I found this on a Japanese site...

(Google translation)

"Information of great products have come into from Jaben headphones just before the festival! Is a world premiere. The Grove (The Glove) - GloveAudio A1 is a headphone amplifier drive compatible balance of built-in DAC to be mounted so as to cover the AK120 as the name. There is no cable. It is also similar to the proto of HP-P1 before. Is not a lot of information at the moment, but it seems to use the DAC by mounting the light terminal. It is ESS DAC so says Saber. Is 192/24 support. It looks also powered suit to strengthen the AK series. Attention is balanced output with two AK-type and Kobikonn 4pin connector on the headphone output. It is the balance of the portable terminal for the so-called RSA type and Kobikonn. Need to worry also about the balance of the portable drive, thanks to these two would be less. AK120 user's be able to use 2.5mm terminal balance is an asset of AK240 It is also revolutionary. Battery is like a rechargeable battery. GloveAudio Because I have the whole world distribution rights Jaben, I will sell it in Japan. But I do not know details such as the root. It seems like to much the first half 60000-70000 yen Estimated price, but it is not clear basically."


Honestly I'm a bit confused by this. So is this an optically connected DAC?? It would have to be a ********* great one if I'm effectively going to be using my 120 as a very expensive transport. I like the idea of it being balanced, but honestly it sounds like a gimmick.

Happy to be proved wrong though

Can anyone with access to a Jaben check with them? It sounds like they have exclusive rights

I've read someone twitter that is gives the same sound quality as Centrace! 

Wait maybe google translate did something wrong, but is this a centrance OEM product?
 

Maybe the Mini-M8 they have been working on nearing completion?

How does the AK100/120 output the audio signal to that Glove? Optical out is that good? I wonder can it rival the AK240 standalone? And AK100 is different dimension than AK120 so there are 2 different Glove versions one for each? Or the clamp is adjustable?

solude said:

  Maybe the Mini-M8 they have been working on nearing completion?

Click to expand...

no mini-M8 is different, from the look of it this is there company (Glove Audio).
 
Whether we like it or not AK success is becoming new trend where other companies will make product to cater it, just like all the after market product we see for the i-products. 

I cannot find a website gloveaudio.com......late April Fool's joke?

Wow. This whole glove thing is interesting. Do keep us updated here with anything more on it.

I think Wilson from Jaben took this himself. Judging from the font, this may be a Jaben house product. Then again. Just a guess. I may be wrong.

I've got pix of it but I haven't put it up yet. Also tried listening to it (didn't take my microSD...I forgot, does AK120 take  the 128gb exFAT?). Anyway, as shown in the pix, Michael Goodman has a "glove" in the development of this GloveAudio. The metallic thing at the top takes optical from the AK120 so this device is a DAC/Amp and as per the ad suggests, Sabre based. I didn't ask single or double though. Price seems to be more towards the Y70,000->Y74,000 mark at least RRP.
 
Sound. OK, loved it with my FitEar TO GO!334 single ended (didn't try balanced). I had it side-by-side to the AK240 and it was just short shy of the AK240. So if I were an AK120 owner and wanted one another level up but no $$ for the AK240, having this would still put a smile on my face. I felt it was energetic, detailed, very Sabre-ish (having an Invicta, & HM-901, myself). Trebles were airy, not harsh. I did mention to Michael, I'd personally would have preferred a little more punch to the bass and crossing my fingers he'll incorporate that in. Other listeners may feel differently.
 
I was told it could take a AK100 too with another adapter/base bracket (which is screwed on BTW - which means once you have your AK in it -stays...it's not a jacket).
 
I don't have battery life information unfortunately.
 
This was also done with AK's full awareness so it's good that it was done with their blessing.

anakchan said:

I've got pix of it but I haven't put it up yet. Also tried listening to it (didn't take my microSD...I forgot, does AK120 take  the 128gb exFAT?). Anyway, as shown in the pix, Michael Goodman has a "glove" in the development of this GloveAudio. The metallic thing at the top takes optical from the AK120 so this device is a DAC/Amp and as per the ad suggests, Sabre based. I didn't ask single or double though. Price seems to be more towards the Y70,000->Y74,000 mark at least RRP.

