I got the D33 back from Arcam yesterday. Unpacked it and all is fine condition-wise -phew!
It’s great to have it back - it sounds fabulous - maybe a placebo but it sounds even better than I remember it. Within the exact same system it certainly proves the benefit of source first. With the Meridian Explorer 2 USB DAC it was OK but could sound both bland and a bit harsh at the same time. The Loxjie D30 improved things massively but was perhaps a little lean in the bass for my liking (not an issue in the system it is normally in) however the D33 is definitely superior: a larger/wider stage, a more natural tone and noticeably deeper and more robust bass.