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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 18:54:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 20:59:29 GMT
So I was reading you correctly on that then.  Not so much a giant killer as a giant leveller? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 5:07:17 GMT
So I was reading you correctly on that then. Not so much a giant killer as a giant leveller?  For £150 it's extremely good. Hopefully when you get it Chris, you'll hear for yourself. Very dynamic and punchy. |
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Post by dicky on Sept 19, 2012 7:02:48 GMT
Hi Ian, I bought one of these units and it arrived yesterday. However, the white tube light doesn't illuminate and I get no audio via the USB - however, it does play (very nicely) via line input. I can't imagine I've done anything wrong as it's plug and play; I connected the unit to the PC which then installed the drivers and said it was ready to go - but no music. I checked the device was selected in the Audion Manager - and it was. In fact when I switch the T1 off, the PC recognises this and reverts to my sound card output - so the unit is being recognised. Since you've had most play-time with the T1 a wondered if you have any advice?  Thanks, Dicky |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 7:41:47 GMT
Hi Dicky,
Sounds to me like it's faulty and needs to go back. Did you get it from Candy at Aune? Their customer service is brilliant.
My guess is if the base of the valve isn't lighting up, there has to be something wrong.
The only thing to do is check the sound settings on your computer. I had very low audio even though the volume was fully up on the icon. Going into the advanced audio settings showed that one of the slider was down. Once I adjusted that, it was really loud.
Shame to hear that after it may have come all the way from China.
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Post by dicky on Sept 19, 2012 7:53:09 GMT
Hi Ian,
I did get it from Candy and I've emailed her to see what she suggests.
I've been through all the s/w settings on 2 PCs and everything (I can find) is at 100%. Given the LED doesn't illuminate I have a feeling the T1 is u/s.
It was sounding so good via line in too although a bit bloated at the bottom end with the 6N11. I had intended to roll some valves through it but I'll wait to see what Candy comes back with before playing with it any more.
Ho hum.
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Post by dicky on Sept 19, 2012 8:11:41 GMT
Blimey, Ian. You weren't kidding about the customer service! Candy has already sent Mike a replacement unit for me.  She seems to think it might have got damaged in the post somehow. Mike, I'll PM you my details. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 19, 2012 8:40:46 GMT
Hi Dicky, Candy is sending you a replacement along with the ten she is sending me so I will fully check your replacement and send it over to you.... they are shipping today (well, today China time) don't worry you will soon have the replacement  Send the other one back to me, I'll PM you my details. All the best, Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 19, 2012 13:28:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 16:03:28 GMT
Blimey, Ian. You weren't kidding about the customer service! Candy has already sent Mike a replacement unit for me. She seems to think it might have got damaged in the post somehow. Mike, I'll PM you my details. Yes, that's what I mean .... they're spot on with customer service and no problem whatsoever. That's why I'd always go back to Aune as a company because their gear is really good value and Candy is very quick off the mark. You'd be hard pushed to find a company like that. I had a parcel go missing in the post and Candy was on the verge of sending another so I went looking for it and actually managed in the end to track it down. (Basically a postman who can't read!!!!) I quickly got back to Candy to stop the second one going, but it was entirely nothing to do with Aune really but I was really impressed by the service. The bass does kick in quite hard. It's kind of like a feature of good valves - the way that the harmonics are emphasised gives the impression of more bass which is kind of what I was getting at when I said about it sounding like a valve type of amplifier. I really like the K601 with it actually. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 16:04:55 GMT
They look good too, Mike. What I can't believe is the excellent condition they're in as well.
It took about a week for mine to arrive.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 19, 2012 18:13:46 GMT
They're unused Ian..... New old stock which has never seen the light of day, it's the only way to go with valves. The old 1960's valves have fading logos but that's only to be expected.... those Chinese ones were made in the 80's and look as though they were just made yesterday |
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Post by dicky on Sept 19, 2012 18:47:50 GMT
Thanks Mike.