Sound. OK, loved it with my FitEar TO GO!334 single ended (didn't try balanced). I had it side-by-side to the AK240 and it was just short shy of the AK240. So if I were an AK120 owner and wanted one another level up but no $$ for the AK240, having this would still put a smile on my face. I felt it was energetic, detailed, very Sabre-ish (having an Invicta, & HM-901, myself). Trebles were airy, not harsh. I did mention to Michael, I'd personally would have preferred a little more punch to the bass and crossing my fingers he'll incorporate that in. Other listeners may feel differently.

I was told it could take a AK100 too with another adapter/base bracket (which is screwed on BTW - which means once you have your AK in it -stays...it's not a jacket).

I don't have battery life information unfortunately.

This was also done with AK's full awareness so it's good that it was done with their blessing.

Click to expand...

Anak, is this a new company or is this a OEM product from Jaben like their GoVibe/Hippo series? Cause the font on the pictures that I posted looks like the font they use in their own banded products.
Does this sound better then the AK120 optical out to the Hugo? As I am contemplating getting the. Hugo till I saw this today.
Is the AK100 only screwed in or is it the same for the AK120 too?

joshuachew said:

Anak, is this a new company or is this a OEM product from Jaben like their GoVibe/Hippo series? Cause the font on the pictures that I posted looks like the font they use in their own banded products.
Does this sound better then the AK120 optical out to the Hugo? As I am contemplating getting the. Hugo till I saw this today.
Is the AK100 only screwed in or is it the same for the AK120 too?

Click to expand...

 
AFAIK, it was just on Jaben's table. This was Michael Goodman's project of which seems to be done separately from CEntrance. I don't know what happens in the future.
 
Personally in my opinion, I preferred the Hugo over the AK240 (optical out). And to be brutally honest not looking at $$$$, I would think the AK240 has an edge of the this product. However, I don't think the Glove Audio is intended to compete with Hugo and the AK240. IMHO it's more for AK120 owners who want to get more out of their DAP instead of shelling out $2000-$2500 for those other devices.
 
About the AK100, I'll repeat that I was told that it could fit with a different bracket. I've not seen the bracket myself. But for the AK120, the the whole base is part of the bracket, not just the tab. See the two screws next to the Phone Out ports.

anakchan said:

AFAIK, it was just on Jaben's table. This was Michael Goodman's project of which seems to be done separately from CEntrance. I don't know what happens in the future.

Personally in my opinion, I preferred the Hugo over the AK240 (optical out). And to be brutally honest not looking at $$$$, I would think the AK240 has an edge of the this product. However, I don't think the Glove Audio is intended to compete with Hugo and the AK240. IMHO it's more for AK120 owners who want to get more out of their DAP instead of shelling out $2000-$2500 for those other devices.

About the AK100, I'll repeat that I was told that it could fit with a different bracket. I've not seen the bracket myself. But for the AK120, the the whole base is part of the bracket, not just the tab. See the two screws next to the Phone Out ports.

Click to expand...

Ahhh... I see so whether or not using the AK100 or the 120, it won't be so easily removable in the event we plan to use the AK120 alone in our pocket and with the glove only when we are stationary like while we are sitting in Starbucks and such. I guess I will still opt for the Hugo then since I have the ZX1 too. But an interesting prospect for AK100/120 owners. This is going to be a hit.

Personally it kinda reminds me of the VentureCraft Go-DAP 4.0 (or V-Moda VAmp) where the iPhone slipped into a jacket. What I do like about this device is that it's integrated (for the same reason why I still do like and keep the iPhone 4 and Go-DAP 4.0). To me it's still quite portable, so I wouldn't call this a "coffee shop" setup. To me the CLAS-dB/Duet would be a "coffee shop" setup.

It cost the same az a ZX1, does it sound the same ? I don't like AK120 sound but i like its storage capacity, we can put two 128 GB microSD and have 64 onboard, this is the only reason why i have kept it. I am not sure what is the logical thing, sale ak120 or try to fix it with this new product?