Audio Aero Prima vs. Resolution Audio Opus 21


We currently own the Prima, and have heard the Opus 21, though only for a short audition, and not in our home. Just curious what you might think of the differences? We love the warmth and intimacy of the Prima. It could perhaps dig a little deeper for increased dynamics and resolution. We may spend the $150 to try out the Opus 21, but my concern is having a non-tube player. There is a certain thinness and dryness to most digital that I don't care for. We would spend up to $3K as necessary, but are for a number of reasons apprehensive about the modded players.
We prefer the dimensionality and airy sound of the Prima to the pristine accuracy of say, the Audio Note CDP/DAC's.
Any thoughts and/or recommendations? Stick with what we have? Spring for a $1000 interconnect? OK, not so fast!
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Showing 4 responses by fatcataudio

The Opus is a phenomenal player at any price. Hands down a winner, however if you need warmth and a full lush sound, the Opus may not totally deliver. It will deliver musicality, great PRAT, openness, detail, literally everything you could ever want except lushness. To some extent warmth and detail are at two ends of a spectrum and to have both is almost impossible, however some heavy dollar players come close to this. My recc is to get the Opus for everything it does right, then add a tubed preamp or amp to get you lushness, a true delight and will be your best bet, IMO. You can also tweak with the right cables. I don't think the Prima will give you the depth, detail, dynamics, imaging etc, etc that the opus can provide.
Kurt is right, you bypass the analog control stage by using the DIN output and using a DIN-RCA (or DIN-XLR if you wish) connector (the Audience DIN-RCA and DIN-XLR cables are in MHO the best). If you are using a preamp, I think it is a well worth while investment. Not a night and day difference, but ever so slightly better dynamics and authority through the DIN. Don't get me wrong the output through the standard RCA or XLR is quite phenomenal itself.
A DIN-RCA or XLR connector simply has the single DIN on one side, then splits into two RCAs or XLRs.
Swamp- I have heard it. In my opinion, the EMC1 UP (not sure if it was the SE?) offers nothing over the Opus. They are both musical players, but the EMC simply does not have the resolution and detail that the Opus has. Actually, I believe you heard the Opus when you demoed the VR4 SEs.....