[kantana]

   
BUT much more bulky to carry around!

No arguments there, I haven't figured how to carry the 2 around comfortably but I bought the Hugo to improve the sound at home as a desktop DAC as well as listening through earphones on the DX90/100.  Thing is the DX90 by itself is perfectly capable as a DAP, the Hugo improves it for when I am demanding of the music.

 

[my-2000]

- I'm not sure where the insanity will end. I'm now looking at balanced out connectors, upgraded cables, scouring the net
  for DSD files, purchasing FLAC music all over again; will someone please help me!

Welcome to the club, especially as an IE user. Halfway through your post when I saw "IE80" I was gonna say you need to get IE800, but then you already got it. Now I got good news and bad news for you on that. Good news is, since you like IE's sound, IE800 is the way to go. A must get to go with an amazing player like AK240 (or any player really). Bad news is, if you want to get further than that, i.e. utilizing AK240's balanced out feature to maximize your enjoyment, then IE800 cannot be turned into a balanced earphone by simply switching the cable. You need to get a modified IE800, e.g. ALO's. You shall then be truly wondering, "can portable listening get better than this (with a dynamic earphone)"?

 

[sutjahjo]

   
I don't know for other markets, but for me DX90+Hugo is roughly the same price as the AK240 on its own hence the comparison.

Make sense is the intention is to find out what a fixed budget can get you.
 
What I think more important is to find out which is better, DX90 or AK240?  DX90+Hugo or AK240+Hugo.

 

[Currawong]

I don't think buying an AK240 just to use it as a transport would be worth it at all. 

 

[sutjahjo]

I don't think buying an AK240 just to use it as a transport would be worth it at all. 

Worth it or not, AK240 is an amazing source (couple with a great DAC and amp at the same time).

Certainly AK240 is great as a complete player, but it doesn't mean one cannot use it simply as a source , if one choose to do so.

But that of course is only my personal view.

 

[DrSheep]

Worth it or not, AK240 is an amazing source (couple with a great DAC and amp at the same time).

Certainly AK240 is great as a complete player, but it doesn't mean one cannot use it simply as a source , if one choose to do so.

But that of course is only my personal view.

True, and the AK240 make sense as a transport for 128 bit DSDs.  However, if you don't, even an used AK100 will be good enough as a transport.

 

[sutjahjo]

True, and the AK240 make sense as a transport for 128 bit DSDs.  However, if you don't, even an used AK100 will be good enough as a transport.

Yes, but even as a transport, AK240 is better than the AK100.

 

[bmichels]

Yes, but even as a transport, AK240 is better than the AK100.

The Hugo sounded fantastic at the Axpona,Alas, I did not buy one. The AK-240& Hugo, are a great combo

Really !? ( I have AK100+ HUGO and I try to convince me Not to buy à AK240


QUESTION: Is a HUGO justified when you already have a Ak240 ?

--> Can we really really hear a différence between AK240 Balanced HO and AK240>HUGO (SE) ?

 

[sutjahjo]

QUESTION: Is a HUGO justified when you already have a Ak240 ?

--> Can we really really hear a différence between AK240 Balanced HO and AK240>HUGO (SE) ?

Basically it's a question only you can answer. IMPO Hugo certainly gives AK240 a more distinctive separation of each musical instrument. The downside is you also lost the ability to hear DSD tracks.

As for balanced AK240 vs AK240 + Hugo, I have no idea as I do not have any compatible balanced phones yet. Hopefully I will received my balanced cables soon.

 

[AnakChan]

 
True, and the AK240 make sense as a transport for 128 bit DSDs.  However, if you don't, even an used AK100 will be good enough as a transport.

Originally Posted by sutjahjo /img/forum/go_quote.gif


Yes, but even as a transport, AK240 is better than the AK100.

