Would an external clock “help” in this signal chain?

I just saw a review of the R26 which suggests it can be brassy. I think that’s what I’m hearing. Crazy because I love most of it, I think I’m just sensitive to treble and will have to spend twice as much. Looking hard at Venus 12th Anniversary. But is that weird considering my streamer is a WiiM Ultra?

I don’t think that’s too weird mainly because you have the SU6 in there.  I’d consider going with this Pontus 15th as it’s reputed to be on the level of the Venus 12th and is a bit cheaper.  Just a thought FWIW. 

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbh16j-denafrips-pontus-15-da-converters

Thank you for the heads up on the Pontus 15th. It wasn’t on my radar owing to the feedback on previous generations. I ordered one from Denafrips:)

Congrats!  If you’re still hearing hardness after the Pontus is broken in it’s probably the amp you’re hearing.  Incidentally you’ll wanna run an i2S connection from the SU6 to the Pontus, and I’d recommend this DH Labs HDMI cable in the 0.5m length as shortest is best for i2S.  Look forward to your thoughts once things settle in after 100 hours or so. 

https://upscaleaudio.com/products/dh-labs-hdmi-2-1-cable

I actually have that cable running to my R26. Are they normally quite stiff? I bought it used and am always concerned of knock offs. 
 

The Hypex NCx500 has incredible detail but  I know D class can be kinda hard/cold or perhaps just “dry”. Add to that a Sonic Frontiers Line 2 preamp and I’m probably neutral/clinical and do wish I had a bit more bloom/smoothness (warmth?) despite the Linton 85th loudspeakers. I’m probably just too used to tube amps and dirty power supplies and forgetting how far I’ve come.
 

One more clue: the system loses some detail but gains a nice nuance with an SL1200 table, Archomat platter mat and retipped (sapphire?) Denon D103r. It’s run through > Parks Waxwing > RCA into Sonic Frontiers Preamp. 
 

I tried the optical out, coax and rca on the Waxwing into the Gustard and it doesn’t sound as good - stripped down overly clean or something. Just loses its soul.  

To be clear the table sounds best via rca to the SF preamp skipping over the Gustard. I even tried running Waxwing via RCA, Optical and Coax into the WiiM Ultra and again just felt like it lost character/naturalness  

Another observation is that if I run the SU6 RCA to the SF preamp it just sounds congested vs XLR. The SF pre is known for greater clarity via XLR I’ve read and my experience attests to that too.

So as it stands I’d like to get a little more syrup on my digital plate. The Hypex brings so much to the party but if there’s anything to put on my radar I’m interested! Just in case the Pontus 15 isn’t the entirety of the equation!

Thanks again:)