Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackstone
Yes I did pick his brain on exactly this subject. The digital volume control on the QX-5 Twenty is very good. It is a 32 bit system so you retain 24 bits of resolution even when the volume control is set all the way down. I used the DAC both ways and it sounded fantastic both ways. We set the AX-5 Twenty up high and use the DAC's volume control and it was terrific. There was not a clear advantage either way.
However, I asked Alex if he thought the unit would mate better with an AX-5 Twenty or VX-5 Twenty. He said he would still tend to steer people toward an AX-5 Twenty just based on his personal experience and because the volume control in that unit is so good. However, your mileage may vary. Apparently both Ayre and ESS are in agreement regarding the benefits and limitations of analog and digital volume control, respectively. The AX-5's volume control is exceptionally good analog volume control, and the QX-5 is exceptionally good digital volume control, it seems.
Again, I did hear the DAC in both modes, and I did not feel like using the volume control gave up anything at all. It was very musical sounding.
Also obviously when I used the headphones I was using digital volume control and there was no analog volume control in the loop at all. Again, more musical than my Bryston headphone amp and better volume control than JRIVER's 64 bit system, was my first impression.
If I were in the market for an amp with this DAC, I would probably want to test both the AX-5 Twenty and the VX-5 Twenty seriously. You would definitely want to audition both. I think that is going to be a very system dependent decision that the end user will have to make. I could see VX-5 twenty making more sense with some speakers, the AX-5 Twenty more sense with others. The only thing I am sure of is that the volume control on the QX is GOOD and you can run it straight into an amp. You'd need to audition both amps to pick one. Nobody knows for sure.
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If the digital volume control is as good as what you are saying, saving money by going with a VX-5 seems mighty tempting. Or even going for a even cheaper Pass Labs XA30.8.
One more thing, any idea on how heavy the QX-5 weighs? Seems like a hefty beast from your pictures.
Thanks!