[xDezor]

The Aune X1 Pro does work with ASIO. I too had a similarly underwhelming experience until these folks set me straight and I took the time to setup ASIO and foobar2000. The sound "came alive" and you can notice an improvement without trying too hard. Having said that, I do agree with your assessment. This is not a good pairing. The damn AMP portion of the Aune X1 Pro kills it - its way too powerful for these cans. From what I can tell there is no way to adjust the gain like you can on the Aune T1. I wouldn't recommend this setup for that reason alone. 
 
I'll investigate what I did to get ASIO working a little later and get back to you. 

 

[Foscot]

  And there might be Your "problem". Use ASIO4ALL. I know that many don`t hear any difference going from directsound to WASAPI/KSP/ASIO but for example with Aune T1 I heard noticeable difference when using ASIO. Also, have You tried different gain settings with Aune X1? For example I`m using T1 @ mid gain (+10dB) due to ~400mA output instead 0dB gain which outputs 1000mA. At mid-gain everything is tighter and punchier, with 0 gain it sounds littlebit "lazy" with Fidelio X1.
 
And btw, do You have Aune X1 pro or old version Aune X1 ?

I sent it on to the next in line, but I was not impressed. That doesn't justify the price tag for me. Thanks for your help, though
If it means anything, there is ZERO difference for me using native Creative ASIO drivers...
 
It was a MK2
 
 

  The Aune X1 Pro does work with ASIO. I too had a similarly underwhelming experience until these folks set me straight and I took the time to setup ASIO and foobar2000. The sound "came alive" and you can notice an improvement without trying too hard. Having said that, I do agree with your assessment. This is not a good pairing. The damn AMP portion of the Aune X1 Pro kills it - its way too powerful for these cans. From what I can tell there is no way to adjust the gain like you can on the Aune T1. I wouldn't recommend this setup for that reason alone. 
 
I'll investigate what I did to get ASIO working a little later and get back to you. 

That's too bad! I have already sent it on to the next (I had it for a week and really tried to like it)

 

[nappiguan]

+1 these are easily overpowered.  My pav2 with vita are a great combo.  Even my Emotiva xda2 can bloat the x1's.  I believe this is what Tyll was refering to when he said the x2 does not work well with tube amps.  Just too much power for them.  I bet that is why the sound guys at Philips included that silly cable with the x1.

 

[wilflare]

even with my Audinst HUD-MX1 - I can't go over the 9 oclock on the control knob

 

[Sundown]

How does the midrange compare to the HD558's? I find the HD558's to be spectacular. Very much so almost as good as HD600's.

 

[depleted]

  +1 these are easily overpowered.  My pav2 with vita are a great combo.  Even my Emotiva xda2 can bloat the x1's.  I believe this is what Tyll was refering to when he said the x2 does not work well with tube amps.  Just too much power for them.  I bet that is why the sound guys at Philips included that silly cable with the x1.

I think it has to do more with output impedance and damping problems of tube amps than with output power (can impedance should be at least 8 times output impedance of amp)

 

[mandrake50]

 
I think it has to do more with output impedance and damping problems of tube amps than with output power (can impedance should be at least 8 times output impedance of amp)

He was definitely talking about the impedance mismatch with OTL tube amps and the X2. He even mentioned keeping the HD 600 on the wall because it matched better with this kind of amp... due to its high impedance.

 

[Foscot]

Do you guys think the difference in 10 ohm output impedance and the less than 1 ohm would be noticeable with the X1s?

 

[angst92]

I noticed it but I must emphasize it was very slight.

 

[Foscot]

I noticed it but I must emphasize it was very slight.

So if I had to choose between a the Hifimediy UX1 and FiiO e17, the better choice would probably not be the lower impedance one?

 

[angst92]

So if I had to choose between a the Hifimediy UX1 and FiiO e17, the better choice would probably not be the lower impedance one?

I dont really know much about those 2 amps but in general the lower impedance one would be better, what i meant was the difference isnt enough to warrant spending a lot of money on. If those 2 amps are similar prices get the low impedance on and also for the sake of a tenner get lower impedance cable for your headphones aswell such as the fisual s-flex. You will probably notice more of a difference from the better cable as the the impedance of the stock cable can be high.

 

[Foscot]

  I dont really know much about those 2 amps but in general the lower impedance one would be better, what i meant was the difference isnt enough to warrant spending a lot of money on. If those 2 amps are similar prices get the low impedance on and also for the sake of a tenner get lower impedance cable for your headphones aswell such as the fisual s-flex. You will probably notice more of a difference from the better cable as the the impedance of the stock cable can be high.

Well, the FiiO is double the price, but I'm expecting it to go on sale in time for Christmas (has done it before). The Sabre does, however, use the same DAC chip as the O2 with a pretty good TI amp, so I guess it will still sound better (even with 10 ohm output resistance). I don't expect async/adaptive matters much in USB, unless you have hyper-ears and a bigger budget.

 

[angst92]

 
Well, the FiiO is double the price, but I'm expecting it to go on sale in time for Christmas (has done it before). The Sabre does, however, use the same DAC chip as the O2 with a pretty good TI amp, so I guess it will still sound better (even with 10 ohm output resistance). I don't expect async/adaptive matters much in USB, unless you have hyper-ears and a bigger budget.

Sounds like you would be best going for the sabre, that would be my choice anyway. Iv'e always heard good things about them and always thought the fiio stuff to be over hyped.

 

[Sundown]

Picked up a cable at Walmart while grabbing some groceries. Definitely noticed an improvement. Placebo? I don't know but vocals and highs are a tiny bit more clear to me. Very nice.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Griffin-3-Flat-Auxiliary-Audio-Cable/17188961
 
I don't know the resistance of this cable. How do I check?

 

[CoiL]

Here`s how to check and other users measurements: http://www.head-fi.org/t/623013/new-philips-fidelio-x1/4320#post_10475263