The New iRiver AK100: A High-End DAP - Page 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by audionewbi 

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!

I agree. That is why I figured it was a smart business move. Not that it's on the scale of a mainstream product. But it is a boutique market catering to audiophiles and in that there is profit to still be made.

FYI - Hands-on testing and review from Mike, a hifi consultant from Korean Blog (English review start in the middle of the posting)

http://blog.naver.com/cmoonn/170664017

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnms2 

FYI - Hands-on testing and review from Mike, a hifi consultant from Korean Blog (English review start in the middle of the posting)

 

http://blog.naver.com/cmoonn/170664017

OK, I think others here already know that I'm rather indifferent to the AK100 and it's output impedance "issue". However, I have to disagree with the review stating it's comparable to SACD. Between the AK100 and my DX100, I've already stated I prefer the DX100. However the DX100 is still a step behind an average SACD system (I have the HP-A8 with DoP beta driver, and also have the Marantz DV9500 & PS3 SACD player).

Quote:

Originally Posted by nywytboy68 

^I respect your honesty my friend,...thou shall not be swayed!!!^

I love sitting on fences ;-)...I get to see both sides!! However I missed the AK100-F111is deal though. The FR chart looked interesting enough for me to buy 'n try, and it sounded great it'll be in my pocket. But if not, I still have storage room in my drawer. Anyhow, too late anyway since the deal's sold out. And I'm not going to get the AK100 on its own.

Guess I'll just wait for the HM-901 now.

This is truly sad for me.

; - (

I'm a bit confused here.

According to this link: http://monoadc.blog64.fc2.com/blog-entry-99.html (which someone posted before.)

Hifi-man 801 must be unacceptable flawed portable player too ? 

Cause it has 18.11  which make the minimum impedance of the proper headphone go around 144.88. ???

Have the company admitted that 18.11 in 801 is a mistake and in the 901 will has much less output impedance ?

Although the AK100 gets some negative press I am still keen on this player. Please let me explain

It is strange that it has a high impedance but it also does a few things right:

1. Size is spot on, all other hi end DAP's are monsters and not really pocket-able. (Excluding the Tera Player)
2. UI, easy to use, all Hi-end DAP's are terrible and sometimes riddled with bugs)
3. double card slots, yay

As far as I can tell this is the first Hi-end DAP that ticks some key boxes for a true portable solution and with the TZar 350 it might be a very sweet combination for on the road., It might even be the perfect portable solution.

 I have had many "rigs" but in the end the size of most of them made them more of a desktop set up than a true portable solution.

We can declare Iriver a fail and be all negative but we can also applaud them for at least providing a portable solution that is nice looking, good UI and provides something that fits in your pocket and not in a backpack.

I think for those who have the cash for the ak100 and the fitear Ak100 would be a great one and all investment but for true audiophile there can never be one true rule them all good enough portable.

I think the main argument is that the critical aspect of an audiophile DAP is that it can accommodate a large number of IEM and CIEM simply because of its nature (been a portable DAP) . Considering  impedance of the most popular and well established CIEM and IEM in the market the output impedance of Ak100 simply fails to satisfy the critical requirement which is an output impedance of at least 2 Ohm which covers all headphone with resistance of 16 Ohm and higher. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by audionewbi 

I think for those who have the cash for the ak100 and the fitear Ak100 would be a great one and all investment but for true audiophile there can never be one true rule them all good enough portable.

 

I think the main argument is that the critical aspect of an audiophile DAP is that it can accommodate a large number of IEM and CIEM simply because of its nature (been a portable DAP) . Considering  impedance of the most popular and well established CIEM and IEM in the market the output impedance of Ak100 simply fails to satisfy the critical requirement which is an output impedance of at least 2 Ohm which covers all headphone with resistance of 16 Ohm and higher. 

 Aren't true audiophile the ones that keep buying and selling their equipement because there is something new around the block:) Just kidding, you make a good piont.

 Maybe we should create a list of IEM and CIEM;s that work well with the AK100. It seems that we have many assumptions and little factual reviews / comparisions of IEMs that work. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidion27 

 Aren't true audiophile the ones that keep buying and selling their equipement because there is something new around the block:) Just kidding, you make a good piont.

 

 Maybe we should create a list of IEM and CIEM;s that work well with the AK100. It seems that we have many assumptions and little factual reviews / comparisions of IEMs that work. 

Any IEM and CIEM can make noise when connected to the ak100 and could sound nice for some, but as soon as you know about the damping factor the mind does something to your appreciation of the sound coming out of mismatch gears. 

If I had the cash right now I would preorder the combo and be happy with it, since i like er4s and the fitear made for this is based on fitearGo111 I am sure I would be happy for a long time, however considering the price and the risk factor involved in buying this gear  I need to to think more than twice. 

I read the whole thing for the third time, and even more confuse.

So, I have few questions here. And i'm quite new to here, I do apologise if i'm misread anythings or offence anyone.

First, 

according to this:  http://en.goldenears.net/1389

The High Zout will change the sound sig of the headphone due to its reaction with the headphone's Impedance curve.

For me it's seem like the higher impedance source to be more responsive in the low frequency and tend to "flat/neutral/balance" the headphone frequency.

(It's reduce the sparkled/boosted-treble of TF.10 and Enhance the rolled-off treble of Er-4P, Right ?)

So it certain gonna change the FR and SoundSig of the Headphone. But not in the uncertain way(tend to be more flat/neutral/balance) ?

Only except for the multi-BA driver that have a funny FR tuned/Crossover that where the devastating come in. ?

(No offend for the multi-Ba owner, I'm waiting for my Acs-t1 too.)

Second,

according to this : http://en.goldenears.net/1389 (Again)

The sound sig of the TF.10 Should look like in the link and not totally flat.

But when we asked about the output impedance of the MX100

And the Lee kindly show the test result of the mx 100  (here: http://www.markuskraus.com/RMAA/dx100.htm)

which contain no direct data refer to MX100 output impedance but flat FR of the TF.10

some said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpatinJapan 

Thanks, thats pretty flat for the Triple fi 10s, must be low output impedance!

 

Back to the iriver and my thread of DOOM!

 

Isn't it that mean, MX 100 do convert/distort the sound sig of the headphone too ?

Some even be pleased that the MX100 make their headphone has a flat response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tupac0306 

Very flat response:) The more I listen to my dx100, the more I love it. It just bring the most out of all my CIEMs. The only hope that can beat this right now is 901.

But I did heard early impressions saying that 901 remains the mids of 801 so it still won't satisfy people won't doesn't like forward mids. I hope this isn't true.

Because if 901 has the same mids like 801, that will be a no for me.

 

But refer to the links, didn't it mean the ability of the DAP to make headphone FR flat come from the high Zout of the DAP ?

And doesn't it should be unpleasant that the DAP do change/convert/distort the sound sig that the headphone were made to be ???

As I said I really new here so I might misread some data of graph. But the doubt torture me.

So please do mercy give me more clue.

Apologise for my english too. - -

Sincere. 

edited. 

@frenchbat & @lee730, I'm sorry...I can't resist.

The AK100-111iS deal came up again on Rakuten and there was only 5 so I had to order. The Y49,980 for both DAP+FitEar F111 was irresistible especially when in the shops they sell the AK100 alone for Y49,800 in the shops. I think the deal is speaking louder than the brain.

Worst case, I've at least already tested double-amping with the Ortofon MHd-Q7 which was a great sounding combo.