with the 12dB setting of the XBass feature, but some tracks/transducers really do sound better with the 6dB boost. It somehow manages to maintain the texture and pitch discernment that was there before engaging it, boosting bass energy transparently. I almost wish I had a choice of 3dB and 6dB, instead of 6dB and 12dB, but as a guy who dislikes the use of EQ solutions, as a rule, I'm really happy to have the 6dB XBass setting at my disposal.
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I don't care for the 30+ setting for 3D+, as it sounds, to my ears at least, as if it's adding some reverb, while bringing up the volume of any portion of the signal that's fully panned to the left or right channel. Not my cup of tea.
The less aggressive 3D+ setting sounds very natural, however. I switch this in or out to taste, but it stays on, more often than not.
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Thanks ifi!
Mike