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The New iRiver/Astell & Kern AK100: A High-End DAP
Jun 26, 2013 at 7:10 PM Post #6,031 of 9,165
Quote:
craftyclown said:
 
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.
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 Thanks for the response Crafty, and thanks for the welcome party.  Yeah I pretty much came to the same conclusion.  My amp likely just doesn't know how to deal with a 192kHz stream via optical.  Since it is optical in it is a straight feed so the options for adjusting the speaker set up aren't available.  If i connected through RCA it would probably be fine.  Anyway like you said, even if the human ear was able to hear the difference between 96 and 192kHz I don't think my meager setup would be able to do it justice anyway.  I'm quite happy with how the 96kHz albums I have sound anyway.   Thanks again.
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 8:04 PM Post #6,033 of 9,165
Quote:
gintaras said:
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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Hi Gintaras,
 
I think the built-in headphone stage in the AK100 / AK120 is quite good for IEMs and even most headphones (once the 22-ohm resistors are bypassed in the case of the AK100), but 
going with the WM8741 in the AK100 and a good external amp will take the music to a whole other level.  
 
Some will be fine with the added size of using a portable amp.  But for those who want the all-in-one solution for max portability, they can still obtain very good results IMO...
 
Vinnie
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 8:18 PM Post #6,034 of 9,165
vinnie r. said:
Hi Gintaras,

I think the built-in headphone stage in the AK100 / AK120 is quite good for IEMs and even most headphones (once the 22-ohm resistors are bypassed in the case of the AK100), but 
going with the WM8741 in the AK100 and a good external amp will take the music to a whole other level.  

Some will be fine with the added size of using a portable amp.  But for those who want the all-in-one solution for max portability, they can still obtain very good results IMO...

Vinnie
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Just to clarify, the second para applies to the modded but not the s version?
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 8:40 PM Post #6,035 of 9,165
Quote:
cravenz said:
Just to clarify, the second para applies to the modded but not the s version?
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Hi cravenz,
 
I wish I could just outright speak my mind clearly without breaking the rules because it would be "promoting" and I am not a headfi sponsor. 
rolleyes.gif

 
So let me respond as best as I can and hopefully this will be ok:
 
 
Quote:
Some will be fine with the added size of using a portable amp.  
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By this, I mean using an AK100 that has been modded "by the company that mods it" with a WM8741 dac chip and a true line-out conversion of the headphone output jack. 
wink.gif

 
 
Quote:
But for those who want the all-in-one solution for max portability, they can still obtain very good results IMO...
Click to expand...

 
By this, I mean using an AK100 that has been modded "by the company that mods it" with the 22-ohm resistor bypass.  You know, the company that was 1st to mod the AK100 and stands behind their work 100%, and works very hard to make their customers happy. 
biggrin.gif

 
Vinnie
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 8:44 PM Post #6,036 of 9,165
Quote:
vinnie r. said:
 
Hi cravenz,
 
I wish I could just outright speak my mind clearly without breaking the rules because it would be "promoting" and I am not a headfi sponsor. 
rolleyes.gif

 
So let me respond as best as I can and hopefully this will be ok:
 
 
 
By this, I mean using an AK100 that has been modded "by the company that mods it" with a WM8741 dac chip and a true line-out conversion of the headphone output jack. 
wink.gif

 
 
 
By this, I mean using an AK100 that has been modded "by the company that mods it" with the 22-ohm resistor bypass.  You know, the company that was 1st to mod the AK100 and stands behind their work 100%, and works very hard to make their customers happy. 
biggrin.gif

 
Vinnie
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LOL "by the company that mods it"  FTW!!   good one Vinnie aka "he-who-must-not-be-named"..... :wink:
 
Jun 26, 2013 at 8:55 PM Post #6,037 of 9,165
Quote:
kkcc said:
 
good one Vinnie aka "he-who-must-not-be-named"..... :wink:
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LOL!  I love it!  
biggrin.gif
 
biggrin.gif
 
biggrin.gif

 
Seriously though - I'm not trying to post ads and hype up things.  I much prefer it when actual customers post their experiences because that is what is most important.  But when you guys post here and ask questions, I want to be responsive just like I am with email.  But when its posted on a forum, hopefully it benefits those who read it (e.g. like my post today about the impedance  / damping factor topic).  
 
