Ayon CD1s with BE 718

[AMITNOIDA]

About 9 months ago I have purchased my audio system (BE-718 and Leben CS-300xs) and so far used my Asus Xonar SC as source.

Now, I have shifted my system from bed room to drawing room where I could provide more space to BE-718. After shifiting the system to drawing room, I need a source because my PC is in other room.

The options I have are 1) CDP or 2) HTPC with DAC. As a single box model I like CDP than HTPC + DAC. Somebody may think otherwise due to flexibility and future technology shift.

To be frank I have not listened to CDPs other than Marantz (entry level) and Yamaha CS2000. As a tube fan I have weakness on tube base CDP. In the forum I read good review of Ayon CDP and thinking for purchasing Ayon CD-1s.

Need your opinion regarding the pairing of Ayon CD-1s with BE-718. Ayon CD-1s has digital in and has pre-amp with volume control. So down the line, I may add a decent power amp in the chain and help BE-718 by giving more power than Leben-CS300xs.

Leben 300xs will go back to bed room again with some smallish high sensitivity speakers.

 

[gobble]

what is your opinion of the Xonar? Any opportunity for an A/B comparison with an budget audiophile CDP?

-G

 

[reignofchaos]

You can use the Ayon CD1s as a DAC as well. It has an spdif input.

As far as how it sounds is concerned, if I had 1.5lacs of spare change sitting with me, I'd buy it eyes closed!

 

[AMITNOIDA]

what is your opinion of the Xonar? Any opportunity for an A/B comparison with an budget audiophile CDP?

-G

Xonar Essence stx is a good soundcard. It has a very good headphone amp. My Senn HD515 connected to its headphone amp gives me immense pleasure in listening with separation and clarity. I could not do any A/B comparison with budget audiophile CDP. But what I feel, Marantz 6002/6003 has an edge over Xonar Essence. But if one compares its price, which is about 1/3 of Marantz 6003, it gives immense value.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

You can use the Ayon CD1s as a DAC as well. It has an spdif input.

As far as how it sounds is concerned, if I had 1.5lacs of spare change sitting with me, I'd buy it eyes closed!

Thanks Reignofchaos. Yes one can use Ayon Cd1s as DAC also. My Flac files can come handy. Have you listened to Ayon Cd1s or CD1? Being at Bangalore, there is a high chance that you could listen to it. Also, being an owner of BE-718, I will definitely like to hear your experience.

BTW, what's the latest about your VPI classic purchase plan?

 

[reignofchaos]

Bumping an old thread up. Just got my Ayon cd-1s today . The sound is just too good!

Its unbelievable what the player has done to my setup. Also I'm super impressed by the digital input of the player - with an m2tech hiface, its near impossible to distinguish between the transport and the digital input.

 

[gobble]

Bumping an old thread up. Just got my Ayon cd-1s today . The sound is just too good!

Its unbelievable what the player has done to my setup. Also I'm super impressed by the digital input of the player - with an m2tech hiface, its near impossible to distinguish between the transport and the digital input.

Whats the Ayon cd-1 retailing for locally?

--G0bble

 

[anm]

congrats RoC! So finally u managed 1.5 lakh of spare change

 

[hydra]

Congrats, RoC! I knew something was in the oven when I saw that "for sale" thread!

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Bumping an old thread up. Just got my Ayon cd-1s today . The sound is just too good!

Its unbelievable what the player has done to my setup. Also I'm super impressed by the digital input of the player - with an m2tech hiface, its near impossible to distinguish between the transport and the digital input.

Congrats ROC. Yes, it's a really good CDP. It is worth the money spent. It can be used as DAC. It has pre-amp also and can be directly connected to a power amp.

Enjoy

 

[captrajesh]

Congrats ROC.

 

[santhosh]

Congrats ROC, will call and drop by for a listen. Most likely tomorrow if that suits you

 

[AMITNOIDA]

@ROC,
Ayon CD1s with tube pre + power amp will no doubt sound sublime. But how is it compared to a Turntable as source?
Why I am asking, because now I am faced with this question. and you have both of them.

 

[reignofchaos]

@ROC,
Ayon CD1s with tube pre + power amp will no doubt sound sublime. But how is it compared to a Turntable as source?
Why I am asking, because now I am faced with this question. and you have both of them.

Great question! The biggest change I felt was bass and timing. Both of these are impeccable on the Ayon. The bass is rich and full just like what is heard on a turntable. At the same time, its incredibly tight and detailed.

Of course my turntable is very very basic with an entry level cartridge. As a result, the Ayon betters it in every single way. But I have to admit that the ayon manages to capture the best bits of digital and presents them in a super smooth and analog way with virtually no digital glare.

One thing I'm struggling with is the gain from the preamp. The output voltage of the ayon is around 4V which is making the setup sound incredibly loud even at 9 o'clock on the preamp. I need to find a way do dial down the gain of the pre even further to be able to use the volume control. Looks like some R&D is in order!

The Ayon cd-1s retails for roughly around 1.6'ish.

 

[jai1611]

Congrats ROC.

The gain issue is something I've also faced. See if your preamp can be tweaked for a lower gain. If not, my suggestion would be to get a lower gain preamp. In my system, the deHavilland Mercury II didnt have this issue despite being used with a tubed source, tubed monoblocks and 99db speakers while the matching pre for the monoblocks had the problem.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Congrats ROC.

The gain issue is something I've also faced. See if your preamp can be tweaked for a lower gain. If not, my suggestion would be to get a lower gain preamp. In my system, the deHavilland Mercury II didnt have this issue despite being used with a tubed source, tubed monoblocks and 99db speakers while the matching pre for the monoblocks had the problem.

@Jai,
Which speaker are you using?

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Great question! The biggest change I felt was bass and timing. Both of these are impeccable on the Ayon. The bass is rich and full just like what is heard on a turntable. At the same time, its incredibly tight and detailed.

Of course my turntable is very very basic with an entry level cartridge. As a result, the Ayon betters it in every single way. But I have to admit that the ayon manages to capture the best bits of digital and presents them in a super smooth and analog way with virtually no digital glare.

One thing I'm struggling with is the gain from the preamp. The output voltage of the ayon is around 4V which is making the setup sound incredibly loud even at 9 o'clock on the preamp. I need to find a way do dial down the gain of the pre even further to be able to use the volume control. Looks like some R&D is in order!

The Ayon cd-1s retails for roughly around 1.6'ish.

Yes ROC, your view is absolutely correct. Ayon Cd1s beats entry level TTs & cartridge. That's why I am very cautious in selecting my TT. Another beauty of Ayon Cd1s is it produces pleasant music even with old not so well recorded CDs. I find it forgiving, in that way.

As Ayon cd1s has pre-amp built in, did you try to connect it directly with your power amp? Once I had done it with a Cambridge Audio power amp (taken at home for demo).

 

[square_wave]

4 volts is a lot of gain. The norm is 2 volts or less unless balanced. Try using the system without the preamp.

Congratulations on the new cd player !

 

[jai1611]

@Jai,
Which speaker are you using?

Rethm Saadhana

Source is a Lampizator DAC (3v output I think)

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Rethm Saadhana

Wow, lovely speaker - very nice. This is Rethm's top of the line model. Once I had opportunity of listening to it at Prithvi's place at Bengaluru. Even a 2wpc amp can drive it. Please correct, if I am wrong.