[howdy]

@howdy: Any thoughts on the Esther Analog?

Actually today I listened to it on Medium gain with the 20 or so songs I put on there and found them very precise with my Alclair CIEMs. Still getting used to the quirky UI.

 

[nmatheis]

Actually today I listened to it on Medium gain with the 20 or so songs I put on there and found them very precise with my Alclair CIEMs. Still getting used to the quirky UI.

Hit me up for help if needed!

 

[Currawong]

 

I finally got around to making a coax cable. The M1 annoyingly uses ring and sleeve of a TRS plug for coax, so a custom cable was required.

Nice! So how is it?

 
In digital-only mode, the result was quite good. 

 

[a lab lover]

Any news on Soundaware solving some of the UI issues? I'm trying to decide b/t the M1, M1Pro & Fiio X5ii. Interested in anyone's thoughts...
Cheers.

 

[nmatheis]

Esther takes the sound to another level but FW isn't as mature as FiiO's yet. Trade offs...

 

[buihia]

Not sure if this has been posted in the thread or not, spotted the following posted by soundaware rep in erji.net
 
These are the initial batches where later batches will include more designs.
 
Source: erji.net
 



 
good job from soundaware !

 

[mrhizzo]

That's really nice. And looks very well done.

 

[a lab lover]

Esther takes the sound to another level but FW isn't as mature as FiiO's yet. Trade offs...

Thanks for the perspective. If you had to do over, M1 or M1Pro? How important is the 'clock' upgrade?
 
Cheers.

 

[nmatheis]

Thanks for the perspective. If you had to do over, M1 or M1Pro? How important is the 'clock' upgrade?

Cheers.

Pretty sure fumoffuXx has heard and liked M1Pro better. Is that right fumoffuXx?

 

[audionewbi]

I want an M1pro for the kse1500, heard it has a nice warmth to it.

 

[buihia]

 

[WCDchee]

Anyone with the latest beta firmware?

 

[WCDchee]

Thanks for the perspective. If you had to do over, M1 or M1Pro? How important is the 'clock' upgrade?

Cheers.

Pretty sure fumoffuXx has heard and liked M1Pro better. Is that right fumoffuXx?

I currently have a set for review.

The analog when compared to the vitality is much richer, thicker, warmer and lusher, and has a much more intimate presentation. The vitality is noticeably more resolving and detailed. Airy, and stages better and sounds more open. Two very different approaches to sound.

The M1pro is actually the analog version with the pair of femto clocks. Thus, a real fair comparison is the M1 analog with the M1pro. The difference is not small. The soundstage, resolution, air, is quite significantly improved (at least as significant as it gets among portable sources). It's technicalities (soundstage, resolution) are extremely close to that of the vitality, possibly matching it, but with the rich analog musicality of the analog version (albeit slightly less thick and less congested). The M1pro gives you the best of both worlds.

I've been in close contact with the lead designer of soundaware, and he is planning to launch another model, a studio edition. He'll be sending me a set soon to test out and for feedback. The studio version is basically the vitality version with the femto clocks, and given the sound quality of the original vitality, and the improvement which the femto clocks gave to the analog version, I am extremely, extremely excited about this. In my opinion, the M1pro comes exceedingly close and possibly matches the best of the best players purely on sound quality. I think the studio version will be right up there in terms of technicalities

 

[mrhizzo]

The cheapest place to buy the M1Pro is in Penon Audio? How about the battery life?

 

[sonickarma]

Are firmware upgrades still occurring or dead/ended like on the 'Calyx M DAP' ?
 
I have asked many time before but had no response, thanks for any info!