Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Calvinj, Melbguy1 knows I bought my unit from, usa tubes audio,that is why he said barbecue store just like you bought your Ayon from the same place, LOL!

Matt, congrats on a very fine unit you have, the Esoteric K-01, however, even used, Be prepaired to do hundreds of hours of burn-in with each setting, this unit is not like doing a burn-in and you are done!, each setting has to burn-in, The great news here is nothing you own or your computer audio will compete with the Esoteric K-01 unit, you need to talk to other owners on the Esoteric threads!, they will validate my claims here,pm me about cables, cheers.

It is a barbecue store they damn sure cooked us lol.

I've now hear only one good thing about Ayon and that's the one in this thread. I have been emailed based off my post I assume that others have had the same problems with the Ayon units and that includes and amp. Similar stuf like blown boards. Their QC in Asia seems to lack...if someone is having lettering on a remote or box coming off quickly, that's a problem...If you have constant numbers of boards blowing up in the field, that's serious. I could sound like magic and cost peanuts, but personally, it doesn't matter as I'd be concerned daily. I've been listening to my systems for over 14 hours today alone and I've had no thermal problems or anything else... Matt, thanks again. I'm heading to OK for a couple of football games and hope to get to the Brooklyn show that next week when I'm back. I'm thinking I may go to the show Friday or possibly Sunday. When are others going?

Correct on K-01 breakin.I suggest the following:

Set device to

4X upsampling,

S_dly2 filter,
digital out active,
display dim automatically after 5 or 10 seconds.

Connect K-01 via XLR outs to Criterion... Simultaneously with SPDIF to OV... The two outputs can be broken-in in simultaneously.

Give the newborn a steady diet of high-fiber material for 1K hours.... E.g. Stravinsky Rite of Spring, mixed with a bit of Purist Break-in CD, may be a touch of punk rock for good measure.

Teste taste periodically the results on the two outputs.... Note that for best results on the XLR outs, the digital outputs should be deactivated during critical listening.

After basic break-in, each further filter/codec that you wish to develop to its full potential, requires its own 500 hours. So....

500 on DSD
500 on FIR2 + 2X upsampling

I am not sure if FiR1 and S_dly1 require thir own independent breakin time.

Saluti, G.