Ok
5 hours later … working from home today and listened to quite a few records (streaming only) and it’s definitely an improvement in sound quality.
There’s definitely something going on with the stereo image. It seems bigger and more extended side to side. Also, the sound is slightly more vivid. The differences aren’t night and day, but the music just sounds bigger to me.
Also, I was one of those ppl who did have the occasional skipping issue.
For me it was less of a Pop than a soft skip sound. It would usually happen about 2 or 3 times in a long listening session and often not at all.
It was obviously not a good thing but I was never all that irritated because it happened so quickly and then it was over.
Anyway, hasn’t happened at all today and I hope it’s gone.
I’m still considering a Pontus or Venus upgrade in the near future but going to live with this updated Area II for the time being
JS