salwani8888
100+ Head-Fier
I can relate to all of this - though i didn't try Tsuranagi with SP3K. I did however try SP3K to PA10 and preferred SP3K on its own. With PA10, SP3k seemed more dull. So for sure its not about just power. By contrast, PA10+RS6 was a big step up.I just did some A/Bing, SP3k amped with the MK475 vs. unamped, with the Ragnar, which is a little more power hungry than my other IEMs. It's just an obvious difference -- there's no concentration needed, nothing specific you need to focus on. Soundstage is wider, everything hits harder, the transients are better defined, the individual instruments are better separated and have more weight to them. You know how everything just sounds better when you upgrade from an older generation DAP to a newer one? It's like that. So just to pick a random track, since you asked for one -- Fragments of Time by Daft Punk -- the opening snare drum is just better defined, the bass has more slam. Versus unamped, it's all a bit thinner and a little less separated. I can tell this within the first five seconds.
I don't know how much of it has to do with my specific amps (MK475 and Tsuranagi) and/or my interconnects (Yatono-Ultimate Mini and Orpheus). As others have said, perhaps it's not just about the amount of power your amp is putting out, perhaps it also has to do with the quality of the power. If the # of watts of power was the only defining characteristic of an amp, what would be the point of higher-end amps?
As is the case with cables, I don't profess to know the physics/science behind it, and wouldn't want to get into a debate about that. Just sharing what I hear with my gear, and have no hesitation in saying that the Mass Kobo 475 and Tsuranagi each provide quite a step up in the SP3K's technical performance. (I've kept both amps because there are some modest differences in what they do & the effect they have on the sound).
RS8 sounds better without PA10 too. Tsuranagi with RS8 however, its easy to hear the differences as you mentioned above. Better definition of space, notes and instruments, attacks and decays and it all sounds more effortless. Tsuranagi isnt going to change the tone of the source much but it does sound sweeter especially in the mids and highs, making for an overall more musical and emotional experience.
Sorry for the ramble, but short version, I would say what these higher end amps bring to the table is better grip, control and authority over the drivers.