Astell&Kern KANN CUBE

[PACSman]

Can you tell me a little more about the KC pairing with the Layla? I have the DX220 ad really like it but I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about the KC.

I found the Layla pretty picky with sources. The DX200 pairng was not good but the DX220 pairing is great.

The Layla can play music that I enjoy from my cell phone. However, more current from a more powerful amp makes me aware that the Layla is capable of greater detail, clarity, and layering of the music. The same can be said for most headphones. I upgraded from my cell phone to a Cowon Plenue P2. After that, I heard a greater improvement with the Kann Cube. I suppose I was complacent with the sound I was hearing until I heard the amp section of the Kann Cube.

I have not heard the DX220. The specs suggest that just as you heard an upgrade when switching from the DX200 to the DX220, that you will hear another improvement if you upgrade to the Kann Cube. However, the DAC is better in the Kann Cube so that should be added bonus.

Aside from the specs, I believe the best thing to do is to audition the Kann Cube and find out for yourself.

 

[AudioBomb]

Simple question: is the A&K Cube worth the price difference for the 700€ cheaper Ibasso DX220?
Thanks a ton.

 

[sahmen]

Simple question: is the A&K Cube worth the price difference for the 700€ cheaper Ibasso DX220?
Thanks a ton.

Believe it or not, in the end, only you can answer a question like that, and it will all depend on your personal tastes, preferences, and buying power. That's the simplest and most straightforward answer I can think of right now,

Also, if you haven't auditioned the two units side by side yet, then maybe you should, because that would be a great place to start, and it will probably bring you closer to your answer than anyone here can.

 

[subguy812]

Can you tell me a little more about the KC pairing with the Layla? I have the DX220 ad really like it but I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about the KC.

I found the Layla pretty picky with sources. The DX200 pairng was not good but the DX220 pairing is great.

I have the Layla Aion, the A&K iteration, and I have found the pairing to be most excellent.

 

[gc335]

The Layla can play music that I enjoy from my cell phone. However, more current from a more powerful amp makes me aware that the Layla is capable of greater detail, clarity, and layering of the music. The same can be said for most headphones. I upgraded from my cell phone to a Cowon Plenue P2. After that, I heard a greater improvement with the Kann Cube. I suppose I was complacent with the sound I was hearing until I heard the amp section of the Kann Cube.

I have not heard the DX220. The specs suggest that just as you heard an upgrade when switching from the DX200 to the DX220, that you will hear another improvement if you upgrade to the Kann Cube. However, the DAC is better in the Kann Cube so that should be added bonus.

Aside from the specs, I believe the best thing to do is to audition the Kann Cube and find out for yourself.

Thanks for the reply. I'll have my Kann Cube on Monday and will post some thoughts.

 

[gc335]

I meant very high accuracy resistors

Interesting... How do they compare to the quality of the AMP8EX-FE components?

 

[Whitigir]

Interesting... How do they compare to the quality of the AMP8EX-FE components?

They are too different to compare. The Amp8EX has many quality parts including Electrolytic capacitors, and is a discrete amplifier itself, which you won’t find anywhere in AK DAP

 

[arftech]

They are too different to compare. The Amp8EX has many quality parts including Electrolytic capacitors, and is a discrete amplifier itself, which you won’t find anywhere in AK DAP

Im sure Amp8EX is awesome but I’ll go with that AK sound.

 

[Whitigir]

Im sure Amp8EX is awesome but I’ll go with that AK sound.

Ofcourse! Sound is subjective as always. I was just answering @gc335 questions directly

 

[gc335]

Ofcourse! Sound is subjective as always. I was just answering @gc335 questions directly

Thanks! Ok, so the AMP section of the KC is totally different and can't be compared. Makes sense. I was just curious if you could mod the KC the same way (obviously not as easy).

Do you have a Cube as well?

 

[Whitigir]

Thanks! Ok, so the AMP section of the KC is totally different and can't be compared. Makes sense. I was just curious if you could mod the KC the same way (obviously not as easy).

Do you have a Cube as well?

I do not have the Cube

 

[audio-]

I have the Layla Aion, the A&K iteration, and I have found the pairing to be most excellent.

Might you have any thoughts or feedback on the Layla Aion versus the Focal Stellia? I bought the Focal Clear based mostly on their reputation (in forums as well as in website reviews). I have not been able to listen to them enough to formulate a proper opinion of them. The problem for me is a lack of source material (in 16/44.1 or anything higher).

You have many more headphones and IEMS than I do. I would be curious to get your thoughts on good pairings with the KC.

More generally I am also pondering connecting the KC to a headphone amp such as Cavalli liquid gold, Focal Arche, Benchmark HPA4, or similar.

Might anyone have ideas or feedback on connecting a KC to an external amplifier (not necessarily an external dac)?

 

[thecrow]

That other guy is full of crap.

Oh stop the bull. This is a desktop setup.

 

[thecrow]

I think the Kann Cube doesn’t work as a Bluetooth receiver, only sending Bluetooth.

Also if anybody can help me w BT connection to Cube if you've had success. I can't send the sound from my Fire Stick, iPhone

Yeh I called Astell today and the dude let me know the bad news. My Hiby R3 has that tech for 5 times less. Thanks for the heads up though.

I’ve read a lot of posts and spoken to my local dealer re bluetooth issues of the kann cube but do these early posts line up with any bluetooth issues you have found with the kc? ie no issues with sending bluetooth, just the receiving (that i should forget about)

if that’s the case i hope this helps others

 

[PACSman]

I’ve read a lot of posts and spoken to my local dealer re bluetooth issues of the kann cube but do these early posts line up with any bluetooth issues you have found with the kc? ie no issues with sending bluetooth, just the receiving (that i should forget about)

if that’s the case i hope this helps others

Kann Cube (KC) receives Bluetooth if the music is sent with the aptX™ HD codec. Unfortunately, some Bluetooth 4.x and 5.x devices do not support the aptX™ HD codec. I learned this after purchasing my KC and speaking with an A&K rep. Many of my devices do not support the aptX™ HD codec but my future replacements probably will. If you root your phone or if you are Linux savvy, you can probably modify the Bluetooth stack so the device will send/receive with the aptX™ HD codec.

I may have read that the KC supports SBC and LDAC but I can't put my finger on the documentation to say for certain. LDAC has three speeds. Prior to owning the KC, I tried some devices with LDAC and was very disappointed with the sound (I must have been hearing 330kbps). aptX can sound good despite not being high res and the aptX™ HD codec sounds very good to my ears.

I was surprised by how well the KC works as a DLNA server or client. My TV and Stereo receive DNLA from my KC. BubbleUPnP and other mature DLNA serving software send from Win/Linux/Mac to the Kann Cube.