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Post by jacqueslam on Sept 20, 2012 7:42:03 GMT
Just for Fun! aune T1 USB TUBE DAC & HEADPHONE AMP (ENGLISH VERSION) Promotion video youtu.be/vGgg5gomf84 |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 20, 2012 9:16:57 GMT
Just for Fun! aune T1 USB TUBE DAC & HEADPHONE AMP (ENGLISH VERSION) Promotion video youtu.be/vGgg5gomf84Very good I saw the Chinese version of this, thanks for the English version..... |
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"Done me wrong," it's the same old song" - forever
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Post by Crispy on Sept 20, 2012 16:44:10 GMT
Today I have randomly listened to a real mixture of tracks ranging from 16 bit 44100 to 24 bit 192000 Flac and 128 bit 44100 to 320 bit 4800hz Mp3 files. Be gentle on me this being my first review. Forget about specifications, I was a bit concerned before I listened that 20Hz - 20Khz was maybe not a good enough Freq Response especially when the Asus Sonar is 10Hz - 90Khz and a lot of headphones are typically 5Hz to 35Khz. This amp plays the music so good that who cares what the specs are and as we found out from Alan's hearing test a lot of us cannot hear above 16 kHz or below 20Hz anyway? The treble is very sweet and cymbals really ring and shimmer. Piano is probably the hardest thing for a piece of equipment to reproduce but the T1 does it impeccably with notes sounding live and ringing on. Voices are very natural sounding and you can easily hear every word - for example, I have just listened to Claire Martin too darn hot 24/96 studio master and always thought for some reason she sang I'd like to suck (sup) with my baby tonight, maybe it is just my perverted mind that wanted her to sing that, ;D but that's how bad it sounded through my computer sound card, not as clear. You also become very aware of things like room acoustics and voices echoing which adds bags of realism to the recordings. Wooden blocks really sound wooden with plenty of attack, guitars are really tuneful and you can easily hear fingers sliding up and down the fret board. You can also hear every change in note on bongos. The bass is excellent, it is very tuneful and you can easily hear all the notes changing but it also goes lower than a snake's belly. The sound stage is very wide and out of the headphones, even though I was listening through closed back headphones they sounded more like open backed. This amp is dynamic with bags of attack, it is very open and revealing and is neutral in its presentation, not warm like you would expect from a valve amp. It will also play VERY loud without distortion if you want it to? I was only listening at about a quarter of the way up the volume scale on zero gain and it was loud enough for me. It also gives you a real insight into the music and you can hear everything that's going on without anything drowning out anything else, even when drums and guitars are loud you can still hear the subtlest of details in the background. This amp gives a realistic portrayal of the separation of instruments and accuracy of where the positions of players are. It is never fatiguing and so musical you can listen for hours without a chance of ringing in your ears and probably the only thing stopping you from listening all day is headphone comfort. I decided to make and listen to a very low quality Mp3 - did the T1 make it sound any better, the simple answer is yes but it still sounded bloody awful, garbage in - garbage out. I don't normally listen through headphones as I prefer to listen through speakers, so I decided to experiment and try to use it as a source via my laptop to my HI FI, all was well until my Mono amp (currently under repair) gave up after the first track - end of session   Maybe somebody else might like to try this out and give a report because this was my main interest in the T1 - what does it sound like as a computer source through a speaker system. My previous small problem with plug and play was no problem when I hooked it up to my two laptops, instant recognition and sounds straight away. When you switch off the amp you can pack it away instantly, the Tube and amp are barely warm even after a long listen. If you are like me and you have Champagne tastes but can only afford Larger this bit of kit is a no brainer, just like Mike said it is insane value for money especially if you roll in a tube of your choice. FOR:SOUND QUALITY - impeccable build quality - Looks - instant tube rolling - plug and play - easily adjustable gain settings - portability to another computer and finally the price. AGAINST:Nothing. I would now like to have a listen to Aune's S1 - 24/32 bit 192K player as a source. en.auneaudio.com/html/en_products/NewDesign/s-series/S1-Series/134_12.htmlThat is if they are willing to send a sample in the future. Mike can you PM me who is next for a listen, they may have to wait a day or two while I have another listen, that' how good it is. |
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Sept 20, 2012 17:17:17 GMT
Crispy.
