Astell&Kern AK T8iE MkⅡ(Impressions and discussions thread)

[earfonia]

  Mmm....just to be clear, you listened to both during the two listening sessions? I'm not casting doubt but some have said the two sound the same. You are the first to post that there is a big difference between the two. That's how I interpret "improved a lot."

 
I usually doubt my first impression, sometime not very objective to just listen once. So I tried them first time last 9th July, and then I came again to the shop on the 15th of July for the second try. And from both test, my impression is the same, Mk II is more balanced sounding than the 1st version, and sounds really good to my ears. I tried the first version last January in CanJam, and was not impressed by the first version, as It was warmer, bassier, and lacking clarity. But I really like the Mk II. So, that's why I said improved a lot. From not impressed to 'wow this is good and I really like it'.
 
FYI, the stock eartips is very shallow, and most of the time doesn't provide good isolation, at least for me. So those who tried without good isolation might have different opinion. I tried with both stock eartips and spinfit. Much better isolation with spinfit.
 
 

  ... I like them better than my IE800 and K3003.

 
+1. I also like the Mk II better than IE800 and AK3003.

 

[earfonia]

I contacted AK distributor in Singapore, and they allow me to borrow the demo sample of AK T8iE Mk II to be reviewed 

But they no longer have the demo sample for the 1st version of T8iE to be compared. I got info that the local shop where I tested the Mk II previously, has the 1st version demo unit. I plan to go there on Friday to do some comparison and probably measurement. 
 
More impressions later... 

 

 

[headwhacker]

^ Connect-IT in Tampines still has the demo unit of MKI

 

[earfonia]

^ Connect-IT in Tampines still has the demo unit of MKI

Thanks! Good to know!
I'm going to Zeppelin @ Sim Lim Square, more relax and spacious there, to do measurement while enjoying cold brew coffee

 

[Dillan]

Thanks! Good to know!
I'm going to Zeppelin @ Sim Lim Square, more relax and spacious there, to do measurement while enjoying cold brew coffee

Keep us updated!

 

[earfonia]

I've received AK T8iE Mk II from Singapore AK distributor. This morning I did some measurement of T8iE Mk II using my DIY acoustic coupler and MiniDSP UMIK-1 measurement microphone.
 

 
 
In the beginning I was testing the fitting of the stock eartips to my acoustic coupler, therefore you can see many left channel measurement in the beginning. For the average response I took some of the last good measurement, with similar settings that I applied for measuring the right channel and other eartips.
 
I tested stock eartips, SpinFit, and generic foam eartips from Alpha&Delta AD01 IEM. I took at least 3 measurement for each channel and each eartips, then average them. Psychoacoustic smoothing applied. The graphs for the average frequency response using those 3 eartips:
 

 

 
FYI, my measurement setup is not reliable for 10 kHz onward, so ignore the graph for 10 kHz and higher.
 
I will measure again after burn-in next week. Tomorrow I will compare with AK T8iE 1st version.

 

[earfonia]

I had a chance yesterday to measure and test the 1st generation of AK T8iE at Zeppelin Singapore. Took 24 measurement with 2 different acoustic couplers and 2 different eartips, each channel measured 3 times. So 2x2x2x3=24 measurements. The measurement of the 1st gen T8iE consistently showing higher level of bass and slightly less treble. The measurement took about 1.5 hours, and I spent more than 2 hours in Zeppelin testing both of the AK T8iE, and also had good chat with friends as well.
 

 
 
I decided to use my medium acoustic coupler as reference here due to a more consistent result as compared to the short acoustic coupler.
 
From last night test, I can confirm that AK T8iE Mk II definitely sounds different than the 1st gen AK T8iE. The main difference is in the tonality, while other signature like speed, dynamic, etc. are quite similar. The 1st gen has bass hump that makes bass bleeds into the mids, and makes the overall tonality more bassy with less clarity. With stock eartips the bass level differences is around 5 dB, while with SpinFit it is measured around 4 dB. Treble is also slightly lower on 1st gen. So, overall, AK T8iE Mk II has a more balanced tonality, no more bloated bass that bleeds into the mids, and with better overall clarity.
 
Here is the average result using stock eartips:

 
 
Comparison using SpinFit eartips:

 
 
 
My reference IEM for flat tonality is DUNU DN-2000. It really sounds flat and balanced to my ears. Here is comparison with DUNU DN-2000 using stock eartips, and AK T8iE using SpinFit:

 
 
I will write a review for AK T8iE Mk II. Hopefully will be done in a few more weeks. So far, I really like them, especially using foam and spinfit eartips.
 
 

AK T8iE Mk II is the right one with silver cable.

 

[willyvlyminck]

Wow, that's very different than other impressions of the mkii!

It was only a shop impression, serious listening would mean, you have to carry them around and listen as much as possible.

 

[willyvlyminck]

I was just at the San Francisco head-fi meet where Astell & Kern had a table.  I asked the representative about the MKII version and he stated the only difference was the cable.  He said the earphones were exactly the same as the first version.  So I'm not sure about the changes suggested on their website such as new voice coil and new connectors.  Anyways, besides that they sounded amazing.  I like them better than my IE800 and K3003.  I had been debating for some time whether to buy the AKt8ie so now I think I will buy this new version.  I just hope they fixed the connection issues some had with the first generation.  Very spacious sounding and very, very comfortable to my ears.  I auditioned them using my RWAK240.  

What do they do better than your IE800?

 

[Dillan]

Really appreciate the FR graphs and impressions earfonia

 

[earfonia]

Really appreciate the FR graphs and impressions earfonia

You're most welcome! I've used it daily for a few days now. My impression of it is, it is rather flavourless, very natural sounding to my ears, and far from dull sounding. The way it renders dynamic is amazing, lively and realistic. Now i put it in my toaster for a few days burn-in. Not that i burn-in believer, just curious.

 

[headwhacker]

You're most welcome! I've used it daily for a few days now. My impression of it is, it is rather flavourless, very natural sounding to my ears, and far from dull sounding. The way it renders dynamic is amazing, lively and realistic. Now i put it in my toaster for a few days burn-in. Not that i burn-in believer, just curious.

 
In this case break-in is good for finding out any defects soon if there is any given the quality issues of MK1.

 

[earfonia]

   
In this case break-in is good for finding out any defects soon if there is any given the quality issues of MK1.

 
I didn't follow the Mk1 quality issues, what happened? Faulty after burn-in of after short period of use?

 

[headwhacker]

I didn't follow the Mk1 quality issues, what happened? Faulty after burn-in of after short period of use?

Multiple reports of drivers failing. cable connector failing which makes sound cut off when the cable moved. Most people who reported issues had to replace their units more than twice.

 

[headwhacker]

Rolling some ear tips I have lying around and I think I found the right size and type the gives the best possible fit, seal and comfort. It looks just like a common silicone tip.
 
Overall, It made the MK2 a bit warmer but the bass become very well textured and full bodied. The overall presentation is still there like the first time I listen to it. But clarity and imaging also improves a bit and makes the sound even more musical. I believe finding a proper seal and comfortable fit is very important (which is always true for most iems)
 
If you are into Photography in Fujifilm terms to be specific, the whole picture is not as vivid as Astia, but very detailed and natural like Provia. That's how I see the sound like now.
 
Just listened to The Cranberries album "No need to argue" and the listening experience appears to me like a stereo speaker setup whenever I close my eyes. Imaging and staging is really very good.