MSB vs dCS Bartok

It’s OK and not bright. But It's not as dynamic (compared to the Naim NDS /252 preamp) I had before. It’s soft with vocals, bass is not punchy enough

@rfc I have a similar -- identical -- experience right now with the Select. Midrange is fine, and there seems to be a bloom in the lower mids. It would seem that I am missing high frequencies and the bass is not punchy, it doesn't go very low -- basically, I'm missing resolution. Adding the reclocker (Ideon Master Time) made an important improvement as did changing to a single-core power cord (tightened the sound). 
I am probably doing something wrong and /or I am not used to R2R sound?

@4425

do NOT count on it sounding better going direct. i’ve personally never found that i would be happy long term with that. there’s always some intangible element missing that makes music special. imho

I have similar experience with the Select, it sounds definitely more lifeless without the preamp in the system.

Following suggestions above, I tried out the Select direct then via pre, hi & low output.

Strangely, the volume set to 100 via pre sounds better than either 106 or 100 in direct & better than 106 via pre. 106 in direct sounds better than 100. Overall, the order is: via pre 100, pre 106, then direct 106 (hi).

@georgehifi

Sound maybe like bit stripping to me, how much higher than 106 can your MSB go?

 It can't, 106 is the highest number on the volume level.