Hi guys - I´m new to the forum and still fairly new to the HiFi-equipment world as well I gotta say.
@ulver777: In which situations (like menus, specific tasks) did you notice the AK Jr´s UI-lag most? I´m really interested in the device but the only thing keeping me from buying it, is that I imagine it could become strenuous to use when SCROLLING THROUGH LONG SONG- or INTERPRET-LISTS, which is kinda the only time one really needs a certain flow/speed in the UI I think. Also - does it show letters or sth to speed up the searching process in such a situation? Would be very interested what you and all the other people who had/have the AK Jr. can say about that! Searched for but didn´t find specific infos on these details.
I don´t mind a little lag in the UI if it´s still manageable. For me the AK Jr would be a music player first and foremost and as long as it can be controlled in a still reasonable manner and does a good job at its core task (playing music) I´d be ok with it.
Background story (optional reading):
I haven´t been able to listen to music on the go since last summer, when I lost my old - garden variety - crappy mp3-Player. So - since I have to do with electronics in my job and value good components, I got the idea that I need a player a little better than your usual 20$ crappy mp3-device...
So I ordered the Fiio X3 2nd Gen last week but somehow wasn´t too excited with the sound "character" - that´s the best I can describe it. It sounded somehow, like the music had lost some of it´s liveliness when listening through it - although it did bring out some details way better than when I simply plugged into my laptop´s headphone out. But it was just like all the punchiness was suddenly "drained" from the music, can´t really put my finger on it. I did of course use the same files from my and a friend´s laptop and the SD-card of the X3. Also tried through my home stereo system via the X3´s line out and through usual ear-buds and a friend´s more expensive over-ear headphones. Tried messing with the EQ but didn´t really do a lot for me. I also did some comparative listening tests with a few friends without trying to bias them beforehand - and got the same results.
I should also add, that I´m mainly listening to old Rock- and Jazz-albums from the late 60ies/early 70ies. Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, The Grateful Dead, a lot of garage rock but also Wes Montgomery f.e. So - the general recording quality obviously wasn´t the best in most cases back then but I´m trying to bring out the best in it.
Anyhow - that´s why I returned it and now I´m looking for an alternative in the rough 300$-/300€-range (I´m from Europe) - having read the raving AK Jr reviews and after its price has dropped dramatically my interest is naturally peaked, if it wasn´t for the UI...
I have a suspicion that the Wolfson WM8740 in the Junior might be a strong contributing factor to its sound being widely perceived as more agreeable compared to Fiio and a bit punchier.
