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The New iRiver AK100: A High-End DAP - Page 142

post #2116 of 5058
1/23/13 at 12:04pm

Goodvibes, it turns out to be the headphones. I have the Ultrasone Sig. Pro's and I just think they are too hot for me. My HIFIMAN HE-500 sounds great, but I need to use my portable amplifier to get enough voloume out of them. I now need to look for a great pair of in ear phones now.

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post #2117 of 5058
1/23/13 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jwm48324 View Post

Goodvibes, it turns out to be the headphones. I have the Ultrasone Sig. Pro's and I just think they are too hot for me. My HIFIMAN HE-500 sounds great, but I need to use my portable amplifier to get enough voloume out of them. I now need to look for a great pair of in ear phones now.

You've likely just experienced what the high output impedance does.

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post #2118 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:01pm
After reading all 140+ pages over a few days and actually taking the plunge and getting an RWAK100 I felt the need to post my opinion.

I had been a member here before but cannot for the life of me remember my name or what email I used.
I am using this thread as my jumping board back onto head-fi so here goes.

I have had the Red Wine Audio version for a few weeks now, I actually got the last one Vinnie was selling of the initial batch.
I did a 72 hour burn in, and have since listened to it for another probably 150 hours. Thanks to my long commute everyday I get alot of time with it.
Feeding it a mixture of 320 mp3's and flac files. I feel like it does well with both.

I mainly use the RWAK100 with the Fit Ear To Go 334's (000 Cable) and I feel like after the burn in and after another maybe 30 hours of listening time they have been really an excellent pair. There was a significant change throughout the process from being new to post burn in to where they are now. I feel like the sound right now is about as good as it is going to get and I am very pleased. I also have used them with my LCD-2's and found it equally enjoyable. Although my purpose in finding a dap is for when I am out and about so I mainly use it with my iem's.

In the past I have had an Imod, A standard Ipod classic, various cowons, a teclast t51 and all the hifimans. I still have an hm-602 and an ipod and imod.

I can honestly say I feel like the RWAK100 currently represents the best real world portable audio player. When I say real world, I do not want to have a huge brick nor do I want to have to use an amp. I loved the imod but I absolutely hated having to have an amp. Key points for me sound quality first, then portability and battery. This player excels in all those facets.

Another couple things in regards to some issues I have read in this thread:

-I feel like having the EQ off does improve the sound a bit enough to the point where it is noticeable. I leave it off.
-The battery is amazing in this thing, I am thinking its because I have the eq off and I rarely go above 33-34 ish on the volume and don't mess with it too much.
-I have not experienced any laggy UI issues even with 2 filled up 32gb cards.

The negatives I have are no gapless, bummer. But I can work around that. The back of the player I wish was also brushed metal like the front. It is a finger print magnet. I will be getting a case, a friend in Japan is shipping me one of the ones that have been posted earlier.

Props to Vinnie for making a great player more usable and versatile.
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post #2119 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kcee View Post

After reading all 140+ pages over a few days and actually taking the plunge and getting an RWAK100 I felt the need to post my opinion.

I had been a member here before but cannot for the life of me remember my name or what email I used.
I am using this thread as my jumping board back onto head-fi so here goes.

I have had the Red Wine Audio version for a few weeks now, I actually got the last one Vinnie was selling of the initial batch.
I did a 72 hour burn in, and have since listened to it for another probably 150 hours. Thanks to my long commute everyday I get alot of time with it.
Feeding it a mixture of 320 mp3's and flac files. I feel like it does well with both.

I mainly use the RWAK100 with the Fit Ear To Go 334's (000 Cable) and I feel like after the burn in and after another maybe 30 hours of listening time they have been really an excellent pair. There was a significant change throughout the process from being new to post burn in to where they are now. I feel like the sound right now is about as good as it is going to get and I am very pleased. I also have used them with my LCD-2's and found it equally enjoyable. Although my purpose in finding a dap is for when I am out and about so I mainly use it with my iem's.

In the past I have had an Imod, A standard Ipod classic, various cowons, a teclast t51 and all the hifimans. I still have an hm-602 and an ipod and imod.

I can honestly say I feel like the RWAK100 currently represents the best real world portable audio player. When I say real world, I do not want to have a huge brick nor do I want to have to use an amp. I loved the imod but I absolutely hated having to have an amp. Key points for me sound quality first, then portability and battery. This player excels in all those facets.

Another couple things in regards to some issues I have read in this thread:

-I feel like having the EQ off does improve the sound a bit enough to the point where it is noticeable. I leave it off.
-The battery is amazing in this thing, I am thinking its because I have the eq off and I rarely go above 33-34 ish on the volume and don't mess with it too much.
-I have not experienced any laggy UI issues even with 2 filled up 32gb cards.

The negatives I have are no gapless, bummer. But I can work around that. The back of the player I wish was also brushed metal like the front. It is a finger print magnet. I will be getting a case, a friend in Japan is shipping me one of the ones that have been posted earlier.

Props to Vinnie for making a great player more usable and versatile.

Nice impression, I would like to get the fitear 111si too, too poor to get TG334 right now.

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post #2120 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:39pm

Thanks for the post kcee.  I guess I have one of the 2nd batch coming this week from Vinnie.  During the wait I happened to stumble upon another portable as well, though not ultra portable like RWAK100.  So I'm debating whether I keep the one that is harder to get and sell the unused RWAK100.  You make a compelling argument that I should at least hear the RWAK100.  Or keep both but don't really need two high end DAPs.

