Aune S17 pro

[Majuto]

For me the takeaway and two major questions are:

1. Do you have any heating issues? (might be related with self-excitation = SQ distortions as discussed in this thread)
2. Do you like the sound?

Since it's NO+YES in my case, the measurements and discussions are super interesting, but don't really change my perception of this product. To put it plainly (and sorry if I will sound ignorant ) - why should I or anyone care about the measurements if the listening experience is so good? I also keep in mind that some of the perfect measuring devices on the market turned out not being particularly praised for the actual sound quality, being criticized by some reviewers for sounding neutral, but in a bad way - lifeless, cold or thin.


I used it with an 8-core Openheart and a 16-core one of some other brand from AliExpress. No temperature issues with either.

YES+YES, older batch (could be the third question)

 

[SmartCheetah]

@Majuto low or high gain? Today I switched to high gain and the temp rose to 65 degrees so far from the usual 61 in the low gain.

Trying to decide whether I hear any SQ difference between gains, given that the low gain already gives plenty of headroom in volume.

 

[MiguelP]

1) Yes. 2) Yes. 3) Older batch 4) High or Low Gain, Balanced or Single Ended. Any cable that I have or no cables whatsoever attached. Always the same temperature no matters what (apart from 50ma/100 ma). I suspect thay if I leave it on enough time in 50 ma it will reach eventually 69 °C. 5) Volume control its the latest version.

 

[Majuto]

@Majuto low or high gain? Today I switched to high gain and the temp rose to 65 degrees so far from the usual 61 in the low gain.

Trying to decide whether I hear any SQ difference between gains, given that the low gain already gives plenty of headroom in volume.

I've used practically only high gain. I find some difference between 50 ma and 100ma states after Aune's been on 30 minutes or more. Differences are only small anyhow imo.

 

[SmartCheetah]

Am I crazy to think that high gain is a little more energetic and dynamic? I was going back and forth today and this was my impression. I don't know, this still might be placebo, I can't volume match them accurately due to the knob isn't exactly precise.

I didn't bother to test it properly before following the notion that the lower gain the better if volume is enough - due to lower noise floor. But I'm not sure anymore.

 

[Majuto]

Am I crazy to think that high gain is a little more energetic and dynamic? I was going back and forth today and this was my impression. I don't know, this still might be placebo, I can't volume match them accurately due to the knob isn't exactly precise.

I didn't bother to test it properly before following the notion that the lower gain the better if volume is enough - due to lower noise floor. But I'm not sure anymore.

Well, I use mostly high gain 50ma. Imo there's a bit more air and instrument separation is slightly better. Anyhow, as you can't decide which is better, the differences ain't big. Propably their slight difference might suit best for certain type of music.
I find the 50 ma most time has come my choice very naturally. I haven't made many comparisons between them. Reason for this is sound quality, not heating up.

 

[SmartCheetah]

Imo there's a bit more air and instrument separation is slightly better.

This I think might differ from headphone to headphone. Planar-magnetic headphones for example often benefit from higher current and I personally prefer to use my Arya and HE1000SE at 100mA.

Tomorrow I'll do some testing with my Pandora Hope VI, so a twin-driver dynamic pair, to try both 50mA and H/L gains in different combinations. I had this amp for a while but never really bothered, basically defaulting to 100mA and low gain from the start

 

[Erick Muller]

Am I crazy to think that high gain is a little more energetic and dynamic? I was going back and forth today and this was my impression. I don't know, this still might be placebo, I can't volume match them accurately due to the knob isn't exactly precise.

I didn't bother to test it properly before following the notion that the lower gain the better if volume is enough - due to lower noise floor. But I'm not sure anymore.

I noticed the same thing, going by Aune's own specifications for the amp, it apparently can deliver more power on high gain, according to the specs they publish on their page

 

[Musiccc]

How's the synergy between S17 Pro and Hifiman HE1000se and Arya Organic?

 

[Empros]

How's the synergy between S17 Pro and Hifiman HE1000se and Arya Organic?

Synergy of S17 Pro with Arya Organic is wonderful.

I upgraded from a JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1, which is a clean, neutral (and well measuring ) DAC/AMP. The Arya Organic sounded decent with the Elements 3 but with the S17 Pro it is a huge improvement. Instruments are more "halographic" and have their own "space" in the sound with the S17 Pro. Elements 3 was more flat and "2D" sounding.

 

[Vap221]

Synergy of S17 Pro with Arya Organic is wonderful.

I upgraded from a JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1, which is a clean, neutral (and well measuring ) DAC/AMP. The Arya Organic sounded decent with the Elements 3 but with the S17 Pro it is a huge improvement. Instruments are more "halographic" and have their own "space" in the sound with the S17 Pro. Elements 3 was more flat and "2D" sounding.

Hello. I note that the JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1 is very far from Aune s17p, including in terms of measured parameters, in the case when Aune works stably. The ability of the S17 to produce a current of up to 500mA without distortion in some situations, and the low sensitivity and linear impedance of planar headphones, makes this bundle the most harmonious. JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1, despite the very low output resistance, at currents close to 200mA, produces a lot of distortion, reducing the subjective perception of track dynamics. It has a large jitter and makes noise at low resistance load. This is an outdated amplifier, for medium-high-ohm dynamic headphones

 

[bagwell359]

The HE SE and HEK Stealth both sound better in high gain, but the 6 SE at volume (92 db peak) seemed to get the amp pretty warm fast. But it was a short session w/ the SE 25 min max) so not sure if longer would have caused issues. Sounded very nice with the Auteur as well.

I know that my Ragnarok 1.5 doesn't change its temp with my 6 SE, it's always quite warm, but never hot, and it doesn't change gain on its own.

 

[Empros]

Hello. I note that the JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1 is very far from Aune s17p, including in terms of measured parameters, in the case when Aune works stably. The ability of the S17 to produce a current of up to 500mA without distortion in some situations, and the low sensitivity and linear impedance of planar headphones, makes this bundle the most harmonious. JDS Labs Element 3 Mk 1, despite the very low output resistance, at currents close to 200mA, produces a lot of distortion, reducing the subjective perception of track dynamics. It has a large jitter and makes noise at low resistance load. This is an outdated amplifier, for medium-high-ohm dynamic headphones

Thank you for your explanation. I am personally not huge into measurements and do not keep up with the latest ongoings in the measurement world. Only came across an audiosciencereview post dated Jan 2022 regarding the JDS Elements 3 Mk 1, which showed it measured well (at that time I guess).

Regardless thank you for taking the time to explain. Conclusion of my ears is the Aune S17 Pro sounds good with the Arya Organic.

 

[Majuto]

The HE SE and HEK Stealth both sound better in high gain, but the 6 SE at volume (92 db peak) seemed to get the amp pretty warm fast. But it was a short session w/ the SE 25 min max) so not sure if longer would have caused issues. Sounded very nice with the Auteur as well.

I know that my Ragnarok 1.5 doesn't change its temp with my 6 SE, it's always quite warm, but never hot, and it doesn't change gain on its own.

How much had you volume with 6 SE 92db?

 

[bagwell359]

How much had you volume with 6 SE 92db?

43 mostly, 47 on some bass only tracks.