Aune S6/S7 combo

[mtoc]

S6 is a DAC/hp-amp which based on AK4495S
and PGA2311 digital volume chip. I don't like
those vol chips at all so S7, an amp is a must.
(correct: it doesn't have PGA chips, just enables
the vol control from the DA chip)
S7 vs X7s
The more expensive S7 couldn't completely
surpassingly destroy the X7s, at least on paper.
Which is surprising and rather disappointing.
S7 has bettet pot, slightly better crosstalk, a
really tiny better SNR.
X7s' distortion is much lower (THD+n, -117.7 vs
-105), but these specs were tested under different
loads, anyway S7 is not groundbreakin'ly good on
paper. More importantly, S7 is more powerful
than X7s, maybe that's good for orths.
and Lower noise (3 uv) compared with S7 (4 uv).
More powerful produces more noise, actually, is
unavoiable.
Sound
Help me help you. Describing sound is more
complicated than _____ women ("look! there's a
heforshe, catch it! nail it!")
The combo's pretty clean, sounds better than
those lazy high-priced stuff (lazy stuff doesn't
show anything promising even on paper).
If you have anything to ask, pm me. I can't write
too long cos I feel like I'm talking to myself.
note: I use external interface to connect the S6, I
don't trust xmos/(insert a load of USB stuff here)
stuff.
If S7 has better crosstalk (>130db) and lower
THD+n (< -112db), that would be an almost
perfect amp.
Don't mention Schiit to me. Schiit of course is
one of the best audio companies ever created.
Rag is simply one of the truly state of art level
marvelous amps in the past 45 years.
 
PS, the blank above is manterrupting.
 
BTW, Aune loves SMD sodeeply. I even think
aune = anything un-SMDed never encouraged

 

[mtoc]

Warning: do not enable the built-in volume control from the S6 (just set the vol straightly to 100 under the line-out mode), or it's gonna degrade the SQ badly. It's not about pursuing high-end, is all about bit loss, if you use digital volume you will keep losing the bits.

An external (analog) amp which contains a good pot (or just a common one, at least common pot sounds not bad in most cases) will do better than digital volumes.
 
Unfortunately Aune doesn't support fuse rolling, just like AGD products.

Regarding the fuse, I usually buy 5*20mm/10A ones, 10A is the baseline, 12/14/16A would be better. Causing potenial overcurrent damage?
 
I don't care about those things.

Folks always yelling fuses tend to change but not better. You gotta think outside the box, you've played with these same specs fuses (said, 0.5A fuses from different manufacturers) over and over, your-gotten-similar-feelings is inevitable.

Fuses have two main kinds (I mean fuses for guys like us): ceramic and glass. Ceramic seems like to be more popular but you should try both. You could buy a bunch with one buck, seriously. Don't forget to choose those slow-blow/time-lag models. (actually some cost $0.7/pcs)

 

[mtoc]

Someone wants me to tell the truth. I'm telling the truth, a'right? Here wego. That digi-vol kills half of the S6. Its line out is good and this is the one and only highlight from this gear. and this should become our main focus. The HPs ports on the front panel have to be ignored cos they've been controled by that digital volume. What a waste! S6 should be a pure DAC. No more silly options.
 
I'm not against all digital vol, such as digi-vol from Weiss, Dave and some pro DAs, those are special cases. Anyway they still facing the losing-bit problem.

 

[LDBaha]

  Someone wants me to tell the truth. I'm telling the truth, a'right? Here wego. That digi-vol kills half of the S6. Its line out is good and this is the one and only highlight from this gear. and this should become our main focus. The HPs ports on the front panel have to be ignored cos they've been controled by that digital volume. What a waste! S6 should be a pure DAC. No more silly options.
 
I'm not against all digital vol, such as digi-vol from Weiss, Dave and some pro DAs, those are special cases. Anyway they still facing the losing-bit problem.

Can't you disable the Digital volume and pass it to the S7?
 
Is the S7 worth it? I know the single ended output from the S6 is kind of weak (72mw at 300 ohm) however I do not own 300Ohm cans (or any headphones whatsoever)
 
I just got the S6 and should arrive here next week. I also bought some HE-560s that were on sale. This will be my first headphone/amp/dac combo, coming from some old Sony Playstation Bluetooth Headset LOL.

 

[LoryWiv]

  Can't you disable the Digital volume and pass it to the S7?
 
