Dave I'm surprised you said it's better than the Berkeley Alpha... I thought that was the current "ToTL".

Do you mean the Berkeley Alpha USB?  General user reviews were pretty ambivalent once it came out.  Everyone was hoping it'd sound like the second coming, but based on feedback, it seemed like a marginal increase over what was already out there (Wavelength WaveLink, Weiss INT 202, etc.), and probably not worth the $2k MSRP.  Several used units all went up on Agon several weeks after the Alpha USB was released, which I take as another warning indicator.

The positive remarks on the Empirical Off-Ramp is pretty intriguing.  I've found it difficult to find feedback on Empirical products, other than on their own community, and occasional posts here and there.  Used Empirical DACs and complete digital systems usually get snapped up pretty quickly on marketplaces.

Quote from: Analixus on April 11, 2013, 04:25:29 AM

It should be interesting when purrin gets his non turbo clock w/ HDMI regulators.  I'll hopefully have a sufficient enough auditory memory which has been relatively decent in the past.  I know some think anything beyond a few seconds is impossible but at least we have notes to compare with a minimum of variables.  I certainly won't hesitate to recommend saving $700 if that's the case.

Cool...after reading about it, that would be the configuration that I would want to hear!

DELIVERY TIME
Well, Steve shipped this to me really fast. Mucho faster than the "45 days" indicated on the order. This is always a good thing to note because it seems in the headphone world, additional one year waits from the initially stated delivery times are an acceptable practice.

SETUP AND CONFIGURATION
I've had the thing plugged in and running music into the DAC for a few days now. I only elected to get the Hynes regulator for the HDMI I2S output since I am using I2S to the PWD2.

TURBO-CLOCK OR NO TURBO-CLOCK.
From memory, the turbo-clocks do make a difference. However as Anax noted, the extreme separation and precise rendering of sounds with the turbo-clocks can make the treble dry or slightly artificial sounding. We are really splitting hairs though because the turbo-clocks do bring a lot of to the table and may even be preferable for certain kinds of recordings (speed metal or even pop).

I would say that my preference is without the turbo-clocks. I think the turbo-clocks could be too much of a good thing. Without the turbo-clocks, sounds are not as super articulate or precise, but this leaves the treble more relaxed and less tight-assed. Although I have to admit that sometimes I do yearn for the turbo-clocks. It's kind of a tough choice. It's possible my preference could change in the future. Ideally, a little button to activate turbo-clock mode would be a nice touch.

TESTING WITH NEW BATCH PWD2*
I'm going to see if the new PWD2s can be salvaged with the OR5. I think Paul@PSA mentioned to Anax that the culprit could be the digital input boards of the PWD2. If this is true, then the OR5 I2S (which bypasses the PWD receiver in Native mode and provides the clock signals) should cure Alex's PWD2.


*Some new batch PWD2 running 2.20 (cannot be downgraded) don't sound as good as the PWD1 units upgraded to 2. Alex's PWD2 (heard at the TX meet), when compared to the "good" units; 1) Seriously lacking in low and sub bass; 2) Has slightly more strident treble; 3) Gets congested upon complex musical passages; 4) Has slightly less macro-dynamics / flatter sounder; 5) Is a hair less in being able to reproduce the softest sounds and micro-detail.

Then we'll have to have a mini-meet, s1.
 
I'm thinking about Mountain View in June or July...I'll invite you regardless!

Seems like those who got the OR5 and reported it being great are all using I2S output to their PWDMKII.

Since my DAC has no I2S and will be using AES/EBU, I am wondering if it will be as fantastic a product.

The OR5, as it stands now, does not support Integer Mode for Mac. OR6 should be released in 6 months' time and it remained to be seen if that will support Integer Mode.

If not, maybe I will jump straight to the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB...