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It is clear that Silverstone has put a great deal of effort into developing the Ensemble EB01-E and EB03 and they show how the brand can excel out of their comfort zone.
The build quality of both products is exceptional, both in terms of the materials used and the level of finish achieved. Short of a bomb going off, they feel indestructible! They are also both very attractive aesthetically thanks to the curved design and the extensive use of brushed aluminium in construction. The only area in which we are not 100% convinced in terms of build quality is the included cables which feel a little cheap and flimsy compared to the units themselves.
We imagine that most of those who buy the EB01-E or EB03 will buy them as a pair rather than in isolation. We were blown away by their performance in our tests, especially when using our fairly poor quality SteelSeries Siberia V2 headphones.
When we tested the EB01-E independently we found volume levels were lacking, despite producing impressive sound quality. So it is only really suitable for use with amplified speakers or with the EB03 as well.
The Silverstone Ensemble EB01-E and EB03 cost £156 each from Overclockers UK, totalling £312 as a pair. At this price they represent quite good value for money compared to other high-end DACs and amplifiers from the likes of Audiolab and Arcam. They offer great performance for the money, and are a great option for audiophiles who have a restricted budget.
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Pros:
- Excellent sound quality.
- Solid build quality.
- Attractive aesthetics.
- Simple installation procedure.
Cons:
- Included cables feel cheap.
KitGuru says: An excellent DAC and Amplifier combo for discerning enthusiast users or audiophiles on a restricted budget.
