Ayon CD2 is AMAZING

After reading the Audio Blast by Doug Schroeder on Dagogo about the Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC, like sheep I went out and purchased the Minimax DAC and connected it exactly as Douglas describes to my Ayon CD5. $650 + tax later, I am sitting in my sweet spot, dumbfounded. The sound was completely 2 dimensional, thin and brittle.
I already own the W4S DAC 2 and the soundstage was little disappointing with the CD5, so I removed it. The CD5 is PERFECT by itself, just Like the musician is in the room!

Don’t waste your time and money

I am using the Synergistic Research IC's with the CD5, SR speakers cables and it blows away the Minimax DAC EXPERIMENT, which failed terribly in my system. I have a pair of Ayon Orthos mono amps, the CD5 and a pair of Lumenwhite Artisan speakers.

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for posting that. While the CD5 is beyond my price range, I'm considering the CD7 or CD2 or Ayon DAC and was wondering about the new "cheaper" DACs that are getting so much press (Wyred, Minimax, Tranquility). At least the mighty CD5 kicked two of those out of the water...any point of view regarding CD2/CD7/DAC?

Horacio

Would you recommend removing the tube out of the unit since I'm using a Berkeley Dac? This would eliminate the amount of heat the unit puts out and should be better fot the transport.

Hello Mcondon
Perhaps you should consider the Sony CDP at Best Buy, those Sony's, they are very layed back and detailed. I'll bet you will love it.

Jim

Jim,

Sarcasm duly noted. The Ayon CD players receive nothing but positive buzz on Audiogon. My experience with Ayon left me pretty dismayed. I was especially struck when the person who sold me his Ayon then wrote to ask me if I was selling the unit because it was too "bright" (his words, not mine.). More evidence on this front...I recently had an e-mail exchange with another Audiogon member about power amps. As an aside, we discussed digital sources. When I mentioned my experience with the Ayon, he replied that he had just sold the Ayon CD-5 because he did not like it at all and could not understand how Ayon CD players are so well-regarded.

For anyone considering buying an Ayon, I strongly recommend trying to demo the unit if possible. If not they should at least first read Doug Schroeder's review in Dagogo of the Ayon CD-5, in which he ranks quite a few digital sources. The CD-2 comes off looking pretty weak in that review, considering its high cost. I frankly think he was too kind to the CD-2, as I thought my $800 Eastsound E-5 sounded better than the CD-2.