Is the S7 worth it? I know the single ended output from the S6 is kind of weak (72mw at 300 ohm) however I do not own 300Ohm cans (or any headphones whatsoever)
 
I just got the S6 and should arrive here next week. I also bought some HE-560s that were on sale. This will be my first headphone/amp/dac combo, coming from some old Sony Playstation Bluetooth Headset LOL.

Is the volume pot on S7 digital as well or analogue?

 

[LoryWiv]

 
If you have anything to ask, pm me. I can't write too long cos I feel like I'm talking to myself.
 
PM sent.

 

[LDBaha]

So I got the HE-560s and the Aune S6 and it sounds Good. The clarity and sound is great
 
The output volume, even at 100% using balanced out. It's just not loud enough. Is it me that I am used to huge volume levels? or is this amp not good enough for He-560s

 

[LoryWiv]

  So I got the HE-560s and the Aune S6 and it sounds Good. The clarity and sound is great
 
The output volume, even at 100% using balanced out. It's just not loud enough. Is it me that I am used to huge volume levels? or is this amp not good enough for He-560s

If the S6 has a gain switch, verify it is set to high (sorry if that's too obvious, I've overlooked the obvious myself many times) .
 
Also, the S7 amp has higher output power and may be a really good addition paired with your S6. mtoc offered some comments about the S7 above. I would add that unlike the X7S I don't think it's pure class A, but am not certain that really makes a major difference to the end user as even if A/B may run at A in most listening scenarios.
 
I would love to see some reviews from S7 owners, though, about their impressions,as I haven't seen much yet. If it is a neutral, relatively uncolored balanced amp. at this price I would be very interested, but the lack of reviews gives me pause.
 
S7 impressions, anyone?

 

[LDBaha]

  If the S6 has a gain switch, verify it is set to high (sorry if that's too obvious, I've overlooked the obvious myself many times) .
 
Also, the S7 amp has higher output power and may be a really good addition paired with your S6. mtoc offered some comments about the S7 above. I would add that unlike the X7S I don't think it's pure class A, but am not certain that really makes a major difference to the end user as even if A/B may run at A in most listening scenarios.
 
I would love to see some reviews from S7 owners, though, about their impressions,as I haven't seen much yet. If it is a neutral, relatively uncolored balanced amp. at this price I would be very interested, but the lack of reviews gives me pause.
 
S7 impressions, anyone?

Thanks for the help. I did look for a gain switch! that was the first thing I looked when I hit 100% volume and was like "hmmm this is not powerful enough ".

TBH I wanted the S6 and S7 stacked, that was my goal but that would be up to like $1,200. I think for that price there are better options? Also there are no S7 reviews anywhere!. I ended up returning my S6 and I purchased a Schiit Jotunheim yesterday. I figured if I need DSD then eventually I'll get a DSD DAC and hook it to the Jot (hopefully a balanced DAC with XLR outputs) but who knows!. 

I don't know why, but the measured specs for the S6 seem to be the same as the Jot on the XLR output but the Jot is known to be able to handed even power hungry cans like the HE-6 but my S6 is not able to handle the 560s? Something's off there...

All I know is that I really wanted this S6 to work for me but becuase of my 560s I probably need something like the Jot with a low/high gain switch.

 

[LoryWiv]

 
All I know is that I really wanted this S6 to work for me but becuase of my 560s I probably need something like the Jot with a low/high gain switch.

Good luck and hope the Jot works out for you!

 

[OSiRiSsk]

Hi,
 
is there anybody who can compare the Aune S7 to Schiit Jotunheim?
 
I've had the chance to listen to S7 today and it was superb, so I wonder whether the Jotunheim can deliver the same level of performance.

 

[LDBaha]

Hi,

is there anybody who can compare the Aune S7 to Schiit Jotunheim?

I've had the chance to listen to S7 today and it was superb, so I wonder whether the Jotunheim can deliver the same level of performance.

I wanted to ask you since You tried the S7. What headphones did you use it With? I want the s7 but i would have to return my s6 and probably get an X1s as a dac. I can't get rhe s6/s7 combo.

 

[OSiRiSsk]

I wanted to ask you since You tried the S7. What headphones did you use it With? I want the s7 but i would have to return my s6 and probably get an X1s as a dac. I can't get rhe s6/s7 combo.

