Astell&Kern AK380

[STAXNBSAK380]

I also didn't notice any change in sound through my Jupiter, balanced.

@STAXNBSAK380
Are you using the docking station or HO?

I am not using a docking station.

 

[etteoh]

Hello etteoh thanxs for your post. For me the sound quality difference between firmware 1.32 and 1.40 is unfortunately and undoubtedly existent. The experience of your friend concerning SQ before and after the update would be very interesting. Compare the high frequencies and bass pressure and depth of the stage. I look forward to your report.

 
You're welcome. Coincidentally, I was just talking to my friend about the update. He did the update to 1.40 from 1.32 this morning and like me, he was not able to hear a difference in sound quality / characteristic post upgrade. He also did not hear any hiss. This was tested both with and without the AK amp module. His was done using a JH Layla whereas mine with the FitEar MH334, TG334 and my trusty ol' UE Triple.Fi 10.   
 
He was originally very hesitant to do the update after I shared your findings with him but like me, he succumbed to TIDAL
 
This is not the first time I'm saying this and it won't be the last either (AK, listen up please) but it is exactly for reasons like this that I feel AK should provide older firmware available for users to go back to in case they don't like what the new firmware does to their DAPs. I have nothing against AK but we do have every right to choose what firmware we want to stay with. Not everybody wants TIDAL, not everybody has a Recorder and more importantly, there has not been one time where everybody likes the same firmware. I don't know what AK's reasoning is for not making previous firmware releases available for download but it's definitely something I'd like to understand.

 

[AnakChan]

  Sorry, I'm derailing the topic a little but does anyone here who can read Korean tell me / us what this "hidden" menu on the AK380 is:
 
Go to Settings > System Information and tap on "Model Number" repeatedly (5-7 taps). You get this menu, which looks to me like some diagnostic menu of a sort but it's all in Korean. I can't read Korean and definitely do not want to mess things up by hitting the buttons and see what they do. For all you know one of them could mean "Self Destruct" 

 
This existed for quite some time now actually. I asked @songmic for help a few years back and he helped me with it :-

 
AK240 Hidden Menu
설정: setting
블루투스: bluetooth
오디오: audio
터치: touch
번들 설치: install bundle
공장 초기화: set to factory default settings
설정 초기화: set to default settings
 
I think the AK380 menu is mostly the same.

 

[etteoh]

   
This existed for quite some time now actually. I asked @songmic for help a few years back and he helped me with it :-

 
AK240 Hidden Menu
설정: setting
블루투스: bluetooth
오디오: audio
터치: touch
번들 설치: install bundle
공장 초기화: set to factory default settings
설정 초기화: set to default settings
 
I think the AK380 menu is mostly the same.

 
This is great, thanks AnakChan!

 

[piercer]

Just got to say this. I have never really got the whole 'streaming' thing. Having a large music collection on my AK380 ever since it came out I have never seen the need.
 
Now, after updating to 1.4 I thought I would give Tidal a try. I think having it conveniently built into the player changes everything for me. It is quite expensive (£19.99 a month), but listening to it now whilst sitting in my home office, I am feeling quite happy streaming music from bands that I like, but don't have a lot of their music (Covenant for the moment). This might just work for me
 
As a free update to my player, I am very happy. 
 
Additionally through my Laylas I have heard no discernable sound quality change, YMMV.
 
Is there any way to get Tidal to suggest a playlist based on a search like Spotify?

 

[Samuel777]

Im coming back again on the SQ Issue with the 1.40 vers. I did a test and realized that AK Has setup the initial good SQ to Tidal application while the SQ in the native audio application lost its quality. I took a FLAC track Same characteristic with the one in tidal. When I listened to them, the sound in ak audio application was flat and too bright, while the quality was very good in tidal application.

 

[Ruben123]

Im coming back again on the SQ Issue with the 1.40 vers. I did a test and realized that AK Has setup the initial good SQ to Tidal application while the SQ in the native audio application lost its quality. I took a FLAC track Same characteristic with the one in tidal. When I listened to them, the sound in ak audio application was flat and too bright, while the quality was very good in tidal application.

