Aune Audio S9C Pro - Would I use this as a Reference DAC/Amp? - Honest Audiophile Impressions

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A BIG thank you to Aune Audio for providing the S9C Pro for review, much appreciated. The Aune Audio S9C Pro is a DAC/Amp/PreAmp that has all tools to be worthy of being used as a reference. But is it a reference DAC/Amp for me? How does it compare to the X1s GT? How does it compare to the Mytek Liberty DAC ii?
Purchase/More Information:
Official page on aune's website: en.auneaudio.com/index.php?s=/...
Amazon USA: amazon.com/dp/B0C5DBHL6S
Find your local distributors: en.auneaudio.com/index.php?s=/...
aune's official online store: mall.auneaudio.com/S9c-Pro-DA...
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction/Specs
01:07 Build/Design/Remote
02:40 Headphone Output
04:25 Tuning Modes
05:35 Sonic Impressions
10:25 vs Aune Audio X1S GT
11:25 vs Mytek Liberty DAC ii
12:20 Conclusion
13:00 Exit Stage Left
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
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9 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 79

@tedthomas9809 7 месяцев назад

I know how much you respect the Liberty dac, so endorsing the Aune says a lot. Thank you Dave😊

@bigjt37 7 месяцев назад

Very interesting company, that has my respect on their approach. There are few green 💎 out there and to me, they are one to watch. I'm sure it's a worthy unit, the components used in each unit are legit good. Good review. 👍🏼

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Aune Audio takes pride in their products. They invest research, time and effort into each device and care about the quality. I'm very impressed by their products and they are superior to the measurement chasers imho.

@AttilaBalla87 7 месяцев назад

Yeah, not the typical Chinese approach. They take their time for research, and their products are well-thought-out. The components selection is good too. For example I really appriciate the linear transformer in this one.

@shaunyweaver1144 4 месяца назад

I thought the smsl do400 had opened my ears, but the Aune S9 is musicality personified, for my taste . I will be purchasing this unit at some stage . I just wish more would try Aune products .

@TheHonestAudiophile 4 месяца назад

Awesomeness 😎 Aune products are underrated for sure.

@petrpulpytel 7 месяцев назад

thx Dave for great review👍 I love their S17 pro, AUNE should make a pure dac in this line to compete with the Gustards 26...

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

S17 Pro review tomorrow.

@smcpac 3 месяца назад

Agreed, Their S8 DAC is over three years old, used the last generation ES 9038 Pro chip, and is no longer featured on their site. Ok AUNE, bring on your new, "flagship" AKM 4499 or ES 9039 DAC please!

@TheHonestAudiophile 3 месяца назад

The S9C Pro uses dual ES9068 DAC chips.

@sutorman 4 месяца назад

@TheHonestAudiophile - Thanks for the review. It was helpful. In your opinion, which is the better dac+amp combo between the S9c and the FIIO K9 AKM you recently reviewed?

@TheHonestAudiophile 4 месяца назад

Aune S9C Pro

@Hakku1403 7 месяцев назад

Perfect review for an amazing DAC/Amp. Thank you Dave.🥰 When is the even more amazing S17 Pro review coming?

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

S17 Pro review tomorrow! If you want to see it now, it's available for YT members and Patreon supporters. Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

@Hakku1403 7 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile Ok, thank you

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

My pleasure, you're welcome.

@xray111xxx 7 месяцев назад

I have one of these, I use this as my mastering and monitoring headphone amplifier and DAC, and it really does well. Even went to the trouble of isolating any unwanted vibration and resonances. I don't want to use it everyday for just falling into the music. The S9C tells you so much on the mix and so on. But it lacks the soul. My Fiio K9 is a gutless wonder in comparison in dynamics and power and swing, but it makes the emotion of the music come out more. But if you want honesty and integrity of your work where it is, the S9C is a tough one to beat. The build is outstanding nearly 10 pounds, with its linear power supply and discrete output stages. I am even thinking of the S17C headphone amplifier to bolster my other DACs for some additional dynamic guts lacking in those. Cool review.

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Awesome 👍 Thanks for the impressions. I love the S9C Pro. The S17 Pro is awesome and would be great addition to the S9C Pro.

@user-su3ex8kw9b 7 месяцев назад

Hi! Thank you very much for review! Have you heard better than this dac/amp? I'm talking about your reference Mytek Liberty DAC ii.

