AYON AUDIO S-10 MKII UPDATED

Austrian manufacturer Ayon Audio says its S-10 valve-based network audio player has been one of its most successful products, but over the three years since it’s been available, consumer’s expectations have changed dramatically, so it has released a MkII model that is Roon ready and can be optionally fitted with an in-built solid-state drive. ‘Essentially, the company has redesigned the S-10 by refining and expanding its original modular concept so that the new Mk II version can be individually configured in different versions to specifically address each specific buyer’s individual requirements,’ says Boris Granovsky, of Absolute HiEnd, which distributes Ayon Audio in Australia.

The new Ayon Audio S-10 II includes a network music player, computer playback, USB drive playback, analogue preamp, a new dual mono digital-to-analog converter and an updated PCM–DSD converter that now converts all incoming PCM signals to DSD. It’s also possible to install one of a choice of several solid-state drives to use as a server, plus there’s a completely new streamer platform that can accommodate a second self-sufficient streamer module.

The power supplies in the S-10 II have been further refined with new components and enhanced a.c. line noise filtration, while separate power transformer windings and filters are used to isolate the input and output stages. Ayon Audio has also upgraded the electrolytic capacitors with much larger storage capacity to make up for the loss in filtering when using resistors in lieu of inductors.The output stage remains the same: Class-A triode capable of both single-ended and fully balanced operation.

‘Ayon Audio’s S-10 Mk II offers the outstanding performance you would expect from an Ayon product, setting a new sound performance standard in its price range,’ said Granovsky. ‘Its spacious 3D sound quality is characterised by enormous dynamic agility, accurate timbre and powerful reproduction.’

Available now, the standard version of the Ayon Audio S-10 Mk II retails for $16,900 including a 1TB SSD. The Signature version sells for $20,200 (RRP). Existing S-10 devices can be upgraded to the new S-10 MkII version.

For more information, contact Absolute HiEnd on (04) 8877 7999 or at www.absolutehiend.com