Hi,
 
I used it with modified denon ahd2000 headphones (official name Lawton Audio LA2000). They are not hard to drive headphones though. They sound on the wark/dark-ish side, with really addictive bass. S7 managed to tighten the bass, and add little clarity in the treble -  which resulted in a great synergy, I've also felt the soundstage was wider a bit.
I also compared with Aune X7s - the main difference was that S7 is *fully* balanced. It also have balanced inputs which X7s doesn't. It also have Left/Right balanced outputs while X7s only has stereo balance. Finally, the S7 had greater power, but I can't think of any headphones where this would make a difference, as X7s was pretty powerful itself.
 
However, the overall quality was actually comparable.
 
If you already have S6 what is your main motivation of upgrading? If you don't need full balanced setup, I'd actually suggest to go with a cheaper dac - like Schiit Modi 2 Uber and get a Aune X7s. That machine is freaking awesome.
 
I am thinking about getting S7 because of full balanced setup - which I don't really need right now, but I want to have end-game amp, so I won't be tempted to upgrade in the future. And S7 tick all the boxes for me. But schiit jotunheim does too, and schiit mjolnir 2 too (but I haven't heard these unfortunately).

 

[grizzlybeast]

  Hi,
 
is there anybody who can compare the Aune S7 to Schiit Jotunheim?
 
I've had the chance to listen to S7 today and it was superb, so I wonder whether the Jotunheim can deliver the same level of performance.

I have to go off of memory
@AuneAudioS7
 
S7 is clear... very clear. like embarrass higher priced gear clear. It just sounds a little thinner and more hollow than I have been listening to. Most cross talk implementations have this effect in the midrange where it loses body but gains space. This sounds like the case with the S7 except it doesn't sound unnatural and has very even tonality. Resolution is superb, as is bass control. 
 
The Jotunheim has more drive, more lower treble and is peakier but punchier and very clean as well but the soundstage has no depth where as the S7 has okay depth but good holography and okay layering, yet excellent separation and space for it's price. I have a review unit of the s7 now and would I buy one? HECK YEAH. Just don't expect beefy, strident, thick, or bright. Those words do not apply to the s7. Also the S7 has better flow and openness. It is a refreshing sound without brightness.
 
As far as driving headphones go... yes it has power but not all headphones yield the same results. Planars that are sensitive like the Odin, Ether Flow C, and Audeze do fine but Once you throw an Abyss, T50 modd, HE-6 or less efficient planar than the S7 runs out of steam a bit and the bass slam, while tight and focused, is not as punchy as more powerful gear can deliver. The S7 has finesse, balance, and poise without any of the extra treble foolery that other solid states do to evoke hifi sound. 
 
I have tried the following with good results. HD800S, FLOW C, LCD XC, ATTICUS, EIKON, TH900, ODIN and some more but didn't fully analyze each pairing except for the TH900, ODIN, XC, and ETHER FLOW C. Favorite pairing is the Odin for the S7 so far. 

 

[OSiRiSsk]

  I have to go off of memory
@AuneAudioS7
 
S7 is clear... very clear. like embarrass higher priced gear clear. It just sounds a little thinner and more hollow than I have been listening to. Most cross talk implementations have this effect in the midrange where it loses body but gains space. This sounds like the case with the S7 except it doesn't sound unnatural and has very even tonality. Resolution is superb, as is bass control. 
 
The Jotunheim has more drive, more lower treble and is peakier but punchier and very clean as well but the soundstage has no depth where as the S7 has okay depth but good holography and okay layering, yet excellent separation and space for it's price. I have a review unit of the s7 now and would I buy one? HECK YEAH. Just don't expect beefy, strident, thick, or bright. Those words do not apply to the s7. Also the S7 has better flow and openness. It is a refreshing sound without brightness.
 
As far as driving headphones go... yes it has power but not all headphones yield the same results. Planars that are sensitive like the Odin, Ether Flow C, and Audeze do fine but Once you throw an Abyss, T50 modd, HE-6 or less efficient planar than the S7 runs out of steam a bit and the bass slam, while tight and focused, is not as punchy as more powerful gear can deliver. The S7 has finesse, balance, and poise without any of the extra treble foolery that other solid states do to evoke hifi sound. 
 
I have tried the following with good results. HD800S, FLOW C, LCD XC, ATTICUS, EIKON, TH900, ODIN and some more but didn't fully analyze each pairing except for the TH900, ODIN, XC, and ETHER FLOW C. Favorite pairing is the Odin for the S7 so far. 

Based on your reply it seems that S7 is excellent amp, but some headphones might excel more with Jotunheim as with S7, so the pairing and acousting preferences matters. Did I get it correct?