Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2Di

A lot of love seems to go to JDS Labs in America and I couldn't see a review for this particular version of the Objective 2 offering from Britain's Epiphany Acoustics, so I thought I'd add one. I hope that's OK. Admin/mods - if you want to roll this up with one of the other O2 listings, that's fine by me.
 
Basically, this unit is the same as the EHP-O2D with the power socket moved to the rear and the addition of RCA out sockets. For a far more detailed review of the D, check out Quadpatch's review here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/epiphany-acoustics-ehp-o2d
 
So what's different with the addition of the letter 'i'? Well, it doesn't mean Epiphany have integrated Apple functionality of some kind - the only differences are minor, but key.
 
If, like me, you have no requirement for a portable amp/DAC, then it's kind of irksome to have ugly things like power jacks dangling out of the front of your kit. The i fixes that by moving it to the rear. Nice.
 
The other difference - and this is the one that won me over - is the addition of RCA outs to the rear. This means that the ODAC can power the internal O2 amp for headphone use as before, but it can also be used to feed an external amp or active speakers (or a headphone amp with analogue in of your choosing). That is the flexibility I needed.
 
Power for the ODAC is drawn from the USB, so you don't even need to turn the EHP-O2Di on to enjoy it with a speaker set-up. The amp is powered by a wall wart.
 
The build is solid and it looks like Epiphany Acoustics have done a great job of putting it together. I've had it less than a week, so I'll update if there are any problems, but I don't expect them. 
 
First impressions? Upon opening the box; is that it? Like other posters on here, the O2 form factor is surprisingly small in the 'metal'. All the connections feel solid though and personally, I like the utilitarian aesthetics, but I can see why people who want to supplement their shiny iMacs might grumble (and I speak as an iMac owner!) Schiit certainly looks the part more. Upon plugging it in and and hitting play? Well, that was easy! No drivers, no configuring - literally plug n play. The sound? Much like opening the box; is that it?
 
Fast forward a few days and 'is that it?' turns into a positive, rather than a demerit. This little box of tricks just gets out of the way and conveys the music the way it was recorded in an impressively understated manner. No fuss, no frills, just pure music. I'd read so much about the O2, the ODAC and NWAVGUY that I guess I was expecting some kind of epiphany (pun intended!) and when it didn't happen? I'll be honest, I was disappointed. But having listened to a wide range of music, from Miles Davis to Metallica and Beethoven to Chemical Brothers, there is nothing that doesn't sound good through it. I've found that normally, while one genre can sound great in a set-up, another suffers, but that just hasn't happened so far.
 
TBH, the DAC section doesn't seem to add a lot over my el-cheapo Lindy/Maplin DAC that cost less than a third at £40. The key difference is what it *doesn't* add - hum, hiss, buzz or any other kind of interference. The background noise just isn't there. The amp section does sound better than the 'phones out on my integrated amp (Yamaha AS-500), but still, it's hardly a revelation.
 
I noted that Quadpatch found the non-i version to sound warm, but I didn't get that through my AKG K271 (although I do find them very cold anyway). Through my new Takstar Pro 80s and this set-up is delivering exactly the sound I'm looking for on a budget, with no EQ or tone control. I've also tested this unit with Sennhesier PX200s, throwaway Apple earbuds and a pair of crappy Sony over-ears from the local supermarket and I've not heard anything other than enjoyable audio. Well, apart from the earbuds, but that's hardly this unit's fault... I look forward to finding out how this unit scales with more expensive equipment as I can afford to collect it.
 
How does the DAC sound with speakers? In my very limited experience, brilliant. The fact that I can answer that question is confirmation that Epiphany Acoustics made the right call by adding the RCA outs. I've done no A-B tests and only fed it to the AS-500 and Monitor Audio Silvers that form my desktop listening solution, but I'm more than happy with the results. I'd describe the sound as clear and full bodied, but that is likely due to the other components as much as the ODAC.
 
As an aside, I emailed Oliver at Epiphany asking about suitable USB cables and he came back with an Amazon link overnight. He didn't need to do that, but that's great customer service.
 
Will Epiphany Acoustics' EHP-O2Di revolutionise your audio system? Does it trounce far more expensive products? Will you never spend another penny / cent on audio kit? Probably not. To be honest, I have no idea. I just don't have the experience of other hardware to make that call. But if you want clean, unfettled audio for your computer audio system, then I can't see how you could find better for the money. I think - and this is just my opinion - that the ODAC serves up clean audio to the extent that I can't see why you need a different, more expensive solution. I freely admit that I may be wrong and I look forward to testing this theory in the future, as budget allows. But I don't feel the need to. This unit is well built and serves up clean sounding music every time. Over the days I have had the EHP-O2Di, I have enjoyed judging my test tracks, revisiting old favourites and exploring the dark recesses of my music library. Isn't that what it's all about?
 
Why only four stars? The looks are a bit pedestrian, and as hardware, it just doesn't 'feel' like the best consumer kit does - it feels like a mod kit because I guess that's what it is. Remember that, and you won't go far wrong. If this all sounds too glowing, I have no affiliation with Epiphany Acoustics and no commercial interest. I just love great sounding music and really appreciate value for money. If my house got robbed tomorrow, would I buy another one? Too right I would!
 
NB: The price is £180 GBP, not $US