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Richy_Dingo
37
Oct 14, 2015
So straight away, I really want the Aune to be what I suspect it is: great value, great performing, solid quality and very capable. And I appreciate it that they're keeping up with a rapidly evolving market, rather than just flogging old models. So I'm not a hater here, just someone without the budget to make mistakes or get buyer's remorse. Suspect I'm not alone.
I've been watching previous Aune X1 drops that were for the previous "X1 Pro" (ie Gen 4?) version that IIC brought in the DSD functionality I wanted to explore.
Price First thing for MassDrop - you've stated that the MSRP is $299.99, but the Aune website states, "Now , the X1S was sold now at Ebay , Amazon and all the shops ,the retial price is $249USD ,please contact our distributor in your Country for buying , thanks !" - Any comments?
Reviews Second thing - for both Aune and MassDrop - every time this X1 comes up, you see people quite rightly scratching their heads thinking, "OK so this isn't an insignificant sum, but it seems to tick all the boxes, but can anyone tell me if this is any good? and How does it compare to xxxxxx?" - someone's posted a head -fi review from an early adopter audiophile and it's pretty good, but IMHO, the market is swamped with DACs in the sub 200 buck range so you need more than one person's / one website's review to get people to commit. Maybe that's me superimposing my financial perspective on everyone else, but the dearth of reviews makes for a riskier purchase. How about listing all the reviews up front? All I could find were the Head-fi ones like the one below, but the stem url should suffice.... head-fis are better than nothing but I do wish there were reviews from other sources. Also I suspect that head-fi reviews might be somewhat subjective or maybe prone to group think.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/aune-x1s-32bit-384khz-dsd-dac-headphone-amplifier/reviews/ http://www.head-fi.org/products/aune-x1s-32bit-384khz-dsd-dac-headphone-amplifier/reviews/14195
Compared to the previous model So am sure it's great and all that, but the higher price than it's predecessor ($159 was mentioned with a commenter saying that he found his online direct from China for $110) needs in my book a solid explanation. So the Aune website has some very high level technical specification comparisons between the previous and this model of the X1, but really it needs a reviewer to compare. Couldn't hurt for MD to republish the aune website info.
The DAC change from PCM1793 (X1 Pro) to ESS (X1s) doesn't really scream at me as being much better - I know there's a rave about the ESS right now but am really confused after reading this {http://www.headfonia.com/burson-conductor-ess9018-vs-pcm1793/) - so I'm not convinced.
I also noticed the 32bit / 384 (X1s) vs 24/96 (X1 Pro) for USB sourced signals. Sure it sounds better, but does it >>> SOUND<<< BETTER?
Summary So with the much higher price, together with a lack of reviews and justification for the price hike means that sadly I'm going to either wait till the price becomes more attractive or just pick up the Mk4. It's a DAC and headphone amp: Models are coming out all the time and competition is fierce - lucky Mr Consumer. I highly suspect if I listened to both the X1s and the X1Pro in real world, the only thing I'd notice every day is the extra cash in my pocket. Again, no budget to make mistakes.
Expand the review base, drop the price, give more real world information on your website on what it will and won't do and then we'll talk.....
PS: Where's the sexy white version that was shown at the Munich Audio Fair?
insomnyteq
15
Oct 15, 2015
Richy_Dingowow that's pretty in depth, id like to see the $110 version of this =) i looked as hard as could google but no luck. every review ive read has this as avery good DAC /amp combo, which is why im the 1 dolt who who purchsed it. I found some onlione for $219+ shipping, but tbh i dont trust those vendors, the devil you know right?
Idk i have a few sub $300 DACs and tbh i noticed a difference with the 1x pro, over my modi and modi 2 uber, and also my freind Bifrost so for $240 shipped ( unless you people join in...lol) its worth it to me to find out if the 32bit resolution is worth it or not. i mean its $200... in the audio world, that's hardly a placebo silver cable =P
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