Edit: I don’t know about it, but with the same specs (probably similar internals), if you don’t need Bluetooth AptX HD + LDAC or HDMI-ARC or the 4.4mm headphone out, the SMSL AL200 is 260$. Worth mentioning here at least considering “it just does everything and is cheap”.
Too bad Asgard 3 is no longer in production, and it will be a while before the successor releases. We shall see if that one fits into this thread (it might end up being a mini Mjolnir 3).
Funny thing about the Aune X7S is that it’s still in production and after all these years they just add a different date sticker to it. I own an “Aune X7S 2018”, because there’s a 2018 sticker on it. There’s a 2019 and 2021 version on eBay. Is there anything different, except a sticker showing a different year of production? I don’t know.
For the first time, there’s now an “Aune X7S Pro”. Still the same enclosure, same specs… but with a “Pro” sticker instead of the year of production.
I just snagged a pair, and they are surprisingly good. The sub bass is a little rolled off, but solid otherwise, with good controlled treble. I am even using the stock tips, and it sounds good on cheap dongles.