Astell&Kern KANN CUBE

[hepcat11]

I just got the KANN Cube. It's an impressive piece of hardware!

Unfortunately, the software seems lacking. I keep getting the following error:

Unfortunately, AKMusic has stopped​

Is this a known issue with a known fix?

Thanks!
J.

 

[audio-]

I just got the KANN Cube. It's an impressive piece of hardware!

Unfortunately, the software seems lacking. I keep getting the following error:

Unfortunately, AKMusic has stopped​

Is this a known issue with a known fix?

Thanks!
J.

What version of the OS you are using?

 

[hepcat11]

What version of the OS you are using?

It just updated to v1.16CM

 

[audio-]

It just updated to v1.16CM

That is the latest firmware so that is good.

Now perform a “soft reset” (copied from JasonNYC):

To perform a soft reset, press and hold the power button while the player is turned on. After 10 - 15 seconds, the player will turn off. Press the power button again to turn on.

At this point your Kann Cube will be rebooted and you should not see that error again. With a soft reset all your music and playlists will still be there so you won’t be losing anything.

Please let us know how it goes by posting here.

 

[hepcat11]

That is the latest firmware so that is good.

Now perform a “soft reset” (copied from JasonNYC):

To perform a soft reset, press and hold the power button while the player is turned on. After 10 - 15 seconds, the player will turn off. Press the power button again to turn on.

At this point your Kann Cube will be rebooted and you should not see that error again. With a soft reset all your music and playlists will still be there so you won’t be losing anything.

Please let us know how it goes by posting here.

Actually, I had done that a few minutes ago and am noticing that the error hasn't popped up again. I figured since the player rebooted after the firmware update that a manual reboot wouldn't be necessary. Seems okay now.

 

[audio-]

Actually, I had done that a few minutes ago and am noticing that the error hasn't popped up again. I figured since the player rebooted after the firmware update that a manual reboot wouldn't be necessary. Seems okay now.

Your experience is now identical to mine. I have no idea why a soft reset would be necessary, but after performing that for my Kann Cube, I never saw the error “AKMusic has stopped” ever again.

Feel free to post other errors you see as perhaps we’ve seen them as well.

Hope you are enjoying your Kann Cube now!

 

[hepcat11]

Has anyone found a tempered glass screen protector for it? This glass seems like it could be easily scratched. I don't like the plastic films.

 

[slumberman]

I just love the form factor of the Kann Cube.
I wonder if it could be the one and only lossless collection container and streaming services device... keep on using my iPhone/dragonfly cobalt for daily commute and use the Kann for longer work trips and home listening....

 

[hepcat11]

So, I'm now trying to figure out how to download additional music services onto it. The instructions on the A&K website don't seem to be accurate anymore. Are you no longer able to download Android APKs and side load them onto the device? I see no way to download the APKs.

 

[sahmen]

New KC owner here, looking for info that I can't get from the User manual quick enough:

1. I'm a Mac user. Do I have to download any drivers before my macbook pro can see and successfully work with the KC? (I have already downloaded the Android file Transfer application onto my Mac, but I understand that is for transferring files, which I shall do straight away, if I get the issue regarding a needed (or not needed) Mac OS driver sorted.

2. How does one access the open App service that allows the download of other Apps such as Qobuz. Does the open app itself requires some external apps to be downloaded onto my Mac before it can work? I only see Tidal and Deezer Apps preloaded onto the KC, and I would like to get at least Qobuz in addition.

3. I want to transfer music files from my NAS to the KC, preferably onto the Microsd card, as I do not want the KC's onboard native storage space to be clogged too quickly, if I can help it. So what is the best practice for loading music files onto the KC.

Is it advisable to format and transfer the music onto the card on a MAC, before inserting the sd card into the KC, or is it better to format and install the Microsd card into the KC first, and then to transfer the files through drag and drop, with the KC connected to my MAC? If I use the direct drag and drop method, will the KC allow me to determine whether the music goes into the onboard native storage or unto the inserted MicroSd card? I just want the best way to transfer my music into the KC without squandering the onboard storage space, if I can help it.

