Thank you for your grounded impression of the SI-1. Your impressions further solidify what I experienced after installing the SI-1 in my system. The Si-1 effectively removes that last layer of edge without trading away resolution. There are so many devices that claim to reduce or remove certain artifacts, but when a device gets that balance right; where detail stays intact yet no longer sounds etched, it usually shows up exactly the way you described: more ease, better separation, and that “black background” effect that lets instruments occupy space more naturally.
In my experience, the most interesting improvements in well-resolved systems are rarely dramatic. They’re cumulative, and they change how long you want to listen rather than how strongly you react in the first five minutes.
I had a gentleman visit my man cave yesterday to purchase the REL Carbon Limited subs, and he was genuinely taken aback by what he heard. He put on a couple of his favorite tracks and just sat there in disbelief at how detailed everything was, yet completely free of that familiar digital glare he’s used to hearing in most modern setups. It wasn’t about added sparkle or hype; it was the same sense you’re describing: ease, clarity, and music simply unfolding naturally in the room. That reaction alone said a lot about how well a device like the SI-1 can work as a final-stage refinement.
What Ethernet cables and powercord you’re using with SI-1? I think it will be helpful for the readers to know how everything matters in a well appointed systems.