I have 2 years on c658 into many different active monitors & now Dynaudio core 59's. I haven't had any of the issues that were early on in this thread. I do appreciate the fact that volume defaults to -20 or lowest setting after sleep mode or turn off. That feature has never failed me. Iam to try & use my AES inputs for streaming & the C658 for everthing else via the analog XLR outs & XLR in of the 59's. I'll probably just go RME, but really its just for the pass thru & volume set on monitors as I have internal conversion in them. I use the C658 alot & a ton of hours on it without fail so far. It is harsh in the sense it won't hide anything just like most pro monitors. Great is great & crap is horrible. I do like the MM phono stage in it. I tried it one day from 10' cables from my TT thinking it would be real bad.. it wasnt & after a day or 2 took my 2 other outboard units to music storage room. I do smile on mentioned volume safety.....I do miss the days when I had to get up & actually turn a large knob for that & warn everybody to never touch it..EVER..lol I do run full DIRAC live filters sometimes, but upper mid/top detail is hard to resolve with em engaged so far, but that could be a host of a whole bunch of other things as my room truly sucks.
I got mine for 1300 or 50 I think new. Ive spent worse for sure. Ill let ya know if bypassing c658 completely is a improvement when I run AES direct in.
Just thought of one thing that pisses me off about it,..sometime its hard to get it to turn on with remote with new batteries. Might have to hit power button a few times sometimes, then others its 1st try.