Astell & Kern AK10 portable DAC and amp

[georgelai57]

I find the best way to handle the volume control is this. Place your thumb on it, do not press, and after a second or so, it seems to turn freely. I don't know if there is some kind of heat or static sensor underneath.

 

[Wilderbeast]

I find the best way to handle the volume control is this. Place your thumb on it, do not press, and after a second or so, it seems to turn freely. I don't know if there is some kind of heat or static sensor underneath.

 
Hmm, that's interesting. I'll give that a go when I get home tonight. 
 
They my have done that to prevent accidental volume change, which would be clever.

 

[georgelai57]

Hmm, that's interesting. I'll give that a go when I get home tonight. 

They my have done that to prevent accidental volume change, which would be clever.

Indeed.
Even with a volume lock it's good if the volume wheel doesn't straightway respond or else it could be dangerous.

 

[Wilderbeast]

Has anyone worked out how to use the AK10 with an iPod Classic yet?

 

[plakat]

I think they promised to offer a 30pin cable as an option... Did not investigate that as I only have Lightning-based devices.

 

[Wilderbeast]

I think they promised to offer a 30pin cable as an option... Did not investigate that as I only have Lightning-based devices.

 
...as did I until my iPhone was stolen 

 
Now I have an iPod Classic and an AK10 that don't work together. I hope they bring out a cable soon.

 

[kimvictor]

So AK10 can't be charged through OTG?

 

[Wilderbeast]

I have a question for those more tech-savvy than me:
 
As the AK10 bypasses the iPhone's internal DAC and amp, how am I able to change the sound by using the iPhone's equalizer? (I'm not even sure why I tried this, but there you are).
 
If the digital information (the 1s and 0s) is passed from iPhone to AK10 via the lightening connector, surely using the iPhones eq shouldn't affect the sound? Am I misunderstanding the way the two work together?

 

[plakat]

I don't think the EQ the iPhone uses is an analog implementation, so it could modify the digital signal before it reaches the external DAC.

 

[Wilderbeast]

  I don't think the EQ the iPhone uses is an analog implementation, so it could modify the digital signal before it reaches the external DAC.

 
That makes sense - thank you. Using the EQ sounded horrible.

 

[willyvlyminck]

It might feel robust but it isn´t,mine seems to be broken, the Android cable still works but no Sound of only a few seconds with my iPhone, and than the both phone and amp shut up, so according to someone at Beyerdynamic he says I Need a replacement cable, which will be no Problem, got this divice Little than two weeks.
Hope some aftermarket cables will see the light of day.

 

[kimvictor]

  It might feel robust but it isn´t,mine seems to be broken, the Android cable still works but no Sound of only a few seconds with my iPhone, and than the both phone and amp shut up, so according to someone at Beyerdynamic he says I Need a replacement cable, which will be no Problem, got this divice Little than two weeks.
Hope some aftermarket cables will see the light of day.

The cable? No. Cables are not robust, but it's not really anyone's fault. The nature micro USB cable makes them really weak. I have not ever seen a robust micro usb cable, even after market ones. They bend super easily.

 

[plakat]

Interestingly I had problems with my iPhone cable, too. Just got my replacement cable, now everything is fine.
 
After market cables? Guess not... the connector on the device looks... proprietary.

 

[kimvictor]

  Interestingly I had problems with my iPhone cable, too. Just got my replacement cable, now everything is fine.
 
After market cables? Guess not... the connector on the device looks... proprietary.

I mean, you do place them in your pocket. They are no where near as durable as most 3.5mm cables. I guess no USB cables are.

 

[plakat]

Mine was dead on arrival, it never worked.