The New iRiver AK100: A High-End DAP - Page 35

Anyone spent any real time with it and experimented with different configurations? Or are you wading in with ill-informed speculation? Head-Fi really is becoming an unbearable catalogue of fanboyism, speculation and shilling!

Personally I would like to get my hands on this DAP. Mine is starting to feel "dated."

Oh, I never use stock headphones that come with a player. My point is, and what you may be missing, is that why should you be required to use headphones/IEM's that are limited to certain specs. Then I'm forced to use those hp's/iem's with that device only? Or be required to use them with an amp on-the-go or hooked up @home to a high powered system? The player should be compatible with what you have already purchased,...not be required to make me spend more $$$ just so it'll sound acceptable.

Iriver is up to their same old pattern. I was hoping they'd come back with a vengeance,...not put out overpriced flawed flotsam.

+1  . Quite sad actually 

There's quite a difference between speculation and the actual specifications regarding this player. That is approaching this from a purely scientific-standpoint. The measurements are garnering the negative feedback and rightfully so. If you want to take the risk and even double amp to make it acceptable then by all means I'd love to hear your opinion on it. What iRiver originally touted this player for is IEMs but that is clearly not logical taking into consideration the player's high output impedance. Yes you can work around it and purchase certain gear to use it but that at the same time also really defeats the purpose of buying this unit. Especially at this price point. Spend just a little more an you have the King of DAPs.

Edited by lee730 - 11/16/12 at 10:58am

lee730, don't waste your time. People like to think the "commoners" have no idea about what they're discussing. It's to help them justify a bad purchase and singing it's praises. Remember, if it's costs $$$ then it must be the best!!! And we're all fools for not realizing it, and hearing it's sonic beauty,...

We do use what we already have, Westone, Shure etc.but we don't want to buy another IEM or headphones especially for this DAP.Even Clip+ wich is 30$ is perfect with all the IEM's.

 

Agreed. I also think this sets a bad precedent: Basically Iriver creates a DAP that is flawed by design, and then they sell/promote "compatible" earphones designed with a counteracting flaw, making both products relatively worthless on their own. This is not all that different from for example Apple introducing their new dock connector that breaks accessory compatibility (though Apple's move is more justified, I think). What will Iriver do with the future AK200 (or whatever), maybe give it a square headphone plug? What if all major manufacturers start developing means to ensure that only their endorsed accessories are compatible, and of course only those of the current generation? There are good reasons for standards, and one should be cautious in supporting companies who break them.

Agreed 100%. They messed up and want to cover it up with excuses. Instead of going back and fixing the root of the problem. This makes me question them as a legitimate manufacturer even more. Not to mention hearing some of the issues they had just before completely disappearing from the market. At this price point I just can't see an excuse to support it. Imagine if they fixed the output impedance issue though this unit would surely sell like hotcakes and they'd make a lot more money than by taking the lazy way out.
 

Edited by lee730 - 11/16/12 at 3:49pm

lol I actually like her greatest hits album in 24/48 :). Still sounds really good. Organic sounding :P. Been actually using a lot more 24/192 and 24/96 files on my DX100 since the update as it really now makes it worth having such files on the unit. Before it wasn't comparable to my desktop rig in resolving power. Now it very much is :).

Edited by lee730 - 11/16/12 at 4:08pm

Sony does it all the time: Betamax, MiniDisc, Memory Stick, mini-hotshoe connectors, etc. What about non-standard batteries? Almost every phone, camera, video camera, etc. seems to have proprietary batteries.

Hey!!! Don't forget ABBA's Greatest Hits!!!

Maybe you should, I am sure if you design a number of IEM specifically tuned for this DAP you will make  alot of new customers from the Japanes market. It seems like this DAP is well received in the Japanes market!