Audiophilepure

Eons ago, our hearing evolved as a continuous predator warning system—does the space around us sound normal and safe or not? Danger was often a matter of audible impulse (location), plus loudness and echoes (distance), pretty much how the latest Atmos fright-film makes the audience shriek. Even today, the faintest mosquito buzz immediately gets your attention, and you have to look for it and kill it first. I could suggest that, as with inverted phase, the brain gets a “bit confused” when things digital don’t quite sound normal as they would in the real world—and perhaps pre-ringing plays a role. But I don’t even play a digital expert on TV, let alone on the Internet.

Yes, other DACs provide a choice of filters, or at least third-party chip manufacturers can. However, I suspect it is unusual for a DAC manufacturer to research, develop, and implement a “bespoke” filter like the GTO in a sub-$1000 product like the Neo 2. (Or, if you need portable, GTO is also available in the $599 iFi Gryphon)

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