Ayon Audio S-10 MkII DAC Streamer Signature Preamp Edition - Upgraded NOS 6H30s

Selling my beloved excellent condition Ayon Audio S-10 MkII Signature valve audio DAC/streamer/preamp. Purchased new in 2020. Stunning feat of engineering. Full-featured Network Music Player, Streamer/ DAC/ Preamp/ Analog Inputs all-in-one box.

Pure Class A triode vacuum tube output stage for single ended & balanced operation. Roon ready. Can upsample all PCM to DSD256 on the fly - my preferred setting. Blew away my PS Audio Direct Stream and more musical than my Lumin X1.  Especially with the Russian NOS 6H30s and upgraded Synergistic Research Orange Quantum fuse included with the sale. Highly resolving, punchy, with beautiful tubey warmth. The preamp function is no slouch either. Extremely versatile and built like a tank. Flawless operation. Conservatively rated 9/10. Unit would be mint condition except there is slight scratch on the top that is barely visible.

You need to spend $25k to beat this device (separate DAC and streamer), which is what I'm spending on my end-game upgrade. AMAZING value for it's price point. This device is very much under the radar.

Complete with remote, all original packaging and accessories along with $500 NOS 6H30 tubes (already installed approx. 250 hrs), Upscale Audio Solvek 6H30 Select Cryo ($130) SR Orange Fuse ($149), and 6H30 tubes that originally came with the unit. Buyer pays shipping and applicable Paypal fees.

Review: https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/ayon-s-10-ii-part1/

Please contact me with questions. I'd be more than happy to chat with you about it.

Features & Design

Full featured Network Music Player, Streamer/DAC/Preamp/Analog Inputs – Signature Model. Pure Class A triode vacuum tube output stage for single ended & balanced operation.

Signal Path

We believe that the simplest circuits work best together with the shortest signal path. That is why our pre-amplifiers to date have used single-ended Pure Class A circuitry. The shorter the signal path is, the less possibility of sonic degradation from various sources, including the wire itself. Even on the circuit boards, the copper traces are kept to a very minimum length. The completely redesigned circuit board provides a more straightforward and direct approach to the signal paths.

Ayon S-10 II Network Player Streamer Functionality

*User interface on QVGA 5” TFT display

*Tidal – online streaming

*HiResAudio – online streaming

*Qobuz – online streaming

*Airable Services

*UPnP/DLNA

*AYON Controller app for iOS & Android

*Roon

*JRiver

*DSD (DIFF, DSF)

*WAV

*FLAC

*AIFF

*Dual-Band WIFI connection

*RJ45/LAN Gigabit Eternet

*Digital input – S/PDIF (RCA), Toslink and USB “B” for computer playback

*2 x USB “A” inputs – for external disk

*Digital output / Streamer – S/PDIF (RCA)

*Analog line inputs: 2 pair RCA (optional)

*Quadruple electrical -analogue volume control for preamp (optional)

*PCM / DSD converter (up to 256x switchable) for all PCM signals (optional)

*Separate Server with Harddisk (HDD or SSD variable diskspace – (optional)

*JRiver Imbedded Server (optional)

*Logical sequenced soft-start power up for extended tube life

*Warm up function

*0dB negative feedback (of any kind)

*Ultra short signal path

*Simplest direct circuit path for purest musical sound and high reliability

*Low output impedance for driving long runs interconnect to an amplifier, and any tube or solid state power amp

*No solid state devices in the analog tube output (signal path )

*Minimal discrete wiring for optimum signal propagation

*No followers or buffers in the signal path

*No DC servo that degrades the signal

*High quality parts throughout

*Separate analog output stage for left and right channel

Power Supply

The power supplies have been further refined with new components and enhanced AC line noise filtration. Separate power transformer windings and filters provide total isolation between the input and output stage. This makes it a pure power source, which is a critical attribute for a 6H30 output stage. We also use electrolytic capacitors with much larger storage capacity, to make up for the loss in filtering, when using resistors in lieu of inductors.

*R-Core / Low noise – insulated power transformer for digital & analog

*Innovative power supply provides high speed energy delivery on transients

*Separate and isolated power supplies over each stage of amplification

*AC power line filter to avoid noise and hash from entering into the unit.

*8 separate voltage regulators

Components

The type of parts used, therefore, must have a synergistic relationship to the circuit they are placed in. It is this relationship of which type of part is used and its location, that ranks our products apart from the masses.

*Selected, premium quality passive components used in all applications

*High speed & high-quality audiophile grade coupling capacitors

*High quality tube sockets with gold pins

*High quality capacitors (MKP)

*High quality – RCA & XLR jacks

*Gold-plated industrial grade PCB