[hemtmaker]

Dual DAC on ESS, single on AKM.
https://www.astellnkern.com/eng/con...31960&spos=1&tcg=&tpos=0&dpos=3&gcode=SC36100

Does the mean the balanced output of the AKM only refers to the amp section?

 

[gazzington]

This looks cool. I already have an Sp2k and sr25 so I don’t need more, gulp.

 

[shznn]

Hmmm....maybe it is just me, but to me this feels like a weird product category. Especially the fact that you have two (well, to be precise: four) different outputs instead of just having a switch between the two DACs.
A bit like a laptop that you can open from both sides and one is running Windows, the other Mac OS

By the way, I am pretty sure it would be possible to simulate the different types of sound of two (or more) different DAC chips just by using DSP. Wouldn't that be easier?

But I love the design of the SE200! It`s gorgeous!

Is the point not getting the analog signals through entirely separated circuits? About the absence of a switch.

 

[Hanesu]

Is the point not getting the analog signals through entirely separated circuits? About the absence of a switch.

Maybe

still feels weird to me to have two machines of the same kind in one - and something only audiophiles could demand

 

[kel77]

Does the mean the balanced output of the AKM only refers to the amp section?

You do not need a dual DAC to have balanced output.

 

[shznn]

Maybe

still feels weird to me to have two machines of the same kind in one - and something only audiophiles could demand

It does seem a little bit odd, I personally have separate devices depending on what I'm doing and they sound differently, I was thinking if you wanted good sound, you'd make a device with one DAC that sounds as good as possible. Now, about listening to different genres - maybe, like switching between electronic and metal, and you also do not change output digitally - you switch jacks, which feels cool and also almost like changing the device. No replacement for displacement And I also wonder if it's worth getting over SP2000, as Jude says it's almost as good

 

[mikaell]

and again... ROON????

Lack of ability to run the Roon remote app is what holds me back from going A&K.
Probably this is not an issue for the vast majority of A&K customers and I understand this is something that's been put indefinitely on hold. I'd love to move from my non streaming Sony WM1 to A&K but I do need to be able to listen to my Roon library - over 50% of my listening is happening at home. Plus, I'd like to use the DAP as a source for my HiFi as well.

 

[gazzington]

@JasonNYC, does each DAC section use dual DACs or single?

Since I’m still using my AK240SS as my reference 5 years later, I’m interested in the change of distribution. Is Owen’s new company still in Irvine as is iriver? Service on my $3K DAC is important if it ever needs it, where will I need to send my unit, iriver or Owen’s new company?

If everything is handled by Owen’s company, can you list the address and phone number? Thank you.

That’s really cool that you still use the ak240. Shows nothing stops sounding good

 

[cadgers]

Users: We want 4.4mm
A&K: Here is mini XLR

Users: We want 4.4mm
A&K: Here is a second DAC

 

[gazzington]

I don’t think Ak will ever use 4.4 as it’s Sony’s thing

 

[Audiosolace]

It will be interesting to see where this trend in swiss-army knife of DAPs will take us, Cayin with their tube/SS implementation and A&K with multiple DAC options. Perhaps one with multi-DAC, valvular tube rolling, dedicated faultless Bluetooth 2-way LDAC support, R2R integration and speaker support

 

[DJ Core]

wow, the ESS DAC supports DSD1024 and hardware MQA-rendering.

 

[CoryGillmore]

I don’t think Ak will ever use 4.4 as it’s Sony’s thing

Well then they're going to be left behind as 4.4 has quickly become the most popular balanced format, especially so for DAPs. Honestly there's no excuse for not having it at this point. I'm pretty baffled by it.

 

[WDitters]

I don’t think Ak will ever use 4.4 as it’s Sony’s thing

FiiO is joyfully offering a combination of 4.4mm, 2.5mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended on the M11, M11 Pro and M15 DAPs .. So Sony is not necessarily preventing A&K from using 4.4mm ... I own the AK SR15 and FiiO M15 and find 4.4mm much more robust .. Would have loved having that on my AK but would understand 4.4mm taking up too much space inside the DAP for it to be viable ..

 

[Sonic Defender]

I don’t think Ak will ever use 4.4 as it’s Sony’s thing

It is an open standard. It isn't like A&K invented the DAC or any other component in their gear so why would this particular choice be so problematic. Eventually they will learn.