The Astell and Kern AK240 Impressions Thread

[burtomr]

  Think about the weight man... the weight...

 
LoL   I know, I know....an AK machined out of lead will sound better than any steel. And speaking of new ways for AK to package their 240 electronics.....how about a Titanium case, then it will be lighter than any steel and allow them to charge $10,000 for it....and people will buy it, too!!!

 

[howdy]

I suggested using Titanium to Alex from A&K and said it would be hard to machine which would not be that bad!

 

[Mimouille]

I suggested using Titanium to Alex from A&K and said it would be hard to machine which would not be that bad!

I suggested he they do it with organic air and sell it 15k and they love the concept. Really easy to machine apparently.
 
So apparently the new model, the AK000 Emptiness will come out next summer for 15k. Apparently it sounds just as if you are in a concert hall. The only problem is that it works only if you are actually in a concert hall.

 

[seeteeyou]

From Beijing With Love
 

 

 
 

 

[my-2000]

From Beijing With Love

 

 

Haha, one of the best movies of Stephen Chow imo, if not the best.

Btw iRiver just got back to me without sending over the 1.17 firmware. They said downgrading would cause all the data to be removed, so they asked me to take my AK240 to a service center for that, which in my case I already did - since I bricked it.

That reply almost confirmed my theory, and if someone can answer my previous question, then it is pretty much proven.

 

[Mimouille]

Haha, one of the best movies of Stephen Chow imo, if not the best.

Btw iRiver just got back to me without sending over the 1.17 firmware. They said downgrading would cause all the data to be removed, so they asked me to take my AK240 to a service center for that, which in my case I already did - since I bricked it.

That reply almost confirmed my theory, and if someone can answer my previous question, then it is pretty much proven.

This is bullcrap. Downgrading works perfectly if you have the hex file.

 

[my-2000]

This is bullcrap. Downgrading works perfectly if you have the hex file.

Actually they are right because I specifically asked for downgrading from 1.18 to 1.17, and I did brick my AK240 by attempting to downgrade from 1.18 to 1.15, so unless downgrading to 1.17 is an exception which I doubt. From my experience, direct downgrading is no longer an option since 1.17.

 

[burtomr]

I did brick my AK240 by attempting to downgrade from 1.18 to 1.15, so unless downgrading to 1.17 is an exception which I doubt. From my experience, direct downgrading is no longer an option since 1.17.

 
So, once again and please be clear: if I have the 1.15 Hex file can I go back to 1.15 from 1.18?

 

[Vaincre]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I got interested in audio gears not long ago. Recently, in order to boost the sound quality, I bought a new ak240 on Amazon, Prostudio sound&music for $2100(I don't know why it's that cheap instead of $2500). I know nothing about audio and,use with the se846, I cannot hear anything different about a 24bit/176.4kHz flac between my iPhone and the ak240. What is a really good quality audio sound like??? How to make sure the ak240 is genuine?
 
I've bought several dsd albums and they do hear great. When playing dsd music, the ak240 gets hot inside my pocket and the battery drains! Furthermore, connected with the se846, the ak240 sometimes makes small noise that is hearable when the music is not so loud, but the noise does not exist at all when I use the ak240 with the sennheiser ie800. Where does the noise come from? Should I change a balanced cable for my se846? 
Please help me solve those problems! Thanks

 

[jwbrent]

  I suggested he they do it with organic air and sell it 15k and they love the concept. Really easy to machine apparently.
 
So apparently the new model, the AK000 Emptiness will come out next summer for 15k. Apparently it sounds just as if you are in a concert hall. The only problem is that it works only if you are actually in a concert hall.

lol

 

[my-2000]

So, once again and please be clear: if I have the 1.15 Hex file can I go back to 1.15 from 1.18?

No, you cannot, at least not directly. It only works for 1.16 -> 1.15.

However, if factory reset will return the player to its initial version (no one has confirmed me on that yet), then I believe it will work because that won't be a downgrade anymore; it'd be an upgrade and I don't see any reason why it will not work. That's untested though so try it at your own risk, as much as I can bet my first born on it that it should work.

 

[shotgunshane]

Factory reset doesn't change firmware versions.

 

[my-2000]

Factory reset doesn't change firmware versions.

Thanks. 1.17+ users who want to downgrade to 1.15 are SOL then.

Of course, you can always do what I did - brick the player then take it to service center requesting for 1.15.

 

[b0ssMax]

Jwbrent i also like the look of the ss. But my confidence in ak somewhat dimmed as my ak240 seems to be having some problems with the volume wheel. My dealer said its not covered, even his unit wasn't fixed by ak. This coming from an ak120 and 240 owner.

I'm waiting on the hm901s now though i doubt the ui has changed much.

 

[jwbrent]

Jwbrent i also like the look of the ss. But my confidence in ak somewhat dimmed as my ak240 seems to be having some problems with the volume wheel. My dealer said its not covered, even his unit wasn't fixed by ak. This coming from an ak120 and 240 owner.

I'm waiting on the hm901s now though i doubt the ui has changed much.

My first 240 had the wacky volume control problem and iriver was happy to replace it under warranty. My dealer, Ted (tedsheadroom), was instrumental in getting this done for me. Contact iriver until they answer the phone and send it in for replacement.