The New iRiver AK100: A High-End DAP - Page 96

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

 

Sure I can the next time I hit the shops. But I'd probably want to give the RWAK100 a 48 hr burn-in at least. And I don't know how well burnt in the shop's AK100 will be.

 

Actually, Doesn't VisceriousZERO have the AK100 and RWAK100 coming? That may be a more controlled test. Anyhow if he can't do this, I'll see if I can make some time to do so but it won't be anytime soon due to burn-in, etc.

Rudi, I managed to do a -VERY- brief comparison between the AK100 & RWAK100. I tried on 2 ear/headphones - TG!334 and HD700. The TG!334 is quite easy to drive and the difference was largest on these IEMs. The upper bass and lower mids felt thin. Vocals sounded somewhat nasally. The imaging also sounded somewhat shallow or more 2D-ish. My RWAK100 (after 16 hrs burn-in so many more to go) felt more full and better imaging.

On the HD700 that has a higher impedance they sounded closer to each other but it's an open headphone in a departmental store so you'll have to take with a pinch of salt.

Other RWAK100 aspects so far :-

1) after 12 hrs burn-in, the DX100 still has a slight edge on soundstage, imaging, and general "fullness". Will continue burning in the RWAK100. The difference is not great. I had to listen hard to discern the difference. One person PMed me and I kept going back 'n forth as though I was fickle minded. However that's a good sign that the RWAK100 and DX100 is so close that it takes critical listening to hear the difference.

2) Disconnected from the charger 6 hrs ago and there's hardly a dent in the battery life!! It's been playing continuously either through my earphones or through my burn-in resistors (at full volume in this case).

3) No gapless - GRRR!!!

4) It's so small, I'm not used to going out with such a small yet audiophile level SQ - I feel naked.

5) The auto pause when yanking the headphone out is a blessing and curse. Blessing that I don't have to worry about the app running in the background requiring to be paused or killed. But a curse when doing side-by-side testing, yanking the earphone in 'n out means I have to play/pause/fast forward the tracks on either one player or the other.

6) Instantaneous UI (unlike the DX100...did I hit that pause or not?).

7) volume knob although easily hit doesn't really change volume so no problems there. But build-wise it feels "rocky".

8) brilliant that when I insert a new SD card, indexing doesn't take that long. And even if I don't want to, I can go to folder to play.

9) At least with v1.13 that came with the RWAK100, there seems to be some MP3tag issues.

10) This player seems to be more susceptible to 3G/UMTS from my iPhone (when placed in the same pockets). I don't recall this on my DX100

11) did I say I feel naked already?

Hmm. I wonder if they will fix Gapeless? That is quite a handy feature to have. Is the pause long between tracks?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

Hmm. I wonder if they will fix Gapeless? That is quite a handy feature to have. Is the pause long between tracks?

Long enough to actually kill the mood when listening to Phantom of the Opera!

Oh I forgot (but I'm on an older firmware version, haven't gone up to 1.20 yet), album/track sorting a little dodgy. Possibly another MP3tag reading issue.

Hmm try and update it then. Maybe that may help with some of those issues. I also heard it improves the sound :P.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

Hmm try and update it then. Maybe that may help with some of those issues. I also heard it improves the sound :P.
 

Only in bluetooth :-

http://www.iriver.com/support/download_view.asp?dNum=1069

Don't see anything there that'll help improve on the mp3tags. No harm in upgrading I guess.

It has bluetooth? For what purpose lol :P. Looks like I'm jumping aboard the RWA AK100 club as well. Hopefully I'll be happy with it....
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

It has bluetooth? For what purpose lol :P. Looks like I'm jumping aboard the RWA AK100 club as well. Hopefully I'll be happy with it....

Awww...c'mon, even a DAP can be good quality but be "hip" with modern features at the same time ;-). Although I can't imagine ever enabling the Bluetooth though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

 

Awww...c'mon, even a DAP can be good quality but be "hip" with modern features at the same time ;-). Although I can't imagine ever enabling the Bluetooth though.

Same. Wouldn't that just degrade sound quality anyways when enabled? At least that is what I felt with WIFI. I uninstalled bluetooth from the DX100. So I see you sold your 334? Kinda hard to believe :P. Then again I think the same can be said about me in regards to the DX100...

Proud to be a Norfolk resident! 

Vinnie shipped my RWAK100 on the 29th December so hopefully it'll be delivered soon. It'll be very interesting to compare the SQ with my Tera Player.

Cheers,

Andy. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by icefalkon 

How many guys are in the GB?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

Although I can't imagine ever enabling the Bluetooth though.

The thought of getting the Sony MDR-1R Bluetooth version did crossed my mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uelover 

 

The thought of getting the Sony MDR-1R Bluetooth version did crossed my mind.

Blasphemy! ;).

Quote:

Originally Posted by smial1966 

Proud to be a Norfolk resident! 

 

Vinnie shipped my RWAK100 on the 29th December so hopefully it'll be delivered soon. It'll be very interesting to compare the SQ with my Tera Player.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy. 

 

I look forward to your comparisons to the Tera player. Although I have a feeling the Tera Player still wins and hopefully so with all its compromises. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

 

8) brilliant that when I insert a new SD card, indexing doesn't take that long. And even if I don't want to, I can go to folder to play.

 

How smoothly does it integrate music from internal and external memory? Is it just one huge library (preferable) or does one have to play around to get to music from another card?

What about playlist support? That is very important to me. Please say yes and please say it automatically alphabetizes them (playlist names)...