The Best? DX100 vs AK100 vs Altmann Tera - Page 3  

160gb on the RWAK100 and more with SD Cards? I think you're confused. It's 32gb built-in with 64gb microSDXC support (x2) so 128+32 = 160, not 160 + 2 SD cards

Quote:

Originally Posted by jliu 

rwak100 for me. Just ordered one today.

 

Will be pairing it with my MKIIIB running fitear 334s and at home my HE-500.

 

Main reason for picking the RWAK100 was the 160gb of space and adding obviously more with the SD slots. 

2nd reason was looks and size.

3rd reason was it supports many formats.

4th battery life. I fly from asia to the US a couple times a month and I need something that has a decent battery life. 

 

Actually just switched from using one of my i-devices and cypher solo to this solution because I'm running out of space on my idevices and I didn't want to use up the battery life on my phones. 

More with SD slots by swapping cards. Yes, many DAPs can swap cards but not needing to as often and HiDef makes 160 on board a great feature. Do you work for Altman? jk. I mean really, even if it is the best sounding player, I doubt you could convince anyone at this point because your bias is so apparent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jliu 

rwak100 for me. Just ordered one today.

 

Will be pairing it with my MKIIIB running fitear 334s and at home my HE-500.

 

Main reason for picking the RWAK100 was the 160gb of space and adding obviously more with the SD slots. 

2nd reason was looks and size.

3rd reason was it supports many formats.

4th battery life. I fly from asia to the US a couple times a month and I need something that has a decent battery life. 

 

Actually just switched from using one of my i-devices and cypher solo to this solution because I'm running out of space on my idevices and I didn't want to use up the battery life on my phones. 

Out of curiosity, are you going to pair it with the Mk3B always? If so, why do you need the RWAK100 version? The AK100 will suffice. OTOH, if you intend to use the DAP on it's own without an external amp, then the RWAK100 makes sense.

My bias is just to a device I love. I dont make money off any sales so I have no idea who/how many people I've convinced. Its not for everyone, I say that a lot as well. And I've heard the DX100 and will be doing a side-by-side in April at a Head-Fi Meet Up. As far as I can remember, They are good in their own right, I prefer the Tera though

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodvibes 

More with SD slots by swapping cards. Yes, many DAPs can swap cards but not needing to as often and HiDef makes 160 on board a great feature. Do you work for Altman? jk. I mean really, even if it is the best sounding player, I doubt you could convince anyone at this point because your bias is so apparent.

no I wasn't planning on running it with MKIIIB all the time. Depends on how it sounds though. If its a noticeable difference paired with MKIIIB then I most likely will. I do like having the option of not having to pair if I don't want to carry a stack around. 

Definitely paired with MKIIIB when running the HE-500s though. 

And regarding memory size I was meaning that you have 160 but you can switch out 128 anytime you want with other cards. 

I connected a 3.5mm vertere rca adaptor to my AK100 directlly into my power amps

via active full range sanders 10c electrostatics , produced  sound Quality  i could not believe

Also sounded superb with my Taket H2+ phones via 6c33c tube amp

total " giant killer !

i compared this to my  full Dcs 4 box  rig and was shocked 

the AK100 is at heart a wonderful digital source player, deeply engineered in a unique fashion. It's best seen as a portable high resolution 'CD player', masquerading as an MP3 player. I used it as such through its headphone outlet and got spectacular sound quality from high resolution 24/96 and 24/192 digital recordings. It's very well made and finished and it works well too...

....casual listening in a quiet room made obvious the AK100 has a darkness to its silences and a sense of silky smoothness, almost warmth. I found myself winding the volume right up, the sound was so clean... I switched to a pair of Sennheiser HD650s and it all got much better, greater dynamic scale, firmer bass and more extended treble becoming obvious in particular.... the message is the AK100 is way above a normal portable in quality terms, in another league in fact.

Moving onto a Marantz SR8002 receiver in an AV system with Martin Logan Electromotion electrostatic loudspeakers up front made clear that the headphones do not reveal the AK100's potential .... its smooth, almost silky quality was obvious, characteristic of digital done properly, meaning not CD. Violins hung in space and were clear and stable, and also clearly separated from each other... swapping over to to a direct optical connection bought out greater low level filigree detailing and a stronger sense of depth and space to the sound stage... the same was was true of Rock, kick drum sounding firm, brushed cymbals shimmering with fine detail... This is a top quality, high definition music player that can be connected up to a hi-fi through its headphone output [or digital output]. The AK100 is no ordinary portable, that's for sure.

.... idiosyncrasies apart the Astell&Kern AK100 is an astonishing player, with fabulous sound quality and an amazing spread of ability as a source. It's a must have in fact.

