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Jail4banksters
86
Sep 22, 2018
Weird, I can't add this to the review section, or find a way to give star ratings, so I'll put this in discussion... This is a review of the X7s with the HD6xx's. I'm lucky, I have a big boy hi-fi. It is a Linn MDSM/2, and I also have an Oppo 105D. In other words I have a couple of world-class DAC units. I have single strands of cable that cost more than this amp. I know that sounds dickish, but all I'm really trying to say that hey, I have a good system, and good ears. I bought the X7s because I wondered if I could improve on what I was getting out of the HDxx's from the 6.5 mm jacks of my two incredible DACs. To make a long story short, when I connect the amp via RCA cables (Linn blacks) to either one of the two DACs, it does make the headphones sound better. More grunt, more slam in the low end, a little bit smoother, just generally more of everything, in a good way. These observations come from using a stock Senn 6.5 mm headphone jack on all three units, the two DACs alone, and then the amp connected to each of the DACs and to my LG v30 via a 3.5mm to RCA adapter, so five different conditions. Presently, my favorite condition is the Oppo into the Aune. It surprises me, the Linn does deliver a little bit more detail, but the Oppo just does a better job at putting out a little bit more sparkle, which I think the 650s need because they're so ....650. Maybe that'll change later as I swap back over to Linn, but I'm really enjoying the Oppo to Aune right now. Linn's concept of how to build a hi-fi is, "source first". So for those of you thinking about whether to buy the combo or the amp alone, if you don't have a good source, think about getting the combo first. It seems many commenters here are saying the amp in the X7s is better. But consensus holds the DAC in the combo is pretty good. Use the combo as a stepping stone, sell it when you get a little bit more money and buy a stand alone DAC, and the X7s. And then keep going in a never-ending upgrade cycle. I'm now almost exclusively using the XLR output on the Aune amp. I got a $45 XLR cable off eBay, it's decent enough with the overall setup value, and I will comment that the XLR cable has increased the output, and the general goodness, of the system. I'm burying the lead here, because my main purpose for writing this review was to speak to the issues several people here are commenting on. I also am having hum/buzz issues with the amp. I bought the above XLR cables for the 650s, and now when I use them this hum is even louder. I get no hum when listening directly via 6.5 mm from either of the excellent DACs. The hum is also much less when listening to the 6.5 mm jack on the Aune. Because of this I'm guessing Aune has some issues either with its board or its power supply. I did an interesting test where I went around my house, turned off everything in the panel except for my hi-fi circuit (and all the hifi equipment), and then listened to see if I could decrease the hum. No improvement. I then turned off everything at the breaker except one of my (ungrounded) kitchen splits, plugged in the amp and still had the same amount of hum using both jacks on the amp. Clearly I have some garbage power in my apartment building, which I guess is par for the course given the circuitry in an apartment building. But then I walked 2 m outside my apartment door, and plugged the amp into a dedicated circuit for the fire department. This immaculately grounded, never used circuit, had completely no hum, and was inky black on both the Aune amps 6.5 mm and XLR outputs into the 650s. Another poster here has linked to an improved power supply that Aune is now offering. Given that the rest of my hyper expensive system doesn't exhibit this problem, I'm gonna guess that Aune has made a nice $200 amp, but has some serious compromises in its power supply or other parts of its topology that make this unit susceptible to dirty power. Maybe that's why this different power supply is now on offer on their website. So if you got hum issues with the amp, you're not alone, you're not crazy, it's clearly a shortcoming in this device. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a proper power conditioner for my big boy system, and I've decided that I'm going to take a little plunge and start with something called the PS Audio Dectet. On the rare occasions I use the headphone set up I would like to have this hum issue eliminated, and it probably wouldn't hurt the rest of my system. If nothing else it would provide a decent amount of protection from this noise, and more importantly power surge issues. I'm also going to drop some money on some nice Hubble plugs for my whole hi-fi circuit (sadly not a dedicated line), which people say is also helpful in the never ending search for perfection. I'll try to report back here on if it helps the amp hum in any way. So if you've read this far, yes, buy the amp. I find it amazing that, to my ears, it can improve on the sound from my two spectacular DACs. Both units have dedicated headphone circuitry, and do a great job on their own, but the Aune X7s amp adds just that little bit more. Is it 200 bucks more? Yes. Edit: I now have the Dectet, and the hum wasn't reduced at all. I'm now finally going to organize a proper ground from panel to equipment, and all the other outlets on the circuit. Maybe this sensitivity of the Aune to crappy power can be viewed as a feature...a power analyser?
