Aune S8 Balanced DAC Review

[anmpr1]

Well, it's kinda weird because other Chinese manufacturer like Topping and SMSL also have this issue. It has been years so they should try to deal with it way before.

When I stayed in China, XP was the big OS. May still be that way. I know the Chinese government would like to get away from MS, like ours wants to get away from Huawei. From a long-term practical standpoint I think it's fruitless to expect it. Interoperability must win out in a global market. But as MAD magazine told us, it's Spy vs Spy out there, so who can say?

Sadly, the reality is that anyone connected to an open network runs a risk. I don't care where you are. Yet if one stays reasonably vigilant (don't click on crazy stuff in your email, avoid porn, etc) you probably don't have to worry. My wife's hometown is Wuhan. She corresponds with classmates there, and collectively we surf a lot of Chinese sites. But our PCs are clean. As far as I know. Unless the NSA/CIA/PLA is on to us. (just kidding!).

 

[digicidal]

Unless the NSA/CIA/PLA is on to us. (just kidding!).

Oh they are... it just takes a really long time to read through 10 trillion emails while listening to a billion phone calls every day... but they'll get around to you eventually.

 

[Milesian]

There is no S8 listed on their website. The S6 is as high as it goes. I lean towards what you said in your opening remarks, your review may be a factor in their pricing strategy. You may also have been used as their unpaid test department to detect issues before going into production. Either way, I would be wary of publishing results and recommendations for new gear which is not commercially available and priced.

 

[amirm]

Either way, I would be wary of publishing results and recommendations for new gear which is not commercially available and priced.

I have done a number of reviews of products that were not even in production yet. It is better to have the data as early as possible as otherwise, people make purchase decisions blind. And then regret if problems are found.

Another member already tested this product weeks back so it has been available.

 

[Hugo9000]

Aune? I wonder how some of these Chinese companies choose a name for their brand?

If it's the French word aune, it was a unit of measure for cloth, and also had a figurative meaning of a standard against which others can be judged (like "yardstick" in English, or benchmark, which originally referred to the literal marks on a bench used for quickly measuring). Choosing a now-obscure standard would mean less worry about being harshly judged for potentially failing to live up to the name haha! Benchmark, on the other hand, have to stay on top of their game or face ridicule after choosing their name.

Or, it was relatively random as many of these company names appear to be, and while playing with letter combinations and fonts, they noticed that they could have a cool ambigram for their logo.

I like it, because their rotational ambigram doesn't depend on ridiculous or fanciful calligraphy, it's simple and cleanly stylish like their product design language. Kind of like the old New Man logo:

Oh, perhaps they chose the name as a tribute to their favorite place to eat and drink when visiting Finland haha!

The audio company's font is quite different, and of course they're in a totally different business category as well haha. So it's doubtful there would be any legal/trademark concerns, just one of lack of originality. The Finnish restaurant/pub was apparently named for a photographer whose studio was on that site years ago.

 

[Xyrium]

Gotta agree with a few others, it looks like you just did the QA on their latest prototype.... Unfortunately, great specs, but still didn't get rid of that ESS hump. How is the resolution to this problem not common knowledge already amongst engineers/manufacturers? Looks like Aune is still behind the likes of Topping...

 

[phoenixdogfan]

No price should imply no review.
If it is crazy expensive it should not be recommended.

It's definitely going to be priced like the high priced spread, and with the Ess IMD hump, and whether audible or not, it won't be worthy of a premium price IMHO.

We've come to a point in the DAC market where only the completely perfect performers in all respects (measurements, workmanship, design, features incl connections) are worthy of a $1k+ price.

 

[Milesian]

I’m sorry Amir, but I have to say I believe you are wrong to publish reviews on pre-production merchandise. You are generating hype and pre-release publicity for items which may, or may not arrive on the market in the state you reviewed. Until a unit is commercially available those measurements should remain the domain of you and the manufacturer, always assuming you’re happy to act as their voluntary tester.

 

[confucius_zero]

hump? I'm out.

 

[carlosmante]

Aune? I wonder how some of these Chinese companies choose a name for their brand?

I guess the same way that European companies choose their names.

 

[Labjr]

I guess the same way that European companies choose their names.

Pull letters out of a hat?

 

[spacevector]

By the way Aune is located a Wuhan, the most affected area of Coronavirus.

Holy sh*t, hopefully the damn virus is not known to spread through DACs. I would quarantine the AP analyzer for a couple weeks Amir - focus on speaker reviews till the dust settles.

 

[JW001]

If you click at "store" there is a "Not secure" warning. By the way Aune is located a Wuhan, the most affected area of Coronavirus.

Chrome developer tools diagnosed the problem with their website as expired SSL certificate:

 

[AudioTodd]

I recommended the Mola Mola even though it barely broke out to top spot at a cost multiples of the next one down.

So no, that is not the basis directly. My recommendations come as a subjective overall gut feel after I think through the whole package. Yes, at times I penalize a device that is expensive but its measurements are horrid. Other times I put value on such things as aesthetics as I did here. It is how I feel after I evaluate the product as a whole. Once you read the review, you have most of the same data as I have (sans touch and feel of the device) and you can arrive at your own conclusion.

I like and stand by recommendations by @amirm as I think he clearly states why he does or does not make them. I have disagreed here and there but if I want to be the authority I must make my own measurements and run my own web site. Everyone is presented with the measurements. We can then decide if the value meets our own criteria for our preferred trade off. When there isn’t a price, as here, a reader can wait until they discover it to decide how to take the recommendation.

We have the great benefit of having a person willing, able and qualified to give us objective data to help us make choices. I appreciate that.

 

[carlosmante]

Pull letters out of a hat?

What prevents you from....? Fear? prejudices?

 

[carlosmante]

Holy sh*t, hopefully the damn virus is not known to spread through DACs. I would quarantine the AP analyzer for a couple weeks Amir - focus on speaker reviews till the dust settles.

Be Brave Chicken heart.

 

[gvl]

Holy sh*t, hopefully the damn virus is not known to spread through DACs. I would quarantine the AP analyzer for a couple weeks Amir - focus on speaker reviews till the dust settles.

DACs have filters fortunately, so nothing to worry about unless you're unlucky to get a filterless NOS DAC.

 

[amirm]

For anyone interested I asked how Aune folks were doing in Wuhan and they say they are all healthy. What a relief....

 

[YSC]

Well, it's kinda weird because other Chinese manufacturer like Topping and SMSL also have this issue. It has been years so they should try to deal with it way before.

The problem in China is their internet is heavily “secured” by the government, which I bet need some sort of backdoor or utilities their given basic codes which might’ve out of date, as a Hong Kong er I somehow think if they use some newer USA security safety measures they will be invited for a tea time in the police station

 

[Archlich]

It's RMB 4399 (US$630) on Taobao. They are only taking deposits at the moment, because of the pandemic I doubt delivery would be imminent. The supply chain is seriously disrupted - upstream manufacturers, warehouses, logistics, the flow of immigration workers to man them - all under lockdown.