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- Oct 3, 2016
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So I realize I have been pretty negative about the M1S when it comes to the physical aspects but I should have talked more about the sound. The only reason I am being tough on it is that it is in a noticeably higher price bracket compared to its competition, so with that comes higher expectation.
The M1S sounds fuking fantastic! I can't emphasize how great the balanced out sounds. As I type this I am listening to my HD600 using a custom VE balanced cable and my god does it drive the HD600 bloody good. Not like good for its size but it drives the HD600 well period. All my B*tching aside, Aune nailed the sound, clear, balanced top to bottom, walking a fine line between musicality and analytical.
Very transparent sounding and quite dynamic and energetic but not unnaturally so. Everything sounds so life like and natural, specially how the soundstage is represented. The separation, layering and staging of elements is quite pleasing. All in all if you can put up with the less than ideal dimensions, you are getting one heck of a DAP.
I greatly appreciate the simplicity of the M1S UI and navigation as most screens are but one or two clicks away. The buttons are quite responsive and the whole thing is intuitive. I exclusively use it in folder more as all the music I have purchased in WAV/FLAC format lack ID3 tagging (damn).
So I must ask this because my LZ A4 is on the way . Any preference when pairing the M1S/X10 with A4? Am I right to say A4 does not support balanced output, so it should be a close fight?