I found the Pro-Silway II to equal the Nordost Red Dawn in many ways on my CDP (Electrocompaniet)...both being a bit lean. Nordost SPM bettered both. ALL were just a bit too revealing for my leanish MD100 tuner, where the Truthlink works superbly, providing an outstanding balance for this great tuner....
I suspect that Cosmic's experience of "graininess" with the HT is actually evidence of their resolving power, whereas the VD is actually smothering this digital unwanted detail with its typical top octave squashing. One man's improvement is another's flaw. It's all about system balance and digititis with CDPs. With a cleaner CDP you might prefer the more transparent HT; with a dirtier digital front end the VD's treble-cut quality can be a bandaid-blessing. Tweeter/room treatment all figure in this too.
I suspect that Cosmic's experience of "graininess" with the HT is actually evidence of their resolving power, whereas the VD is actually smothering this digital unwanted detail with its typical top octave squashing. One man's improvement is another's flaw. It's all about system balance and digititis with CDPs. With a cleaner CDP you might prefer the more transparent HT; with a dirtier digital front end the VD's treble-cut quality can be a bandaid-blessing. Tweeter/room treatment all figure in this too.