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Have I heard better than the Mytek Liberty DAC ii, yes i have. At audio shows but I can't afford those. As for the ones that I can afford and have reviewed, I haven't come across a DAC that beats the Mytek Liberty DAC ii in my opinion.

@shawnpwatsons1 7 месяцев назад

I know wheen your hand gestures start flying around that its going to be a good piece of equipment before you even get to the conclusion. You have a tell. Probably a lousy poker player...lol. Aune is killing it lately. That new class A amp in the same series is supposed to be a killer; the new standard for amps under $1000.

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Very true. Time to change things up 😁 S17 Pro review tomorrow. It's currently available for supporters on Patreon and YT membership.

@shawnpwatsons1 7 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile Fantastic. Can't wait.

@marlowe1537 7 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile I'm eager to hear that review; every other review thus far has been a rave (though I don't like to count the typically useless ravings of the buffoon Zeos). I ordered a S17 Pro a couple of days ago directly from Aune in China since no US seller appears to handle Aune products except Amazon and their delivery window on the S17 Pro is weeks from now (and I saved the NJ sales tax to boot). As of this morning, it's currently in Hong Kong with DHL estimating a Tuesday delivery. I'm pairing it with a Denafrips Ares 12th-1 DAC.

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Awesome 👍 Look forward to hearing your impressions.

@dmd7472 5 месяцев назад

How does it compare to the chord qutest ? Thank you for this excellent review: really helpful review

@TheHonestAudiophile 5 месяцев назад

Sorry I haven't heard the Chord Qutest. Glad you found the review helpful.

@lennybenny821 7 месяцев назад

Better camera quality on this video 👍

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Thanks for the feedback.

@radiofreealbemuth 2 месяца назад

4:17 as a newbie, im wondering if there's a dac amp setup that does not generate a noise floor or hissing with sensitive iems

@TheHonestAudiophile 2 месяца назад

Yes there are a lot. It depends a lot on the output impedance of the headphone output.

@BluesMan90 Месяц назад

Hi Dave, thanks for your passionate review :) I would like to ask you if you would define the aune s9c pro as a completely neutral dac/amp or a little warmer?

@TheHonestAudiophile Месяц назад

S9C Pro is a little warmer than neutral.

@BluesMan90 Месяц назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks for the quick response! I'm looking for a truly neutral desktop amp/DAC, with a maximum price of 1500 euros, but which doesn't have a fast and unnatural decay of notes as I noticed on the Fiio Q7 (I don't know why it has that type of speeded up sound) what would you recommend?

@TheHonestAudiophile Месяц назад

@BluesMan90 Mytek Liberty DAC ii

@BluesMan90 Месяц назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you!

@TheHonestAudiophile Месяц назад

@BluesMan90 my pleasure, you're welcome

@armestofeles 4 месяца назад

Excellent job on your reviews, a favor between the HIFIMANEF600 vs AUNE S9CPRO which is better in audio quality? Thanks a lot!!!!

@TheHonestAudiophile 4 месяца назад

EF600 is more musical and the S9C Pro is neutral and analytical. Both are excellent and have accurate, natural tone and timbre. I personally prefer the Aune S9C Pro for it's more neutral and analytical abilities.

@armestofeles 4 месяца назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks again Dave, I really appreciate your reply

@TheHonestAudiophile 4 месяца назад

@armestofeles my pleasure, you're welcome

@BoRerunn 7 месяцев назад

Would I be able to connect a streamer to the AUME ? Can I connect 2 different receivers using the XLR connections

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

I don't believe the S9C Pro can do what you ask but I didn't test it that way. Aune customer/tech service could answer your inquiry better than I can.

@valentin9650 5 месяцев назад

How do you anyone can compare it with the previous S8?

@TheHonestAudiophile 5 месяцев назад

Sorry haven't heard the S8.

@Hakku1403 7 месяцев назад

btw. how does the S9 sound if you use it as an DAC only? Not tested?😔

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Sounds as described for both headphone and DAC output.

@michaelgreco8614 7 месяцев назад

Can this be used as a preamp? Like if I wanted to run it into a schiit power amp for the desk for some passive speakers?

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

I connected it to my Schiit Audio Vidar into my Logan Martin Motion15 speakers and it worked good.

@michaelgreco8614 7 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile so just straight from the line out of the aune into the schiit? I was thinking of getting this and running the rca output into a schiit gjallarhorn for the desk and wanted to know if it would work since it doesn’t have a pre out and I only saw line out

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

I am sorry I misspoke, I used the S9C Pro into the S17 Pro and then into the Vidar. I apologize for the error. The S9C Pro has variable line out.

