[DrSheep]

Technically you can buy the bars from PracticalDevices.com, but there is really no need as they are just regular single core wire.  I am liking the SQ so far, but I think the CEntrance Skyn really has an edge here.

 

[DrSheep]

BTW, DO NOT bridge as pictured until tested/confirmed.  It is just a sample for bridging the socket, and the pin you need to bridge maybe different.  For the dual channel amp chips like the MUSES, you need to bridge #3 to #1 and #5 to #7 (V in directly to V out.)  However, if the OPA627AP works, then bridging from #3 to #6 will also work.
 
MUSES series pin out.

 
OPA627AP Pin out:

 

[qsk78]

  Technically you can buy the bars from PracticalDevices.com, but there is really no need as they are just regular single core wire.  I am liking the SQ so far, but I think the CEntrance Skyn really has an edge here.

Well, I think if Vantam will be sounding better than VALOQ I would use VALOQ as a digital transport via an optical cable.
My current transport has issues with running of 2 x128 Gb cards and VALOQ should have a higher quality signal to pass it to Vantam.

 

[nanaholic]

I was in Japan the last few days so I bought this DAP on a whim because with duty free and a 5% discount using Visa card seems like a good deal, I've only gotten half a day with it but I'm getting mixed feelings about it.  
 
Things I really like:
* the size - it fits in the palm really nicely, the edges are also round and curved unlike the sharp pointy designs that are more common 
* material - most people would probably be scratching their heads regarding this one due to the fact that high end DAPs are usually made with a metal enclosure, but that's your mind playing tricks on you.  Drop a metal DAP and tell me you didn't get a heart attack panicking that your shiny toy just got dents and chips all over the perfect body, and now you are online again scrambling to drop another fifty or a hundred for a leather case.  It's the whole "premium smartphone" disease that people have caught.  The ploycarbonate body of this DAP is the right idea, I'm not worrying about scratches and dents and stuff like that.  The matte finish is also not the slimy cheap plastic that you get with the cheaper stuff.
* sound - both the SE and the balance output driving my MH335DW sounded great.  It's very lush sounding to my ears and sounds great with ballads and vocal songs that I listen to, and all in a package the size of a deck of cards that I can easily slip into my pant's pockets is pretty fantastic.  I highly value a single device solution to my portable audio because I'm done and over the phase of building hamburgers/DAP&amp bombs.
 
Things that are so-so
* build/design quality - while I have no objection to the choice of material, the way it is put together leaves some to desire.  A bit squeeky here and there especially with the silver chrome strip, light bleeding from where the LCD meets the plastic screen etc.  It's not the usual Japanese quality I'm expecting, especially not at this price point.
 
Things that are pretty bad:
* OS/software - it's unstable.  I'm getting full crashes after playing like 7-8 songs consistently.  Got the same issue with another poster regarding large microSD cards (128G) not being read.  The slow transfer rate of the player also makes copying files over a bit of a mystery and Windows file explorer doesn't seem to like it very much either and doesn't show any progress information while copying.  I'm going to try resetting the dap tonight.
 
Currently it's a love/hate relationship with this DAP.  I really like the design, size and the sound out of this DAP which hits my perfect balance between portability/sound quality, but the buggy software is bothering me and gets in the way of enjoying music.  

 

[jmills8]

Ooo boy, I do like the brand.

 

[DrSheep]

Regarding large cards:
 
1, if you see nothing but all the files show under MSC mode to Windows/Mac, especially if you have files in root of the card, then reformat with the Valoq will help.
2, this DAP takes a freaking long time to scan and build the database.  However, it doesn't really tell you it is doing it, and you will just see stuff slowly pops up from the SD card folder.  It is best just to leave it alone for a while and let it do its thing.

 

[nanaholic]

  Regarding large cards:
 
1, if you see nothing but all the files show under MSC mode to Windows/Mac, especially if you have files in root of the card, then reformat with the Valoq will help.
2, this DAP takes a freaking long time to scan and build the database.  However, it doesn't really tell you it is doing it, and you will just see stuff slowly pops up from the SD card folder.  It is best just to leave it alone for a while and let it do its thing.

 
It actually does - in the status bar you will see a whirling circle when it is building its database, that's how you can tell the large cards aren't being read.  Not that they tell you in the user menu or anything useful like that....

 

[audionewbi]

I have a microSD packed with flac and DSD files and it takes roughly 2-3 minutes, 128 GB. I think it is less than 600 files so maybe that is why it takes that long. For me it is short enough.
 
But the comment nanaholic made resonants mine, the feel of this product leaves more to desire, the sound however remains quiet potent and it does have the potential to become high end.
I do not mind the UI as I can scroll from first to the last album in less than 5 seconds. The optical out is very good, I wish it had DoP but that is a different story.
 
Battery life, I get more than 9 hours playing various music, setting set at lowest brightness, turn of screen after 1 minutes.
 
Since this is their first DAP I am willing to be kind, however as a consumer I cannot help but to wish for a built quality of AK120 with the sound and feature of valoq. 

