Stiv

I use the Kubala “emotion” cable. Crazy good. Tried many.

I use the Ayre DAC and AES is best for me. By a ways.

Thanks for this info! I use AES straight from an Aurender N10, playing files off its drives. It’s the best it sounded by a ways after much testing with USB, S/PDIF etc. Streaming etc couldn’t come close and USB just didn’t sound as good. I guess I should upgrade the USB for the DSD, since I have so many files. Just wondering if the AES will still offer the best sound after all.

I’m wondering too. In my system the AES input was the best sounding. Wondering if I should upgrade.

aes is superior in that setup, which is exactly what I have. I did many comparisons.

Thank you!

MyN-10 began doing the same thing after the latest update. I’m using an Ayre DAC.

Funny. I thought the MQA sounded worse every time. On every test between Tidal and beta Qubuz, and also the downloads and MQA cds I have ripped to the N10. MQA to me sounds like a slight extra layer of something false, digital, something that sounds good at first but after a few minutes rings false. Every time, like an unnecessary sonic stamp. The same files I have downloaded and on the N10 sound best, better than any streaming into my system. I'm already passing on MQA, and will pass on streaming too.

In 17 years of borderline obsessive high-end tail-chasing, Kubala (Emotion) wound up being the very best of myriad cables I’ve pushed through my system. Haven’t used the AeS out on my N10 to Ayre DAC tho. Trying that next week.

Interesting! My dealer David Michael audio in Michigan came to the conclusion the usb offered the worst sonics in the Aurender / Ayre connections. I tried to prove them wrong. Waste of time on my part. The Spdif is really something. All system dependent i guess.

Wow. When I used the SPIDF after the USB it was like a gear upgrade. So much better. I read Ayre spent lots of time getting the SPDIF right, jitter-free. Charles Hansen said in some interview it is the best-sounding inpu on the DAc. Makes sense. System sounds so much better. Waiting for a good AES cable and will try that soon. Spent a small fortune on the Kubala emotion USB cable and I remember how much better that sounded than the old blue heaven usb cable I had on before that. Funny.

Using the Ayre Qx5 Twenty DAC, and the N10 — and a Kubala Sosna Emotion USB cable —the USB was great and I left it. Last week I switched to SPDIF using a Nordost Tyr 2 cable and it was too a game changer. Deeper, wider, richer. More emotional. Couldn't believe it.

Was wondering. I have an Aurender N10 and and an Ayre Q5 20 Dac. Anyone have this combo and of so, anyone tried out the digital connections to figure which they prefer? USB, spdif or Aes/ebu?

Can I ask what program you used to convert FLAC to AIFF?

Such good news.