(Edited)
Kyaaaaaaaaaa
13
Sep 24, 2018
Jail4bankstersThank you for your input -- even though i am probably not buying these, not this time ;w;
andrewdoan
27
Jan 10, 2019
Jail4bankstersThere are several complaints of the buzz, loud hum if you set the gain to mid or high gain. Mine has the same loud hum at high gain and the hum can be reduced a bit at no gain setting. So it may not be your " dirty power line". It seems like a hum from the transfomer. I contact Aune and the seller oversea. Their answer was their X7s should not produce hum or buzz. Oh, well. It's very typical kind of not so good customer service to me. I have no choice but to keep the X7s but I rarely use it.
(Edited)
Jail4banksters
86
Jan 13, 2019
andrewdoanI've subsequently rewired my hifi circuit, finally connecting ground correctly back to the panel, pigtailing all connections. I then bought a PS Audio Dectet, and a Porter Port receptacle, and have Shunyata venom on the way for various components. All of this has brought greater insight, control, and definition in my big boy hifi, but only a slight reduction in the Aune buzz. However, the Aune not having any hum at all when I plug it into the fireman's circuit in the hall, less than a meter as the crow flies from my panel still points to my home's electrical supply as sole culprit. But that does still highlight the fact the Aune (it's quasi XLR topology) is sensitive, or not properly shielded against the vagaries of typical household wiring. But for two hundred bucks, stfu and buy it, as it does what it promises.
andrewdoan
27
Jan 13, 2019
Jail4banksters"But for two hundred bucks, stfu and buy it, as it does what it promises." - Jail4bankers. Allow me to rebutt, Not with the buzz and the hum ! Caveat Emptor. Where do you get the X7s for $200.00 new ? stfu , That 's pretty strong language from a person I do not know from Adam. Shunyata does not impress me. I have my Bryston 4bsst the Pre PB26 connected to the Shunyata PS8 but frankly It's pure snake oil. The only reason I bought the Shunyata was the owner of a hi-end audio shop went out of business. Your hostile comment cannot stop me from telling the potential buyers what is wrong with the X7s . You must have some association with Penion Audio or Aune. The last time I've checked, this is America and my freedom of speech is in tact. Especially, my testimony of the buzz and hum of the X7s could save some potential end users a lot of headache. Please do not reply since I do not want to associate with a stranger who loves to use profan language. Good day.
(Edited)
Jail4banksters
86
Jan 21, 2019
andrewdoanProfane, intact, First Amendment<< (capitalised). My apologies, social media has tended to exacerbate everyone's narcissism, especially the yoots, making innocuous posts like this seem like grounds for a duel to some. It was more of an exhortation on a quasi-public, globally available website to all who read this post, to not hesitate too much if thinking of buying one. I'm hoping the Aune people are also seeing this, as I too am irritated by the hum. I was trying to highlight the fairly costly steps I've taken, which had only a middling impact, to minimise hum (Aune: showing up on mid gain using XLR) caused by my apartment's wiring, but wanted everyone reading this to know the X7s does run absolutely quietly every time I plug into the fireman's circuit one meter (that's approximately three feet four inches for those who are lucky enough to have a First Amendment, but arrive 27th in OECD educational system rankings last I checked) as the crow flies from my apartment's electrical panel. Should a well designed audio power supply reject this hash? Yes! Did any other of my hifi components have this problem? No. Have my other components benefited from these tweaks? Golly gosh willikers yes! The X7s still exhibits noticeable hum on my, now significantly optimised, hifi circuit. Is this acceptable for a $200 amp? I'll agree, probably not. Does this mean it will hum on any typical residential electrical system? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the key question you're probably asking yourself if you're reading this. Does anyone else use a comparably priced, Class A, half XLR amp that hums, or doesn't? It's not mission critical for me, so I'm not going to change, but suggestions will certainly be valuable to others reading this. And you too Aune! I'm now in touch with somebody to try to source an Environmental Potentials Digiplug ($175) to see if that will harvest the noise on my circuit. There are several manufacturers who make devices like this starting from $100ish to sky's the limit. I'll continue to report if the Digiplug clears things up. If you're counting, it seems I'll have spent nearly a thousand dollars (new retail pricing plus shipping) to eliminate the hum in this amp. I'm really doing it to provide the best possible environment for the main hifi. The Aune is doing a fantastic job being the canary in the coal mine, while helping my mid-fi 650's sound better when used. In my home, using my equipment, to my ears, electrical tweaks (contiguous ground is a must) have made an audible, very profound, impact on my system. To my ears, and I never thought I'd say this out loud: power cords and plugs make a big difference once your system has reached a certain level. I'm pretty certain I got my X7s for $199 plus shipping.
(Edited)
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