Alright, finished up my straight V3 v. 722 comp. Here're my notes...
SOURCE A
Highs a bit sharper on attack, smoother & longer decay
Mids - don't hear much difference btn the two sources
Rounder, more accentuated mid-low & low end, extension...?...dunno, tough to say using headphones
Less defined soundstage, but seemingly more ambient detail in the crowd noise
SOURCE B
Highs not quite as smooth, a bit spittier and shorter then A, but not fatiguing
Mids - don't hear much difference btn the two sources
Tighter mid-low & low end, extension...?...dunno, tough to say using headphones
Tighter, smoother soundstage, but seemingly less ambient detail in the crowd noise
I had a tough time evaluating the mids on both as I often rely on electric guitar to really pinpoint how the mids sound and the samples didn't have much e guitar going on. And, as noted, I didn't hear much difference in the mid range.
As for which source is which, I'm slightly puzzled since - based on previous 16-bit experience - I would have expected slightly better HF detail out of the V3, yet in this case, the slightly better HF detail appeared in the same source as the one with more accentuated mid-low / low end, a characteristic I've heard out of the 7xx boxes. That rounder, more accentuated mid-low / low seems to permeate the recording for me and makes it very easy to distinguish the two recordings in an ABX environment.
If I had to guess, I'd stick with my thoughts that the 7xx exhibits the rounder, more accentuated mid-low & low end, and I've consistenly found the V3 has a tighter soundstage than most other boxes, so:
A = 722
B = V3
Anyone else give the straight V3 / 722 comp a listen and formulate an opinion? At any rate, fun stuff these comps.
I'd be pretty darn happy taking home either source!
