Well, I still have my 240ss with me now since I bought my 380cu and I have done the RWA mode to the SS a few months ago. To me the 380 has more air. The sound has a floating quality compares to 240ss. It is difficulty for you to compare to memory when you do not have your 240 with you. Yes the 240ss is a little quicker and has a little bit more clearer treble or brighter treble and sometimes in memory that came across as more air. Be careful though once you go through the RWAK mod, you will loose that with your 240ss. But the cu definitely has bigger sound stage and air. My cu doesn't clip and distort in balance mode at all. It also doesn't sound static or hiss from either SE or balance even with very sensitive iems. I use campfire Andromeda and it sounds as transparent as I want with no veil at all. My cu FW is 1.25. If what you describe is accurate, it sounds like a defective unit as it is not reported on this forum. Good luck and hope you find a good cu that many of us enjoy. To me the 240ss and cu have totally sq. Initially I have the same concern as many SS owners not sure if it is an upgrade to cu, but now I prefer the cu definitely.
It's probably not all that fair for me to compare them since my AK380 Copper is defective. I reached out the WW Stereo the company I purchased it from and there support and has been outstanding and they have been very gracious and understanding of my problem. So full marks to them for handling my problem with utmost professionalism.
I sent it back this morning and will receive a replacement unit. I will likely keep both and leave the 240SS at my office.
I agree with you. I didn't necessarily like my RWAK240+ "better". It was different but not unilaterally better. I thought it lost some of that treble clarity, bass clarity and texture for the sake of a lower mid range - upper bass bump.
I actually found it bloated sounding at times. So I definitely wouldn't mod it again.
My AK240SS has that same bass impact and the same as the AK380 on single ended, but with a precision and delicacy that the RW unit did not have. While retaining the speed, treble clarity and air that the non-modded unit had.
So to my ears the AK240SS takes all the good of the AK240 and RW240 and you get it stock from the factory right out of the box. The stainless steel is gorgeous and has a very luxurious feel. And the special black suede case is the icing on the cake. Just a beautiful looking product.
So far my listening experience was on the SE output of the AK380 Cu. The Cu definitely had a wider sound stage, but it almost felt artifically wide. The 240SS on balanced although not as expansive sound stage wise, was more intimate but retaining outstanding imaging and instrument separation. They sound different, but until the replacement comes I won't be able to compare fairly.
There is just something intangible about the AK240 and now the AK240SS sound signature that is just so nice to me.
I also decided to keep the 1.18 firmware as prior to selling my RWAK240 I hated the AK380 style UI on the smaller AK240 screen. So even though Tidal is coming to the 240 as well, I'll use the AK380 for that.
The AK380 has a better UI but it's perfectly suited for that nicer larger screen where as I find the old AK240 UI perfect for its size screen.
Lastly I found that the AK240 and now AK240SS home screen button is much more reliable and precise. At times my 380 Copper would not respond when pushing the home button. I think that feature also works better on the AK240.
But make no mistake, the AK380 has a much nicer screen, appropriately sized, a better UI, better volume wheel etc.
