Keep in mind that the equipment used in testing is both portable and home.
Sources: iPod Touch, Zhaolu 2.5 w/ passive output stage *no op-amps* (Auzen Cinema>Toslink, Marantz CD5001>Coaxial)
Pre-amp:
Yamaha CA-600 pre-amp outs *used only when doing the home setup - killer pre-amp outputs*
Cables: iPod - ((UPOCC solid/stranded copper + UPOCC solid silver, 6 wire) , (greater than 7/9 purity copper in micro porous teflon with a unique structure, 6 wires), and (UPOCC silver, 5 strands)). RCA - UPOCC silver in cotton + Tefon tube and UPOCC copper in Teflon
Headphones: Modded and silver/copper recabled (6 wire) ESW9 (see sig), Modded and recabled UPOCC copper (6 wire) CD1000,
and silver/copper (w/rhodium plated copper pins) recabled (4 wire) FreQShow
If you don't think that the Pico, Move series, and maybe the iQube are not worth the price, then you should look elsewhere because portables are not for you. I can say that the clarity and control it delivers for the price of a home amp is about what you would expect and IMO more (granted tried 32ohm headphones or lower). The fact that it is portable, long battery life, and tiny to boot to me represents a true value.
If you are looking for a comparison with the Pico....they are two different sound signatures. Pico is a lush sound while the P-51 is a bit punchier. The advantage to me is that the P-51 has more clarity (distinctly), more extension on the top and bottom, and control while the Pico has a bit more soundstage and better imaging overall. At least to my ears...the Pico sounds more relaxed and about nuance while the P-51 is about clarity and control. The Pico can make a bad recording/lower bitrate listenable and the P-51 can make it sound worse/reveal the badness. *Please keep in mind that this is based on previous experience with the amp and currently having both on hand.*
Fortunately, I have been able to try out many of the top portable amps out there (sans the Larocco) and this one replaced the Pico as my personal favorite. Please also note that I have not been a big fan of the RSA sound signature found in his other portable amps as they all seemed colored and darker than I cared for.
As far as synergy(I hate that buzzword, but w/e) goes, I am hearing amazing synergy between the ESW9 (modded and recabled - see sig) and the modded CD1000 - both were expected as I had tried regular ESW9 and my modded CD1000 with the P-51 before. Is it replacing my SSMH design based amplifier? Nope. (Granted that my particular amp represents hours of work and ~$225 in raw parts before shipping. Plus it has been specifically tuned for the CD1000). One is tube hybrid and one is SS. In this way, they are definitely compliments to each other. Though if for some tragic reason I was forced to sell my tube amp, I definitely could live with the Mustang for a while.
Right now, I am dying to open this thing up out of personal curiosity. If someone tells me that it won't void the warranty, I am totally taking a look. Ray can post pics if he wants to
YMMV and this is IMO with the ~31Hours of Burn-in thus far. IT IS NOT A REVIEW!!!! just a little opinion