 

OK a few things I need to try to understand here (and admittedly I've not caught up with HF very much at all for the past 2 weeks 'cos I've had some personal matters to handle during that time). Can the AK240 actually output DSD via optical!? I know the Hugo can receive DSD via all it's input but has anyone actually confirmed the AK240 can output DSD format via it's optical? I'd be surprised if it can.
 
If it's not optical, how are you using the AK240 as a transport? I'm trying to understand why the AK240 and AK100 would sound differently as a transport.

 

[sutjahjo]

OK a few things I need to try to understand here (and admittedly I've not caught up with HF very much at all for the past 2 weeks 'cos I've had some personal matters to handle during that time). Can the AK240 actually output DSD via optical!? I know the Hugo can receive DSD via all it's input but has anyone actually confirmed the AK240 can output DSD format via it's optical? I'd be surprised if it can.

If it's not optical, how are you using the AK240 as a transport? I'm trying to understand why the AK240 and AK100 would sound differently as a transport.

As of now, the AK240 doesn't output DSD, so only non DSD with Hugo.

Secondly, I am comparing AK240 and and AK120 using optical out (AK100 is loaned out), and AK240 does sound better even through optical. Hence my conclusion that AK240 is a better source.

 

[AnakChan]

As of now, the AK240 doesn't output DSD, so only non DSD with Hugo.

Secondly, I am comparing AK240 and and AK120 using optical out (AK100 is loaned out), and AK240 does sound better even through optical. Hence my conclusion that AK240 is a better source.

 
Ok, 'cos Dr.Sheep's statement was quite specifically about using the AK240 vs AK100 as a transport for DSD128.
 
Anyway, that is interesting that even for PCM you find the AK240 and AK120 sounds different as a digital transport. For a "source" (i.e. analogue line out) I can understand the difference 'cos of the different DAC chips used, but as a (digital) transport, I'm wondering why the same maker would implement the optical out differently between the two models.

 

[DBO240]

Welcome to the club, especially as an IE user. Halfway through your post when I saw "IE80" I was gonna say you need to get IE800, but then you already got it. Now I got good news and bad news for you on that. Good news is, since you like IE's sound, IE800 is the way to go. A must get to go with an amazing player like AK240 (or any player really). Bad news is, if you want to get further than that, i.e. utilizing AK240's balanced out feature to maximize your enjoyment, then IE800 cannot be turned into a balanced earphone by simply switching the cable. You need to get a modified IE800, e.g. ALO's. You shall then be truly wondering, "can portable listening get better than this (with a dynamic earphone)"?

I did come across the modified IE800 from ALO and emailed them to find out about shipping, warranty, availability etc. Unfortunately they took so long to get back to me that I'd since gone and bought my IE800's from a local supplier. It's such a shame those headphones don't come with a detachable lead!
 
I've ordered some 2.5mm TRRS plugs and a spare lead set for my IE80's. I'm going to make up a balanced lead set for those and give that whole balanced thing a try on those first. If that sounds good I might do the same for the HD650 or potentially try the ALO style mod on the 800. 

 

[sutjahjo]

Ok, 'cos Dr.Sheep's statement was quite specifically about using the AK240 vs AK100 as a transport for DSD128.

Anyway, that is interesting that even for PCM you find the AK240 and AK120 sounds different as a digital transport. For a "source" (i.e. analogue line out) I can understand the difference 'cos of the different DAC chips used, but as a (digital) transport, I'm wondering why the same maker would implement the optical out differently between the two models.

Ah, yes, AK240 doesn't output DSD at all via optical. Not sure if this can be fixed by a firmware update in the future.

Secondly, yes, even using optical out (the only possible connection between AK and Hugo), the SQ is different between AK240 and AK120. Not sure why but it's noticeable (I suspect not just to me but should be to others as well).

 

[kh600rr]

At the AXPONA show today in Chicago, the Astell& Kern guys said they had a new Firmware update coming right out, anybody check to see if it's out yet? I've got no WIFI, where I'm at.