I have received my upgraded SMR, and the results are absolutely astonishing from my point of view and in my system. Not that the difference is huge, because the SMR was already fantastic. However, the upgrade is very important if that makes sense. This is because it does every single thing better and in the important musical ways that make digital sound analog. I use Steve's more affordable $250 cable (LOVE IT!) and a Paul Hynes SR5-12 Power Supply to power the SMR.
Real tight and clear focus, very ballsy in the best sense, HUGE wide sound stage with much more depth information than the previous SMR, effortless in that it is very fast sounding and delineates very good, lower noise floor, more resolving power, spookiness of really good vinyl playback (like steel guitar's ENERGY and instruments/artists in the room presence that is hard for digital to nail). This little sucker pulls this off!! Just an extremely capable source with a very refined presentation.
Here is the coolest part.
I compared CD Rips using my network playback consisting of the Totaldac Server, NAS, Router, all linear power supplies for everything, to the CD's played with a CD Transport reclocked with the SMR... The DAC is the Totaldac System Twelve. 4 total boxes with the Server. Server/Reclocker, Reclocker, and a DAC for each channel. With the SMR, that is 3 reclockers in the chain, and it is AMAZING to say the least.
On with the comparison:
CD rips depended allot on the software used for ripping. I actually prefer WAV ripped with my Mac Mini and XLD. This bests DB Poweramp with PC in my trials for some reason. Maybe better hardware, better USB Ports, who knows. Although, I have not tried the latest version of DB. It is supposed to be better.
At any rate, CD Rips through the server vs. CD's SMR'd, compared with the XLD rips I have of course, the SMR was just a little bit better. Ya, holy shit. A bit more weight, more speed, and more spookiness from the CD's through the SMR. Just a little of all of this, but there. There are really only 2 areas where my Server beat it, and that is sound stage depth and convenience.
Steve, try my comparison and verify if you hear the same thing. It is really really close, but the differences are there and preference leans towards the SMR overall for my tastes.
That makes the SMR a screaming bargain for CD/redbook Playback. Truly, a stupid good deal. No need to treat your CD's either. Just hook up any old crappy source you have with SPDIF output, and game over. This is an exciting upgrade and impressed the hell out of me. Nicely done Steve.
The redbook digital source to beat? YEP! Revived my CD Collection, so glad I did not sell them.