At this point, let me say a frank word with respect to the usage of the Sortz: Any home audio system in question should kick off from a certain quality level, starting already with the source. If this is the case, then the performance level can be raised significantly by using the Sortz plugs. The increase always is synonymous with more tranquility, naturalness and intensity. The effect is shaded differently depending on the Sortz version used. What is surprising is the fact that it doesn't require much effort to perceive this in my system. So even with my Audioplan Kontrapunkt IV I can effortlessly trace the described subtleties, even though the Kontrapunkt IV are of course not comparable to the Raidho TD1.2. What surprises me the most is that each Sortz version possesses such a stand-alone sound character, especially since they are all internally constructed in the same way and only differ in the structure of the plug housing. However, please do not ask for a conclusive technical explanation. I can't help you with that, and Ansuz also refers to the extensive practical tests undertaken. Be that as it may! Let us rather jump into further experiments. If you can draw from the full range, as I did for the test, then suddenly other possibilities pop up. For example, we could use several Sortz in parallel on one component or distribute them over several units; we could also come up with the idea of combining different models.

So, as a test, I not only plugged the Sortz Supreme into my preamplifier, but also the Sortz Signature into another unused input. In my system, this leads to a perfect combination. This way the incredibly balanced sound of the Sortz Signature is enriched by just the right amount of the powerful character of the Sortz Supreme. I particularly like this with classical music, which can be heard wonderfully in the excellent recording of the "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquín Rodrigo with Narciso Yepes as soloist and the orchestra Orquesta Sinfónica De La R.TV. Española conducted by Odón Alonso (Joaquín Rodrigo: De Aranjuez & Fantasía Para Un Gentilhombre - HDTT5307/352). The solo instrument in particular benefits from the powerful expression of the Sortz Supreme, while the final subtleties in the soloist's interplay with the orchestra are brought out with the enormous resolving power of the Sortz Signature. But, as is so often the case: With the two Sortz, the improvement is not twice as big as when using a single Sortz only. When plugged into a single component, the biggest enhancement is, in my opinion, already achieved with one Sortz only. This is especially true for stereo components that feature a common internal ground connection for the left and right channels, such as my Omtec Anturion preamplifier, which I used for comparison purposes.

Therefore it proved more effective to plug another Sortz into the unused S/PDIF input of my PS Audio DirectStream DAC. This makes the music sound even smoother and more natural. Interestingly, in this configuration the sonic difference between the Sortz variants is not so pronounced. All in all, I prefer the combination of one Sortz each in the DAC and the preamplifier to a cumulative use of several Sortz in the preamplifier alone. With this in mind, I am very curious about the Sortz variants for USB and ethernet. I'll stay tuned.