@marekkordzik7517 2 месяца назад

I sold my Burson conductor 3r and will be getting another Burson or maybe will try something else . How would you compare it to Burson conductor 3r soundwise , I have 32 ohm lsa hp 2 headphines so all that extra power is not important to me rather then good dynamics and clean sound with strong bass ....

@TheHonestAudiophile 2 месяца назад

Sorry haven't heard the Conductor 3r. I've only heard the Conductor 3x Performance.

@marekkordzik7517 2 месяца назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile And how woud you compare it against Aune ?

@TheHonestAudiophile 2 месяца назад

It's been 3.5 years since I reviewed and I haven't heard it since. i don't remember enough about it to give fair comparison. Here's a link to my review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LR_XNMHyYZo.html

@user-mn7mk5tx6t 6 месяцев назад

Hi Dave . Thanks for a great review. My headphone is a Hifiman HE1000v2 Stealth with a balanced Lavricables cable. I have a Eversolo dmpA6 with a Chord Qutest Dac to a Hifiman EF600 (That I use as an amp). I now have the option to upgrade to a Eversolo A8. This will come instead of the A6-Qutest Combo if the sound is better. I also have an option to replace my EF600 with a Aune S17pro or to replace the EF600 and Qutest with the Aune S9C Pro. What would you do in my place? Would you keep the A6+ Qutest? And would you keep the EF600 or not? What will be the best combi for the He1000v2 Stealth in your opinion? Looking forward to your answer. Cheers Fonz

@TheHonestAudiophile 6 месяцев назад

Sorry I haven't heard HE1000 V2 Stealth, Chord Qutest or Eversolo A6. The Aune has good synergy with the Hifiman that I've listened to, Arya Organic, Sundara, Ananda, Arya Stealth.

@user-mn7mk5tx6t 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for your response. @@TheHonestAudiophile But You have heard the EF600. Is the amp in the EF600 of the same quality as the one in the S9C pro? Or does the EF600 has more body in the sound?

@TheHonestAudiophile 6 месяцев назад

@user-mn7mk5tx6t I didn't have the EF600 and S9C Pro side by side to compare. The Aune is more neutral natural leaning and the Hifiman is more warm natural leaning. They're similar but the Hifiman is slightly thicker. If my memory serves me correctly.

@user-mn7mk5tx6t 6 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile Ok thanks for your help.The conclusion of your answer is: Stick with the EF600 because there is not much difference between the 2 besides the bit warmer sound of the EF600....

@TheHonestAudiophile 6 месяцев назад

@@user-mn7mk5tx6t my pleasure, you're welcome

@GoldenEagle0007 5 дней назад

Hi, on your rankings page which is better E- or E+?

@TheHonestAudiophile 5 дней назад

+ is better than -

@GoldenEagle0007 5 дней назад

@@TheHonestAudiophile sad my aune s9c pro has - 😅

@SnobAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Ohhh you are pulling at my wallet!!!

@gillmanjr87 5 дней назад

Just bought the S9c pro and I'm really impressed by it. I had a Schiit Modi/Magni stack before it and first tried the Fiio K9 pro as an upgrade. I returned it because it just didn't do anything special imo. The Aune blows the K9 pro away imo. So much more musical and natural sounding.

@TheHonestAudiophile 5 дней назад

@@gillmanjr87 awesome 💯 Glad you enjoy the S9C Pro, thanks for the impressions.

@realitygame7688 5 дней назад

I hesitated precisely between these two, thank you for your comment hahaha

@gillmanjr87 5 дней назад

@@realitygame7688 If all you care about is the sound then its not even close imo, the Aune is in a different league. Just realize the Aune has nowhere near the feature set that the Fiio has. Build quality is a draw, they are both big, heavy, and really well made. But I prefer the Aune's build as well...the footprint, the finish, the overall look.

@kenr9447 7 месяцев назад

Aune compared to Soekris 1421?

@TheHonestAudiophile 7 месяцев назад

Been several years since I've heard the Soekris 1421. I honestly don't recall enough to compare fairly. Here's a link to my review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z10l5jqdXaw.htmlsi=bvV2ggfkEiWxXryI

@rhphotocdn 7 месяцев назад

I'd like to hear the SU9C against the New Gustard Audalytic AH90 (Both Similar price and have built headphone amp, though the Gustard is also a streamer). I wonder which one would be better? They're calling the Gustard a baby R26