100 hours on Ayon CD1.......

[sameer kumar]

I just finished 100 superb musical hours on Ayon audio cd1 couple of days back and would like to post a few comments for those interested in AYON's products.

To preface, I have upgraded from Marantz sa11s1 to Ayon CD1 in an attempt to avoid the extra bit of digital edge or harshness during my very frequent long extended listening sessions and Ayon immensely satisfied me on that front.

Prior to Marantz I had experience with Cyrus 8SE. In comparison, Ayon extracts detail from a disc and it renders vocal lines, in particular much better than Cyrus with precision.

First few days I have enjoyed Ayon with Shindo pre,Jaton Operetta & BE 718 set up and later with Promitheus TVC,Symphonic line RG 7 & Emerald Physics CS3.I have realised the true potential of Ayon CD1 on the later set up as I felt both Promitheus & the Symphonic line let the Ayon reproduce the recorded music as it is.

The Ayon CD1 gave me a more relaxed, smooth sound still with a lot of micro-detail that I like during lengthy listening hours but without any fatigue. I am now upgrading to the CD-2 to go to a true balanced along with the ability to use the inbuilt volume control and go direct into the amp. Sridhar @ ARN tells me that the CD-2 is superior in sound (should be given the price) but I have to wait to see how much better. One reviewer says "Ayon CD-2...better than Vinyl"

In this process I have got another lucky passionate audiophile to take care of this great component and its on the way from Hyderabad to Kolkata ... MY NEW AYON CD-2 IS ON ITS WAY FROM BANGALORE...

I will post more once I have spent enough time with the CD-2

 

[rikhav]

Hi Sameer
Congrats on your new purchase. I heard about the brand for the first time on Tharun's thread and i guess it was your CD1 which was for sale with ARN
This goes to show there are so many hidden jewels in the audio industry which are unknown to many. Yeah, the price point is totally a different topic.

 

[marsilians]

Congrats. I have heard veyr good things about the CDP though I have not auditioned them so far. I was told that the imaging was just superb on this player.

Are you using the stock tubes or any upgraded ones?

Enjoy the music along with the passion.

 

[reignofchaos]

Sameer it would do good if you stick to unbalanced. Symphonic line amps are not true balanced design so they'd do better with short length (0.5m) high quality RCAs.

So now I know where the RG7 went . Glad you are happy with it.

 

[odyssey]

The CD-2 is a superior player to the CD-1 in almost every way (in terms of the sound) even through unbalanced. Sameer plans to use the Balanced out to the DSP unit which resides before the Symphonic Line. Yes, its true that SL is designed as unbalanced, I think what Sameer meant to write is balanced into the DSP unit, not the amp. Ultimately, how much difference this will make, he will have to see. For now, the big difference will be in his bypassing the TVC and going CDP direct into the xover

cheers

 

[sameer kumar]

Congratulations!! :clapping: and a well documented write-up there!

Yes, am aware where your CD1 is going to. Meanwhile, as a Sym-Line user myself, all Sym-Line amp's circuits are inherently designed as unbalanced. I fail to understand what benefit you may seek from going balanced XLR?

Prior to myself getting into Sym-Line amplification, I had an all input to output balanced setup (Jeff Rowland Coherence Pre w/batt PSU & Pass Labs X600.5 Monoblocks) that I disposed when turned to Sym-Line and strictly follow unbalanced operation.

Thank you for the AR link.I respect your knowledge on Sym-Line amplification, I will keep both the unbalanced & balanced operation options open.As Sridhar mentioned I meant to use it into the DCX. No idea on the outcome ???

 

[bhagwan]

on the subject of Sym Line, am sure odyssey would be familiar with this one I've............
the front plate's a bit 'beat-up' from lugging about this 119 kg each monoblocks!!

Excellent Amplifier;
I have very high regrd for Rolf's design.

This was a power amplifier I was considering for a while.
One of the 'better' SS Amps one can buy [pure class A too]
Well done !!
:clapping:

 

[bhagwan]

The CD-2 is a superior player to the CD-1 in almost every way (in terms of the sound) even through unbalanced.

Skylla : Ayon Audio

This is a DAC I had almost purchased a few months back.
Gerard is known well to me & I like his products.

I have high regard for his electronics.
His speaker skills - no comments.
His ex-partner - consensus audio - now [makes much better speakers] !
However, the 'electronics' from Ayon are nice.

Is Ayon 'sold' in India ?
Do they hve any 'representation' here ?

Sir, this a a good CD Player you have purchased, I am sure you will enjoy it - far more than the Marantz you had earlier.

 

[odyssey]

Hi Shanti

ARN will represent Ayon in India for their electronics mainly the CDPs and integrated amps. We may not carry all models, this still remains to be seen. They have just released their CD-7 entry level CDP.

