Review and Measurements of Aune X1S DAC & Amp

[Kane1972]

I wonder if the 2020 and Pro versions are identical? Would like to know how they test along with the X8. Does the X8 definitely use the PRO chip? I think both the X1s 2020 and X1s Pro use the ES9038Q2M.

 

[Kane1972]

It seems like the 2020 version is class A and the Pro version is class AB. This is what someone has told me, but I can't confirm if the X1s pro is class AB?

 

[Veri]

I wonder if the 2020 and Pro versions are identical? Would like to know how they test along with the X8. Does the X8 definitely use the PRO chip? I think both the X1s 2020 and X1s Pro use the ES9038Q2M.

X8 is also Q2M. It is not pricy enough to have a PRO chip inside..

 

[Kane1972]

You are right, although there are Ebay shops that sell PRO chip DAC's for around £270, which is still more than the X8. They also sell lots of 9038Q2M DAC's for under £100, like these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038Q2...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038Q2...427802?hash=item2ce0a457da:g:c6QAAOSw2zRcBpSc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESS-ES90...288289?hash=item214e856ee1:g:T5EAAOSwHBda-EVx

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038-Q...382765?hash=item33f6f1efad:g:WCAAAOSwO95blmad

I'd love this website to test a bunch of these and see how they stack up to the Topping, Aune, SMSL's etc.

 

[VintageFlanker]

You are right, although there are Ebay shops that sell PRO chip DAC's for around £270, which is still more than the X8. They also sell lots of 9038Q2M DAC's for under £100, like these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038Q2...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038Q2...427802?hash=item2ce0a457da:g:c6QAAOSw2zRcBpSc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESS-ES90...288289?hash=item214e856ee1:g:T5EAAOSwHBda-EVx

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ES9038-Q...382765?hash=item33f6f1efad:g:WCAAAOSwO95blmad

I'd love this website to test a bunch of these and see how they stack up to the Topping, Aune, SMSL's etc.

Unfortunately, none of these products show any official measured specs... Not resuring. Could be surprising to see the measured performance in reality.

 

[Nemo]

Aune X1S 2020 edition has become available in Drop for $219

 

[elnan14]

Aune X1S 2020 edition has become available in Drop for $219

Is the output impedance in this new version the same as in the 10th anniversary version? No luck trying to find this info online :/

 

[Nemo]

It has non been tested here, and I have not found any (technical) review either. As it stands it is an nknown, at the same price as the very well respected Topping DX3 Pro...

 

[WHO23]

The newly released Aune BU1 portable DAC/Amp seems like an interesting new product. I just bought the Aune B1S portable class A amp and it sounds great.

 

[Veri]

The newly released Aune BU1 portable DAC/Amp seems like an interesting new product. I just bought the Aune B1S portable class A amp and it sounds great.

I think the B1 series used or on massdrop are probably a better buy for amplification, the BU1 Aune measurement is nothing amazing...:

Odd-harmonic dominated with third harmonic distortion at -100dB so SINAD is around there... not bad at all but for the €299, not impressive.

 

[Jimster480]

I think the B1 series used or on massdrop are probably a better buy for amplification, the BU1 Aune measurement is nothing amazing...:

Odd-harmonic dominated with third harmonic distortion at -100dB so SINAD is around there... not bad at all but for the €299, not impressive.

Wow! That is actually pretty poor performance for the price. I believe the NX4 DSD has like 105 SINAD or so and costs ~$150.

 

[Veri]

Wow! That is actually pretty poor performance for the price. I believe the NX4 DSD has like 105 SINAD or so and costs ~$150.

Yeah. The noise is really quite respectable, but the distortion result is not particularly good.

 

[Jimster480]

Yeah. The noise is really quite respectable, but the distortion result is not particularly good.

The noise I am not sure just due to not having a basis off the top of my head. But THD+N I am very familiar with and while the result isn't terrible... its not on par with other devices costing half as much.

 

[Takeshi]

Assuming that the Aune X1s 2020 edition has the same output impedance (5.9 Ohm) as the 10th edition, would it be OK to drive 54 Ohm headphones like the Sennheiser HD 380 Pro?