 

Did you to try the AK100 with any other IEMs or headphones?

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcee View Post

After reading all 140+ pages over a few days and actually taking the plunge and getting an RWAK100 I felt the need to post my opinion.

I had been a member here before but cannot for the life of me remember my name or what email I used.
I am using this thread as my jumping board back onto head-fi so here goes.


I can honestly say I feel like the RWAK100 currently represents the best real world portable audio player. When I say real world, I do not want to have a huge brick nor do I want to have to use an amp. I loved the imod but I absolutely hated having to have an amp. Key points for me sound quality first, then portability and battery. This player excels in all those facets.
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post #2121 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNBC View Post

Thanks for the post kcee.  I guess I have one of the 2nd batch coming this week from Vinnie.  During the wait I happened to stumble upon another portable as well, though not ultra portable like RWAK100.  So I'm debating whether I keep the one that is harder to get and sell the unused RWAK100.  You make a compelling argument that I should at least hear the RWAK100.  Or keep both but don't really need two high end DAPs.

 

Did you to try the AK100 with any other IEMs or headphones?

 

 

Mind sharing what is the other DAP you found is?

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post #2122 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNBC View Post

Thanks for the post kcee.  I guess I have one of the 2nd batch coming this week from Vinnie.  During the wait I happened to stumble upon another portable as well, though not ultra portable like RWAK100.  So I'm debating whether I keep the one that is harder to get and sell the unused RWAK100.  You make a compelling argument that I should at least hear the RWAK100.  Or keep both but don't really need two high end DAPs.

 

Did you to try the AK100 with any other IEMs or headphones?

 

 

 

Since USPS is kind a slow process post office, I don't know if they will deliver mine on time tomorrow or I have to wait one more day. And because I only have Future Sonics MG6pro and Earsonics EM4 to try it out. I am still thinking to get couple more different IEM. L3000.gif

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post #2123 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kcee View Post

.....Another couple things in regards to some issues I have read in this thread:

-I feel like having the EQ off does improve the sound a bit enough to the point where it is noticeable. I leave it off.
 

 

Wasn't Lee730's finding that it sounded better best with the EQ on but set at (0)? 

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post #2124 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnakChan View Post

 

You'll need someone in Japan to order for you. Fitear makes only 5 per month :-

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/iriver-jp/ak100ear/

 

I don't think this will work via the global Rakuten/Tenso method but you could try. If not you could see if Musica Acoustics is willing to order for you.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard-iu View Post


I saw this site already. Do you think Pricejapan will do that too?

Richard, IMO if you go with Musica Acoustics the whole process will be much smoother and they have very good customer service to boot.

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post #2125 of 5058
1/23/13 at 2:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saraguie View Post

 

Richard, IMO if you go with Musica Acoustics the whole process will be much smoother and they have very good customer service to boot.


Thank you, I heard some of their stuffs kind over price tho, do they?

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post #2126 of 5058
1/23/13 at 3:01pm

Goodvibes I have the RWAK-100 so I don't think it was the output impedance.

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post #2127 of 5058
1/23/13 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jwm48324 View Post

Goodvibes I have the RWAK-100 so I don't think it was the output impedance.


You could be picking up on treble spikes like I was. Its a problem on this player although its minimized with burn in. Still its there...

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post #2128 of 5058
1/23/13 at 3:03pm

I found lee730's post regarding EQ:

Quote:
Originally Posted by lee730 View Post

So you've never experienced a difference before on your other players? My DX100 exhibited noticeable differences as well. More so on the newer firmware it was not necessary as it made the sound stage too big, but even more flat IMO. What I like about the EQ Flat on the iRiver is it allows me to turn the volume up higher without getting fatigued while if I use it on EQ off I'll have to listen even lower and thus be a bit bored lol. Strangely enough I felt I am getting more detail in the mids now since EQ is set to flat. For some reason I feel that extra treble is overshadowing some of the micro-detailing in the mids. At least for me it's distracting and taking away from it.

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post #2129 of 5058
1/23/13 at 3:46pm

MyST 1866 PortaDAC

http://www.musicaacoustics.com/wp/amplifiers/myst-1866/

 

The RWAK100 is definitely a more pocket friendly solution but figure the AK100 is more likely to be in stock if I plan on revisiting it.  The PortaDAC is harder to get.  Dimitri who runs the website indicated I bought the last one but maybe he has another in his back pocket but likely it is a 2 month wait.  I don't know which one is better but the AK100 has bigger production runs so I can try it down the road.  Or keep both wink.gif.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saraguie View Post

Mind sharing what is the other DAP you found is?


Edited by WNBC - 1/23/13 at 3:49pm
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post #2130 of 5058
1/23/13 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNBC View Post


Did you to try the AK100 with any other IEMs or headphones?


I did. Beside the 334's and the lcd2.
I have quite a few mid-range iems that I have collected over the years in the 100-300 dollar range.

I think to me one of the great benefits of vinnies mod is that it makes the player more friendly with a wider array of headphones.

I would have to dig out model numbers but I have quite a few different sony iems, as well as some monster turbine coppers.
I usually keep a pair of yuin pk-2's in my bag for emergency use if need be, they are not great but fill a cheap need.
I also have a pair of denon cans, ah-d2000 that i only use occasionally.
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