pekingduck said:

Are you talking about the Dignis case?

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Nope, I mean the edge of back side the M.

Thanks for posting those thoughts kkcc.
 
For various reasons, it's looking more and more likely that I'll give the M a miss and will instead have to push the boat out more/save longer for an AK240 (although I intend to wait for a used one to appear in the UK - can't see myself ever paying full price for a new one) - but, thinking only of the 240 for comparison from your demo session, how would you say the M directly compares?  The consensus, even with many 240 owners, seems to be that whilst the 240 is a top notch piece of equipment, the huge price difference with most of its nearest competitors cannot be justified.  But what about if we were to knock the brand new (UK) 240 price of over £2000 down to a used £1500-ish, and what the M might cost over here (if it ever becomes available) - let's call it an even £1000?  (I realise that I'm probably under-estimating the cost of a used 240 and over-estimating the cost of a new M, but it's just to keep the maths simple)  Does it then become a much harder choice between the two, on the understanding that the M and the 240 are, really, my only two options out of what is currently available?

I already know that functionally the 240 ticks more boxes for me personally than the M, but can that extra £500 on the 240 be justified at all?  From what most have said, the M is right up my street in terms of how its SQ is presented, but then the 240 has a decent EQ that I can tweak to my liking if necessary, so in that respect there isn't too much in it.
 
It's a real conundrum for me...

From a purely sound perspective it IS hard to justify the big price difference between the AK240 and the Calyx M. If you feel how the M's sound described by me or others suits your preference, and don't use the "extra" features of the AK, I see very few reasons to pay more other than getting the peace of mind you have the most expensive DAP.

It used to be that "lesser" products lack the transparency, resolution, output power, dynamic/contrast etc compared to "better" ones, but we are having really good DAP products these days where from the dx90/x5 and up, the decision has to be more preference (of signature, form factor, features, budget, brand loyalty etc) driven than a gap in absolute sound quality.

Just my 2c.

I think it is the world of compromise our hobby, at least for now. I am sure in 20-30 years things will look so different but right now we just got to give up on certain things.
 
For me a great sound was essential but than I needed an easy to navigate device with modest storage. M offers the last two and soundwise I will compromise by using the gears that pairs best with it and with the rest I need to use an amp for it.

With MX985 this DAP really nice. Antonio Forcione's album sounds amazing with this combo.

With 0.6 I'm getting at least 5.5 hours of playback.
This thing is hot!! Especially while playing high res music.

I notice a hint f distortion with the right channel on my low impedance xba-4. Anyone else has any low impedance gears to see if they experience th same issue ?

using VE stage 4 and 

audionewbi said:

I notice a hint f distortion with the right channel on my low impedance xba-4. Anyone else has any low impedance gears to see if they experience th same issue ?

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You mean distortion caused by radio interference ??

kkcc said:

From a purely sound perspective it IS hard to justify the big price difference between the AK240 and the Calyx M. If you feel how the M's sound described by me or others suits your preference, and don't use the "extra" features of the AK, I see very few reasons to pay more other than getting the peace of mind you have the most expensive DAP.

It used to be that "lesser" products lack the transparency, resolution, output power, dynamic/contrast etc compared to "better" ones, but we are having really good DAP products these days where from the dx90/x5 and up, the decision has to be more preference (of signature, form factor, features, budget, brand loyalty etc) driven than a gap in absolute sound quality.

Just my 2c.

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How would you rank AK240, Calyx M, HM901, iBasso R10 / DX100, Fiio X5, AK120 in terms of pure sound quality?
Please give us a verdict.

kawaivpc1 said:

How would you rank AK240, Calyx M, HM901, iBasso R10 / DX100, Fiio X5, AK120 in terms of pure sound quality?
Please give us a verdict.

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I don't really have a "verdict" except I know I don't like ak120's sound. For the others (and M with v0.95 f/w), I can find myself liking a different one on any given day.

hke3g2006 said:

  using VE stage 4 and 
You mean distortion caused by radio interference ??

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No this one is not RI, this one is only in one channel. 

kkcc said:

From a purely sound perspective it IS hard to justify the big price difference between the AK240 and the Calyx M. If you feel how the M's sound described by me or others suits your preference, and don't use the "extra" features of the AK, I see very few reasons to pay more other than getting the peace of mind you have the most expensive DAP.

It used to be that "lesser" products lack the transparency, resolution, output power, dynamic/contrast etc compared to "better" ones, but we are having really good DAP products these days where from the dx90/x5 and up, the decision has to be more preference (of signature, form factor, features, budget, brand loyalty etc) driven than a gap in absolute sound quality.

Just my 2c.

