Aune T1 USB Tube DAC+ SS Amp Discussion Thread ***See first post for FAQ--Updated on 02/14/15***

[theblueprint]

  One thing is for sure the Magni 2 is worth every penny to pair with the T1, instead of buying another $100 tube (lol), you guys should definitely consider the Magni, I wish I had earlier. Just think about it, we are putting so much money into the tubes we roll with the T1, yet we are using an $8 amp to send the signal to our headphones.  When Aune finally confirmed that it is literally $8 to replace, I was kind of blown away by that.  Our T1s are such great DACs, but have such a mediocre (at best) amplifier.  If you have ANYTHING else you can amplify the signal with using the line out you need to do it and I would bet almost anything else is going to sound better.
 
 
 
The T1 actually sits on the Magni 2 perfectly, it is like they were made for each other, both physically and audibly!  I will post pictures later on of the "T1 Magni Stack"

Loved your review. I am currently working with an Aune T1 and have entertained the thought of stacking it with a Magni. Though I do have a question. Will I still get the tubey sound when using the Magni's amp? 

 

[NCSUZoSo]

By using the Line Out you keep everything about the T1 except the amp.  The tube buffer is tied to the DAC, it has nothing to do with the amp.  I don't even have the amp PCB inside my T1 anymore, haha.  You'll see an empty hole in the front of my T1 when I have a chance to take a photo of the T1 on top of the Magni 2.
 
So the short answer is yes, you will get all the tube sound you get when using the on-board amp when using an external amp through the Line Out.
 
and thanks!  It seems every time I write something like that it is the last post of the page, haha.

 

[Hansotek]

For those who have opened up the the T1, is the USB bus port powered by the incoming power from the USB cable, or the 12V adaptor?
 
I assume the port is powered by the USB, as is standard practice, but wanted to see if anyone who has actually seen the circuit up close knows for sure.

 

[MrEleventy]

For those who have opened up the the T1, is the USB bus port powered by the incoming power from the USB cable, or the 12V adaptor?

I assume the port is powered by the USB, as is standard practice, but wanted to see if anyone who has actually seen the circuit up close knows for sure.

12V Adapter. I believe someone has tested it by disconnecting the 5V pin in a usb cord and the T1 still worked.

 

[Hansotek]

 

For those who have opened up the the T1, is the USB bus port powered by the incoming power from the USB cable, or the 12V adaptor?

I assume the port is powered by the USB, as is standard practice, but wanted to see if anyone who has actually seen the circuit up close knows for sure.

12V Adapter. I believe someone has tested it by disconnecting the 5V pin in a usb cord and the T1 still worked.

 
Thanks. Just doing some A/B tests with Wyrd in the chain. It makes ODAC sound crazy, crazy good, but doesn't do a ton for the Aune. Independent power for the USB port would seem to confirm my theories.

 

[NCSUZoSo]

 
For anyone that missed my initial impressions of the Siemens CCa and Magni 2, it's the last post on the page before (445).

 

[Hansotek]

The Dario Miniwatt arrived today. Yeah, this tube is a straight-up END GAME. I was hard pressed to tell the difference between the T1/Dario and my Wyrd>ODAC>Burson HA-160 setup. The bass is heavenly. It hits hard and clean. PERFECT punch, impact, decay and rumble, IMO. Soundstage is as good as I have ever heard out of the Aune. Very musical and even throughout the entire frequency range and very airy and transparent. I think I'm going to like this tube even better than my Telefunkens... Need to test it with more cans to be sure. Only used the HE500 so far, but as I said before, it was VERY hard to tell the difference between this $300ish T1/Dario combo and my $1,000ish reference setup. At the end of the day, for what this tube provides, it's a heck of a value. Here are some pics:

 

[joeq70]

The Dario Miniwatt arrived today. Yeah, this tube is a straight-up END GAME. I was hard pressed to tell the difference between the T1/Dario and my Wyrd>ODAC>Burson HA-160 setup. The bass is heavenly. It hits hard and clean. PERFECT punch, impact, decay and rumble, IMO. Soundstage is as good as I have ever heard out of the Aune. Very musical and even throughout the entire frequency range and very airy and transparent. I think I'm going to like this tube even better than my Telefunkens... Need to test it with more cans to be sure. Only used the HE500 so far, but as I said before, it was VERY hard to tell the difference between this $300ish T1/Dario combo and my $1,000ish reference setup. At the end of the day, for what this tube provides, it's a heck of a value. Here are some pics:

Told you. 

 
 
...and mikoss told me. Well done Mike!!!

 

[mikoss]

Very nice. Any info on the batch and date code? The nicest one I've heard is a '61 Heerlen Miniwatt, but I'm not entirely sure if the earlier tubes actually sound better... either way glad to hear you're happy with the sound

 

[NCSUZoSo]

Quote:

The Dario Miniwatt arrived today. Yeah, this tube is a straight-up END GAME. I was hard pressed to tell the difference between the T1/Dario and my Wyrd>ODAC>Burson HA-160 setup. The bass is heavenly. It hits hard and clean. PERFECT punch, impact, decay and rumble, IMO. Soundstage is as good as I have ever heard out of the Aune. Very musical and even throughout the entire frequency range and very airy and transparent. I think I'm going to like this tube even better than my Telefunkens... Need to test it with more cans to be sure. Only used the HE500 so far, but as I said before, it was VERY hard to tell the difference between this $300ish T1/Dario combo and my $1,000ish reference setup. At the end of the day, for what this tube provides, it's a heck of a value.

