There is definitely a bit of variation between batches of M565C..even heard that with Fostex T50Xs. The 2nd newer set I have that was in storage - stronger imaging and more elevation on the treble and low-end - just a notch but its there. Not even sure if they still sell m565C, they should have...

Wild Embers track - intense stuff.

You'd probably love R2R and ROHM in direction of Sabre analytics without the drawbacks.

Stick with RU-7..it's sweet as honey and its swings and roundabouts with DC-Elite vs RU-7..they are quite polarised actually.. DC-Elite is sonically between Mojo2 and Hugo2, it's that better end of the Sabre DACs end of the spectrum..detail extraction above all else.

Yes, RU-7 stills holds its own against even iBasso DC-Elite in the untechnical term "musical sweetness" and also cohesive holography...everything presents as though going through a tube amp of Cayin's. DC-Elite is into the very technical side of things and cooler than RU-7 tonally...still...

Just keep 20s mentality on the inside ;-)

iBasso DC-Elite really does elevate the M565C's (4.4mm-balanced out) ....shows their technical limits finally for my ears..raises treble and mid-bass at least closer to balanced vs mid-centric..all that remains would be that nudge up a bit more in the subs...subs are teased out a times but not...