Matt - I can see how everyone can have different experiences with the Antipodes server. The earlier ones did not have the really good linear power supply. Also, if they are not driving USB out to a low-jitter USB interface, this can make a big difference. That is aside from the systems that they were used in, which probably had lots of ground-loops and substandard active preamps etc... Lots to go wrong there, and usually does at these shows. Many times the room cost is shared and it ends up a mish mosh of different hardware and cables that adds up to crap sound. Very few exhibitors are even capable of achieving a great sound at a show, even on the third day when everything should be broken in.
The point is that if it sounds crappy at a show, it may be due to other system things. On the other hand if it sounds great at a show, it will probably perform well at home. Then you have to root out the real weaknesses in your system.
Matt - have you thought about breaking all of the ground-loops in your system? This is the next major step IMO. I have zero ground-loops in my system and it is dead quiet and spooky clear.
Steve N.