Astell&Kern AK380
Feb 17, 2017 at 11:39 AM Post #7,952 of 9,052
The FAD FI-BA-SS you mention look surprisingly like my AKR02s - are they the same thing? Mine have removable cables and so on, but superficially look nearly identical.
They are most likely slightly different, it's just like how AK has their own version of the Beyerdynamic T1 and JH Audio Serien Series IEMs.
 
Feb 17, 2017 at 7:28 PM Post #7,954 of 9,052
Has anybody any inside info as to whether A&K are going to update the Tidal app on the AK3xx to play their "MASTER" streams. (I presume the MASTER streams are MQA - given recent announcements from the MQA consorrtium - but may be wrong)
 
I pinged the US A&K Facebook page and got a quick response saying any update was "to be determined" - but if it came it would be an OTA firmware update (Doh!)
 
I have been impressed by the Tidal master stream quality on my computers and so have my fingers crossed. For me this would be a "killer" upgrade...
 
cheers from Oz
 
Rod
 
Feb 17, 2017 at 8:21 PM Post #7,955 of 9,052
  Has anybody any inside info as to whether A&K are going to update the Tidal app on the AK3xx to play their "MASTER" streams. (I presume the MASTER streams are MQA - given recent announcements from the MQA consorrtium - but may be wrong)
 
I pinged the US A&K Facebook page and got a quick response saying any update was "to be determined" - but if it came it would be an OTA firmware update (Doh!)
 
I have been impressed by the Tidal master stream quality on my computers and so have my fingers crossed. For me this would be a "killer" upgrade...
 
cheers from Oz
 
Rod

 
It seems what AK gets are specs to the Tidal API and AK writes their own Tidal app (possibly like this unsupported GitHub Tidal sub-initiative). I'm speculating (rightfully? wrongfully?) that there are probably multiple spec sheets to different levels of API that has varying level of features within Tidal. I would guess that there'll be different pricing for different feature set of API? Someone please do feel free to correct me if I'm right or wrong.
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 2:07 AM Post #7,956 of 9,052
Has anybody any inside info as to whether A&K are going to update the Tidal app on the AK3xx to play their "MASTER" streams. (I presume the MASTER streams are MQA - given recent announcements from the MQA consorrtium - but may be wrong)
 
I pinged the US A&K Facebook page and got a quick response saying any update was "to be determined" - but if it came it would be an OTA firmware update (Doh!)
 
I have been impressed by the Tidal master stream quality on my computers and so have my fingers crossed. For me this would be a "killer" upgrade...
 
cheers from Oz
 
Rod


It will be interesting to know is it possible to enable mqa in ak380 dac… that is the only way to enjoy mqa in 24/192. Firmware I think can only give software decoding up to 24/96… On computer there is only software encoding, but I agree that is really good)

http://www.audiostream.com/content/mqa-decoding-explained#rMO0WbkUuQukDxhU.97
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 2:32 AM Post #7,957 of 9,052
I met Alex An for the first time today & had a brief chat with him about MQA. My understanding from the conversation is that both H/W & firmware required to the AK devices for MQA support. As such it's still no confirmation of AK's direction about MQA.

So it seems it's not posaible to enable MQA on existing AK players.
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 2:43 AM Post #7,958 of 9,052
Mm..hopefully the upcoming flagship (and other future models) will have the necessary MQA hardware modifications. It seems to me a natural step for A&K to take (hi def streaming music + hi quality DAP).
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 5:32 AM Post #7,959 of 9,052
Mm..hopefully the upcoming flagship (and other future models) will have the necessary MQA hardware modifications. It seems to me a natural step for A&K to take (hi def streaming music + hi quality DAP).

This is a commercial argument! really you could work with them
beerchug.gif
. they will  now cross hands and add that to the next flagship. I'm sure if they want they can release a firmware to allow MQA on at least AK300 series .... 
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 6:14 AM Post #7,960 of 9,052
It will be interesting to know is it possible to enable mqa in ak380 dac… that is the only way to enjoy mqa in 24/192. Firmware I think can only give software decoding up to 24/96… On computer there is only software encoding, but I agree that is really good)

http://www.audiostream.com/content/mqa-decoding-explained#rMO0WbkUuQukDxhU.97

 
Can't really hear a difference between 24/96 & 24/192 anyway.  So, Software decoding will be OK for me if it is properly done...
 
Also, I believe that A&K will implement MQA decoding only in their next TOL AK4xx to .... "force" users to upgrade from their older AK3xx player  
rolleyes.gif
 
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 8:11 AM Post #7,961 of 9,052
Mm..I'd like to take the sunny side of the road and just believe that addional hardware is needed that will enable full
MQA implementation rather than take a cynical view. Also, it is a foregone conclusion that A&K customers will upgrade anyway. It is in our DNA. Admit it. It is a money pit . Lol!
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 8:49 AM Post #7,962 of 9,052
.... it is a foregone conclusion that A&K customers will upgrade anyway. It is in our DNA. Admit it. It is a money pit . Lol!

 true..... 
rolleyes.gif

 
Feb 18, 2017 at 9:15 AM Post #7,963 of 9,052
   
It seems what AK gets are specs to the Tidal API and AK writes their own Tidal app (possibly like this unsupported GitHub Tidal sub-initiative). I'm speculating (rightfully? wrongfully?) that there are probably multiple spec sheets to different levels of API that has varying level of features within Tidal. I would guess that there'll be different pricing for different feature set of API? Someone please do feel free to correct me if I'm right or wrong.

 
There is already the premium pricing tier in TIDAL for their HiFi/Master streaming
 
Feb 18, 2017 at 11:23 AM Post #7,965 of 9,052
   
Can't really hear a difference between 24/96 & 24/192 anyway.  So, Software decoding will be OK for me if it is properly done...
 
Also, I believe that A&K will implement MQA decoding only in their next TOL AK4xx to .... "force" users to upgrade from their older AK3xx player  
rolleyes.gif
 



I have no idea if it is my fortune or bane that my music genre hardly, if ever, releases stuff in MQA. Heck, I'll be happy to even see anything above standard lossless flac....
 
That said, I for one have very little intention to upgrade from my CU. After being with my CU for the better part of a year, it has really grown onto me. But, if upgradetitis does come biting, I'll just wait till end 2017 to do a full musashi mod. I have a friend who upgraded his 240SS with said mod, and not even the 380CU could tempt him. So with that as a reference point, I can only imagine how the CU musashi mod will sound like :p 
 

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