Ayon CD5S vs AMR 77

Better or the best?

Sorry my english, better

I love my Ayon CD5s with NOS tubes but reading about the AMR 77 temps me to give it a listen. I hope someone has compared them and will report.

I have heard both and they are, in each in their own way, excellent. I have 100s of hours of experience with the 77 vs 10s of hours, so the comparison has a weighted bias; however, even so, I prefer the AMR. Its build quality is outstanding and the sound is resolving but not clinical. I prefer vinyl any day of the week and despite what many have written, I do not think the 77 gets me into the same headspace. Yet, it approximates better than the CD5 to me. I do not like clinical sound. I would not declare the Ayon clinical save for a head to head with a nice analogue rig, and in closer comparison - the 77.

That's a hard one because there is hardly anything in it but from what I hear from guys that have heard both (I have heard the Ayon - but not the AMR - but I do know people who have heard both) I would give the edge to the AMR.

Note with the AMR though if anything goes wrong its built on one PC board and you have to replace the whole thing. This happened to the guy out near where I live that has the AMR and he was spewing. Also a factor to consider with it being so close the Ayon. And its not a rare occurrence either - I know two that have broken down.

Personally though I would get the new Chord QuteHD which IMHO is as good, or even better than that stuff and pocket the difference - but that just a personal view. I lent my Chord to the tech that fixed the AMR who is building me a battery supply, he is friendly with the owner of the AMR as well, and knows it very well - he thinks it has the edge on the AMR and that's without an upgraded power supply or fed via an Off-Ramp - better bass (in fact I have heard nothing with the bass of the Chord - its amazing), more articulate and detailed mid-range. Before penning this I rang him up just to be sure and he confirmed. This guy knows what he is talking about BTW - he designs and builds the PDX DAC which is also an up there DAC - the Chord is very tough competition.

Thanks
Bill