But this is not the RWA forum and Headfi has their rules, and I want to be respectful to them as well.  If I can pull in a some extra dough, I'd enjoy having a sponsor forum here.
 
Cheers!
 
Vinnie
 
Jun 27, 2013 at 4:27 AM Post #6,041 of 9,165
Hello all,
 
My first post on head-fi - wanted to say a massive thank you to all for your advice, made the process of finding a brilliant DAP so much easier, as well as helping ease my conscience about clicking buy. My AK100 was delivered yesterday and it is absolutely sick. Up all night listening to it on my year-old Senn HD650s and new AT-M50s! Morning kills.
 
Using Listrid 2.0 on both headphones now. I've been going through a slow period of upgrading my audio gear, even with my (admittedly under-amped) HD650s it sounds so much wider and fuller than the old FiiO E10 I was using from my macbook. Going to get the Schiit Valhalla later this year, and either the JH16 or UE18 CIEMs next year, but first thing's first, I'm looking for a decent portable amp. I've heard the iBasso D12 works well with the AK100, would that be a good place to start looking?
 
Once again, you're all so chill. Thank you!
 
Jun 27, 2013 at 4:31 AM Post #6,042 of 9,165
I'm using JDS C5 with my AK100. For less than US$200, it's consider quite good value and it's freq response is quite flat, so it doesn't really colour the sound sig
 
Jun 27, 2013 at 5:00 AM Post #6,043 of 9,165
Quote:
frederickwild said:
Hello all,
 
My first post on head-fi - wanted to say a massive thank you to all for your advice, made the process of finding a brilliant DAP so much easier, as well as helping ease my conscience about clicking buy. My AK100 was delivered yesterday and it is absolutely sick. Up all night listening to it on my year-old Senn HD650s and new AT-M50s! Morning kills.
 
Using Listrid 2.0 on both headphones now. I've been going through a slow period of upgrading my audio gear, even with my (admittedly under-amped) HD650s it sounds so much wider and fuller than the old FiiO E10 I was using from my macbook. Going to get the Schiit Valhalla later this year, and either the JH16 or UE18 CIEMs next year, but first thing's first, I'm looking for a decent portable amp. I've heard the iBasso D12 works well with the AK100, would that be a good place to start looking?
 
Once again, you're all so chill. Thank you!
Click to expand...

I have used a Heir Audio Rendition 1 amp and find this fitted really well with my stock AK100, used with Tzar 350 and ASG2 IEM's and my HD650 and T70p Headphones. Its a fairly dark amplifier (no background noise / hiss) and doesnt add colouration to the music.
 
In fact this is currently For Sale (Major Plug) as if I need to amp the AK100 I use my Rx Mk3-B.
 
Jun 27, 2013 at 5:01 AM Post #6,044 of 9,165
Quote:
frederickwild said:
Hello all,
 
My first post on head-fi - wanted to say a massive thank you to all for your advice, made the process of finding a brilliant DAP so much easier, as well as helping ease my conscience about clicking buy. My AK100 was delivered yesterday and it is absolutely sick. Up all night listening to it on my year-old Senn HD650s and new AT-M50s! Morning kills.
 
Using Listrid 2.0 on both headphones now. I've been going through a slow period of upgrading my audio gear, even with my (admittedly under-amped) HD650s it sounds so much wider and fuller than the old FiiO E10 I was using from my macbook. Going to get the Schiit Valhalla later this year, and either the JH16 or UE18 CIEMs next year, but first thing's first, I'm looking for a decent portable amp. I've heard the iBasso D12 works well with the AK100, would that be a good place to start looking?
 
Once again, you're all so chill. Thank you!
Click to expand...

First of all welcome to head-fi. I see your wallet in in for a beating! 
size]


I use The Vorzamp duo with my (RW)AK100 and I'm loving the combo! Their footprint is also basically the same so it becomes a quite compact "stack".
 
 

 

 
Jun 27, 2013 at 5:05 AM Post #6,045 of 9,165
Quote:
kimvictor said:
Is that technically possible?
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Yes it is.....the new FW upgrade will allow you to use the AK100 as a USB DAC.
 
I'm waiting for this FW upgrade to arrive and try it out, especially seeing as I have just sold my Schiit Modi / Magni combo
 
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