I tried to link my English simple reviews in my blogs. But I tried to link, Head-Fi took this in the judgements.... Embarassed!!
So without the picture, I will move my words to here anyway. If you know the Korean websearching portal, NAVER, please search the 'Participation on the Calyx M presentation'
And you will see my review with some pictures.
Hi, there. I am called Maxlight in Korea as a nick. I am also the member of the head-fi community. Actually, I am not really good at English. Although the some of the wrong grammar would be really awkward for you guys, I begger your understanding before I begin.
I was able to participate in the presentation of the new DAP, Calyx M. There were about the 10 guys who were waitng for their ears to feel the new sounds of it. I was the one of that guy too, because I reserved the early promotion in Korea which would be produced around middle of April this year. Some of the guys were already noticed, today, 'Digital and Analog (the name of company' said that 100 for reviewers worldwide and 3,000 initial products are planned. I noticed that mine would the 52th one followed by the order of sending them the money. The promotion prices were fantastic (about $700 US only in February (DOMESTIC ONLY!!)). I am not sure the same promotion would be also adjustable for the global market. Hang on there~!
If you are really interested in the products of this company, you would be heard of their reference DAC, Femto. I could see those DAC. I could not listen, but it was attractable. Another their DAC so called 'DAC 24/192' and 'Calyx Kong'. Paradoxically, except Kong, the brand 'Calyx' is not familiar with even the audiophiles. The CEO also said that most of their products (99%) is exported, not for Korea. By the way, I was interested in their DACs except Kong and Coffee (not shown here) because I knew that they used very unique DAC chips from the SABRE. For example, they implemented the reference DAC ES9018 to Femto and ES9023 (not sure about this) to 24/192 as world premiere. Probably, most of you guys are well recognized of DAC chipset of Calyx M, ES9018K2M. This the stereo version of ES9018. So I guess that most of the algorithms would be shared with ES9018. How is it nice for Calyx M to share the very similar chipset with Femto DAC. But I was also interested about the traditional DAC type such as '24/192' because I am now using Musiland MD11 (DAC) for my speakers (ELAC BS184 and Dali Mentor Menuet). However, I could hear the very nice and unexpected answer from the CEO.
"Calyx M as USB DAC will provide even better than 24/192. I guarantee this. In addition, I think that I can say that Calyx M will sound better than any DACs under $2,000 US."
We know that most of the CEO as the top seller are usually proud of their products, he suggested the more specific numbers. So from his mention, I nodded that the level of calyx M would not be so lower than any other competitor such as AK120 and Sony NWZ-ZX1. So I was anxious to use and listen to it!!
However, there was only one DEMO available!!! Because of the hard limitation, Only one man can listen to it about 5 to 10 minutes. And I could only listen the imbedded musics (DSD, 24/192 and 16/44.1)!!! So my first impressions would not involve the whole sound of Calyx M. Anyway, The sound of calyx M moves toward the Hi-Fi thoroughly compared to other competitors such as AK120 and ZX1. The sound was felt with accuracy and high-dynamics between background and every single sound. without any background noise (Noise control in pause was amazing even in the maximmum power. No noise detectable at all~!), The voice of Norah Jones were with plenty of flowing and smooth with tightly bounded from the other sounds and very detailed. I could feel the overwhelming naturality through the bass to treble. The bass was deep and neat enough to say that this is in the territory of the high-end. No coloration on middle and lower high range, very accurate tonality which is extended to ultratreble without any emphasis or an sibilance. I previously experienced that the sounds of high-end or high-fidelity is well-characterized that middles and highs are not felt to be separated or independent in a song but to be mixed well to achieve naturality. From the ear cans, I could only feel these sounds through LCD-X via NAIM DAC-V1 in my listening experience. I think this character is one of the factors which true HI-FI or HI-END sounds mush have to achieve the naturality of the sound. But connecting the Calyx M to Sennheiser HD700 occupied some of those realms. When I usually listened to HD700 with my MD11 (5.5mm output is very humble contrast to line-out), it never happened even though I listened to 24/192 files bought from 2L. However I am not sure that this is achieved not by the device but by the music file itself yet because the total maximum 10 minutes listening was allowed for me. But anyway, I was considerably satisfied with the musicality of Calyx M. Furthermore, I could partially agree with the mention from the CEO (better than any DACs under $2,000 US), at least.
Sliding volume control, it was nice for me to control the volume easily and nicely with proper tension to move up or down. But we will see.
I forgot to tell the power!!, 1.25V at 16ohms. The CEO said HD600 from Sennheiser and LCD-2 from Audeze is adjustable to Calyx M without any help from amplifying devices. Because he explained some interesting stuff about the output power.
"The output voltage is fixed. it gives 1.25V at 16ohm. But it has 1.25V even at 300ohm. Only differences are the electric current. But the outpower is determined by voltage, so please don't worry about the capacity of driving in Calyx M."
I still wonder about the headphones such as AKG K1000 and HiFiMan HE-6. But in case of HD700, 40~50% power is enough to listen properly. More than 70% power, I could not bear the big dB. Considering the impedance of HD700 is 150 ohms, Many full-sized headphones would be covered by Calyx M.
User interface (UI) was not so fast as you expected if you are familiar with iPhones or recent Android ones. I am not sure but I think that It would be in comparable to Galaxy S initial models. Unique OS were unique but not bad except folder searching is not equipped yet. Folder search would be added later because all participants were strongly positive about it. If someone is expecting a fancy equlizer function, you should turn your head to AK series, FiiO X5 or ZX1. Calyx M does not provide equalizer at all. Because equalizer itself distort original sound. The CEO also added that equalizer addition without distortion cost too much only for used in professional levels. Think about the most high-end DACs. Pretty much of them does not provide equalizer too!
I felt the Calyx M sounds amazing for Hi-Fi users especially on people who are intimate with the Hi-End or Hi-Fi speaker sound. But with the another experience with Sony ZX1, Calyx M might not the best solution for the one who is much favored for personal audio with portable devices. I recommend them to use ZX1 than Calyx M. However, if someone is eager to feel the natural and analog-like sound, Calyx M would be the one. Thank you
Sorry, I have not listened to AK240. Do not ask me about the AK240.