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Astell&Kern AK380
Jan 28, 2016 at 10:54 PM Post #3,241 of 9,040
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 mmm....I can commiserate. My cu now has a 2 mm long scratch near the volume knob . I don't know how it got scratched since I've been very, very careful when handling it.
 
Jan 28, 2016 at 11:00 PM Post #3,242 of 9,040
raypin said:
 
angry_face.gif
 mmm....I can commiserate. My cu now has a 2 mm long scratch near the volume knob . I don't know how it got scratched since I've been very, very careful when handling it.
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I can already see the green color spot growing from there :frowning2:
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 12:42 AM Post #3,244 of 9,040
mmm.....yeah. Soft metal indeed. I guess the only way to avoid more scratching is to use the stock leather case. Also, while charging the cu, I smelled it. It has a somewhat pungent smell that I can only describe as metallic. So, I began smelling all my DAPs. The Duralumin-clad AK 240 had zero smell. Same with my other DAPs. Zero smell.
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 1:04 AM Post #3,245 of 9,040
YMMV, but I find that using any case on AK players (I tried on AK240, AK380 and AK380 Cu) would make the sound a bit more fuzzy and more congested than if there is no case. The AK380 Cu is definitely easy to scratch though, so take care. If you only care for its sound and does not mean to show off, by all means go for the AK380. To me, it is both, so I don't use any case. It is just like using the new iPhone on debut day after paying a premium to the speculators - using a case on it is the last thing one would want to do (most people here only get theirs on the third week, even if they can get it in the first two weeks by chance, they would sell it).
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:27 AM Post #3,246 of 9,040
apina said:
  Just received the RWAK380+RWAK380 Amp combination:
 

 

 


And I remember earlier in this thread the discussion on cases this is my solution for travelling:
 

 

 
Working on the burn in now, Vinnie recommended 100 hours before any kind of critical listening. 
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Apina, any updates?  I'd really like to hear your opinions, particularly the impact on the AK380.  I only listen using IEMs (mostly Angie).  Would the RWAK380 produce a noticeable improvement that could alleviate the need/want of the separate amp module?  Any impressions you could give at this point would be appreciated.  
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:41 AM Post #3,247 of 9,040
louisarmstrong said:
YMMV, but I find that using any case on AK players (I tried on AK240, AK380 and AK380 Cu) would make the sound a bit more fuzzy and more congested than if there is no case. The AK380 Cu is definitely easy to scratch though, so take care. If you only care for its sound and does not mean to show off, by all means go for the AK380. To me, it is both, so I don't use any case. It is just like using the new iPhone on debut day after paying a premium to the speculators - using a case on it is the last thing one would want to do (most people here only get theirs on the third week, even if they can get it in the first two weeks by chance, they would sell it).
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A dude come on, Louis. That's all right between your ears. I see you making quite some controversial claims but this really goes too far. After I wash my music player the music also sounds more liquid and when I don't use it for days it seems to need some warming up, the bass gets loose when it's hot outside but the treble dominates when it freezes.
It's great you want to help people around here, but saying using a case could make any impact on the sound (same as housing material of the player itself) is really really really 100% bs.
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:50 AM Post #3,248 of 9,040
Working on the burn in of RWAK380/380AMP setup at the moment. 
Unfortunately I've been busy for the last 2 weeks, managed to get a bit of listening time in the hotel with the Noble K10U but not enough to give a final opinion. I have a bit of time now so I will leave the system running for a few days on the amp balanced output then have a listen. 
 
Overall plan is to burn in the amp both balanced and se output then compare this unit to the hugo tt using the K10U and the HE1000.
It will take time to burn all these output ports in though since I haven't used the small se output on the hugo tt either 
confused_face.gif
 
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:51 AM Post #3,249 of 9,040
You can try A/B-ing it at home all you want. No BS. There is a reason why people put high end desktop gear (much more expensive than AK380 - we are talking about gear that is at least ten times more expensive or with ten times more snake oil than the AK380) on rack and feet which are by themselves worth over a thousand dollars.
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 3:43 AM Post #3,250 of 9,040
louisarmstrong said:
  You can try A/B-ing it at home all you want. No BS. There is a reason why people put high end desktop gear (much more expensive than AK380 - we are talking about gear that is at least ten times more expensive or with ten times more snake oil than the AK380) on rack and feet which are by themselves worth over a thousand dollars.
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I'm not sure I see your point here but to suggest that putting a case on the 380 affects the sound is really stretching it. 
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 4:25 AM Post #3,252 of 9,040
is it wrong guys to use my shure 846 with ak380 and amp on high gain , balanced
 
as i like it more than lower gain despite the shure 846 is a sensitive iem
 
i listen at around 60db volume with amp on high gain
 
i still have less than 100 hours on both so is there something that burn in will change
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 4:43 AM Post #3,253 of 9,040
sound eq said:
  is it wrong guys to use my shure 846 with ak380 and amp on high gain , balanced
 
as i like it more than lower gain despite the shure 846 is a sensitive iem
 
i listen at around 60db volume with amp on high gain
 
i still have less than 100 hours on both so is there something that burn in will change
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Same setting here. I've tried high gain on PEF22 cable for a week, decided that it's a bad idea and went back to low gain. Might sound more exciting on high gain but it's too heavy a burden on the ears, cranking up to near 90db on low gain should be good enough. Try turning on pro EQ and it might give you a nice surprise. The difference appears to be subtle when you just switch the EQ on but you will feel it after a while.
 
Jan 29, 2016 at 4:49 AM Post #3,254 of 9,040
my-2000 said:
   
Same setting here. I've tried high gain on PEF22 cable for a week, decided that it's a bad idea and went back to low gain. Might sound more exciting on high gain but it's too heavy a burden on the ears, cranking up to near 90db on low gain should be good enough. Try turning on pro EQ and it might give you a nice surprise. The difference appears to be subtle when you just switch the EQ on but you will feel it after a while.
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thanks i will try that for few days
 
 which other iem is easy to drive like the shure 846 as for example my sony z5 does not sound good at all with the ak380 even on high gain and sounds so so dull compared to my shure 846 which sounds amazing with the ak380 and amp and dynamic
 
i am considering the following iems but i want one that is easy to drive like the shure 846
1- jhaudio-- angie
2- 64 audio adel u12-- i hope this one as i am so interested in the adel tech to preserve hearing loss
3- k10 universal
 
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