Astell&Kern AK380

[Sound Eq]

  Welcome catoval55,
 
I have the RWAK380 + RWAK380 AMP now, originally I had the stock AK380 + AK380 amp and I also had the stock units for months before I decided to do the conversion.  I purposely didn't upgrade the FW from stock to the modified (RWAK) versions so that I could do some honest comparison testing.  In addition  I also have the Cord Hugo and I can comment on this as well.  
 
First off the AK380 in stock version is a really dam good player in it's on right!  The AK380 + amp was a beautiful upgrade in sound and I really love the sound signature of the amp... beautiful really.
 
The RWAK 380 is a genuine improvement in sound quality from top to bottom.  What strikes me about the upgrade first is just how smooth and non-sibilant the overall sound signature really becomes.  The sound isn't thicker or bloated it's richer, more detailed better contrast and dynamics and because of these changes you get to notice changes in the timber, texture, tone and details.  
 
I've always been a big fan of the Cord Hugo for the money, weight and size the Hugo packs a serious sound punch!  However at this point with the upgrades I find the Hugo just collecting dust not because its not a great dac/amp in it's own right (it really is) but because the convenience, beautiful integration of the player and sheer portability of the RWAK380+RWAK amp the combo frankly just sounds better!  
It's not mid-forward like the Hugo, it doesn't have as much power as the Hugo (it's close but not quite as powerful) its not as thin sounding as the Hugo.  Part of the thin sound has to do with the AK player does not pass the equalization settings to the Cord Hugo via the digital input.  The RWAK380+RWAK380amp is frankly more musical and I don't have the hassle of dragging around another piece of gear anymore.  Especially since I've added the KSE-1500 and that comes with it's own dac/amp which I need like a hole in the head.
 
Hope I've help to shed some light on your musical journey,
Sincerely,
-Speed 

hi I gotta say one thing, if he really wants a night and day difference I am sure adding a powerful amp with bass boost will give him much better result compared to doing a rwak mod, I am sure the rwak is great, but it will not be as good as a adding totl high end portable amp with bass boost. And from reading his question he is after more bass punch 

 

[bmichels]

So the Black AK380, I am told, will be a limited edition with a premium in price over stock. 

 
380Cu, 380 black...  do all those "special editions" announce the arrival of a new TOL model ?  

   
The AK380 was launched au the Munich 2015 High-End show last May, just 3 months after they announced the AK240SS !    
 
Munich 2016 is 2 months away...
 
AK480

 ?

 

[musicday]

So the Black AK380, I am told, will be a limited edition with a premium in price over stock. 

380Cu, 380 black...  do all those "special editions" announce the arrival of a new TOL model ?      
The AK380 was launched au the Munich 2015 High-End show last May, just 3 months after they announced the AK240SS !    

Munich 2016 is 2 months away...

AK480 :rolleyes:  ?

Wherever it will come just add OLED screen, only then i will consider one

 

[Jazzi]

  The retail for the Black AK380 is HK$29,800 in Hong Kong and are in stores now - US$3,820 or thereabouts.... 
 
For comparison, the Cu is $30,800 retail here.

I gotta give them credit -- they have "stones" the size of cantaloupes to charge a markup on the color black.  I can't wait to hear how it sounds better than the standard version. 

 

[spkrs01]

   
380Cu, 380 black...  do those "special edition" announce the arrival of a new TOL model ?  

   The AK380 was launched au the Munich 2015 High-End show last May, just 3 months after they announced the AK240SS !    
 
Munich 2016 is 2 months away...
 
AK480

 ?

 
Indeed...
 
But the 240 had reasonably long shelf-life iirrc...
 
In Hong Kong it was Chinese New Year to the following year Munich announcement 15 months! 
 
So perhaps the end of the Year, beginning of next if trends/charts are followed.......

 

[Apina]

I am also running the RWAK380-Combo and the mod is made in a way to get the most out of the unit and I like speedracer1 am very happy with what Vinnie has done with the system. The improvements he has internally made to the unit give a more natural sound and much cleaner bass compared to the unmodified unit.
 
The thing with an amplifier is that it's only as good as it's source material and using bass boost on an amplifier is not necessarily the optimal way to improve the bass. I guess you could also say the AK380 has an EQ in it so you could boost the bass levels there as well. 
 
AK380 + external amp would be nice, RWAK380 + external amp would be better 

 

[spkrs01]

   

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I am also running the RWAK380-Combo and the mod is made in a way to get the most out of the unit and I like speedracer1 am very happy with what Vinnie has done with the system. The improvements he has internally made to the unit give a more natural sound and much cleaner bass compared to the unmodified unit.
 
The thing with an amplifier is that it's only as good as it's source material and using bass boost on an amplifier is not necessarily the optimal way to improve the bass. I guess you could also say the AK380 has an EQ in it so you could boost the bass levels there as well. 
 
AK380 + external amp would be nice, RWAK380 + external amp would be better 

 
 

 
Perfectly put, Apina
 

 
Garbage in, garbage out

 

[DrSheep]

On a different note: what is the most oxymoron thing you have done with your AK380?
 
Mine was to pair it with a cheap non-AptX bluetooth speaker, then run AK Connect for vTuner on a 64bit encoded radio station...
 
good lord, what have I done...

 

[raypin]

  On a different note: what is the most oxymoron thing you have done with your AK380?
 
Mine was to pair it with a cheap non-AptX bluetooth speaker, then run AK Connect for vTuner on a 64bit encoded radio station...
 
good lord, what have I done...

 
mmmm.....lol! You've got plenty of spare time.
 
Re: RWAK. I'd long thought of it but modifying will render my cu's warranty revocable. After expiration, it is a different story.

 

[Apina]

   
mmmm.....lol! You've got plenty of spare time.
 
Re: RWAK. I'd long thought of it but modifying will render my cu's warranty revocable. After expiration, it is a different story.

I've had several RWA mods over the years, Vinnie is a great guy that stands by his work. 
From past experience whenever I have had a problem with a modded unit he has sorted it out.

 

[Gudedomo]

Here's some more images of the AK380 black that have been posted online 

 looks very very tempting....
 

 

 

 

[Jazzi]

  Here's some more images of the AK380 black that have been posted online 

 looks very very tempting....
 

 
 
 
I agree that it's good looking, but not good looking enough to warrant a premium on the already high price, IMHO.

 

[LouisArmstrong]

The sound quality of AK380 Cu vs AK380 Black - that is the question.

 

[Jazzi]

  The sound quality of AK380 Cu vs AK380 Black - that is the question.

Ahh, maybe my assumption is incorrect.  I thought I read somewhere it's the exact same device as the standard version, except for the color.

 

[fiascogarcia]

 
Ahh, maybe my assumption is incorrect.  I thought I read somewhere it's the exact same device as the standard version, except for the color.

You, apparently, do not know LouisArmstrong.