 

[DrSheep]

  I have a microSD packed with flac and DSD files and it takes roughly 2-3 minutes, 128 GB. I think it is less than 600 files so maybe that is why it takes that long. For me it is short enough.
 
But the comment nanaholic made resonants mine, the feel of this product leaves more to desire, the sound however remains quiet potent and it does have the potential to become high end.
I do not mind the UI as I can scroll from first to the last album in less than 5 seconds. The optical out is very good, I wish it had DoP but that is a different story.
 
Battery life, I get more than 9 hours playing various music, setting set at lowest brightness, turn of screen after 1 minutes.
 
Since this is their first DAP I am willing to be kind, however as a consumer I cannot help but to wish for a built quality of AK120 with the sound and feature of valoq. 

Great points, I finally able to really test it last night, and after over 5 hours of heavy DSD256, 128, 64, and up-scanned FLAC to DSD128, the battery only dropped by 1/3, which is rather impressive.  I actually like this slightly rough around the edges look and feel, as most, if not all, the AK DAPs are just too nice to really take out of the house.  As of now what really bugs me is the recessed mid, which so far I can't fix with their EQ.  I am going to change out the chips later and see will this address the issue.  Also, the background is less dark in balanced than my CEntrance Skyn in single end, which surprised me.  However, after use it seems to go away, so it is a toss up at this point.  Overall I am very impressed, and most of what I found could be fixed by firmware.  I have a feeling that the Valoq will quickly be come the dark horse DAP of Head-Fi in 2016.

 

[DrSheep]

   
It actually does - in the status bar you will see a whirling circle when it is building its database, that's how you can tell the large cards aren't being read.  Not that they tell you in the user menu or anything useful like that....

Well, it is actually reading and indexing, but you have no idea what's the progress so it is very easy to think it is not reading.

 

[nanaholic]

  Well, it is actually reading and indexing, but you have no idea what's the progress so it is very easy to think it is not reading.

 
It's a very primitive indicator that's for sure, but I only found out there was an indicator when I swapped my 128gb card with a 32gb card and saw that whirling circle for the first time to know that there IS an indicator, and thus found out that with large capacity cards somehow it doesn't do anything AT ALL.  I knew the 128gb card was functional because I was using it with my Onkyo DP-X1 and it's loaded with songs.

 

[DrSheep]

   
It's a very primitive indicator that's for sure, but I only found out there was an indicator when I swapped my 128gb card with a 32gb card and saw that whirling circle for the first time to know that there IS an indicator, and thus found out that with large capacity cards somehow it doesn't do anything AT ALL.  I knew the 128gb card was functional because I was using it with my Onkyo DP-X1 and it's loaded with songs.

It's a bug if you swap from a different DAP.  Somehow the Valoq won't read anything from 128 or 200Gb cards unless it was first formatted inside the device, even you end up with the same FAT32 format afterwards.  This is different than the scanning/indexing issue, because I tested this before reformat by putting 1 sing in root, and it won't come up in the index no matter what.  My card swap from the AK Jr. was the same as your swap from the X1, and reloading everything to the card, even with a USB3 reader, takes a long time.

 

[nanaholic]

  It's a bug if you swap from a different DAP.  Somehow the Valoq won't read anything from 128 or 200Gb cards unless it was first formatted inside the device, even you end up with the same FAT32 format afterwards.  This is different than the scanning/indexing issue, because I tested this before reformat by putting 1 sing in root, and it won't come up in the index no matter what.  My card swap from the AK Jr. was the same as your swap from the X1, and reloading everything to the card, even with a USB3 reader, takes a long time.

 
I think it's specific to larger cards because my 32gb card also came from another DAP/device but it reads it just fine.

 

[DrSheep]

   
I think it's specific to larger cards because my 32gb card also came from another DAP/device but it reads it just fine.

I think so too.

 

[DrSheep]

Operation: Amp!
 
1, Tools: T5 driver, chip lifter, puller, and extractor.

 
2, opened back.

 
3, MUSES8820 pulled.

 
4, caution: make sure you lift and pull straight up, or else the pins are easily bent.  Most of my chips pins are bent now, but the lifter can also use to help straighten the pins out.  I recommend lifting the chip first then pull, as the socket can be pretty tight.

 
5, LPF Amp replaced.

 
Findings:
 
Test track: Christina Perry "Human" from "Heart to Heart" in 24/48 up sampled to DSD128.
 
1, sad to report that single channel amp like the OPA627AP does NOT work.
2, MUSES01 is under powered and sounded very dark, which makes the recessed mid issue worse.
3, MUSES02 is better and bring the SQ closer to neutral but still on the warm side, mid still recessed but not as much as the stock MUSES8820.
4, the most surprising is the LEM49860, which can be had for $5 for the pair.  This amp is bright for the VC SounDroid Typhoon (which is also why I got one more to make a pair for the test.)  However, pair with the warm AKM4490 DAC, the SQ balanced out and make the whole thing much more neutral, plus fixing the recessed mid to a large degree.  This is not a 100% solution, but making classical more enjoyable now.
 
I am keeping the LEM49860 inside for now to compare to my AK380.  Also, I am sad to report that my unit also developed the "white line" right after the amp swap with my OPA627AP.