Hi,
I think I can speak to this issue as I have owned both. I recently sold the MiniMax. I actually had both at the same time for about 6 months, and I preferred the AES by a wide margin. The Minimax offered more detail, but the AES offered more tone. I think the bigger 6SN7 tube is betteer in a preamp. I sold the MiniMax because I wasn't listening to it.
I had an audiophile friend over several times (he's retired, just turned 65 and has owned a LOT of gear [compulsively discerning]) and he thought the MiniMax was nothing special. He ended up buying a DJH with remote after hearing mine.
I think I can speak to this issue as I have owned both. I recently sold the MiniMax. I actually had both at the same time for about 6 months, and I preferred the AES by a wide margin. The Minimax offered more detail, but the AES offered more tone. I think the bigger 6SN7 tube is betteer in a preamp. I sold the MiniMax because I wasn't listening to it.
I had an audiophile friend over several times (he's retired, just turned 65 and has owned a LOT of gear [compulsively discerning]) and he thought the MiniMax was nothing special. He ended up buying a DJH with remote after hearing mine.