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To add to what kkcc has set out, with which I agree, I would add one: portability. I have both and I could be loathe to travel with the M as the sole DAP. If I had space, as a backup or alternative. But not if space was an issue or ease of portability. The AK appears to me to more hardy in enduring being bumped around in my carry on luggage..

audionewbi said:

I notice a hint f distortion with the right channel on my low impedance xba-4. Anyone else has any low impedance gears to see if they experience th same issue ?

Click to expand...

 
 

audionewbi said:

  No this one is not RI, this one is only in one channel. 

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Yes I had the same experience last night. I am amazed that we both hear it in the right channel though.
 
I was listening with my Flat-4 Kaedes on the M to a 1980s song that opens with a strong bass line. I could hear a distorted echo off in my right earpiece. I know that song really well and the  distortion does not belong there. I thought: "oh no, there is something wrong with my Kaede" so I switched to my X5 + Pico Power with the exact same track. The distortion was gone. I went back and forth and I have it on the M but not on the X5 + Pico Power with the Kaede.
 
So I thought: "oh no, there is something wrong with my M" so I switched to my ES5 with the exact same track. With the M and the ES5, the distortion was gone. The same was true with M and the Heaven VI. Everything is super clean. The problem is always there with the M and Kaede but not with either component matched with anything but the other.
 
So what we are learning has been alluded to before. There are some low impedance headphones that the M cannot drive. I was wondering about the 2-ohm impedance adapter that was discussed earlier. That might solve the problem. But really I am looking the M + Heaven VI as my portable travel rig. It is insanely smooth, sweet and detailed. I will use the Kaede with the X5 + Pico Power.
 
Strange beast, the M. I am truly loving it but it has its quirks.   

kiats said:

To add to what kkcc has set out, with which I agree, I would add one: portability. I have both and I could be loathe to travel with the M as the sole DAP. If I had space, as a backup or alternative. But not if space was an issue or ease of portability. The AK appears to me to more hardy in enduring being bumped around in my carry on luggage..

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I suggest get the Dignis case. I am traveling with the M on trains and planes with the M in my carry on luggage and having a great experience... so great that I am bumping into the 5 hour battery limit. Now I charge at every opportunity.

kawaivpc1 said:

How would you rank AK240, Calyx M, HM901, iBasso R10 / DX100, Fiio X5, AK120 in terms of pure sound quality?
Please give us a verdict.

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I had dx50, ak100, ak100mk2, sony zx1, ak120, calyx m, i heard ak240, dx100, fiio x5. Never heard hm901 and dx90

In my opinion. Just sound quality compare (forget built, forget memory, forget OS, forget customer service, forget everything except sound quality)
I think, calyx m stand at the same level with ak240. But difference signature
I find calyx m vocal is aggresive, which is for my personal taste, i dont like it
But if we talk about the other aspect, ak240 is a lot higher than calyx m
For ex. Internal memory, build quality, prestise, os, user interface, etc

The other daps i think ak120 is better than other

Ak100mk2, sony zx1 is stand at the same level for me. But zx1 vocal is very sweet and enjoyable much more than ak100 even ak120

For me, fiio x5 is a budget dap. Fun sound signature. Funny design. Not that expensive

Ibasso dx100 is good sound quality, but a huge body, less battery, and very bad os, very bad user interface


Here is the rank of average (sound quality stand above all aspec)
Ak240 > calyx m > ak120 > zx1 > ak100mk2 > ak100 > x5 > dx100

Now
Why is ak100 better than x5? The mk1 ak100 sound is "very average"
Yes, the sound is a little bit boring. But the compact design, great size, prestise, good build quality. All above x5 bulky fiio
Ak100 is sexy!
Nearly as sexy as zx1 (in my personal taste)

Now
Here is the rank of SOUND QUALITY ONLY
Ak240 = calyx m > ak120 > zx1 = ak100mk2 = dx100 > ak100 > fiio x5 > dx50

Dx100 is better than ak100 , probably a slight better than ak100mk2 in sound quality only


All above is my personal opinion
As daily output cans, i use lcd2F, lcd X, jh16fp, acs T1 live, piano forte x-g

Here is the kitty's previous post on the impedance adaptor ("free connector with extra ohms"). I wonder if this will see the light of day?
 
 

ohotonge said:

Could be a good news for you calyx m users,
Someone close to the ceo just posted the information about june update(the end of june presumbly), here is the list
1. Complete solution for the noise problem with some iems and headphones by supplying free connector with extra ohms
2. Folder recognition and playing
3. Solution for too much heat
4. Quickening a library scanning speed
5. Better impedance matching
6. Extending battery life
More detail are needed to understand fully the extent of updates, but it seems some of them would involve hardware alteration. So I dont know how foreign users can benefit fully from this update. See the following picture:

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