I've been beta-testing the Short-Block USB Filter with an Overdrive DAC for a few weeks now. I compared the following songs with and without the Short-Block: Alan Parsons - Inside Looking Out; Paul Simon - Graceland, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes; King Crimson - Matte Kudasai; Chicago - Just You 'N' Me; Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros - Mayla, Dear Believer. There were all CD's ripped as lossless files. I also checked a 24/96 file: Paul McCartney's Bluebird, and a few 320's: John Jarvis - Whatever Works; Supertramp - School; and Sting - All This Time. What I noticed is that with the Short-Block, the soundstage appeared larger; it was as if I was sitting a few rows back from the stage as opposed to half way back. Further, on some of the more 'ambient' tracks (Alan Parsons) the children sounds appeared more three dimensional - I thought the chatter was in the chair beside me. To double check this I brought in my son Michael, who recently completed sound engineering and production at MetalWorks. He listened to the same tracks then asked for Layla (Dominos version) and a Metallica song "Don't Tread On Me." He confirmed the same thing, noting that the tracks I picked were pretty ambient anyways, but on Layla and Don't Tread On Me, the effect was even more pronounced. I'll be leaving the Short-Block in my system.
Stephen