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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 6, 2012 20:59:29 GMT
Aune are sending me over the T1 DAC for review ( www.hifidiy.net/24-31-1.html ) when I'm finished auditioning it I will pass it around any interested "been here a while" members so they too can audition it. Mike.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2012 21:40:25 GMT
Mike, please put me on the list but well down it I like to hear new gear but do not think my aged ears are up to offering any meaningful (to others). My comparison DAC would be my Beresford Caimanised 7520 with metal canned OPA111 op-amps which I and others who've heard it rate quite highly. TIA.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Jul 7, 2012 0:58:11 GMT
What tube does it use?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 7, 2012 7:09:29 GMT
I'm getting all the details sent to me and will have a word with Candy after the weekend. It certainly "looks" awesome doesn't it? The top mount volume knob, the valve poking out of the top... VERY sexy indeed, I'm really looking forward to listening to this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 8:52:55 GMT
It reminds me of the first CMoys in tins. The case almost looks like a tobacco tin!!
I do have a soft spot for Aune products. They seem to try so hard and I must admit, after the nonsense with the British postal service and how they couldn't find me to deliver the Mini Ape I would always return to the company. Candy was really fantastic in her help and although it was absolutely nothing to do with them, she was ready to send out another one.
I went on a walkabout in my area and found the parcel delivered (and signed for) by someone else half a mile away.
Candy was really good about it so I'd always return to a company who takes good care of customers in that way.
They need a little help with the English on the site. I know what they mean, but it would help them perhaps to have it in slightly more 'normal' English.
Is there a retail price for this, Mike?
It looks very interesting.
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funk1969
250+
Some things are so easily overlooked...
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Post by funk1969 on Jul 13, 2012 10:00:07 GMT
I'm curious for your impressions...
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 19, 2012 10:32:15 GMT
It arrived yesterday and.......
OMG!
Aune's best to date, without a shadow of a doubt... this little beauty is just amazing. Seperate AC transformer, onboard regulation, 24 bit.....
I'll be back with pictures and a full write up in the next couple of days.... in a nutshell, this thing rocks!!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 19, 2012 21:31:37 GMT
The Highlights:24 BIT resolution USB 2.0 high speed Tube headphone amplifier Electro Harmonix 6922 tube Linear power supply onboard (offboard AC transformer) High quality tube USB sound card Win7, Win8, MAC, Ipad, Vista, WIN XP support 30 second output delay circuit It's a beautifully built piece of kit and is so simple to operate, just plug it in, connect the USB cable to your computer and, voila!, glorious music You can also adjust the gain by flicking a few switches on the underside of the T1 and can choose between 0dB, 10dB and 16dB. The rear connections are Audio in, audio out, USB socket, on / off switch and power in (five core power cable socket).... the input voltage is 15V-0-15V (30V centre tapped) courtesy of a very chunky offboard transformer... far better than these awful switched mode efforts that seem to be supplied with everything these days. Aune are really onto a winner with the T1 DAC, the photos don't do it any justice, it's a solid little lump of DAC that is both tactile and aesthetically purposeful looking... the top mounted volume knob and 6922 tube glowing on top give it such a unique look I'm not sure if it's contemporary or retro, it could be either and that's a real indication of the design quality, I love it! The sound quality is quite simply stunning and deserves an in-depth appraisal which I will do in due course. For starters though I will be going into more detail about the appearance, the internals, the packaging, the price etc. This is one "slick" package and photos of the whole shebang will follow shortly.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Jul 19, 2012 22:38:44 GMT
Very nice looking unit! Have they decided on a price yet? Thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2012 22:57:53 GMT
Er yes! $199 delivered to The U S of A , or anywhere else for that matter.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 20, 2012 8:47:48 GMT
Very nice looking unit! Have they decided on a price yet? Thanks. I will have a word with Aune and establish what the price would be to us if we were to organise a group buy type of thing. Let me give it the once over and put it through it's paces then I'll send it around to a few members to see what they think.... IMO, it's a little gem.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2012 9:24:03 GMT
No driver to install, Mike? Just plug and play?
Aune are on the ball with the digital music stuff. Probably the way things are going and at least it offers a higher resolution which can't be bad. It has to be an improvement on the horrible sound cards in computers.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 20, 2012 9:50:47 GMT
No driver to install, Mike? Just plug and play? Aune are on the ball with the digital music stuff. Probably the way things are going and at least it offers a higher resolution which can't be bad. It has to be an improvement on the horrible sound cards in computers. Yup, just plug it in and it plays.... it'll be down with you next Ian so you'll see for yourself You may be pleasantly surprised by this one
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Jul 20, 2012 9:57:30 GMT
Look forward to you all's review/comments, thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2012 11:45:10 GMT
No driver to install, Mike? Just plug and play? Aune are on the ball with the digital music stuff. Probably the way things are going and at least it offers a higher resolution which can't be bad. It has to be an improvement on the horrible sound cards in computers. Yup, just plug it in and it plays.... it'll be down with you next Ian so you'll see for yourself You may be pleasantly surprised by this one Crikey ... Thanks Mike. I have Alex' usb stick here so some really nice rips to listen to on it too. I do have a soft spot for Aune gear, ever since I got that lovely amp followed by the Mini Ape which went awol when my Dad went. What I thought was really good was the way my missing unit was dealt with as well. Although it had been sent, tCandy was arranging to send another straight away but I managed to track it down in another place up the road!!! Not many companies would do that. They normally sit tight and tell you to wait for two weeks in case it turns up!! Very good service.
