[goodvibes]

You'd hope they include one after doing so with their less expensive model.

 

[AmberOzL]

  Guys, if Rudi really likes it enough to buy it, I will be sure to demo this thoroughly. He is honest and tells it likes he hears it. That counts for something even in head-fi

I agree on this completely, he is definitely honest and helpful, whenever I ask him a question, he tests and tells his honest opinion. The nice thing is, he has money to buy the gear and his experience helps us.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

   
Are they reliable? Maybe they wanted to be first and this price is safe option for them. This is nothing new in Europe. I'm petty sure that official presetation was planned for today.

either the distro getting greedy or iriver jacked up the export price for this part of asia

 

[soundblast75]

It will be extremely expensive, no doubt, but I don't thing they would have improved the Ui which is not on par with the less expensive Sony, library still loads forever etc..
I also think it's an acquired taste looks wise , not everyone's cup of tea.
Let the exclusivity begin then..but with the likes of Fiio and Sony (and I am sure more to come) I don't think the sound would justify it even if it's a bit better or on par with say..the HM brick

 

[bond007]

this is just a pure greed. nothing more than that, i mean if we think it from the perspective of how much profit they are making from / per UNIT.in other words so how much it would have cost them to make one (not more than 600).[since ssd are also cheap these days..now think about zx1-have 128gb on board and cost around $700. not to forget sony is still making profit out of it]...so if it cost $600(may be less... bought the parts in bulk)..what makes them think that they can sell it over 2K. now do the simple math
 
2400-600=1800(profit/unit)

 
even companies like ap**e are not that greedy in terms of profit per unit. they need to change their business strategy..from minimum sell with max profit TO max sell with min profit..all we need to do is just not play stupid again....and let them know what it means to be a mean.

 

[tupac0306]

scary price....

 

[Goldlion973]

  this is just a pure greed. nothing more than that, i mean if we think it from the perspective of how much profit they are making from / per UNIT.in other words so how much it would have cost them to make one (not more than 600).[since ssd are also cheap these days..now think about zx1-have 128gb on board and cost around $700. not to forget sony is still making profit out of it]...so if it cost $600(may be less... bought the parts in bulk)..what makes them think that they can sell it over 2K. now do the simple math
 
2400-600=1800(profit/unit)

 
even companies like ap**e are not that greedy in terms of profit per unit. they need to change their business strategy..from minimum sell with max profit TO max sell with min profit..all we need to do is just not play stupid again....and let them know what it means to be a mean.

 
True... don't think they're individually hand crafted either .lol.

 

[Goldlion973]

They will sell less of them though so the margin as a whole is not the same, this isn't a mass market product.

 

[goodvibes]

  this is just a pure greed. nothing more than that, i mean if we think it from the perspective of how much profit they are making from / per UNIT.in other words so how much it would have cost them to make one (not more than 600).[since ssd are also cheap these days..now think about zx1-have 128gb on board and cost around $700. not to forget sony is still making profit out of it]...so if it cost $600(may be less... bought the parts in bulk)..what makes them think that they can sell it over 2K. now do the simple math
 
2400-600=1800(profit/unit)

 
even companies like ap**e are not that greedy in terms of profit per unit. they need to change their business strategy..from minimum sell with max profit TO max sell with min profit..all we need to do is just not play stupid again....and let them know what it means to be a mean.

Per unit price relates a lot to # of units sold and this sort of pricing is typical for relatively low production boutique products built to a high standard of quality and user friendliness. The complaining about price is really getting old. We all know it's expensive. Simple enough to just not buy or participate if it doesn't suit you.
 
By the way, if it cost $600 in parts to make, they go under selling it for $2k via normal channels. It doesn't cost $600 to make but there's a lot of tooling, overhead, marketing and R&D to amortize and bring up actual costs. Not knowing how strong a market will be for top tier product tends to bring up pricing. The value equation is different for everyone. 

 

[tupac0306]

Also is anyone familiar with CS4398 chip? Is it better than ES9018?

 

[AmberOzL]

  Also is anyone familiar with CS4398 chip? Is it better than ES9018?

Doubt it.

 

[AnakChan]

Also is anyone familiar with CS4398 chip? Is it better than ES9018?

My personal take on the CS4398 :-

http://www.head-fi.org/t/697166/the-astell-kern-ak240/200_20#post_10138276

 

[stvc]

Ok i must admit the design looks quite OK @ AK official web probably due to it size  

 

[gerard14ph]

My personal take on the CS4398 :-

http://www.head-fi.org/t/697166/the-astell-kern-ak240/200_20#post_10138276

Have you seen this during the Mook? I remember you said something about a prototype DAP that iRiver brought during the event? If yes then have you heard it?

 

[tupac0306]

My personal take on the CS4398 :-

http://www.head-fi.org/t/697166/the-astell-kern-ak240/200_20#post_10138276

Thank you~..
Not mellow sound again...we already have ak120. ;）