[spittis]

So I'm looking for info on this little piece of equipment, if there is any to be found. Searching these forums and google has given me very little to go on, the info is actually so scarce that I'm thinking of getting it just to try it and then share my experience.
 
The item is the following, a DAC and headphone amplifier in the same package named Aune X1 MK II:
 

 
The little I've found, was mainly in a Danish community, I'll put the link up in case someone wants to use google translate or understands Danish like me: Link
 
The only other informative review I found was this.
 
I'm currently using an Audioengine D1 DAC/Amp which there is nothing wrong with, but one of my trusted retailers is getting the Aune now in January for the very tempting price 259€. The little feedback I found was very very positive, so like I said I'm really tempted, and mainly wanted to check if there are people with experience from it over here.

 

[madbird]

i have the same audioengine d1 dac and i'm looking at this thing now too.  i read that review as well.  i might just buy it.

 

[Noir86]

I own this dac. It is good as it is. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
It was as it is for almost half a year.
but i was unhappy in the way it sound, especially hard music. The was no scene in sound, was no details in sound. It was good, but nothing more.
 
Then I decided to make a mod to this DAC. I've installed dip8 cartriges to easily switch OPAMPS.
 
My tests with opamps:
At U11 (the HP AMP board) i had the op2134. The sound is flat and not enough power to drive heavy headphones and even with HP with high sensivity there is a problem with rock and metal.
It's just the best you can get if you install LM6172 to U11. They can drive even orthodynamic headphones and the sound quality increased. The scene is wide and very good positioned. The power is enough to drive even soviet Echo 16-40N, which like it, when there is lots of power. They become more bassy (they dont have basses when not enough power), but my other orto RTF HOC-80-2 not overbassed. Grado SR125i  also got more dynamics from this mod, but not overbassed or some other artifacts. The other good thing is that the LM6172 is not very expensive and is avaible both in dip8 and soic packages, so no hard porn installing dip8 cartridge onto soic power lines. This mod is the first thing you should do.
 
I would like it if this opamp would become stock for this unit. Even this small and cheap upgrade made the unit much better. At least you should try it.
 
As for U10, i also got DIP8 cartrige installed to change the stock n5532. Now i got the lme49860 there, but i know it is not he best opamp for this stage, but i got somehow more detailed sount, especially at high frequencies, with a little loss to stage wideness. This mod isn't that good, maybe there can be a better opamp. Still trying to try the best i can get from this DAC.
 
PS: if you can remove one soic part and install other, than you should get this DAC. I'ts one of the best in this price segment, and maybe even up to $300 (ebay prices).
 
I got the second DAC - Zero Dac 2012 model, but in the old case (09 version it says, but its 2012, thou there is no much difference). The good DAC, but at least has to be upgraded with some other OPAMPS (i used various chips, but ended at lm6172 chip at  HP Amp board and 2*OPA627SM at DAC board, but there are better options)
 
My headphones are:
1. Soviet Echo 16-40n (Эхо 16-40Н), the Smela production. After deep mod, and it become good. And they are cheap. Really cheap i mean. http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=Echo_TDS-16_(%D0%A2%D0%94%D0%A1_16_%D0%AD%D1%85%D0%BE) the first photo, right ones.
2. RFT HOK 80-2 http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=RFT_HOK_80. Maybe one of the greatest cheap headphones. But not that detailed as echo.
3. Grado SR125i. Dont like them very much. It was a present, but they just cant competite to orthodynamics, only the sound stage is more wide in them.


 
 
Sorry. post was edited. The upgrade chip was lm6172.