aune X8 18th Anniversary Edition-BT DAC/Hi-Res 768k/32bit DSD512/Op-Amp Replaceable, FPGA, USB/Coax/Opt, Bluetooth5.1 aptX-HD LDAC/RCA Preamp&Line Out/TRS Out (Black - Bluetooth Version)

I rated a 3 for the issue (dropouts) that I and some others I have read are having, not just with this dac but others using the ESS 9038k2m. I have read some of the dropouts can occur with either coax or optical, in my case it's coax. Some CDs seem to play fine, some there's occasional dropouts where the sound totally cuts out for a second, or throughout the album. I lived with it because once upgraded with the Sparkos op amp, it really punches its way to higher performance. How much depends on the listener, and comparison to dacs one may have used.As dacs continue to come out, there are differences in warmth, detail, resolution, impact making things sound more or less live sounding, distortion, etc., etc. Some people hear little to no difference, some more. I hear the subtleties.So, I found this upgraded dac a bit more resolving or at least focused in comparison to my once $700 dac which also performed better than my Marantz CD6006 which is no slouch. A bit warmer too. It's nice, but so are alot of other dacs on the market.Out of frustration, I finally hooked up my previous dac a Topping D70s which I was also happy with and which has alot of possibilities in application.First the Topping, flawless performance, no dropouts or hiccups but it sounds at times a bit softer, more diffuse as it was stated to be a bridge between the more analytical sounding dacs coming from Topping at the time and R2R dacs. While the stage isn't flat, its less 3D/less depth than R2Rs present but not bad. It has good focus and tonality. Uses dual AKM, has a pre section though digital may be sufficient quality if one had to hook up a straight amplifier without having a standalone pre amp.The Aune on the other hand has a poor pre section and if one were using the RCA outputs I wouldjust keep at full volume, same as the fixed. Don't know if the XLR output performs any better but I wouldn't expect it to. In a pinch, as a temporary setup, its there. But I use the fixed single ended outputs with my Keces E40 which is a solid under a grand performer. Don't use BT but expect it to perform well enough.So, in comparison what I find is on music, while I could prefer one over the other using optical, I find the performance of the upgraded Aune more my preference, both are solid in performance but the Aune is a bit more focused, resolving, etc. I can switch if the music does better depending. But for classical music, more resolution and impact serve well.For movies, I find the Topping having better tonality, less fuzz with voices, while perhaps the Aune has just a bit more depth to the stage, either performance is really good, just a bit different.So, the workaround is I use the 2 inputs on the amp, one for the Topping and the other for the Aune. They are both small units, including the amp so it isn't too much an eye sore. My Monitor is hooked up to the Topping optical, the Marantz uses the coax to the Topping and the Marantz optical out runs through the Aune which I use for music only at this point. I looked for a 2 in one out splitter with mixed results are they are outright fails per reviews.Now, does everyone have this issue? I don't not know how prevalent it is. I have read some people have this issue also known with cheaper Topping units from a few years back. Changing coax cables don't seem to help per people's experience. But the optical works fine. I don't know for sure but I think one person had this issue with their optical side.Didn't send it back becasue I thought it was a temp glitch at the time and was intermittent. Don't know if an update via Aune is available that could patch this but will look. I don't stream with it as of yet, don't really care about streaming services as I have a large enough collection that keeps growing. But could and with either dac.Have a second Keces for desktop and just use the limited CD quality usb connection which is good enough for Y/T and music vids and podcasts.So that's my experience and don't feel the need to go further up the chain at the moment with this small amplifier. In comparison, I use a Hegel h160 which is well, better in all regards but overkill for the speakers I use currently. It does make everything perform at its best, the external dacs and the speakers I use with both music and movies. In comparison, the internal AKM dac sounds better than either dac with the Aune sounding a bit more like it but at a lower level, like its 2 steps below. The Topping comes through more diffuse sounding, less analytical probably showing its tendency to emulate more or less an R2R dac. Still performs well but different and on most music I listen to, I prefer the more focued, resolving and lively sounding AKM built into the Hegel. It makes piano, horns and voicing sound more lifelike in comparison or at least live. With that livliness comes some additional glare in comparison. The Aune has less than either the other two but retains its warmer presentation. I wouldn't call it a warm dac, just warmer in comparison. A bit vs the d70s and more than the AKM built in, perhaps becasue the Hegel dac is so much more hard hitting and resolving.So, I was hoping to peice together a smaller, lighter system that could perform closer t what the hegel gives me. It does to a degree and at the SPLs I listen at. Probably alot of people that listen at lower sound levels can find this level in alot of other equipment as well in a more midfi system. Midfi works well enough if you don't need concert levels of sound.But if you want a more concert level of sound, higher end equipment and performance is the way to go. I think in that regard, the Topping D70s would serve much better than the Aune due to consistent performance cross the board and its capabilities. The next jump up in quality starts closer to $800 and up, alot higher up to outright beat it. It tries to ride the middle road between a well designed chip dac and an R2R but either does what it does really well. The D70s is a jack of all trades performance but has been reliable as heck.The Aune, even with the upgraded chip and Aune PS, while performance in fantastic for the price, has had issues and I don't want to resell it with its issues.If a patch is available and it works, they don't always, I would change my rating to 5 for price to performance. I will not send it back on my dime at this point.So, if you get a unit that displays dropouts, I would ask for an exchange or a guarantee it would be fixed and stay fixed beyond the return period. That's my take and experience from having used it for almost 2 years on both amps. Dropouts on my music finally got to me in frustration.

You would have to spend $1000, and probably more, to get the sound you get from this DAC. Especially if you add the Sparkos 3602 OpAmp! I'm playing through $7800/pair MartinLogan ESL9's with a Parasound A21+ amp and input is from a Wiim Pro Plus steamer with optical out to the Aune. Fantastic sound and the best I've ever had in my own home! I also have a pair of HECO Aurora 1000 speakers that are way less expensive and they sound DARN good too! I am using an SVS SB3000 sub for a little fillin on the bottom.

Both USB and BT work great. The sound is nice too! Using it in Linux.

Did the research and caught this on a Black Friday sale. For $263 it punches way above its price. I’m went back to 2 channel for music in lieu of av receiver and never looking back. I’m running it as a preamp out to a Hafler DH-220 Amp and Klipsch Kg4’s. Feeding it with Amazon music HD&Ulta HD. Hearing things in songs now I never heard before. Came with two op amps . The j5532 is very technical and detailed really like it. Add the Sparkosop amp and bring it up the bass and midrange while keeping the detail and fab separation . Just amazing from my POV and friends agree after listening. Fire up the soundtrack to Casino Royale and be prepared to be amazed!!

Wanted a DAC with blue tooth connectivity. It paired instantly with my Walkman 55, and the sound quality is excellent. I'm using it as a DAC with a JDS Labs headphone amp.

Upgraded from a Topping e30 to this. I added a sparkos audio opamp. This is feeding into a ayima a07 with BB OPA2134 opamps. Speakers are the Fluance xl8f towers. And if I close my eyes, I'd swear the singers are in my room.The build quality is absolutely amazing. The sound is phenomenal. It's less harsh compared to the e30 but just as detailed.Easily the best audio purchase I've made in 40 years.