Both approaches sound good. Different ways of getting there.
I think one's preference over the other boils down to the old left brain/right brain theorem; The TI sound appeals to the cognitive brain, ie: those who wish to extract the detail, in stark relief, --hi fi, so to speak. I use these chips to amplify my keyboards. A high resolution amplifier for high resolution sound engines.
The JVC approach seems to appeal to the emotive listener. Those who want to extract the emotion from the music, the emotive dynamic, HOW the string is bowed, not necessarily the sound of the rosin on the string, etc., although that comes through as well. Contrary to what has been said, cues and individual lines, individual harmonics, all are there to be heard with the JVC, nothing is missing. In fact, it is almost like hall recorded orchestral music now has more microphones on the stage than before, i can hear the chairs move, the wax in the valve pads, it is all there. This is with the Nixon DAC and JVC, both of which have been described as "rolled off" in the highs.
To these ears, when I auditioned both the Kenwood and JVC together I used among other material, some Mark Knopfler, 'Sailing To Philadelphia' I noticed the TI offered an amazing representation of a hollow body guitar through a tube amplifier. With the JVC, I am now hearing a really nice hollow body guitar, I hear the wood, and the crunch of the EL34 tubes in what is clearly in my impression, the sound of a Fender Twin amp, possibly two amps, one distorting more than the other. I heard what Knopfler, (a hugely underrated guitarist,) was trying to do, I heard WHY his lines fit sooo well within the context of the chord progressions, it all made more sense. For me, the JVC connects me to the music better than any amp I have ever heard, or owned... I hope this helps, abit.
