CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: Audiophilleo 1  (Read 2928 times)

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Anaxilus.

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Audiophilleo 1
« on: April 10, 2013, 08:09:27 PM »
Thanks to 'blue' for the loan of the $950 Audiophilleo 1 (AP1) USB>SPDIF converter!

After the smash that the OR5 was being mated to the PWD mk2, the AP1 is a bit of a let down for the price.  Inserting the AP1 inline between the PWDmk2 and PC actually added a very slight warmth and took a slight hit to micro detail.  Very very slight.  As in, if you aren't using an HD800 or better, you probably wouldn't even notice the difference.  However, some might prefer the hint of added warmth to their rig, but this is not added resolution in this case, the converter is warming it over ever so slightly in the case of the PWD's direct XMOS connection.  So, in this case, the AP1 is not worth the addition to my desktop chain.  However, it actually does work when paired with some lesser USB/SPDIF DACs. 

To test this, I added the $950 AP1 to my $260 Leckerton UHA6S mk2.  Compared to its USB implementation, the AP1 feeding coax to the DAC sounded clearer and more precise with tighter imaging.  It lifted a bit of fog from the portable DAC/Amp.  Is this worth the cost?  Not in my opinion  Why?  See below.

I next compared the AP1 feeding the UHA6S mk2 to the ODAC feeding the same via LO.  The ODAC, though a slightly bit less precise, was never fuzzy, was also more dynamic, open, clear and powerful.  Likewise, pretty much the same for the Modi.  Though the AP1 does sound more 'refined' (less grainy, more smooth) than the other two.  It could very well be that the SPDIF on the UHA6S is not as adept as the PWD mk2 which would account for the larger discrepancy on my portable rig compared to my desktop rig.  Or the fact these are just completely different DACs so the comparison versus a converter on an inferior DAC implementation is flawed at best.

To sum up, the AP1 does do SPDIF coversion.  It's no OR5.  :'(  Is it worth $950?  :-Z 
« Last Edit: April 10, 2013, 08:34:01 PM by Analixus »
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shipsupt

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2013, 08:34:05 PM »
(Un)Fortunately I don't have the OR5 to compare the AP1 to, but I can say that you aren't getting everything out the AP1 without the PurePower option.  I found this out when the power plug for the PP was not firmly inserted and came loose during some equipment movement.  (Come to find out this little design quirk is somewhat well known.)  When the battery eventually lost power and the AP1 reverted to using USB power the difference in sound was very noticeable, enough for me to start searching for problems in my system. 

I'm happy that I'm doing what I can do to get a good signal to my DAC.  I'm confident that the AP is doing its job, especially working with the PP.  It sounds good with the NAD M51.  Buying used makes this kind of gear a bargain.

A few of my thoughts and questions if I was in the market again:
Which specific DAC am I planning on using and do I want to feed it SPDIF or HDMI? Or something else?
Why doesn't Audiophilleo come with the PurePower as standard?  It drives the price right up into the same ballpark as the OR and it's not going to stand up next to a good DAC with a good USB implementation without it.
Unless you really want the nifty interface and are super OCD and like playing with all the little settings, get the AP2.
With all I've heard about the offramp, and now that a few people I know and trust personally have heard it, I might just make another purchasing decision myself.
 
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Marvey

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2013, 08:46:37 PM »
The AP1 sounded a hair less focused and less dynamic compared to the PWD2|fw.203's USB implementation on my speaker system. I think there have been more than a few reports out there that the PWD2 already has a decent/good USB implementation. I'm sure the "digital lens" thing also helps. So perhaps this trial with the PWD2 is not the best test for the AP1.


I still have the Invicta. We can test that out before I send the Invicta out to Romy.
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blue

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2013, 09:27:11 PM »
I sent this in along with the OR5 not only to see which was better (I thought these things were snake-oil beforehand... goes to show...) but also to see if it was worth getting the PP pack upgrade on the AP1.

I guess I'll wait to see how it goes with the Invicta ... but if a 1000 dollar component needs that 400 dollar upgrade to have an impact then it's pretty much shit.
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Marvey

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2013, 09:55:08 PM »
Quote from: blue on April 10, 2013, 09:27:11 PM
I sent this in along with the OR5 not only to see which was better (I thought these things were snake-oil beforehand... goes to show...) but also to see if it was worth getting the PP pack upgrade on the AP1.

I guess I'll wait to see how it goes with the Invicta ... but if a 1000 dollar component needs that 400 dollar upgrade to have an impact then it's pretty much shit.


 :)p13

LMAO - I just spit my afternoon coffee over my monitor. I hope my bad attitude and crankiness is not infectious...


P.S.

BTW, I am getting the OR5 without the $$$ turboclock upgrades, but the less expensive Hynes regulator for the HDMI output. So we'll see if the Empirical box still does it magic. I know the OR5 we reviewed had the turboclocks, but no Hynes regulator for HDMI.
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Mr.Sneis

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2013, 10:13:20 PM »
Does it use plain jane hdmi cable or super star dust hdmi cable?
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Marvey

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2013, 10:22:44 PM »
I used Radio Shack USB and HDMI cables.
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Mr.Sneis

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2013, 10:32:54 PM »
Ah!  Clearly the $500 hdmi cable they sell is totally worth it then...  Good to know the pinouts aren't weird or anything then.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2013, 10:33:30 PM »
I used $150 Monster HDMI cables I got on clearance for $10.
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Marvey

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Re: Audiophilleo 1
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2013, 10:53:10 PM »
They sell a $500 HDMI cable?
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