Hi all - So I think to answer my original question, one large difference is that the sound on the Ruby is much less tweak-able. There is only the ability to choose between 2 digital filters - you cannot adjust the dither or the noise shaping like you can on the SA-10. Not sure what those do anyway, but it seems like a large difference. You are able to 'turn off' everything you're not using - i.e. screen, digital outs, headphones, etc.
On usability - it's mostly good, not great. It's a little slow... to read a disc, to open the disc drive, to switch between inputs, to switch between tracks. The track scanning (fast forward/rewind) is terrible - it's so jumpy it's almost unusable. I guess this is due to all the processing going on? It would be better if the sound just turned off when you want to fast forward to a certain time. If you're on another digital input and press the eject button it literally takes 10 seconds for the drive to open. @elizabeth @jafant are these your experiences with the SA-10?
On Sound - Velvety, smooth, detailed and super 3D. Still playing with my speakers to get the best positioning but the depth is apparent anywhere in the room. I'm especially amazed at the up-sampling tech when paired with streaming. Google Play, which is 256 - 320 bit rate, sounds amazing! And this is going via Airplay through an airport express and a $8 optical cable into the Ruby. The difference is HUGE. The low end depth and the detail in the mids is so awesome. Compared to the ES9010K2M Sabre DAC in my Yamaha Integrated it's more liquid with more low level and low volume detail. More sustain, easier to follow individual instruments and notes. I like it a lot.
@jafant I'm listening through a Yamaha A-S801 Integrated and Wharfedale Diamond 10.7 speakers. Morrow Cables.
On usability - it's mostly good, not great. It's a little slow... to read a disc, to open the disc drive, to switch between inputs, to switch between tracks. The track scanning (fast forward/rewind) is terrible - it's so jumpy it's almost unusable. I guess this is due to all the processing going on? It would be better if the sound just turned off when you want to fast forward to a certain time. If you're on another digital input and press the eject button it literally takes 10 seconds for the drive to open. @elizabeth @jafant are these your experiences with the SA-10?
On Sound - Velvety, smooth, detailed and super 3D. Still playing with my speakers to get the best positioning but the depth is apparent anywhere in the room. I'm especially amazed at the up-sampling tech when paired with streaming. Google Play, which is 256 - 320 bit rate, sounds amazing! And this is going via Airplay through an airport express and a $8 optical cable into the Ruby. The difference is HUGE. The low end depth and the detail in the mids is so awesome. Compared to the ES9010K2M Sabre DAC in my Yamaha Integrated it's more liquid with more low level and low volume detail. More sustain, easier to follow individual instruments and notes. I like it a lot.
@jafant I'm listening through a Yamaha A-S801 Integrated and Wharfedale Diamond 10.7 speakers. Morrow Cables.