Measured Performance

The AK100 produced exceptional results for a portable player. It has massively greater dynamic range, lower distortion and negligible jitter than typical portables, measuring a well as a high quality stand-alone DAC. It's a portable hi-res player that approaches the limits of what is possible.

Reviewed by Noel Keywood, Editor of Hi-Fi World.

5 Globes + Value / 5

Let's say my  Top Priority for sound quality as follows:

No.1: The widest sound stage/3D imaging

No.2: The clearest vocal/instrument separation

No.3: The most balance among low, mids & high

No.4: Zero hiss

No.5: Very thick & detail sound

Which is the best choice: AK100 (original), RWA AK100 (modified), DX100 or Altmann Tera?

Bump,  +1 above post

I'm curious in getting the AK100, it looks like the best balance of interface and sound quality. 

I'm worried I've been ripping flacs to be too small when someone in this thread mentioned they come up 75% size of a .wav.  As I'm compressing songs now with EAC I get about 25mb for an "average" length song.  Does that seem right? Of course tweaking my flac rip method is for a different thread.  I'm curious how flacs are 24/96 when I'm ripping a .WAV off a 16 bit 44.1 CD, then compressing to FLAC.  Does this device just handle upsampling in a flattering way? 

I searched amazon for the MK IIIB could you give me more info on that what I assume is the amp combo you want to use.  Is that setup in use yet and how do you like it?

Its been a month or so since this thread was active I would like to ask people how they like the AK100 and are you happy with sound out of the device or is reamping desirable?

Based on research I'm a fan already after looking into hifiman's quirky products and the higher priced Basso product.  This one looks way cleaner in design.  

Sorry if there's another active thread on this topic....thanks for any feedback.

I just read this review which rips the AK100 a new arse.  Says Basso sounds better, hifiman 60xs sound better.   For what its worth lets bring back the debate, this article made me rethink things swinging me back towards basso.....

http://www.headfonia.com/the-player-astell-kern-ak100/

This guys reviews are pushing me towards the terra or basso.....I am not looking for something to hold my entire library.  I like the idea of loading up a weeks worth of .wavs on the terra

but the basso seems more bang for buck with flac and other formats. But its such a margin call, if you want a hidef audio player why is going back to .wavs so painful? 

Not at all to me....just start re-ripping CDs while I'm doing other stuff around the house.

BTW, where can I source the basso in the U.S.  Only seller I can find is in Japan.  Thanks!!!!!!!

...update....

Obviously I'm impatient, via amazon I was finding the Basso at $1000, direct from the producer it was $860 shipped to the U.S.  My only caveat is not knowing when hifiman will update their product. For now I think I'll be content and hope to find this product works great without an amp strapped top it.  Really interested in the Terra product but it seems very risky getting a product built and supported by one man, I like the product and actually think the interface looks quite intuitive.  I would rather go snowboarding with the terra but overall I'd like to have flacs and playlist support instead of manually updating the terra when I want a new playlist.

Quote:

Originally Posted by En_R 

It's hard to trust someone who has never heard anything better.

I've heard the iBasso DX100, it's not that great. Didnt have the Tera Player at that point, but will soon be able to compare side by side. From what I remember I was impressed immediately with the DX100, but it is different than the Tera Player. The Tera Player is gonna be a better source for long listening sessions. The iBasso DX100 was tiring from the little I heard. Both great, just different. I don't think their will ever be just one king of TOTL DAP's. I think their is room for many, I've chosen my pony in this race though, it not gonna be for everyone though. 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberalpha11 

Let's say my  Top Priority for sound quality as follows:

 

No.1: The widest sound stage/3D imaging

No.2: The clearest vocal/instrument separation

No.3: The most balance among low, mids & high

No.4: Zero hiss

No.5: Very thick & detail sound

 

Which is the best choice: AK100 (original), RWA AK100 (modified), DX100 or Altmann Tera?

I think the Tera Player might suit you best with those requirements, but not 100% sure without doing a proper comparison side-by-side. I think you should try contacting some of the members that post in the "Post Pics of your portable rig" thread as some of those people in the last few pages seem to have lots of experience with all the gear you wish to know about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pabloaugustus 

Bump,  +1 above post

 

...update....

Obviously I'm impatient, via amazon I was finding the Basso at $1000, direct from the producer it was $860 shipped to the U.S.  My only caveat is not knowing when hifiman will update their product. For now I think I'll be content and hope to find this product works great without an amp strapped top it.  Really interested in the Terra product but it seems very risky getting a product built and supported by one man, I like the product and actually think the interface looks quite intuitive.  I would rather go snowboarding with the terra but overall I'd like to have flacs and playlist support instead of manually updating the terra when I want a new playlist.

Apparently shipping from iBasso is ridiculously fast. usually people get their item within a day or two of getting the tracking number, or at least that's how it used to be.