[goodvibes]

Yay, buttons! I never use EQ so this works for me. In my brief contact with them, they seem more purist in nature. It's a good place to start.

Though often very subtle(sometimes not so subtle), if you're set up well enough, you can almost always hear when an EQ circuit is engaged. Certainly in anything clear yet moderately priced. Trade off becomes whether it does more good than harm for your sensibilities. Personally, they've always done more harm for me.
 
I contacted Soundaware a while back about the DAPs and they offered me the opportunity to review their A200 home streamer/headphone amp. I'll be arranging a US tour. Here's the link.http://www.head-fi.org/t/752979/soundaware-a200-usa-tour-699-streamer-renderer-headphone-amp They kindly offered their top model but I thought the more moderately priced headphone based unit appropriate at Headfi.

 

 

[mochill]

size of the iPhone 4s sounds good

 

[Levanter]

$399, can't believe no one mentioned this price yet lol

Btw, the design looks abit like X5 for the top part (screen jutting out) and Hifiman players (bottom half)

 

[notsimar]

well I came close, I said 400
 
I actually think that is going to end up being the mass market pricepoint now that pono has set the bar... people will pay an increment more for a feature that they may like, but in the end the number of units sold will be lower if the pricepoint is too high (astell & kern)

 

[goodvibes]

$399, can't believe no one mentioned this price yet lol

Btw, the design looks abit like X5 for the top part (screen jutting out) and Hifiman players (bottom half)

Except a bit smaller and I'm sure lighter.

 

[Levanter]

Except a bit smaller and I'm sure lighter.

Except a bit smaller and I'm sure lighter.

And that too
If sq is also on par then we have a winner!

 

[soundaware]

  well I came close, I said 400
 
I actually think that is going to end up being the mass market pricepoint now that pono has set the bar... people will pay an increment more for a feature that they may like, but in the end the number of units sold will be lower if the pricepoint is too high (astell & kern)

The price is based on sq, function, spec. and so on. We promise that the price will be reason and affordable.

 

[soundaware]

And that too

If sq is also on par then we have a winner!

Perfect sq has always been one of our pursuit and goal. 
We believe in that the sq will not let audio addicts down.
We look forward to win-win situation both to customers and manufacturer.

 

[pekingduck]

I hope the UI will be as good as the sound quality 

 

[soundaware]

  I hope the UI will be as good as the sound quality 

Of course the UI will be good, since it's an important element in a portable player.

 

 

[soundaware]

$399, can't believe no one mentioned this price yet lol

Btw, the design looks abit like X5 for the top part (screen jutting out) and Hifiman players (bottom half)

The price will be reasonable and affordable. Besides, the sq is very good. 
Great minds think alike, the design is based on user experience.
We want Esther to be simple and convenient, lighter, smaller for audiophiles. 

 

[headwhacker]

Interesting. The price will most likely determine if this will be a killer DAP. The competition out there is very tough. 

 

[Lorspeaker]

will a killer iem / earbud be included too... for free?  

 

[soundaware]

  Interesting. The price will most likely determine if this will be a killer DAP. The competition out there is very tough. 

The price will be competitive, surely resonable and affordable, based on product cost and customer's affordablity.

 

[pekingduck]

What's the output impedance of the Esther?