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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!
128x128boa2
fatcataudio
107 posts
 
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.
boa2's avatar
boa2 OP
1,551 posts
 
Fatcataudio,
Thank you as well for the comments. I think I'll just have to hear one side by side with the Prima. Incidentally, lush is exactly the word that escaped me in terms of how I would describe the Prima. And that's
what I fear losing in some other players. Still, I won't rule out the merits of any player without hearing it for myself.

In order to use the internal preamp on the Opus 21, is it true that you must use the DIN output? Please excuse me if I'm not wording this correctly, but I'm referring to connecting the Opus 21 directly to an amp, without the use of an additional preamp.
Thank you,
Howard
kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
Boa2,

No, actually that is the exact opposite.
In order to avoid the internal volume control, the DIN output will bypass it. (FYI, this is exactly what I do. I use a Ayre K-1X preamp, and had an Audience Au24 DIN-XLR cable made just for that purpose.)

Both the RCA output and the XLR output will go through the volume control, if you wish to connect directly to your amp.

Good Luck!
boa2's avatar
boa2 OP
1,551 posts
 
Thank you for clarifying that, Kurt_tank.
Howard
fatcataudio
107 posts
 
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.
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