Expanse > Utopia > Verite ~= Empyrean

Can't really say one is better than the other when comparing Verite and Empyrean, it's more a situation where they're different. Whereas Expanse is better in every regard than the others to my ears. One exception being I think the Utopia wins just in terms of pure "open-ness" in that they're more speaker-like. Yet the Expanse still feels like the notes stand out more even though there's more open-ness in the Utopia.

I would say the Utopia sounds like there's nothing but clear air between the notes, hence it feeling open. Whereas the Expanse goes even further and it's almost as if there's a vacuum between the notes, thus my "black hole" comment about the background. Hope that makes sense.

They're all fantastic, at this level I'm really nitpicking. There is something special about the Expanse though, I just find myself coming back to that one for hours upon hours and ultimately that's what matters. They're also the most comfortable (Empyrean close second)

Yeah, there's a bump around 200Hz and the bass does feel fuller but not so far it's distorted like when I run my Utopia (which has an even larger impedance hump). Also the tubes will add some harmonic resonance on their own across the rest of the spectrum.

Yeah, I'm using exactly that. Can also wire directly to the taps, just solder some speaker wire to a 4pin XLR.

My girlfriend swapped the amps 10 times and 10 /10 I could tell which was the R800i. Nice try though, pinkcunt.