Best "Portable" Source - KORG MR 1000? - A Few Thoughts

[BigEat]

Like many of you, I've been searching for a truly high end portable source for a while. I've tried a number of the better sounding suggestions we've come to know and love here at Head Fi (e.g., iMod, just to pick on one). I also know that we Head Fii'ers have some pretty conservative definitions of portable and are a pretty finicky group under most any circumstances. That said, on reccommendation of someone that many of us have come to trust, I bought the KORG MR1000 portable audio recorder. After some very preliminary testing, all I can say is well...wow.

Thus far, I've used the KORG as a audio player while taking advantage of its ability to support very high resolution audio files. The KORG comes with a conversion program (AudioGate) that will convert WAV (and other) files to very high resolution audio files designed to be played on the Unit. I have a large library of WAV Lossless files and have thus far converted several albums from WAV Lossless to Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format (DSDIFF), or as many of you refer to it, DFF. As some of you also know, DSDIFF is the format typically used in the production of Super Audio (SACD) CD's. The AudioGate software converts WAV Lossless files to DSDIFF at 1 bit, 5.6 MHZ format.

Once converted, the files can be seemlessly moved onto the KORG MR1000's hard drive through a standard USB connection. The results are absolutely astounding. So far, I have listened to a number of albums with the Korg connected to my current portable rig. Using the Unit as a source, I've connected it via its standard RCA outputs to my iCube ampifier (Kimber RCA to Mini interconnect). I listen on my Edition 9's (Silver Dragon recable) with iCube on "high" gain setting. The soundstage, imaging, resolution, presentation and entire experience is sonically amazing. It vastly surpases most any source comparisons portable or otherwise (except for my Meridian 808.2). The imaging is spacious, liquid and very "airy". Separation of instruments and voicing is superb and easily appreciated by way of comparison to prior sources. It is tuly jaw dropping.

Couple of notes. The MR1000 also has Balanced XLR outputs and works along side my Ray Samuelsy B-52 with ease and equal grace. The conversion process to high resolution files is slow and at the highest output levels, requires conversion time comparable to the time taken to play the track itself. For example, a 4 minute track takes about 3.5 minutes to convert. Other conversion options are availabe. For example, you can convert to any WAV output level up to 24 bit, 192 kHz, which takes less time than DSDIFF. The files also take up considerable space on the MR 1000 and I can imagine quickly utilizing its 40 GB capacity with DSDIFF files at 5.6 MHz. Nevertheless, AudioGate will convert and export to any identified hard drive so storing converted files off of the MR 1000 is easily accomplished.

As far as portability, the Unit will operate on 8 (yes 8) AA batteries. In my experience with contnuous usage, the Unit will run for about 3.5 hours before exhausting the batteries. The Unit itself is slightly smaller than a cigar box and is very light weight even with the batteries on board. The case is nice, light weight aluminum. The MR 1000 comes with a convenient carrying case with a velcro "window" on the back that can be opened for access to cable jacks and recharging connections.

This unit in this application is a breakthrough in my opinion. In terms of high resolution, "portable" audio, this is just about as close to the "top of the mountain" as I can imagine. At $1200 (ish) it isn't cheap, but in my opinion is great value.

[BigEat]

Correction to prior post. Conversion times are equivalent to play times at high resolution.

[denis]

Sounds interesting to me but apparently no one else in this forum... I gave a look on this Korg thing. I discovered there was also a little MR-1 which could be a super Ipod (without the convenience, of course).

A little question: is it possible to connect your Korg directly to a DAC via the USB connector? If yes, have you tried it?

[BigEat]

Originally Posted by denis

Sounds interesting to me but apparently no one else in this forum... I gave a look on this Korg thing. I discovered there was also a little MR-1 which could be a super Ipod (without the convenience, of course).

A little question: is it possible to connect your Korg directly to a DAC via the USB connector? If yes, have you tried it?

Not that I'm aware of. The USB interface really allows only for the migratio of files to the hard drive (as far as I know). I agree with your assessment. The sound quality utilizing the large DSDIF files is well, superb. The smaller Korg works equally well and is a bit more portable. The size would be prohibitive to some.

I actually got turned on to this as a portable by one of the lead guys at Kimber Kable. He uses the MR as a portable when he travels, with a portable amp. He let me try it and the sound was shocking. I'm not sure why the tepid interest as in my view, it clearly aces any version of other portables. It may however be that it is not in many ways truly portable.

[denis]

I am sure this Korg thing (or the baby one) is far better than any portable player around. I think I could buy one when my audio priorities are bought!

[zotjen]

Thus far, I've used the KORG as a audio player while taking advantage of its ability to support very high resolution audio files. The KORG comes with a conversion program (AudioGate) that will convert WAV (and other) files to very high resolution audio files designed to be played on the Unit.

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of this. You can't take a WAV file and convert it to a higher (i.e. better sounding) resolution. You're limited by the current resolution of the WAV file. By converting it, aren't you just creating a bigger file with the same sound quality? It's like taking a 96k mp3 file and trying to make it sound better by converting it to WAV.

[BigEat]

Yes and no. The software can actually convert via a "rerecording" to a higher resolution deeper bit file. Thus a 44.1 kHz WAV file can be converted to a DSDIFF file at 1 bil, 2,822,400 kHz, effectively SACD quality.