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The New iRiver/Astell & Kern AK100: A High-End DAP
Jun 26, 2013 at 7:42 AM Post #6,017 of 9,165
folks, my ak100 frequently displayed error of format not supported ,play next song ? with yes/no prompt. Thing is I load all my songs in FLAC which is a supported format. And more strangely, sometimes the same song plays and sometime dont. Have anyone experienced this ? If so what would be the troubleshooting for this ? Thanks
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 7:46 AM Post #6,018 of 9,165
Quote:
forbigger said:
folks, my ak100 frequently displayed error of format not supported ,play next song ? with yes/no prompt. Thing is I load all my songs in FLAC which is a supported format. And more strangely, sometimes the same song plays and sometime dont. Have anyone experienced this ? If so what would be the troubleshooting for this ? Thanks
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This has happened to me before and tends to relate with a problem reading the card. I would suggest you turn off the device. Remove and then re-insert your cards. Switch the device back on and then re-scan the cards. That hopefully should fix any problems you are having
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:03 AM Post #6,021 of 9,165
I've just recently joined the ranks of the blessed ones to own an AK100.  I found out about this unique device in a strange way.  I was day dreaming while doing the dishes and wondered...wouldn't it be great if there was a small media player that could play heavy HD FLAC files so I wouldn't have to have my computer hooked up to my HiFi all the time?  Something with an optical out, I wonder if something like that exists.  Thank you Google for emptying my wallet for me! Why of course there is such a device and here it is, better than you could have imagined.  
 
I paired mine with a set of Shure SE425s and couldn't be happier.  Just getting my head around all the potential upgrades and firmware updates to do in the near future.  For the time being I'm still on 1.20 and starting to explore the abilities of this great little player.
 
I have downloaded a handful of must-have albums from HDtracks and was totally tempted by the top shelf stuff 24bit/192kHz...why not get the best?  Now I have a question about playing these files through my Yamaha RX471 amp via TOSLINK.  It seems the 24/192kHz files only send info for the L/R channels and the SW channel where any 24/96kHz files send info for all 5 speakers (I have a 5.1 set up).  I don't want to get into a discussion over 2.1 vs 5.1 pros and cons, but I like how things sound through all 5 speakers.  So what's up with the higher quality files not turning on all the channels?  Attempting to switch speaker output on the amp only replies with a "not available" message.  
 
I'm quite happy just pushing the 24/96kHz files to the amp but I was interested in what was going on?  Any insight?
 
Anyway thanks for all your knowledge and spirited discussion on this little player it all helped me decide I needed one.  I feel like I've joined a select club now.  Looking forward to seeing how else it can impress me.
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:05 AM Post #6,022 of 9,165
Welcome to Head-Fi Idioteque74 and may I be the first to say.... I am truly, truly, sorry for your wallet 
biggrin.gif

 
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:23 AM Post #6,024 of 9,165
Quote:
craftyclown said:
Welcome to Head-Fi Idioteque74 and may I be the first to say.... I am truly, truly, sorry for your wallet 
biggrin.gif
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beat to me it.... lol...
 
 
anyway Idioteque74 congratz on a fine purchase :)
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:44 AM Post #6,025 of 9,165
Quote:
idioteque74 said:
I've just recently joined the ranks of the blessed ones to own an AK100.  I found out about this unique device in a strange way.  I was day dreaming while doing the dishes and wondered...wouldn't it be great if there was a small media player that could play heavy HD FLAC files so I wouldn't have to have my computer hooked up to my HiFi all the time?  Something with an optical out, I wonder if something like that exists.  Thank you Google for emptying my wallet for me! Why of course there is such a device and here it is, better than you could have imagined.  
 
I paired mine with a set of Shure SE425s and couldn't be happier.  Just getting my head around all the potential upgrades and firmware updates to do in the near future.  For the time being I'm still on 1.20 and starting to explore the abilities of this great little player.
 
