[YOT]

Unlike the case of ARM1,we still have few information even the release 2 month after. Here is the ARM2 video shows by their distributor or fabricator.
You can see ARM2 from the part of 1min. around.
I have a couple of things more need to care, external slot, applicable format and software support.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WZr4z6Uz7E

 

[Vartan]

 Acoustic Research AR-M2

 

[Mython]

  Unlike the case of ARM1,we still have few information even the release 2 month after. Here is the ARM2 video shows by their distributor or fabricator.
You can see ARM2 from the part of 1min. around.
I have a couple of things more need to care, external slot, applicable format and software support.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WZr4z6Uz7E

 
 
LOL! The guy won't shut-up and let her listen!

  Did he even pause to take a breath?

 

[YOT]

Wow! The time has come??  Will they have pre-order ? I hope they have. HKD7980 is mostly ZX2 price, too high for me! > <

 

[robfol]

 
 
Hi all,
 
Here's some info and a snap. I saw and heard this AR M2 at CES 2015. Very solid feeling unit, Sounded great compared to a Sony ZX player they had there Quoted 8hrs battery life and approx. £800 UK Pounds and due in March. Also had some interesting USB DACs and other bits.
 
Cheers Robert
 
Copied this info from a PDF
 
AR-M2 DAP 
 
 • Plays virtually all Hi-Res audio formats
o FLAC
o ALAC
o WAV
o AIFF
o DSD64/DSD128
o DXD
 
 • 64GB built-in memory
 • Micro-SDXC expansion 128gB
tic Research MPortable Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Player with headphone amplifier
Flagship DAC and Ultra powerful headphone amplifier
• Burr-Brown PCM1794A Current Output DAC
• High power high precision current feedback headphones amplifier
o Ultra low distortion at max output <0.01%
o Supports16 ohms to 600 ohms headphones/earphones
o Ultra high slew rate, genuinely responsive to Hi-Res contents

 

[danielcalutul]

Look nice but a bit wider or large? Ak120 first Gen look gorgeous and even Sony zx1,2 look nice. I don't want to have two "phone" on me.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

I like it.

 

[bmichels]

Does it has digital-out (USB or Toshlink) ?  IF yes, then it is a serious competitors to DAP like Sony XZ-2 and AK120 II
 
can someone tell me the Screen size ?
 
thanks 

 

[YOT]

Hi.
 
As of Nov.2014,they said "5” IPS HD LCD multi-touch screen".
I do not know the real size.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

5" screen cool! I was hoping for OLED, for the slightly lower electrical noise and slightly higher battery efficiency, but not a big deal. I mean even Sony didn't pony up an OLED display for their 1.2k ZX2 = profit 

 
Seems they use TPA6120A for amplifier, so will have an output impedance of 10 ohm, which I'm not happy with, unless they fixed this somehow with added resistors.

 

[dnun8086]

Just heard the AR-M2 at a sennhieser booth in London at a Custom-Cables event. One word wow no let me rephrase WOW ! I'm not going to comment on how it stands up against the AK240 as I do not own it but there was a clear preference for me.

I'm trying to get a review sample but Sennhieser informed me it is about 6 months from an official release. From the information I gathered it seems like Acoustic Research have been around a long time but, stopped and is now making a comeback into the U.K market. Sennhieser will most be likely be in partnership with the company as it benefits both parties AR get the exposer and Sennhieser get the best sound from there products as well as new technology.

 

[robfol]

Hi Trance
Thought you might like the accurate specs. 
I've just started working with AR so these are from the horses mouth (-:
I think you'll like the M2
Apologies in advance that I may not be able to answer tons of questions
Cheers Robert
 
Output Voltage                            
3.6v
 
Output Impedance                    
0.26 ohm
 
16-ohm headphones power
785+785 mW*
 
32-ohm headphones power
399+399 mW*
 
300-ohm headphones power
43+43 mW*
 
Battery                                  
 4000 mAH
 
Play time
8 hours
 
THD+N (Loaded)
<0.001%
 

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

^ Those are impressive specs for the M2. I have some Questions:

-Will the M2 have different gain settings or is it fixed gain at 3.6v output?
-Does the M2 use any coupling capacitors or capacitors on the phone output?
-Do you know what battery voltage the M2 uses?
-Is the M2 using a single TPA6120 or dual TPA6120?
-What other opamps are used in the M2?

 

[soundblast75]

too many ..too many experiments these days..
Don't see how this will replace my existing daps..
predict short lived future, sorry..

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

^ Well from the specs it seems to be the most powerful dap of its size, only bested by the fat brick daps, so that's unique enough for most. Then the added bonus of using a unique big screen and easy UI, great audio hardware choice, basically there is not much to dislike at this point. No one cares if you have a bunch of daps, for people looking to get their first dap, or upgrade from mid-fi daps to higher tier stuff, this is looking like a solid choice.