Oxford Audio Consultants - Astra launch event - 21 November

[Confused]

Hello @ogs - Yes, you recall correctly, and I still primarily use the AES/EBU input, fed by Mutec MC3+USB/REF10.

Unfortunately, this topic was not discussed during the session I attended at OAC. Which begs the question, was it discussed in any of the other sessions? (@thumb5 ?)

To be honest, I just see the loss of AES/EBU as an indication that there has been some effort made by Devialet to "cheapen" the design from a build cost point of view, which is a little disappointing.

It is debatable how much this matters though. With the Expert, my ears have detected a subtle difference in sound between using the USB input versus any S/PDIF input. Be that S/PDIF via AES/EBU or S/PDIF via coax. (Others prefer USB I know, this does seem to be a personal choice) I do not think there is much to choose between S/PDIF coax or S/PDIF AES/EBU input with the Expert Pro, I have achieved similar results using both. Of course, with the Astra, S/PDIF via AES/EBU versus S/PDIF via coax is not even a question.

in my view, this is one of the disappointing aspects of the Astra design, but it is what it is.