It would puzzle me if AK would change the SQ every time they update the devices. As more people have not heard a difference, I suspect it's "between your ears". Besides, if Tidal sound else, it could be due to a lot of things, for instance: playing a different file/master, Tidal itself using a slight EQ, Tidal bypassing the normal AK music app's EQ settings etc etc.

 

[xxx1313]

Did somebody (AnakChan maybe?) have the chance to compare the sound of an AK380 DEMO unit (with 32 GB internal memory) with a regular AK380 unit?
 
I had the chance to compare an AK380 demo unit to my AK380 Copper, and the AK380 demo is SO MUCH WORSE soundwise, that I think the demo unit MUST also be inferior to a regular AK380 (duralium). The sound difference is just enormous, both with and without my copper amp. Both players are on the same firmware (1.31).
 
Any thoughts?
 
Thanks,
Bernie

 

[klove4252]

Has anyone came across an issue where the 380 amp isn't working? The Balanced Out on the Amp works perfectly fine, but I am not getting sound through the SE. SE and Balanced out work on the AK380 fine without amp. 

 

[wldcohso]

No issues with my amp thus far, send yours back if you can.. don't waste time troubleshooting it.

 

[etteoh]

  Has anyone came across an issue where the 380 amp isn't working? The Balanced Out on the Amp works perfectly fine, but I am not getting sound through the SE. SE and Balanced out work on the AK380 fine without amp. 

 
I don't know if your amp has the same issue as the one I previously had before it was returned for replacement. The jack on the SE had a contact issue. Sometimes there would be only sound from the left side and other times, no sound at all. The balanced worked just fine. You might want to get it looked at.

 

[STAXNBSAK380]

You're welcome. Coincidentally, I was just talking to my friend about the update. He did the update to 1.40 from 1.32 this morning and like me, he was not able to hear a difference in sound quality / characteristic post upgrade. He also did not hear any hiss. This was tested both with and without the AK amp module. His was done using a JH Layla whereas mine with the FitEar MH334, TG334 and my trusty ol' UE Triple.Fi 10.   

He was originally very hesitant to do the update after I shared your findings with him but like me, he succumbed to TIDAL

This is not the first time I'm saying this and it won't be the last either (AK, listen up please) but it is exactly for reasons like this that I feel AK should provide older firmware available for users to go back to in case they don't like what the new firmware does to their DAPs. I have nothing against AK but we do have every right to choose what firmware we want to stay with. Not everybody wants TIDAL, not everybody has a Recorder and more importantly, there has not been one time where everybody likes the same firmware. I don't know what AK's reasoning is for not making previous firmware releases available for download but it's definitely something I'd like to understand.

Thanks to you etteoh and to your friend for sharing your experience concerning soundquality before and after 1.4 firmware update. I am a little bit confused that you didnot perceive the difference, as I undoubtedly do. I ll try to checkout with my local Astell & Kern distributor / supporter, whether he is able to bring me down to firmware 1.32. So I am able to check out, whether I deceived myself.

Your are right that A&K should offer older Firmware. I would appriciate a possibility in the preference pane to downgrade the firmware to older versions, in case the actual firmware upgrade version does not match the personal SQ taste. This would be an premium feature on this premium player and would enshure that upgrading is no oneway direction with the risk of disappointments afterwards.

 

[AnakChan]

  Did somebody (AnakChan maybe?) have the chance to compare the sound of an AK380 DEMO unit (with 32 GB internal memory) with a regular AK380 unit?
 
I had the chance to compare an AK380 demo unit to my AK380 Copper, and the AK380 demo is SO MUCH WORSE soundwise, that I think the demo unit MUST also be inferior to a regular AK380 (duralium). The sound difference is just enormous, both with and without my copper amp. Both players are on the same firmware (1.31).
 
Any thoughts?
 
