How to proceed?

@mahgister

I wasn’t actually looking for more resolution. I’m much more a music lover who prizes emotional engagement. I was looking to correct the poorly-controlled bass I was getting in my previous system, which I found distracting and increasingly dissatisfying. Hegel amps are known for their high damping factor and the H390 has not only brought much better bass control but the speakers have come to come to life in a way that made me question whether I’d ever heard what they could do, before bringing in the Hegel.

It’s possible the next acquisition might’ve been a "bridge too far" -- replacing the simaudio transport with the Jay’s. However, when I tried swapping it out for my old Jolida CDP as a transport the sibilance was actually worse. So, I dunno what to think... ;o/

@mahgister

I wasn’t actually looking for more resolution. I’m much more a music lover who prizes emotional engagement.

I already know that already...😊

I only say that the dac may not be the problem in itself but the synergy on some frequencies response never mind if it is very good on some other aspects  between it and the rest of gear ...Anyway it was my case in the past...

@stuartk 

OK, just greenlighting by an amateur (me).

I was going to recommend fine tuning with a Lokius, which I own, but I see no go.

It is puzzling in that you have dome tweeters.

Could your tweeters have ferrofluid?  If so has it possibly dried up causing what you are hearing?

If me, I would first purchase a new coax cable to rule that out before big changes.   Even a cheapie something off monoprice or amazon just to rule out a cable problem.   Actually, you probably could just use a standard RCA interconnect as a cable test. 

That's all I got.

@mahgister

I only say that the dac may not be the problem in itself but the synergy on some frequencies response never mind if it is very good on some other aspects between it and the rest of gear

If this is true, then would logic suggest swapping out only one component at the time (DAC, Amp or Transport) might not be sufficient -- that I might have to try multiple combinations of components? I ask this because you are better at logic ! ;o)

@jetter 

RE: ferro-fluid, I’ll e-mail Silverline.

Really-- a standard RCA IC ? OK...

@stuartk 

Really-- a standard RCA IC ? OK...

I thought I mentioned, not for long term listening, just to make sure your current coax cable (assumption you are using coax) hasn't been damaged in some unforeseen way i.e. doggy gave it a good bite.