AudiogoN Forums: Audio Aero Prima vs. Resolution Audio Opus 21

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!

Boa2 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-07-05

Responses (1-61 of 61)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-07-05 Just because it doesn't have a tube doesn't mean it will sou ... Cytocycle

01-07-05 Cytocycle, that's really why i asked, to get suggestions, be ... Boa2

01-07-05 In doing my research (i preferred the 16k burmester but that ... Cytocycle

01-07-05 Cytocycle, your descriptions of the various players were exa ... Boa2

01-07-05 Boa, if you can stretch your budget by a couple hundred dol ... 1markr

01-07-05 Howard, i'm not having that shortcoming with my prima as far ... Warrenh

01-07-05 Boa i heard the prima dac of 1markr, its very musical. Jayctoy

01-07-05 The ps audio powerplant with multiwave ii comes with tubewav ... Cytocycle

01-07-05 you may want to try an audio magic mini digital for your f ... Warrenh

01-07-05 You are going to find that the audio aero cd players get the ... Unclejeff

01-08-05 The prima dac's don't come up used very often, but it sounds ... Boa2

01-08-05 Budget, isn't that always the deal? i would like to know mo ... Warrenh

01-08-05 Boa, all you hear about the aa prima is correct. i had one a ... Peterd

01-08-05 You know, after i put my michael wolff source cord on my cd ... Boa2

01-08-05 I forgot to add that we are also getting an aci titan sub as ... Boa2

01-08-05 First off, i have never heard the prima, so i will not comme ... Kurt_tank

01-08-05 Kurt_tank, thanks for the comments. as i said, i only hear ... Boa2

01-08-05 The opus is a phenomenal player at any price. hands down a ... Fatcataudio

01-08-05: Boa2
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
Boa2 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-08-05 Boa2, no, actually that is the exact opposite. in order to ... Kurt_tank

01-09-05 Thank you for clarifying that, kurt_tank. howard Boa2

01-09-05 Kurt is right, you bypass the analog control stage by using ... Fatcataudio

01-09-05 Fatcat or ktank, could you expand on the opus21 din output t ... Jam14

01-10-05 A din-rca or xlr connector simply has the single din on one ... Fatcataudio

01-10-05 The din handles both the left and the right channel in one c ... Kurt_tank

01-10-05 Fatcat and kurt_tank, thanks much for the helpful replies. Jam14

01-15-05 Just to clarify this, if i ran the standard rca or xlr on th ... Boa2

01-15-05 I believe the answer is no. you would set the volume on the ... Mijknarf

01-15-05 Mijknarf is correct. it is no problem. using the din outpu ... Kurt_tank

01-15-05 All clear now. thank you both. Boa2

01-18-05 Fwiw, i know two opus 21 owners who prefer using the rca out ... Philnyc

01-18-05 Ironically, i think that the rca's sound better on my prima ... Boa2

01-18-05 Phil, the rcas do sound better on the prima than the xlrs. ... Warrenh

01-18-05 Warren, my prima man! how the heck are you? just bought the ... Boa2

01-18-05 That the rcas sound better than the xlr on the audio aero mi ... Unclejeff

01-18-05 Don't mean to hi-jack this thread, but anyone out there hear ... Swampwalker

01-18-05 Howard, give that baby a long break in with an electric heat ... Warrenh

01-18-05 Hi-jack away, 'goners. i'll even do it myself. here goes: ... Boa2

01-18-05 Howard, fasten your seatbelt and keep smelling salts beside ... Warrenh

01-18-05 You know, we don't have dedicated lines. we're renting, so ... Boa2

01-18-05 Swamp- i have heard it. in my opinion, the emc1 up (not sur ... Fatcataudio

01-18-05 Actually, that's what i am concerned about. i've been liste ... Swampwalker

01-19-05 Swampwalker, exemplar modded denon. having owned both the em ... Budrew

01-19-05 Budrew, just when i'm about to seal the deal on an opus 21, ... Boa2

01-19-05 Relax howie, you've found greatness. there's just a heck o ... Warrenh

01-19-05 Boa2, warrenh is right. they are all good cdps. i've never h ... Budrew

01-19-05 I will buck up for a fine pair of ic's, warren. because whe ... Boa2

01-19-05 Swamp...take my comments knowing that i am an ra dealer and ... Philnyc

01-21-05 Warren, just when you think you've found greatness...and t ... Boa2

01-22-05 No! keep your amp, unless it is digital, outta there. don' ... Warrenh

01-22-05 I bought the am used, from another a'gon member. what is th ... Boa2

01-22-05 Sorry, i meant that it has two sockets, not outlets. i'll n ... Boa2

01-23-05 Who's the lucky turd who got the ra opus 21 for $1999? i se ... Steveh_houston

02-23-05 In your case i would buy the ayre cx-7 e add some damping ma ... Frankpiet

02-23-05 Thanks for the recommendation, frankpiet. i just bought a ba ... Boa2

02-24-05 Howard/boa2: after the r/a arrives, it would be interesting ... Mrmb

02-24-05 I'll be happy to do that, mrmb. obviously, we'll have to ke ... Boa2

03-03-05 Mrmb, we just received the opus 21. i've been playing it f ... Boa2

03-04-05 Hi howard, any chance i can audition the opus at my place? Muralman1

03-04-05 Boa2/howard: thanks for the comparison! i did have the op ... Mrmb

03-04-05 Hi vince, sorry but...the opus 21 is up for sale, all crated ... Boa2