I have the S1 and have found it a little disappointing. It is also not cheap (see Item Audio who stock it). Whilst very good sound quality wise it is not very user friendly and it is also not as good as a source using the built in DAC.
Much also depends on whether you already have a decent DAC. If you do, look at one of the USB to SPDIF converters and probably a John Kenny Modded HiFace. I have given up on most of my sources and use a Arcam Black Box (I really like the TDA1541 sound) which Colin Yallop (Chevron Audio) fitted with a USB input. I have heard his own DAC (based on the TDA1543) and it is very good indeed and with USB inputs etc and makes for a better investment against the S1.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2012 21:12:41 GMT
How many of you guys have listened to this unit with high quality .wav files, instead of .flac files that are invariably degraded a little due to the PC decoding them on "the fly" first ?
Alex
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2012 5:06:06 GMT
I used anything I could get my hands on, Alex. From podcasts to wav files and the rips on the Corsair.
I guess most using it would use MP3/AAC.
I also used it as a straight amp from CD. It does sound quite extended with a healthy shimmer up top with no 'in yer face' emphasis.
In terms of sound, it has a bit in common with Sunrise/Horizon.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2012 6:02:41 GMT
I used anything I could get my hands on, Alex. From podcasts to wav files and the rips on the Corsair. I guess most using it would use MP3/AAC. I also used it as a straight amp from CD. It does sound quite extended with a healthy shimmer up top with no 'in yer face' emphasis. In terms of sound, it has a bit in common with Sunrise/Horizon. Hi Ian If it sounds like it has a bit in common with Sunrise/Horizon when used as a straight amp from CD, it has nothing to do with the topology used, as the amplifier section is solid state.The tube is the buffer stage in the DAC section. However, it appears that both sections are very well matched to each other. Yes, I agree it is great VFM. Kind Regards Alex |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2012 6:57:34 GMT
Hi Alex, Yes, it's one of those 'hybrid' types as you know. Many think that because it has a tube, it is a full blown tube design etc. It's much the same kind of thing as the X-Cans I guess in the way it works in the DAC dept. You get a 'flavour' of the tube which many will read as the 'addition' of the artifacts that tubes produce. However, it does feel a little more 'relaxed' than some DAC's possibly because of the addition of all of those weird harmonics. (!!) Also the idea of being able to slightly 'mould' the sound is great - especially given the appalling quality of sound you can get from rips. It kind of 'Sennheiser's' them - smooths it out a bit if you pick a tube that is smooth sounding. For me, the 6922eb kicks it right into life but that's just me. However, the sound from headphone is very close to Sunrise/Horizon. I just don't want people to ask - 'which would you choose' .... because in all honesty, it would be very difficult and they both offer different things. Horizon is great in that you can play with impedance matching and it's also a very powerful beast. It has a good honest, 'tubey' sound too. T1 plays digital direct but retains that tubey sound. It's also very powerful. The biggest difference is the amount of heat produced. The Sunrise/Horizon runs much hotter which is why I was so keen on a BIG heatsink for it. Both great little amps.  |
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Sept 22, 2012 13:13:46 GMT
Crispy. I have the S1 and have found it a little disappointing. It is also not cheap (see Item Audio who stock it). Whilst very good sound quality wise it is not very user friendly and it is also not as good as a source using the built in DAC. Sorry Freddy, I have just seen your post. Shame you don't like the S1, I would still like to hear one just out of curiosity - if the T1 sound is anything to go from. It is maybe time for all the boffins to get together on this forum and come up with something like the Naim HDX hard disk player?  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2012 23:04:44 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 24, 2012 18:24:26 GMT
The ten T1's are on their way so book now, to avoid disappointment, if you're interested in purchasing one. Buying from Rock Grotto guarantees you individually checked units and the best after sales service. These will not just be shipped out to you, they will each be tested and valves will be checked on a tube imp analyser first... you won't get better service than that I expect to take delivery next week sometime so get your orders in now. £150 shipped (UK) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2012 17:29:26 GMT
Where's the T1 due next? Have you still got it, Chris?
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Send the other one back to me, I'll PM you my details.