 
 
It's not just the Aune T1, you aren't using the internal amp to push $600 HE500s according to your pics.
 
Looks like you are running Line Out into the Schiit Lyr 2 or Burson HA-160, which is a hell of an upgrade (to put it lightly) over the internal $8 amp.
 
So your total would range between $750-$1000 (depending on the amp) for what you are playing out those HE500s.

 

[Hansotek]

Very nice. Any info on the batch and date code? The nicest one I've heard is a '61 Heerlen Miniwatt, but I'm not entirely sure if the earlier tubes actually sound better... either way glad to hear you're happy with the sound

Yes. It's a 1962 Harleen. VR5, Delta2G2

I was looking for that '62 specifically after reading a review on it in the Schiit Lyr tub rollers thread. It's definitely living up to the billing.

 

[Hansotek]

Quote:

The Dario Miniwatt arrived today. Yeah, this tube is a straight-up END GAME. I was hard pressed to tell the difference between the T1/Dario and my Wyrd>ODAC>Burson HA-160 setup. The bass is heavenly. It hits hard and clean. PERFECT punch, impact, decay and rumble, IMO. Soundstage is as good as I have ever heard out of the Aune. Very musical and even throughout the entire frequency range and very airy and transparent. I think I'm going to like this tube even better than my Telefunkens... Need to test it with more cans to be sure. Only used the HE500 so far, but as I said before, it was VERY hard to tell the difference between this $300ish T1/Dario combo and my $1,000ish reference setup. At the end of the day, for what this tube provides, it's a heck of a value.

It's not just the Aune T1, you aren't using the internal amp to push $600 HE500s according to your pics.

Looks like you are running Line Out into the Schiit Lyr 2 or Burson HA-160, which is a hell of an upgrade (to put it lightly) over the internal $8 amp.

Technically, I'm running the line out into the Burson HA-160 in the photo I posted. However, my comment was comparing the Aune's stock $8 CMOY with the Dario to the Burson setup only. However, I did try it with the Lyr. Here are combos I've tested so far with the tube:

T1 stock amp - Sounds ALMOST like a $1,000 combo (but not quite as perfectly clean)
T1 DAC + HA160 - Not feeling this combo - synergy seems off.
T1 DAC + Lyr w/ Telefunken E88CCs - As close to vinyl as I've heard. Very delicate analog-sounding musicality.
Reference combo: Wyrd>ODAC>HA-160 - Still the best of the lot. Clean, pristine and punches like Butterbean.

 

[joeq70]

Technically, I'm running the line out into the Burson HA-160 in the photo I posted. However, my comment was comparing the Aune's stock $8 CMOY with the Dario to the Burson setup only. However, I did try it with the Lyr. Here are combos I've tested so far with the tube:

T1 stock amp - Sounds ALMOST like a $1,000 combo (but not quite as perfectly clean)
T1 DAC + HA160 - Not feeling this combo - synergy seems off.
T1 DAC + Lyr w/ Telefunken E88CCs - As close to vinyl as I've heard. Very delicate analog-sounding musicality.
Reference combo: Wyrd>ODAC>HA-160 - Still the best of the lot. Clean, pristine and punches like Butterbean.

This is one of the best breakdown's of the T1's true value that I've seen. Awesome.

 

[NCSUZoSo]

Technically, I'm running the line out into the Burson HA-160 in the photo I posted. However, my comment was comparing the Aune's stock $8 CMOY with the Dario to the Burson setup only. However, I did try it with the Lyr. Here are combos I've tested so far with the tube:

T1 stock amp - Sounds ALMOST like a $1,000 combo (but not quite as perfectly clean)

 
Just so I am clear here.
 
You are telling me that a Miniwatt in the T1 creates a sound with the stock $8 amp that is almost as good as your ~$450 and ~$700 amps running with the Miniwatt using Line Out?

 

[Hansotek]

Technically, I'm running the line out into the Burson HA-160 in the photo I posted. However, my comment was comparing the Aune's stock $8 CMOY with the Dario to the Burson setup only. However, I did try it with the Lyr. Here are combos I've tested so far with the tube:


T1 stock amp - Sounds ALMOST like a $1,000 combo (but not quite as perfectly clean)

T1 DAC + HA160 - Not feeling this combo - synergy seems off.

T1 DAC + Lyr w/ Telefunken E88CCs - As close to vinyl as I've heard. Very delicate analog-sounding musicality.

Reference combo: Wyrd>ODAC>HA-160 - Still the best of the lot. Clean, pristine and punches like Butterbean.

This is one of the best breakdown's of the T1's true value that I've seen. Awesome.

Thanks. Yeah, I got huge deals on all of those pieces, but to put the tested combos in perspective with the MSRPs:
T1 ($175) + Dario ($125) = $300
T1/Dario + Lyr ($450) + Teles ($280) = $1030
T1/Dario + HA-160 ($700) = $1000
Wyrd ($110) + ODAC ($150) + HA-160 = $960

The idea that it can make a $8 CMOY hang with that group is kinda crazy... But it's right there with them.