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I find your description interesting. I posted elsewhere that the AP2 into a near 6-figure system with a Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 was so transformative, the soundstage was expansive, illumined and highly refined. Out of the box the AP2 was a revelation, but (and that's a big but), letting it sizzle for 200+ hours opened up the soundstage and relaxed the overall presentation. Digitization? Hmm... It was anything but! With the AP2 It's so much easier to listen to long sets, literally 4 - 6 hour long sets!
Phillip has an interesting article (here: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/Audiophilleo%20vs%20Evo-%20Part%20%202%20and%203.pdf) from a 'phile at Computer Audiophile, that believes the AP2 is closer to his 24/96 master recordings than the comparative unit.
I haven't listened to any of Steve's stuff. However, I'd love to see his specs more clearly defined. I believe, as far as jitter is concerned, that Phillip provides more thorough, comprehensive specs than anyone at this time. However, in that Steve hasn't provided any specs on his devices, doesn't mean his are less effective; it just means that there isn't anything to provide a direct comparison with other units.
Phillip plans to provide a battery power supply this month that I hope to give a try. So, if there are any differences due to power supply anomalies, maybe this will be an equalizer?
BTW, my buddy and I may already be realizing improvements since we have everything plugged into balanced power supply's from BPT and Equi=Tech, including the computing infrastructure.
I think I should have left out some words that I have used because the AP2 wasn't a more "digital" type of sound. Rather, it was just exaggerating the mids-highs, but the sound was simply like I had inserted an equalizer and boosted the midrange section heavily, along with the treble. I don't think anything, as clean/clear as my system sounds, could make it sound "digital" due to the speakers #1 along with-amp-preamp (obviously room/recording)=99% of the equation for me. Even with 80's junk recordings, the sound is very clean/balanced that there's not that sensation of that "compressed" and "digital" sound I heard with any other speakers in the past, though I also never had the other components that I feel really help things out a lot.
I could certainly listen for hours with the AP2, but it just would not sound ok for me. I have been theorizing if "any" USB converter can even sound good in my system. I know for fact that the Off Ramp was night/day superior that it literally made the AP2 sound very poor. It was not something so subtle as to say this was better, that was better...the Off Ramp just flat out was like a real and true digital based product. If I was convinced enough with the USB converter path, I would be in line for the OR5 without any doubt because what's $1200 if you know it's as good as any converter is going to sound now, and maybe even some good deal of time down the road. But until I hear an OR5 in my system without having to pay some kind of re-stocking fee, I'd do this knowing it's a free trial. At this point, though, and in my system, as I say, these converters just do not work for whatever reason it is. To my ears, the sound is very much so subtracting than it is adding. A quite silly comparison is going to Youtube (silly because we know that garbage quality of sound). But even on Youtube, final mixes of songs being produced are "heavily" emphasizing the midrange/treble, much the same as what I have heard with the USB converters. There is a very beautiful tune, and both my friend and I agreed that the final mix sounds absolutely terrible by comparison to the original or at least previous mix of the song.
Recently, I spoke with a second person that sold his AP2. I have only seen and spoke with both sellers of the AP2 to get an idea of their thoughts, without mentioning how it compares to this/that/etc...just how is is general and obviously why/what they replaced it with. Considering how many of the AP2's that have sold, probably the most of any device aside from maybe a Hiface or other cheap converter. First person said it was an incredible device, worked wonderfully in his secondary system, but that he sold it because it was a system made for family purposes (i.e. visitors), and it was a system that was simply too difficult for any normal person to turn on and make work. This person uses some crazy mega buck computer setup for his main system at his office if I recall. The recent person said he felt it was a slight upgrade from the Hiface, but was only an "ok" device. He said that an Off Ramp 3 he once had is the only converter he has ever used that had a sound he would consider to be "quality"...he termed it as "elite", but point in case is a very outdated OR3 was able to transform his system, but the AP2 was only "ok", and the Hiface slightly inferior to the AP2. This person now uses the Tranquility SE, but is going to be selling it soon. He's still trying to find his way through a higher end USB based dac/converter in one solution or even something further up the scale in price.
What I got from these two sellers is that seller 1, like the majority, loved the AP2, and speaks highly like probably 99% others out there do. The second one has been through loads of equipment and continues to go through loads of it, but he had a very clear mind about what devices have been those that truly stand out and those that may be good, but are only "ok" vs. the truly good ones.
In the end, I have seen only two of these for sale. I have never seen an AP1 for sale. This should be enough evidence that the AP2 works wonders for again, the 99% out there
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I did not realize it, but Dave is correct in that the OR5 is still in production stages, and has not been officially released. There is a decent list waiting for the production model, but the confusing thing to me is how the OR4 is still up and with the price the OR5 will be, so I am, nor did I ask Steve what exactly I or anyone would be buying if they were to pay $1200, if anything. It could be he is just not producing any Off Ramps at this time until the OR5 is set to go. As Dave said it, and as I'll always say it, best to simply send an email if you or anyone is interested in it.
AP2 gets battery supply for $450 additional, at least that was the price I got from Philip. But add this up, and you now have basically the price of an OR5. Still, I'd listen to both since I don't know what exactly the sound level of the device will be with this new mod.
Regarding the article that Steve wrote, it is entirely biased. It's like reading about why an amplifier designed a certain way sounds the best. Reminds me of reading about the Linkwitz Orions and his LOADS of information...obviously the guy is a wealth of information and does know a thing or two about transducers, but his speakers are "ok" but at the same time rather poor in three different listening sessions I have heard them in. So end of day, designers can write an entire library of books, but the best they can do is "promote" their products by justifying them via blah blah blah, and more blah...
