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Thanks for your impressions... I think some will find them useful.
To my ears, O2 sounds pretty neutral and this is confirmed to my ears with LCD-2 rev2 since they together create a very balanced combo. It does not have a flaw - bass is flat and detailed (but not overemphasised), mids are neutral, voices are full but not sibilant at all (this could be with using aftermarket cables with emphasised highs = 99% of cases in my evidence) and treble is exactly where it should be (except the peak around 10khz which is not painful but emphasised drums a bit more than ideal at times). I think the combination of those two is VERY good... I am sure some may find it sound boring. Yes, if you want FUN sound with heavy soundstage etc., buy aftermarket cables and brighter amps = you're done.
I am very suspicious about those claims that one cable/DAC/amplifier outclasses another one... I've tried different quality adaptors and interconnects and realise that even though the differences exists, it was all about different frequency response. Therefore I saved myself tons of money and stayed with what the manufacturer intended - the stock cable and no 1/4 - 1/8 adaptors. I've also tried different amps like Burson HA-160, Icon HD, Fiio E9/E11 and even heard some vintage speaker amps... They do sound different but guess if someone tuned the FR of them to be as neutral as of O2 (and test them with the same DAC), the difference would be near-to-zero to human's ears (maybe except that speaker amp that distorted too much).
I suspect that all that better sound you are talking with magni is connected with slightly different frequency response... The feeling of separation and better soundstage is connected with treble - I hope you are aware. Using cable with emphasised certain high frequencies will give you that - the feeling of more airy sound etc. But it's not a technically better device, just different. Measurements do not show lower distortion or noise with Magni/Modi, as far as I know. As O2 certainly have enough power to driver LCD-2 even at the worst cases, underpowering cannot be the cause here. As I said before, ultra high-end professional amps/DAC do have very similar specs to O2/ODAC. Enthusiastic audiophile amplifiers/DACs do not.
Still, I have no problem with someone prefering Magni, Modi... Our preferences differ. That's how it should be to keep this hobby interesting.
I'm not sure why you brought up different adapters or interconnects. Those are separate issues from amps.
The O2 is surely a nice amp, it met its designs goals, no doubt. However just because the O2 measures well, etc
doesn't make it musical, involving, or even enjoyable.
The Magni has a different implementation from O2, so of course there's going to be differences. Likewise, many, many other amps will be different.
IMO, the O2 is too sharp or sparky in the treble region, and doesn't read as neutral to me. I'm also of the opinion that the O2
lacks overall control in areas of bass comparatively to other amps.
I would recommend you try to spend more time with as much gear as you possibly can get ahold of. I've heard a lot of amps
and while the O2 is better than many more expensive out there, it also simply falls short of many other amps.
And from the beginning I never said the O2 couldn't drive the LCD-2, I just said it's not a world-beater, and in fact, would be the bottleneck,again comparatively to other available amps.
While the O2 is fine if your budget allows it, there are "better" matches and that's all I simply suggested.
