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Digital Audio (FLAC/MP3/etc) Players (DAPs)
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bitlisz
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Colorfly CK4

Overview Reviews (3) Gallery

General Information

Screen : 4.3"TFT, (no touchscreen)
CPU : C4V, same as C4.
DAC : CS4398, same as C4.
Amp : same as C4, or downgraded version C4-R.
Opamp : ADA4075-2, but possibility for difference on a lower priced version.
Misc : 24/192 support (now only wav with bug), dedicated 3,5" Line Out and Headphone Out, TF Card (MicroSD) support, physical buttons (On/Off, Volume +/-, Hold switch), 8Gb (16GB?) storage.
There is a doubt on Jitter reduction capability. The CK4 was initially presented as sporting the same jitter reduction as the C4 (less than 5ps), but the 8Gb model on sale at Taobao is listing a jitter reduction of less than 100ps. This could be the indication of the lower model, with C4-R downgraded amp.
Filetype support : Audio - WAV, FLAC, APE, MP3, MP2, WMA, OGG, AAC.
Video - RM, RMVB, MP4, AVI, FLV, MPE, MPG, DAT, WMV, ASF, 3GP, MOV, VID, VOB, MKV.
Release date : February 27th in China, available on Taobao from March 2nd
Date unknown for export.
Intro price : 8Gb model is sold for 800RMB (120$US) on Taobao as of March 2nd

Latest reviews

rhannebohn

rhannebohn

New Head-Fier
Pros: great Sound
Cons: no manual
I got this Player (Used) for only $ 50,-. I´ve searched for it before a long time.
Now i´m really happy.
But: the better the earphones, the more happy you´ll be...
Normally I have to spent much more money for such great sound!
airomjosh
airomjosh
i have a modded CK4. i tried to upgrade and bought shozy alien and xduoo x3, i ended up selling both. still using it for the last 6 years. try to mod the ck4 and you will be happier
burnwaygta4

burnwaygta4

Member of the Trade: T51 TeKMOD
CAUTION: Multiple issues reported related to his modding service.
I made a modification of the player that lifts the sound to TOP portable players. Details here(http://www.head-fi.org/t/564517/colorfly-ck4-first-review/225#post_9762627)
bitlisz

bitlisz

Head-Fier
Pros: Sound quality, line out, used material (metal frame), 24bit/192kHz support
Cons: Bugs in the software, only wav supports high resolution, no cue support
The sound quality is very good from the line out.
I think one of the best sounding DAP here, but for sure in the top 5!
 
 
The sound is balanced/neutral and detailed, the music background is really black (! later).

I can feel real atmosphere, the instruments are in right positions, not "in the face".

The bass goes to deep enough without any eq, and dynamic too. (with IEM: Audio-Technica ATH-CKM55)

 

The headphone out can drive low imp headphones, but I can feel the bass rolloff on 56Ohm, and the volume is not enough at all. (with: SUPERLUX HD668B)

I feel sometimes that the sound maybe a bit weak (not energetic).

 

With Headstage Arrow 12HE (3G) the sound perfect (!)

 

The real drawbacks:

- some clicking noise during high resolution playback

  like static discharge or playback of vinyl rip

  nearly every 10 sec is at least one...and it seems on higher resolution worse)

  maybe firmware bug?

  I translated with google the C4 firmware release log, and found this: "revised WAV format compatibility issues"

- only wav supported for high resolution playback (>48kHz/16bit) ->

  hard to fit in the 8GB+uSD (I have 8GB uSD in my phone, but thinking on 16/32GB too)

  There is a need for Flac too. -> 32GB uSD is works for me.

- no cover art during playback

- the big screen is without touch technology (i dont care)

- user interface, I mean really simple, and the keys at the top with strange order, but I can still use it, and can learn after a while. At least it is responsive and works fine

- the Line Out can be changed by Volume control

- maybe the battery life only average (but at least >8hours)

- somebody cannot use the EQ funtion

 

Tested: mp3/flac(44.1/16 48/16 44.1/24 48/24 88.2/24 96/24 192/24)/wav (same)

Not tested: wma/ogg/ape..., video playback (I don't really care about this)

 

I already tried to contact with the Chinese support for firmware update.

They told they are working on that and expected in 2011 may.

View previous replies…
bitlisz
bitlisz
Yes, fully variable, but it is recommended to use on full output. It is big dufference on different impedance earphones in volume, because cannot drive. In terms of sound quality it seems the Line out more clear, crisp, detailed.
I get this answer from Colorfly (on 31.03.2011):
"4.)
- the Line Out can be changed by Volume control (should be fixed)
Re: Yes, when changed volume the Line out output will be controled.
So,If you want to use the Line Out,you must set maximum volume,This was the best.
Line Out is a direct output for LPF circuit of DAC ,this can not be fixed."
alphaman
alphaman
After much experimentation, I found LO at MAX vol. not best. One or two steps below max leads to subtle but noteworthy improvements, IMO! See more about this in the CK4 thread.
alphaman
alphaman
Still going (since 2011!!) ... but ck4 has had 50mA constant discharge issue since 2012. Still on same (orig.) battery.
After use, I plug in USB 5v and leave it charging till the next portable use. So the batt has been constantly charging for about a decade! The battery has not lost much performance if any (3-4 hrs). But that constant drain remains. The LCD on-screen has (concurrent with 50mA issue) had a black "cancer" spot that moves a little, sometimes fractals out, but seems to remain "static" .. even after over 9 years!!
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