Home Review Ayon Sigma and NW-T DSD

Review Ayon Sigma and NW-T DSD

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Pros

  • Sounds very nice
  • Very easy installation
  • Looks very special... ...and it is...

Cons

  • No decent Android app
  • ... and no ROON as an alternative

Price: € 5150

AYON NW-T SIGMA

AYON Sigma DAC

Contents

The Sigma DAC is the ‘starter’ of the three DA converters offered by AYON. Up there are the Stealth and the Stratos. Now, don’t think about a dac that’s going to take the edge off. No: the Sigma is a serious device capable of serious performance.

We fed the AYON Sigma with data from both the NW-T and the Ambre. And the Sigma makes it very easy to hear the differences. Though it’s a little bit deceptive, because both I2S and the NW-T play a little bit louder. So we did have to do a volume correction.

Rich

The AYON Sigma also has a rich sound. This dac clearly plays a little warmer than the Pavane which is our reference. Is that “extra” better? No. it’s taste. The Pavane is fairer. Both in sound and placement. But the fact is: the AYON Sigma has a very pleasant sound.

We look at pure performance in terms of detailing, refinement and fluidity in the reproduction… Then the Pavane wins. Certainly the middle area is just a little looser and quieter… Although the AYON vocals reproduce beautifully.

Specifications

Digital/Analog Converter Ayon Sigma
Conversion 32 bit, PCM up to 192k, 64xDSD, 128xDSD
DAC configuration 8 mono DACs to 2 stereo outs
Tube complement – Analog output 6H30
Dynamic range > 128dB
Output level @1 kHz / Rms 0-10V
Output impedance Single-Ended-RCA ~ 300 Ohms
Output impedance Balanced-XLR ~ 300 Ohms
Digital input 1 x S/PDIF, 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x Toslink
,1 x BNC, 1 x USB, 1 x I2S, 1 x DoP,
3 x BNC for DSD
Analog output RCA & XLR
S/N ratio > 120 dB
Frequency response 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
Total harmonic distortion @ 1kHz < 0.002%
Remote control Yes
Dimension (WxDxH) cm 48x36x11 cm
Weight 12 kg