4. Any other configuration tips not yet referred to that might be useful for new users like me would be very welcome.

Thanks

 

[hepcat11]

New KC owner here, looking for info that I can't get from the User manual quick enough:

1. I'm a Mac user. Do I have to download any drivers before my macbook pro can see and successfully work with the KC? (I have already downloaded the Android file Transfer application onto my Mac, but I understand that is for transferring files, which I shall do straight away, if I get the issue regarding a needed (or not needed) Mac OS driver sorted.

2. How does one access the open App service that allows the download of other Apps such as Qobuz. Does the open app itself requires some external apps to be downloaded onto my Mac before it can work? I only see Tidal and Deezer Apps preloaded onto the KC, and I would like to get at least Qobuz in addition.

3. I want to transfer music files from my NAS to the KC, preferably onto the Microsd card, as I do not want the KC's onboard native storage space to be clogged too quickly, if I can help it. So what is the best practice for loading music files onto the KC.

Is it advisable to format and transfer the music onto the card on a MAC, before inserting the sd card into the KC, or is it better to format and install the Microsd card into the KC first, and then to transfer the files through drag and drop, with the KC connected to my MAC? If I use the direct drag and drop method, will the KC allow me to determine whether the music goes into the onboard native storage or unto the inserted MicroSd card? I just want the best way to transfer my music into the KC without squandering the onboard storage space, if I can help it.

4. Any other configuration tips not yet referred to that might be useful for new users like me would be very welcome.

Thanks

If you're going to be saving music on a card anyway, I would just use a card reader. Macs are pretty good about not needing drivers for file transfer type activities, though. I haven't seen anything that says you need a driver for this.

I am also trying to figure out how to get APKs onto the KC. The instructions are out of date, and it's unclear how to get APKs.

 

[audio-]

3. I want to transfer music files from my NAS to the KC, preferably onto the Microsd card, as I do not want the KC's onboard native storage space to be clogged too quickly, if I can help it. So what is the best practice for loading music files onto the KC.

What kind of NAS and what is the model number?

Is it advisable to format and transfer the music onto the card on a MAC, before inserting the sd card into the KC, or is it better to format and install the Microsd card into the KC first, and then to transfer the files through drag and drop, with the KC connected to my MAC? If I use the direct drag and drop method, will the KC allow me to determine whether the music goes into the onboard native storage or unto the inserted MicroSd card? I just want the best way to transfer my music into the KC without squandering the onboard storage space, if I can help it.

I would suggest erasing the SD card using the KC. Under “Settings”, click on “System Information”, scroll down to “SD card” and click on “Erase SD card”.

4. Any other configuration tips not yet referred to that might be useful for new users like me would be very welcome.

There might be a way to choose where downloaded music is saved. Click on “Settings”, “Downloads”. There is an option for “Selected Folder”. Sorry, I can’t help more on this one, I don’t do streaming.

 

[thecrow]

If you're going to be saving music on a card anyway, I would just use a card reader. Macs are pretty good about not needing drivers for file transfer type activities, though. I haven't seen anything that says you need a driver for this.

I am also trying to figure out how to get APKs onto the KC. The instructions are out of date, and it's unclear how to get APKs.

Does this help at all?

https://www.moon-audio.com/blog/astellkern-support-open-app-services

Let me know as my kann cube was ordered yesterday, after a few months deliberating on the decision, demoing it a few times and then needing to choose between a new kc or open box sp1000cu

 

[thecrow]

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.

Would there be any issues from your experience with connecting the kc to wifi be it at home or by using my iPhone as a hotspot? (I can’t remember all the stuff I’ve read on this thread but I’m glad I’ve been able to find all this info re bluetooth so i have a good understanding of what does work and what doesn’t - I don’t have that much more hair to pull out nowadays )

 

[hepcat11]

Does this help at all?

https://www.moon-audio.com/blog/astellkern-support-open-app-services

Let me know as my kann cube was ordered yesterday, after a few months deliberating on the decision, demoing it a few times and then needing to choose between a new kc or open box sp1000cu

No, because the instructions are out of date. Seems like APKPure.com changed how you can download APKs. Seems like they now have an app that will download them for you, but that app itself is an APK. I guess I can try downloading the APKPure APK and then side load that onto the KC and see if that can then download and install the music service APKs. I had hoped to get some instruction rather than experiment myself, though.