I'm a noob when it comes to audio and the review states "to be careful with headphone impedance below 60 Ohm" could someone please explain to me what should I be careful off?

 

[Jimster480]

Assuming that the Aune X1s 2020 edition has the same output impedance (5.9 Ohm) as the 10th edition, would it be OK to drive 54 Ohm headphones like the Sennheiser HD 380 Pro?

I'm a noob when it comes to audio and the review states "to be careful with headphone impedance below 60 Ohm" could someone please explain to me what should I be careful off?

All that can happen is the frequency response will change in one way or another way. You might like it or not.
It also depends on the impedance response of the headphone, because some headphones are more affected than others.

 

[renoxd]

Could someone explain to me what is a difference between DAC in X8 and in X1S Pro?
As far i see both have ES9038 Q2M. The only difference is that X8 could be personalizd by more sound settings and there is an option
to put inside operational amplifier as needed. X8 costs same as X1S Pro.

I'm asking about this as i need to buy a DAC but i don't have AMP. I have active speakers and my main source of music would be speakers, not headphones. Still would like to hear music sometimes in better quality that with PC Realtek.

So X1S as standalone hardware or X8 + X7s
Speakers i have: r2730db

 

[Jimster480]

Could someone explain to me what is a difference between DAC in X8 and in X1S Pro?
As far i see both have ES9038 Q2M. The only difference is that X8 could be personalizd by more sound settings and there is an option
to put inside operational amplifier as needed. X8 costs same as X1S Pro.

I'm asking about this as i need to buy a DAC but i don't have AMP. I have active speakers and my main source of music would be speakers, not headphones. Still would like to hear music sometimes in better quality that with PC Realtek.

So X1S as standalone hardware or X8 + X7s
Speakers i have: r2730db

Every product is different. It all depends on the implementation specifically.
If you are just looking for a DAC I would look at something like the Topping D10 as its cheap and has excellent performance.

 

[renoxd]

Every product is different. It all depends on the implementation specifically.
If you are just looking for a DAC I would look at something like the Topping D10 as its cheap and has excellent performance.

DAC would be a beginning of journey
I would like to buy some good DAC to joint it later to some amp for headphones (and to not change it again in the future)

What is this "ess thd hump"?? So many people at this forum categorically advises against buying sabre 9038q2m because of the following issue.
Does it really noticeable during the listening? Or maybe this is something that can be catched durring the test.

If I listen trance / electro music and soundtracks, ESS SABRE would be good for that?
Speakers: 2730db (i know that not so great but they have nice bass, better than had s2000pro

I'm also wondering how this op amp changing can really affect the sound.
I heard that MUSES02 can make a sound more warm

cheers!

 

[Yuno]

What is this "ess thd hump"?? So many people at this forum categorically advises against buying sabre 9038q2m because of the following issue.
Does it really noticeable during the listening? Or maybe this is something that can be catched durring the test.

You won't be able to hear it.

If I listen trance / electro music and soundtracks, ESS SABRE would be good for that?
Speakers: 2730db (i know that not so great but they have nice bass, better than had s2000pro

Chip used doesn't matter. It's all about implementation (engineering). You can make trash device with top tier chip, and great device with cheap one. Aune X1S (10th anniversary) which this thread is about is a perfect example of this (good device with cheap chip).

I'm also wondering how this op amp changing can really affect the sound.
I heard that MUSES02 can make a sound more warm

Op-amp rolling does, at best, nothing. Unless you have absolute faith, believe hard enough and spend enough money to develop Golden Ears. Then maybe it will.
Generally if you buy competently designed device you don't need to swap out parts.

 

[renoxd]

I was thinking between X8 and Dx3pro. Between ESS and AKM. 9038q2m vs AK4493.
I believe that better device is X8 as it cost the same as Dx3pro and X8 is just a DAC.

The question i ask myself is whether the sound will not be too sharp, unpleasant after while of listening.

Because of the implementation (as you said) i heard one review that ESS Sabre in X8 doesn't sound that sharp like in other devices with ESS.
Probably would be best to order both devices and just test them in real life to know what sounds better to me with my speakers r2730db