Digital Drive: REVIEW: AYON 07s CD Player/Recorder by Jack D II

Model:	07s
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$5200.00
Description:	tubed cd player
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by Jack D II on July 21, 2013 at 12:46:56
IP Address: 74.248.242.16 Add Your Review
for the 07s

I've been a vinyl addict for 40+ years. The first cd player I bought was a Cal Icon II and it was ok (better than what followed)but not for long listening sessions. Then I got a Musical Fidelity 308-their second from the top, I think. It was OK but not better than the Cal Icon II so years later I added a Lavry Engineering DAC 10) which helped a lot, but still didnt rival the Nottingham 294 with a Dynavector 17 D3 it sat next to. Then I got a deal on an Ayon 07s which was one of the two I had been wanting (the other was an Ayre). Good Grief! I had no idea that a cd could sound this good and didnt think it could even approach sounding this good!! Beautiful, full, complete tones. Real instruments in real space and nailed in that space. Most important of all to me was the ambiance-the lowest level detail that makes a performance seem real. It puts flesh and bones present and everything else except the smell!

Product Weakness:	It's a top loader which is fine with me but removing the cd from the playing well is sometimes a pain.
Product Strengths:	Great detail from top to bottom. Delicious tone, soundstaging is realistic, bass is tremendous and treble sweet and extended as far as you could wish.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Quicksilver 88 monos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Conrad-Johnson CT 5
Sources (CDP/Turntable): JNottingham 294/Dynavector 17D3
Speakers: Grand Veenas 90db/8 ohms
Cables/Interconnects: Siognal Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz, classical, rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 16 x 7.5
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): RSA Haley
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): home

Amplifier:	Quicksilver 88 monos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad-Johnson CT 5
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	JNottingham 294/Dynavector 17D3
Speakers:	Grand Veenas 90db/8 ohms
Cables/Interconnects:	Siognal Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, classical, rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 16 x 7.5
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	RSA Haley
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	home