I have never made a comparison of with/without Fidelizer. There are a couple reasons for this. Fidelizer loads automatically and there is no legitimate switch to easily turn it on or off without uninstalling it, at least as I understand it, and I may be wrong.

Secondly, I am not some golden eared wizard who insists on the best equipment/software/source chain, and tests and compares all the elements so I know I have the best. I am an old gray haired curmudgeon who’s music is centred in North America/Britain during the 60s, 70s and 80s, and some older jazz and classical. I buy moderately high end gear and try and get the best from my gear without sitting around trying to pick the fly shit out of the pepper shaker. I chose to buy Fidelizer after doing some lengthy research. People I respect said positive things about it and I went with it. I am not going to test relentlessly or agonize over the level of improvement. What I do know is when I come home and put my headphones on and turn up some well recorded and engineered music, my smile is very big, and it stays with me a long while. I am happy. Often when I am happy, I don’t care to analyze why, I just enjoy it.

Just for reference, I operate at home (desktop computer) Flac Files → JRiver → Fidelizer → NAD DAC → Woo Audio WA2 with upgraded tubes → Beyerdynamic T1.2 Headphones → Blissful Smile I use good, but not ridiculously expensive cables.

I use the laptop for playing music at the cottage I frequent a number of times through the summer. Flac Files → JRiver → Fidelizer → Audioquest Jitterbug → Micca Origen DAC/ HP Amp → Beyer T1s OR Marshall Killburn Speaker.

Thanks again.