Thanks,
Bernie

 
I did but in my experience it wasn't "so much worse". I have a feeling firmwares were at play though 'cos back then it was demo had 1.18 and the AK380Cu had some1.2x firmware. I can't find my post now as it was some time back.
 

Thanks to you etteoh and to your friend for sharing your experience concerning soundquality before and after 1.4 firmware update. I am a little bit confused that you didnot perceive the difference, as I undoubtedly do. I ll try to checkout with my local Astell & Kern distributor / supporter, whether he is able to bring me down to firmware 1.32. So I am able to check out, whether I deceived myself.

Your are right that A&K should offer older Firmware. I would appriciate a possibility in the preference pane to downgrade the firmware to older versions, in case the actual firmware upgrade version does not match the personal SQ taste. This would be an premium feature on this premium player and would enshure that upgrading is no oneway direction with the risk of disappointments afterwards.

 
Your test was with the SR-007 - i.e. you were using an electrostat amp in between whilst with @ettoh's tests, it was earphones straight out of the AK380?

 

[etteoh]

  Hi,
 
did anyone of you have the chance to listen to the Orilolus mk2 IEM´s out of the AK380? How do they pair? Thanks in advance!

 
I remembered reading about somebody asking how the Oriolus MK2 IEMs sounded out of the AK380. I was fortunate enough to sample it just over the weekend at my friend's place (he had some demo stuff in place) and pitched it against a couple of FitEars. Managed to take a shot of a 2-way shootout between the Oriolus and TG334 (the MH334 at the back is just the referee):
 

 
Personally, the Oriolus didn't suit me. The midrange is just nowhere near the TG334's. In comparison, the TG334 sounded so much more organic, fuller and natural whereas the Oriolus came across as thinner, more distant and lacked that refinement. I had expected more out of what was billed as a worthy contender to the TG334.
 
But all is not lost...while there is more presence with the highs on the Oriolus, it does so without sibilance and this I have to give it credit for. The other thing the Oriolus is really impressive at is sub bass reproduction. I would even go as far as to say the bass is every bit as enjoyable as my LCD-3's. So kudos Oriolus. If it had the midrange / refinement of the TG334, then this would, to me, be the ultimate IEM. While the Oriolus didn't work out for me, I can see how people would just enjoy the bass and highs on this thing. But if you value midrange clarity, refinement and a full bodied, organic sound, the TG334 is just that much better.  
 
And there is one other downer with the Oriolus I need to add...and that the fit can be tricky to get right. Not to mention it is extremely picky with the eartips. I tried some Sony tips, Complys, FitEar tips, JVC Spiral Dots, UE Triple.Fi 10 tips and SpinFits. Only the SpinFit sounded good. With the others, something was always off. Depending on which tips were used, I experienced anemic bass, badly recessed midrange, harsh highs or bad imaging. Fit / comfort also varied and it's only the SpinFit that got things right.
 
All said and done, I think the Oriolus pairs well with the AK380. Whether or not you like the Oriolus on its own, that's certainly for your ears to find out.
 
On a separate note, the surprise of the day for me was the TG334. Even though I have the MH334, there is something about the TG334 that got things really kicking. It's very fun to listen to and the highs somehow sounded more extended and present to me compared to the MH334. Perhaps the titanium tube employed in the TG334 made all the difference. I enjoyed the TG334 so much that I immediately jumped on a used pair that happened to be up for sale over at a local audio marketplace.

 

[etteoh]

   
I did but in my experience it wasn't "so much worse". I have a feeling firmwares were at play though 'cos back then it was demo had 1.18 and the AK380Cu had some1.2x firmware. I can't find my post now as it was some time back.
 
 
Your test was with the SR-007 - i.e. you were using an electrostat amp in between whilst with @ettoh's tests, it was earphones straight out of the AK380?

 
It sure looks like in STAXNBSAK380's case he was using the AK380 as a source for the Stax setup. In my case and that of my friend's, it was a bunch of CIEM / IEM driven straight off the AK380 and / or AK Amp.