Aune S17 pro

[scoobiedude]

Just ordered the S17 Pro EVO. Will test it for a week and leave a mini review. I’m most interested in its ability to dissipate heat because right now I have the S17 on a cooling dock which a) is ugly, and b) annoying to have to turn on every time I have the S17 running for a period of time during listening and gaming session.

That's the exact issue I had with the Aune S17 Pro... HOT... hotter than hot. I had to send it back. I also didn't notice any improvement over my RME ADI-2 DAC FS.

Check this comparison out: A Sound Comparison of Eight Popular Amps

 

[WreckedEm2]

That's the exact issue I had with the Aune S17 Pro... HOT... hotter than hot. I had to send it back. I also didn't notice any improvement over my RME ADI-2 DAC FS.

Check this comparison out: A Sound Comparison of Eight Popular Amps

I mean, it's a class A amp. It's supposed to get hot. Unless it's going way past 69 degrees then there is no need to worry. Get a couple of footers for it to sit one to improve the circulation and enjoy.

 

[Gymboy]

Exactly its Class A, so that is normal. I bought mine used here over the ads, previous owner had installed cooling fins under it over 65% of area, heightened feet and my amp is on top of my Cyan 2. After 3h yesterday listening to my planars temp didn't go over 53C. In summer it goes higher , most I have seen is 60-62.
You can see fins and feet on the pic below

 

[Andr78]

Soundnews did a review of Evo and main difference is better temps, possibility of doing separation between preamp and hp output and turning the screen off. Sonically he said there is absolutely no difference and this was his collaboration with Aune.

Yes, I watched this review) And I was confused by the fact that Sandu in some moments says that "the sound is almost the same as the S17Pro model". From which I concluded that the sound of EVO is still a little different. And here's what the owner of both Pro and EVO models told me to the question of what should be chosen based only on the maximum sound quality:

"If the sound of the old version in the current mode of 100 mA "came in", then you should not change to the EVO version, because both amplifiers, it so happened that the working version is the variant of the current of rest of 100 mA, only in the first case it is the senior mode, and the 50 mA mode gives an ordinary transistor sound, very similar to the sound of SingXer SA-1, and in the case of EVO - 100 mA is the junior mode, but it sounds a little simpler than 100 mA in the old version, but the current of rest of 200 mA of the new version - female vocals sounds a little cloudy, something may sound more interesting, but everything in this mode Very ambiguous, and 200 mA is a clear overkill, besides, it also heats up more, i.e. few people will use it, because the junior mode is already more than enough. "

 

[Romaudio]

Hello everyone!
I will share my experience about Aune s17 with AKG K712 pro headphones. This headphones have great synergy with this amp. High gain, 100ma and subjectively 60+ degrees and 1 hour+ operation . Sound is big, grand, immersive. You don't feel that you listen to the headphones, you just listen music. On some tracks I prefer K712 pro over more expensive modern headphones. If you loved this headphones in the past it is worth getting it back on this amp. Today you can get used K712 pro in perfect condition about 100 usd/euros, it is huge value on this amp.

 

[Muze]

The Evo came in today. Will put it through its paces over the next week and will come back with a review from my personal experiences. Will test it out with the Prestige LTD, Xenns Mangird Tops, HE1000SE, LCD X and HD6xx which I use for gaming.

First impressions in terms of unboxing? It’s the exact same as the S17 Pro. Same box. Same presentation. The build is the exact same except for the EVO badge on the upper right hand side of the face plate.

Will see yall in one week.

 

[zghor]

If I am listening to HD6XX or HD800S, I use tube amp only, that headphones just like tube output and yes, there is a difference. With tube you will lose little of the details, sound will become softer, warmer, even bass gets a little boost, guitars have like longer ringing and less sharpness, difference is not as big as some might describe but is there and enough for me to keep em both. If you want to try affordable and really good sounding OTL tube amp, Xduoo TA66 is very good, you might purchase it over Amazon and a have window to return it in case you want to.

Well you got me on this one. So the amp came today. I love S17 pro, but what Xduoo doing to HD650 is something different. The difference is clearly noticeable.
I love my S17 Pro with HiFiMans, but HD650 will stay now with Xduoo. They both will stay with me .

 

[Gymboy]

Well you got me on this one. So the amp came today. I love S17 pro, but what Xduoo doing to HD650 is something different. The difference is clearly noticeable.
I love my S17 Pro with HiFiMans, but HD650 will stay now with Xduoo. They both will stay with me .

Fabulous, I am happy you like it. Yeah series 6 Senns are born for tubes, just sound amazing.

 

[Erick Muller]

Well you got me on this one. So the amp came today. I love S17 pro, but what Xduoo doing to HD650 is something different. The difference is clearly noticeable.
I love my S17 Pro with HiFiMans, but HD650 will stay now with Xduoo. They both will stay with me .

Yeah, my TA-84 is staying too until I find something better that is also OTL and not to crazy expensive and that the tubes are easy to roll. The difference it's not huge, but I have found that pre-amping my SS amp with it is enough to smooth out headphones like the HEKse to make them just perfect for me, and also listening to something like my modded HD6XX's it's a more enjoyable experience with the OTL than the SS amp in general, yes there's a little loss of fine grain detail, but OTLs add a little bit of magic to the sound that it's really hard to replicate with other kinds of amps.

 

[Muze]

Soundnews did a review of Evo and main difference is better temps, possibility of doing separation between preamp and hp output and turning the screen off. Sonically he said there is absolutely no difference and this was his collaboration with Aune.

I was going to post a mini-review of the Evo, but this nearly sums up the differences between the OG and Evo perfectly. The major improvements are simply a quality of life change for the better.

Overheating was my biggest gripe with the OG. That is now gone. I still keep it on top of a cooling dock (haven't turned it on though) because the chassis still gets very hot, but it's never gotten so hot that it has to auto drop from 200mA to 100mA.

Before I get into sound, let me explain my set up for reference. I have an S9C Pro acting as the DAC hooked into the EVO via XLR, and the EVO preamps a Fosi Audio BT30D Pro via RCA which drives a pair of Klipsch RP 500M IIs and an Edifier T5 sub.

Overall the sound profile is the same as the OG. Excellent soundstage, excellent imaging, a quality mid section neither forward nor recessed. But where the EVO does improve upon over the OG is bass and details at lower volume. Maybe someone can further explain if the lack of a dedicated preamp/headphone mode reduced the impact and control of the bass on the OG, but in preamp mode the bass is a good deal more impactful, controlled and weighty than the OG, and the microdetails in higher frequencies come through FAR more clearly.

Is this update leaps and bounds better than the OG sonically? No. If the OG is an 8.5 this is an 8.8 or 9. But with the quality of life upgrades? If you don't have the OG, this is the amp to get under $1000. I just wish Aune released this first because this is what the OG should have been upon release.