Yes, Jim is the best.
Oh, I still think about the decision. Did I really hear what I heard? Was I imagining things. Luckily another great friend, Wayne, was there until the wee hours and he remembers the same things.
A wide, deep, and spacious soundstage with well defined accurate imaging. This was seductive in itself. But the best part was the overall musicality. While listening one could here details and resonances in both voices and instruments that before I'd not heard or noticed. The brush strokes of instruments were just right. And prat, I found myself tapping along to the music on my iPad many times without being aware I was doing this. We listened to such musical talents as Mahler, Sinatra, Scott Joplin, Louis and Ella, and the Decembrists, (plus everything in between) the DAC did everything with utter aplomb and believability.
And for you all wondering about the TranspOrt, well rest assured it is a key part of the sound. While the Level 4 DAC and TranspOrt were in my home we disconnected the two and plugged the TranspOrt into the PWD II. Could it cause the PWD to sound even better than the PWD II and Bridge? Oh YEAH , the PWD II never sounded better.
So maybe I could save some money and just buy a Lampizator Transport and use it with the PWD II? Well to my pocket book's dismay, when if plugged the L TranspOrt into the L DAC magical things started happening again. Nothing like a Lampizator DAC and TranspOrt!
For you PWD II fans, (and I still am a big fan of the PWD II and Bridge and may still keep them for a second system!) while the Bridge can and does sound great here is at least one other combination that makes the PWD II sound even better. Of course the Lampy stuff does cost more when comparing new to new, but there are several used Lampizator DACs available here on the Gon that don't cost as much as a new PWD II and sound incredibly better I might add.
When and if the guys from Stereophile, the Absolute Sound, or even HP himself, get one of the Lampizator combos in their hands be prepared for a SOTA review.
I will be glad to share my experiences and setups with the Lampizator duo as soon they arrive and are energized.
Steven