I'm late to this, by far, but still...
I have the aR1p and now the aR2p-T (Teflon) version. The difference between the two is extremely significant. The ar1p seems slightly dark and rich, but nonetheless excellent. It does have a slightly "processed" sound (exceedingly minor).
The 2T version is like a direct-to-disc sensation when compared to the 1. Also, instruments seem vastly more "real" in the sense of hearing all the dynamic inflections, carrying it away from "Memorex" and much, much closer to "Live."
In other words, get THIS before you buy any more equipment, and you'll be able hear - nearly instantly -what any gear you're auditioning sounds like. In other words, (all?)distortions being gone, the contributions of all your gear is revealed to you.
This is a killer piece of equipment. The last time I heard something that made look at it/them twice with mouth agog was the Hurricane amps. This Audience piece? It brings REALITY into your system. a $30,000 speaker upgrade MIGHT do this, too, but if I can get a $30,000 upgrade for $1600, I'll take the latter. The Audience Teflon units can do that. I tried the aR2p, the non-Teflon unit ($695) as well, by the way. NO CONTEST. Like....NONE.NADA.ZILCH.NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE.
Oh, and did I mentioned that I've had mine for less than 96 hours and it's still breaking in, and the 500 hour mark is when, supposedly, it's all done?!?!? Although, I bet at 200 hours, it sounds pretty killer. 400 hours to go and IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS ALREADY?!
OY!!!!!!!!