In article , Wolf K
wrote:

You would need a double blind test to reliably determine whether or
not it is possible to distinguish the Rega from the Arcam. But I find
that only a few seconds listening will tell me that I am listening to
the Roland. I also accept that you might not be able to hear the
distinction.

as i said, it's intentionally altering the sound, something you could
match with the other dacs. either that, or it's defective in some way.

it's a bit like 'canon colours' and 'nikon colours'. the cameras are
tuned slightly differently, but either one can be made to produce what
the other does.

And it's in the subtlties of tuning and the firmware of that that the
differences between DACS (and their costs) lie.

tuning = intentionally altering the sound.

H'm. That implies that when auditorium designers fiddle with the
placement of reflective and absorptive surfaces they are "intentionally
altering the sound."

yep.