Yes, the tube will affect the sound but one BIG thing they miss is, this is not a regular tube system.This is a Zotl section, which is extremely linear and far different in design and implementation that other tube circuits. To not realize or comprehend this is very misguided and a...

Let it burn in. They can take 50 hours. Just leave it on with some music playing through some headphones at a normal volume.

What do they look like?

Shut it down for about 5 minutes and then turn it back on. I would shut off the power supply as well and then push the power on button of the amp with the power supply off.

I would get it from ibasso. I don't use it but it will add to the life of the battery so a nice feature.

Most likely the power delivery of the amp. Solid state is current oriented. Tube, voltage. Planars are a fairly even load that responds well to current. But my Cayin works fine with the Abyss and other planar headphones. One of those mysteries of the audio world.

Yes, I use the 12AT7 or a variant in the 7062 PQ.

I question his reviewing. I have listened to some other reviews and ended up not caring for his reviews and the Elite missteps sealed it.

Listening to the Aero as it burns in. It is like the Aero breathes music. It is an amazing musical instrument.

On any player it is one of the first things I do. In the main menu you go into security and then to Screen lock and there are options.

Just go into the main setting. There you can' have the volume control on or off and there are 4 options and the same for the side buttons. System navigation for the side buttons and the 4 settings. Audio to Volume control knob and tap on that and that is where the 4 settings are. Easy peasy. :^)

As so many things, a matter of opinion and in this case, one's hearing. In comparison of a friends Ultra, I found the DX320 to have more life to the sound, better staging and I like the natural dynamics better. That is with some IEMs and the Focal Utopia.

Import fees have affected profit margins and ability to discount. Even if a product is produced in country, many products are not and you have to look at overall overhead costs.

It clicks into place. I don't find it an issue at all.

It needs about 100 hours to burn in and during that period it will open up base will firm up and for me I don’t hear anything that’s overly warm and I don’t care for that whatsoever.

Wow, I would let them burn in. That is not my experience with them at all. They sound full bodied and very musical. I wonder what is going on? Do you have test measurements on them?

Have you done a factory reset?

It is just a convenience. I use one sometimes but also just plug in some headphones or IEMs. It all gets done either way. Or just listen and enjoy.

I usually use high gain for everything as it is unity gain, nothing in the signal path to change the gain, but ultimately, I would just listen and in not too long, you will know which gain you prefer for sound and performance.

No, you don't pry it off. You push the back up, after you lift the top edge just higher than the back. It comes off easily but don't pry it off, it slides up.

Don't see any quads.

That is what I do, recopy every few years. I am sure there are programs that can be used to check the integrity of a drive but I have used any.

I have read that and also that disc drives degrade. I don't worry about it.

I have them on solid state drives. And, I have never had an issue with EMP over many, many years.

For me, not really. Most of what I really like is available to buy online and in a higher format. And while having to buy it again, I don't think I would as I have music on 3 drives and hard drives are fairly inexpensive now and small. I have around 4000 cds, and need to move them on.