I have downloaded a handful of must-have albums from HDtracks and was totally tempted by the top shelf stuff 24bit/192kHz...why not get the best?  Now I have a question about playing these files through my Yamaha RX471 amp via TOSLINK.  It seems the 24/192kHz files only send info for the L/R channels and the SW channel where any 24/96kHz files send info for all 5 speakers (I have a 5.1 set up).  I don't want to get into a discussion over 2.1 vs 5.1 pros and cons, but I like how things sound through all 5 speakers.  So what's up with the higher quality files not turning on all the channels?  Attempting to switch speaker output on the amp only replies with a "not available" message.  
 
I'm quite happy just pushing the 24/96kHz files to the amp but I was interested in what was going on?  Any insight?
 
Anyway thanks for all your knowledge and spirited discussion on this little player it all helped me decide I needed one.  I feel like I've joined a select club now.  Looking forward to seeing how else it can impress me.
Click to expand...

 
I'm not sure what your amp is doing and why it defaults to 2 channel (it could well be that it will not do any processing to 192khz files and you are getting a direct feed, which would be preferable in my opinion. You will probably find in that case your subwoofer will not be working either and it is just your front speakers doing all the work) however there is a rather large school of thought that says although 192khz is nice in theory, there is actually nothing to be gained above 96khz. Some even say 192khz will cause more problems and may deteriorate the sq. 
 
In my opinion, if you want to listen to your music through all your speakers and only 96khz will allow you to do that, then just stick with that. I would very suprised if you could hear a difference between that and 192khz anyway.
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 10:05 AM Post #6,026 of 9,165
Quote:
amberozl said:
I know it as x8 too but maybe 10 is more guarentee way. Just guessing though, don't count on me.
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All,
 
The 8x and 10x is a general rule of thumb - not a guaranteed method.  The higher the multiplier, the better.  I would want
at least 10x.  
 
Also - speaker impedance divided by amp output impedance = damping factor.  A DF under 10 tends to sound a little sloppy (bass
is not well defined, transients lose their attack, etc.).  
 
As the DF gets really low (like 2, 1, or under 1 - as is the case with using the stock AK100's output with low impedance headphones), even
the frequency response of the headphone gets thrown off.... sometimes severely.
 
Of course you need to listen for yourself and decide if the resulting sound is good.  You might be perfectly happy with something like an 8x, and if you are, then don't worry about it. 
L3000.gif

 
Vinnie
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 10:22 AM Post #6,027 of 9,165
Quote:
vinnie r. said:
 
All,
 
The 8x and 10x is a general rule of thumb - not a guaranteed method.  The higher the multiplier, the better.  I would want
at least 10x.  
 
Also - speaker impedance divided by amp output impedance = damping factor.  A DF under 10 tends to sound a little sloppy (bass
is not well defined, transients lose their attack, etc.).  
 
As the DF gets really low (like 2, 1, or under 1 - as is the case with using the stock AK100's output with low impedance headphones), even
the frequency response of the headphone gets thrown off.... sometimes severely.
 
Of course you need to listen for yourself and decide if the resulting sound is good.  You might be perfectly happy with something like an 8x, and if you are, then don't worry about it. 
L3000.gif

 
Vinnie
Click to expand...

 
Cheers Vinnie, good to know
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 10:25 AM Post #6,028 of 9,165
Quote:
vinnie r. said:
 
All,
 
The 8x and 10x is a general rule of thumb - not a guaranteed method.  The higher the multiplier, the better.  I would want
at least 10x.  
 
Also - speaker impedance divided by amp output impedance = damping factor.  A DF under 10 tends to sound a little sloppy (bass
is not well defined, transients lose their attack, etc.).  
 
As the DF gets really low (like 2, 1, or under 1 - as is the case with using the stock AK100's output with low impedance headphones), even
the frequency response of the headphone gets thrown off.... sometimes severely.
 
Of course you need to listen for yourself and decide if the resulting sound is good.  You might be perfectly happy with something like an 8x, and if you are, then don't worry about it. 
L3000.gif

 
Vinnie
Click to expand...

Nice explanation, agreed with CC, good to know.
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 1:33 PM Post #6,029 of 9,165
Vinnie, thanks, actually i am curious if moded S version with a good amp will be a big step up from Ak120 since i like Rwak a lot and still sit on the fence concerning upgrade.
 
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