[kkcc]

Don't know about AK120 since I haven't heard it, but HM901 with the standard amp module easy wins over AK100 except for size. The balanced amp module just make the gap even bigger.

 
Agreed. AK100 is a few notches below the 901 with just the standard amp board.

 

[czqdtc]

I prefer my 901 LO as a dac and using the amp section on Anedio D2 than using the D2 as a dac when driving HD800. Guess that tells u sth. Yes it is not as detailed as D2 dac, but it just sounds better in terms of overall signature and does not fall short in technical ability as well.

 

[LarsHP]

Quote:

"However, if you want a very high sound quality (while not the best of the best)"
 
Don't want to be a ******** but you should preface these type of statements with In My Opinion = IMO

Sorry if I offended you.
 
I did not say "in my opinion" because - as I said in the beginning of that post - I haven't heard AK120. I was merely referring to audio cirquits / components and the audio quality a better construction will yield. I think most people will agree that the DAC chip in AK120 isn't one of the very best available while the one in HM-901 is. The BB 627 opamp in the Balanced and IEM and maybe other amp cards is also considered creme de la creme in portable audio (amps). That was my point (and IMO it was clear enough in my post).

 

[Mimouille]

I am waiting to see if the ak120 closes the gap once modded with two 8741. If it becomes almost as good as 901 with balanced amp then I am done.

 

[LarsHP]

Did you send your AK120 for modding or do you know about someone doing it? It's really going far to mod a $1300 DAP I think, but if you love it for the size, UI, build etc. and you wanna go all in then of course it may be the way to go.

 

[zachchen1996]

I prefer my 901 LO as a dac and using the amp section on Anedio D2 than using the D2 as a dac when driving HD800. Guess that tells u sth. Yes it is not as detailed as D2 dac, but it just sounds better in terms of overall signature and does not fall short in technical ability as well.

Interesting, do you feel that the dac section of the 901 is also better than the dx100's dac section?

 

[Bolardito]

does this player have digital outputs? From the pictures it seems no optical or coaxial out which for me is a deal breaker since I would use it to feed my DAC..

 

[kkcc]

Quote:

does this player have digital outputs? From the pictures it seems no optical or coaxial out which for me is a deal breaker since I would use it to feed my DAC..

 
It uses LOD coaxial output.
 

 

[kkcc]

Quote:

No I didn't. IIRC it's max 30mW/40mW for low/high gain.

 
Found the screendump on erji for the IEM amp board specs:
 
Low gain is 1V/33mw, High gain is 1.4V/65mw.  SNR 112 +/-2dB
 

 

[AnakChan]

does this player have digital outputs? From the pictures it seems no optical or coaxial out which for me is a deal breaker since I would use it to feed my DAC..

I don't recall being able to use the HM-901 as a transport. Just can be used as a source or full DAP I believe.

 

[Bolardito]

It uses LOD coaxial output.

My DAC only has a single RCA digital input but looking at that cable it has two..

 

[AnakChan]

My DAC only has a single RCA digital input but looking at that cable it has two..

I thought that cable was a analogue lineout LOD with L/R channels?

 

[kkcc]

Some pictures reposted from erji on the IEM amp board (left, 2x OPA627 2x BUF634) vs Balanced amp board (right 4x OPA627 4x BUF634):
 

 

 
 
Standard board (1x AD8397):

 
Minibox board (3x OPA627 3x BUF634):
 

 

[Bolardito]

Thats surprising.. A thousand dollar top level player should have that versatility.. I guess the only option for me is the DX100 then..

 

[pekingduck]

The latest 901 sold in China comes with the one below (red and white are RCA analog out, black is digital IN). If you need digital out, you might need to buy a separate dock cable.