Ayon CD2 is AMAZING

03-18-11: Macdude
It looks like a Raysonic. When you spend that much on a player or dac, you're buying the whole package. Just look at the Chord QBD76. It's beautiful.

I've been eyeing the Skylla, and I'd really like to try it out. But couldn't have they put more effort into the entire package when it's selling for $7k (for the Skylla)?

...yes if you want to spend an extra $2-3k for a pretty case. I wouldn't..

Melbguy1 - I second that! We write what we really see and hear in an honest manner, as audio enthusiats, I too love the Ayon gear. Not with an agenda as Image Audio with over 5 known aliases. What is that all about. He claims he is out of business, but that is not what his website states. This is no place for imposters.

The website was up for renewal for one year service in August of 2010. It is still displaying, but I have long since abandon audio and long sold off all the inventory havng taken another bigger, and considerably brighter position within the real estate sector. Bottom line is continue to enjoy your audio, it's a great hobby and business at times. At present, I don't even own an audio system for personal use. No time !

"..yes if you want to spend an extra $2-3k for a pretty case. I wouldn't.."

I haven't heard the Skylla, but I have owned the Chord. I think it's safe to say both are state of the art. It's just that one looks like a Raysonic, and the other is the best looking DAC out there.

I think we can agree sound is foremost. But once you get to these prices, I repeat, you're buying the *whole package* - sound, build quality, support, and appearance (for some).

If this DAC sounds better than anything out there, I'll be the first to report back.

Budt, I think you were on to something in your March 15th post in this thread. I did not like the Ayon CD-2 and posted about it. Jimphd14, dripping with sarcasm, says I should just go and buy a Sony CD player at Best Buy. In another thread, in which I claimed the PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC & Transport sounded better than the Ayon CD-2, both of which I owned at the time, he claimed he also had owned the Perfect Wave DAC & Transport and that the Ayon CD-2 blows the PS Audio gear out of the water.

Now I just looked at his previous posts on Audiogon. He has a total of 8 posts to his name and in every one he recommends Ayon equipment. He claims to have owned BAT and Audio Research amps, the AMR-77, the Meridian 808.3, and in every case -- wait for it -- the Ayon CD-2, CD-5, Triton, Spirit, etc. was superior.

Regarding the AMR-77 vs. Ayon CD-5, the CD-5 is "a remarkable improvement over the AMR-77 -- NO CONTEST".

Regarding the Perfect Wave DAC&Transport, "The Ayon CD-2 is a superior unit to the PS Audio -- FOR SURE."

Strangely, he claims to have been an audiophile for 25 years, yet he has never written anything outside these 8 posts about his experiences using BAT, Audio Research, AMR, Meridian, or PS Audio equipment.

If you own BAT, Audio Research, Meridian, or AMR, be prepared for Jimphd14 to denigrate it by claiming its inferiority to Ayon.