Hi Weyskipper,
I've been somewhat of a lurker on this excellent website (thanks, Chris!) but thought that I should share my experience with an S10 and a Weiss DAC202.
Micro Review
I have to agree with Glenn that its an excellent combo! Its a clear improvement from my MacMini (with SSD and Amarra/PM)/Dac202 combo - the Aurender simply digs deep producing more details resulting in, for a lack of better words, better pre and post note transients. There is also more body. The sounds of a plucked guitar string and or even a piano note are strikingly realistic on this combo. It makes one regularly realise that the piano is a percussion instrument, which is not something my old combo could do. The S10/DAC202 is so detailed that I can hear the wooden keys hitting the strings of a piano.
Tips
Like you, I tired the Coax connect first as I had an "audiophile" cable for that. Unfortunately, it sounded relatively congested and laid back, even muted, on Coax. Ended up using AES.
On the Aurender S10 end, make sure you set the AES/XLR output settings to "Professional". It sounds more dynamic to my ears. I also experimented with different sync sources, ranging from the S10's own clock, a Grimm CC1 and the Weiss' internal clock. The Grimm was quickly taken out of the equation. I'm torn between the S10 (more low level details) and DAC202 (better, more solidly defined images) as sync sources but use the S10's own clock to sync the DAC most of the time.
Future steps
I will be checking out two things next: installing SOtM SATA filters for the S10's SSD and HDD and getting a better AES cable. Anyone tried the SOtM filers? Am currently using a no name cable that I borrowed from a recording studio friend of mine right now. Any suggestions on a good cable?
If only the S10 was cheaper...