Cheers
sridhar

 

[bhagwan]

Hi Shanti

ARN will represent Ayon in India for their electronics mainly the CDPs and integrated amps. We may not carry all models, this still remains to be seen. They have just released their CD-7 entry level CDP.

Cheers
sridhar

Way to go !

Congrats;

I like Gerards Electronics.

His pre & power amps are good too.

I still wanted to get his DAC.
I will mail you...

All the best to you !

Great product.

Well done - I am sure a lot of audiophiles will benefit from this move..

 

[bhagwan]

Works immaculately with my FM Acoustics Preamp.....

That should be a great combination;
What is your front end ?
TT or CD ?
Speaker & Cables ?

Your set up is nice - would love to listen to it - some day when I get to Kol !

 

[sameer kumar]

Congrats. I have heard veyr good things about the CDP though I have not auditioned them so far. I was told that the imaging was just superb on this player.

Are you using the stock tubes or any upgraded ones?

Enjoy the music along with the passion.

Thank you.No plans to upgrade tubes.
Waiting for Ayon CD2 delivery.I may get it by 3p.m today.

 

[Asit]

Hi Sameer,

Enjoy the weekend with the CD2. Once settled, let us know about the differences between the CD1 and the CD2. Your CD1 is coming to a friend and will definitely invite myself to listen to it. This friend is also fond of sweets and let me see if I can lure him (by promising to offer the best sweets in Calcutta) into coming to my place with the CD1 so that I can listen to it in my system.

Regards.

 

[sameer kumar]

Hi Sameer,

Enjoy the weekend with the CD2. Once settled, let us know about the differences between the CD1 and the CD2. Your CD1 is coming to a friend and will definitely invite myself to listen to it. This friend is also fond of sweets and let me see if I can lure him (by promising to offer the best sweets in Calcutta) into coming to my place with the CD1 so that I can listen to it in my system.

Regards.

Enjoy the sweet listening sessions with Ayon Sir

 

[odyssey]

on the subject of Sym Line, am sure odyssey would be familiar with this one I've............
the front plate's a bit 'beat-up' from lugging about this 119 kg each monoblocks!!

Hi audio_engr
can you please post more photos of the SL, I think very few people on the forum have seen what the kraft looks like :clapping:

cheers

 

[bhagwan]

Hi audio_engr
can you please post more photos of the SL, I think very few people on the forum have seen what the kraft looks like :clapping:

cheers

I have a few snaps of mine with the Kraft Mono's
Let me dig them up - I shall post.

They are lovely amps.
One of the better SS designs around......
I was seriously considering them before I went in for the Gryphon's !!

 

[bhagwan]

2 Pictures from the High-End Show Muenchner Order Center (MOC) - Germany

1st Pic: Rolf Germein with his most prestigious amplifier.
2nd Pic: The Symphonic Line Stand in the Show.

nice pics;

thanks.

 

[suri]

2 Pictures from the High-End Show Muenchner Order Center (MOC), Munchen - Germany

1st Pic: Rolf Germein with his most prestigious amplifier.
2nd Pic: The Symphonic Line Stand in the Show.

hi audio_engr,

this is from a 1992 review - Quote-" for high end gourmets who stroll on Symphonic Line paths by night with a glass of wine."- unquote.

so, do you stroll the music path with your choice of wine? - or do you stroll the path without wine?

regds

 

[somen24in]

Hi Sameer,

Enjoy the weekend with the CD2. Once settled, let us know about the differences between the CD1 and the CD2. Your CD1 is coming to a friend and will definitely invite myself to listen to it. This friend is also fond of sweets and let me see if I can lure him (by promising to offer the best sweets in Calcutta) into coming to my place with the CD1 so that I can listen to it in my system.

Regards.

asit da ,
call me ,with pratim,i bring notun gur ar jalbhara ,to you ,also cd1,:yahoo:
somen

 

[Asit]

asit da ,
call me ,with pratim,i bring notun gur ar jalbhara ,to you ,also cd1,:yahoo:
somen

Hi Somen,
You are very welcome to come to my place. Please do not bring any sweets to my home, because when you are coming to my place, I am your host.

Yesterday we went to Pratim's place for a session with the Ayon CD1. This CDP has completely transformed his system comprising of the Operetta amp and Usher BE-718 speakers. At the moment, Pratim is using a volume pot introduced by hand (Cranky's hands) in between the CDP and the power amp. Before, when I heard Pratim's system he was using the pre-section of the Cyrus amp as pre-amp and his CDP was CA 640c v2. But now the sound has changed by a proverbial mile. The Ayon CDP also looks great with a top-loading mechanism. The most important change for me was the tonality. It has become more natural with a silky smooth presentation. We anticipate the sound to go up a notch when Pratim installs a passive pre-amp (attenuator based) and uses decent ICs (because right now the volume pot has been put in as an emegency measure in a generic cable, as I understand, and both the volume pot and the generic cable are having some negative contributions).

So now we have one more very decent installation in Kolkata.

Regards.