[Warning: 2nd hand information from someone who is an avid AK modder]
The AK120II have a lot in common with the AK240 circuitry-wise. Only a certain (unmentioned) components are not in the AK120II. I'm presuming this is related to DSD stream input & DSD Serial clock.
I'd guess that these two players would sound similar in PCM, which then would make it a rather viable backup.
I've A/B both with PCM files and they DO sound very similar, if not identical, in PCM.
I think I read from somewhere that the "missing component" is the XMOS chip that is used for DSD and USB DAC only. So it make sense to me for PCM playback from the unit itself they would sound very much the same.
Of course others had came to different impression (Mike etc.) where they feel AK240 is way better than AK120II. Being an AK240 early adopter who purchased it at full MSRP I like their conclusions better than mine....
I've A/B both with PCM files and they DO sound very similar, if not identical, in PCM.
I think I read from somewhere that the "missing component" is the XMOS chip that is used for DSD and USB DAC only. So it make sense to me for PCM playback from the unit itself they would sound very much the same.
Of course others had came to different impression (Mike etc.) where they feel AK240 is way better than AK120II. Being an AK240 early adopter who purchased it at full MSRP I like their conclusions better than mine....
U just put the final nail in my wallet's coffin...I like your conclusion better because I have not paid the full mspr for ak240 , I was hoping they sound identical and bingo.. they wired the same (except for the Xmos chip) and sound identical... Great just great. I do believe warren and mike are right too as they might be using high resolution files that came with the player for testing and hence the differences..
If this is really true, that would really be an exciting time for people who listen mostly to lossless and cd quality files and hence no need to pay for Xmos chip to handle dsd and still get the same quality.
Now I need to count my penny and break my piggy bank.. Wallet is already dead.
I've A/B both with PCM files and they DO sound very similar, if not identical, in PCM.
I think I read from somewhere that the "missing component" is the XMOS chip that is used for DSD and USB DAC only. So it make sense to me for PCM playback from the unit itself they would sound very much the same.
Of course others had came to different impression (Mike etc.) where they feel AK240 is way better than AK120II. Being an AK240 early adopter who purchased it at full MSRP I like their conclusions better than mine....
I must say when I read Mike & Warren's reviews of the AK120ii vs the AK240, I don't recall their impressions were based on DSD tracks or PCM. I've actually not held an AK120ii myself. For me, most of my tracks are DSD DSF (I have a collection of SACDs which I convert to soft format myself) so for me the AK240 makes sense. But if one has primarily PCM and is deciding one over the other, the AK120ii makes a wiser return on investment.
Anak- How do you convert SACD to DSD? The only options I have seen are finding an old PS3. I have many SACDs that i feed my Sony XA-777ES sitting idle unless I am at home.
I am torn between the 120ii and the 240 but if there was a way to convert my SACDs to DSD easily for my own personal back-up I might decide I need the 240. I do hope you come back and tell me it is impossible without that rare Unicorn PS3.
I received my balanced silver cable for my SE846 and AK100II. The connection to the left IEM clicked in without any problems and swivels smoothly. The right IEM connection required so much force to click in that I worried to break my SE846. Eventually, it connected, but there was no click. It's very tight when I turn it, so I think it's not fully entered. It can't be pushed any further.
The difference between the stock cable and the silver balanced cables to my ears is that the volume level of the balanced is lower. I will test more and share my experiences.
Check when you are using balanced out if the equaliser is on or off. Even at its flat setting, there'll be a couple of dB decrease in sound volume (in my AK240)
Check when you are using balanced out if the equaliser is on or off. Even at its flat setting, there'll be a couple of dB decrease in sound volume (in my AK240)
If this is really true, that would really be an exciting time for people who listen mostly to lossless and cd quality files and hence no need to pay for Xmos chip to handle dsd and still get the same quality.
I have been trying really hard to figure out which is the best investment for me: the AK240 or the AK120 II (which leaves me with $800 extra in my pocket or to invest in some premium IEM's). The above quote I think is swaying me to the AK120 II, because I am the above listener: my entire library is CD's ripped into iTunes in Apple Lossless format. I don't really have, and never have, and probably will never have any interest in streaming or DSD or anything like that. Just looking for a killer MUSIC ONLY DAP, no phone, no games, no apps, no maps.
I have been trying really hard to figure out which is the best investment for me: the AK240 or the AK120 II (which leaves me with $800 extra in my pocket or to invest in some premium IEM's). The above quote I think is swaying me to the AK120 II, because I am the above listener: my entire library is CD's ripped into iTunes in Apple Lossless format. I don't really have, and never have, and probably will never have any interest in streaming or DSD or anything like that. Just looking for a killer MUSIC ONLY DAP, no phone, no games, no apps, no maps.
That depends? AK240 to me is good enough to be stackless, so you get to save some ka-chings from that part
And also good enough to replace some desktop rigs around the $1000-$2000 as per Amos/Warren?
Considering the all-rounder purpose AK240, that is in itself a bit of an investment... unlike IEMs/Headphones, not many head-fiers collect multiple DAPs. For me, a jogging-gym ipod nano and the 'ultimate' AK240 alone is enough in the DAP section.
Can't say the same for IEMs/Headphones though
Yesterday I tried the AK100 II as DAC& for my Samsung Galaxy S5.
Work perfectly WITH a USB OTG cable. Just plug and play!!
Setup was: Galaxy S5-> Micro-USB to USB OTG Cable -> USB to Micro-USB cable -> AK100 II
So another usable feature!!
Should somebody from Astell&Kern read this:
- Can you PLEASE add OTG storage to the new series features!?
= More storage flexibility ... certainly with the cost of micro-SD against for example USB drives or even an SSD-over-USB
= 500GB or 1TB SSD would be great to store and play all my FLAC files
I have the Oppo Pm-1 Headphones and looking to either purchase the 100 or 120,Does anyone have the AK100 or if that matter the 120 with the Oppo PM-1 combo? If so how is the sound quality with both? Cause as of now I'm using my ipod5 ,yea I said it ipod5, Thanks
Mike
At first, the familial resemblance in terms of signature is very obvious. It actually took a little while to be able to consistently detect the differences. Don't get me wrong, the AK120II is a very, very, very good player. But every time I would switch to it from the AK240, I lost a little bit in terms of staging and coherency... which saddened me because the AK240 is effing pricey!
I must say when I read Mike & Warren's reviews of the AK120ii vs the AK240, I don't recall their impressions were based on DSD tracks or PCM. I've actually not held an AK120ii myself. For me, most of my tracks are DSD DSF (I have a collection of SACDs which I convert to soft format myself) so for me the AK240 makes sense. But if one has primarily PCM and is deciding one over the other, the AK120ii makes a wiser return on investment.
Only one of my test tracks was DSD, the others were all PCM. I found the differences in sound to be fairly consistent, regardless of file format. Strange eh?
That depends? AK240 to me is good enough to be stackless, so you get to save some ka-chings from that part
And also good enough to replace some desktop rigs around the $1000-$2000 as per Amos/Warren?
I stand by that. For many, many, many Head-Fiers, the AK240's level of performance will be all they ever need. The only exception to that are people with hard-to-drive cans, in which case I suggest a nice neutral amp for more headroom.
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