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Post by candyhifidiy on Jul 24, 2012 8:00:12 GMT
Hello Mike , this is Candy , thanks for your good job , i am looking forward the whole review for the T1 .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2012 17:36:13 GMT
Hi Candy,
I'm using the SS amp made by Aune and it is also very good via usb from the computer. Mike seems to like the new T1 and I bet he's having a very nice time with it at the moment!!
We're all looking forward to what he says about it.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 28, 2012 20:58:56 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 7, 2012 22:20:35 GMT
As can be seen from the above photos ^ the build quality is first class and good quality components are used throughout. The 30 second delay is quite nifty, when you switch on the valve begins to glow and you think that's it.... it's not! 30 seconds later you hear a re-assuring "click" and the valve glows a lovely shade of blue (once the protection circuit kicks in the valve lights up blue courtesy of an LED in the ceramic valve base)... certainly "looks" the part with that Electro Harmonix 6922 glowing and inviting looking but, what does it sound like?
It's taken me ages to get around to "computer as source" listening as, in the early days, it was pretty crappy.... it also involved a decent soundcard / offboard DAC / quality cables and a plethora of other things to get it to sound half decent.
Things have come on leaps and bounds since the early days but you still require a decent soundcard, an offboard DAC etc. or do you?
This is about as simple as it gets as it has everything in one box, simply plug the usb cable into a USB port on your computer, switch it on and that's you good to go.... the T1 has an onboard soundcard, DAC and headphone amplifier... that's all you need.... everything in one compact, stylish looking box.
I have been listening to the T1 with a wide variety of headphones / impedances and have also been playing about with the gain settings... I won't waffle on about the gain settings as half the fun is experimenting for yourself but I will say that every single headphone I have responds well being driven by the T1, most of them on the standard gain setting too.
The sonic signature of the T1 can be described as dynamic, spacious and with a nice crispness.... it's not "warm" and "flowing", as is usually expected from something containing a "tube", it's actually full of impact with a toenail curling bottom end.... think out of head, think 3D, think space, think layers.... the T1 doesn't so much paint a musical tapestry, it creates free flowing sonic art.... a very perky performance which is musically engaging and thrilling.... all this from one little "box" you plug into your USB port, quite incredible when you think of it.
The price $199 USD which equates to about £127 GBP. This is not "good" value for money, this is INSANE value for money when you consider the performance, the quality of build and the top class componentry... the whole package is just class on a stick. Aune is a totally transparent company too, you are not buying from some faceless outfit, if things go wrong they offer very good after sales support / warranty... this is all part of the package which is why I have no hesitation, at all, in giving the T1 DAC a massive thumbs up!
My review could have been a lot longer, it could have gone into depth, it could have waffled, it would have probably bored you..... for £127 GBP pricepoint this DAC / headamp is unbeatable, I'll stake my "forum cred" on that statement...... It punches WAY above that pricepoint in so many ways, you've got to hear it to believe it!
I'll be sending it over to Ian (Rabbit) for a listen on Thursday, he can pass it on to other "been here a while" members ( "been here a while" is a good incentive to new members to contribute / post on the forum.... you get to sample lots of delicacies.... so get posting!) Let the games commence, all feedback good or bad welcome.
I'll get her over to you on Thursday Ian, please PM your current details.
Mike.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 9:26:42 GMT
Mike, I'm not home. For at least another couple of weeks. Busy as hell. Can use phone to read and reply on here.
Ian
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layums
100+
Thank you for the untips
Just started electrical fixing, to go with my other fixing bad habits :)
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Post by layums on Aug 8, 2012 10:12:13 GMT
Mmm new toys being passed round.
Just as I'm getting used to my x10v3 and hrt musicsteamer ii+ along comes a product in one box. But can just one tube do the business?
Waiting for Mikes x10v3 kit and little pinkie. The quality will jump a notch!
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Aug 8, 2012 10:36:38 GMT
This is very tempting Mike, more so because of the USB input which allows us that doe computer as a source to feed this little unit. And it looks beautiful!
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Post by gommer on Aug 8, 2012 11:05:25 GMT
Hmmm, If this travels mainland Europe, I'd very much like to be included in the loop.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 9, 2012 9:09:52 GMT
I'd like to start off passing it around UK members first of all and will then pass it over to European members..... who would like to listen to it in the UK?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 9:33:37 GMT
Mike, I'd be interested in having a listen and would be happy to ship it on down to Ian after a couple of weeks. If not, please add me to the list as convenient. Dave.
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