1) What's the point of having the OR5 if you can just listen to Steve's DAC? I was unclear how you were discussing DAC's and then you switched to converters?
This is a shootout between converters, so we will use the S/PDIF inputs on both my DAC and his DAC. Apples-to-apples.
2) What's the point of having different cabling? Steve says the cabling should not make much/any difference, but even if there is, you should have cabling that is good to your ears, and that's all that matters.
An expensive USB cable may give an advantage to Diverter or Off-Ramp. It's better to use a generic $10 cable and make the comparison. Otherwise, its converter plus $600 cable, not just converter.
I'm sure we will try his expensive USB cable as well on both if we have time.
3) Brings me to next point=what is the point having Steve around when only you can decide what works best for you? Even if the Diverter is clearly superior, will Steve want to hear what exactly is superior, wouldn't he want to hear it in his system, in a room at an RMAF show side by side with his own component/s, etc. etc.? In the end, it's all subjective, and only you as a listener of your own system can say what you want to have in your setup.
The problem is that he does not have many hi-res tracks to use in the comparison. I have world-class tracks. Also, we already know he is using one of the poor versions of Amarra. I need to install the good one on his laptop.
All of these will improve our chances of making a good comparison.
If you have full range speakers, you won't need the subs. Sure, it's fun to bring them into the session to increase the potential system SPL, but otherwise, they are useless in terms of resolution that your full range speakers will or should already be providing/at least giving you the tones/cues/etc.
I agree, but maybe his full-range speakers are limited and need the subs. Its okay with me.
Steve N.