I’ve had my Tempus just over 30 days now and I’m very, very happy with it. I also purchased a Muon Pro and two “Network Streaming Cables” which look very cool, and are very light and flexible. Wasn’t sure about the Tempus at first as it does require some run-in time. I initially had some issues with the image being unfocused but that issue resolved after 18 days. Also, I was playing the same album (Kind of Blue) on repeat, and it occurred to me late in the process that my Innuos Zenith Mk3 may be caching the album and music may not be “flowing” through the Tempus.
The Tempus with the Muon Pro has replaced my Innuos PhoenixNET which I also have found to be fantastic. Keep in mind I don’t use the following descriptors to say one is better than the other, but rather just pointing out differences. The Tempus is smoother, more refined, with a wider as deeper soundstage. Images are more consistently distributed within the soundstage. The PhoenixNET is excellent in these areas as well but with the Muon Pro which of course adds considerable cost, the Tempus threw a slightly wider stage with consistently distributed images (slightly less clustered). But I found the PhoenixNET to be more direct, more rhythmic, and with just a hair more high frequency sizzle that actually works well in my particular system. Keep in mind I was using the Muon Pro with the Tempus so it had an advantage over the PhoenixNET at a significantly higher total cost. Is the Tempus and Muon Pro (I group them together as they are additive and I feel like owners of the Tempus will end up with both in their systems) worth the added cost over the PhoenixNET? Hard to say for everyone but for me I’m very happy with the NA gear, and I look forward to future NA products (what an innovative company with a focused vision; we need more like this!). I had the opportunity to return the gear in 30 days if I wasn’t satisfied and I kept everything. The Network Streaming cables also matched my system well with a transparent yet very balanced and fleshed-out sound. But at the end of the day, I’d readily recommend either the PhoenixNET or Tempus for those seeking a premium switch (ok I know they can get way more extreme and pricey than this…). I think it’s one of those things that comes down to taste and system matching, and also, sonic priorities.
Regarding fuses: After a year, I tried replacing my Synergistic Purple Fuses in 4 of my components (the Tempus has been stock only) back to the stock fuses, one by one. Each time I went to stock, I got a bit more direct sound with a touch more bite, and a hair more air and space. A bit more towards the sound of the PhoenixNET’s sonic signature actually. But not better or worse, just different, which was unexpected! In the end I preferred the sound of my system with two of the 4 Synergistic Purple fuses in my system replaced with their stock fuses. But the biggest surprise was that the difference between the stock fuses and the Synergistic Purple fuses were not as big as I had led myself to believe. Based on the impact on sound that seems to be consistent from component to component, I don’t have any urge to make my Tempus more full bodied by switching out its stock fuse.
My results only of course and really only applies to my set of components! Which includes a Mola Mola Makua preamp with an embedded Tambaqui DAC and phono, a Gryphon Essence stereo amp, Audiovector R6 Arrete’s, an Innuos Zenith Mk 3, an Innuos PhoenixUSB reclocker, Audioquest Dragon power cables, Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables, a Townshend platform under my amp (amazing!) and Herbie’s tender feet under other components.
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