Astell&Kern KANN CUBE

[audio-]

I found a $32 silicon case, https://www.amazon.com/BestforYou-T..._1_9?keywords=kann+cube&qid=1576195677&sr=8-9, that was sent over to me from China. This softens the sharp corners and makes the Kann Cube easy to hold and travel-worthy for me. I'm on an airplane listening to it now.

How are you liking the case? Does it affect the Bluetooth connection? And what in the world are all the hi-res stickers for?

 

[gc335]

Many thanks for this post.
I am consciously at (trans)portable gear only at the moment. Some recent readings made suggestions that desktop DACs/amps has significantly more enjoyable listening experience than portable ones. Therefore I wanted to ask for a while now someone (maybe you, @thecrow?) who has both Cube and desktop equipment what to expect, how far I have to go if I ever decide to go for desktop direction.

My desktop rig sounds much better than my portable stuff. I think it also depends on if you are using full sized headphones versus IEMs. The difference is not as large with the IEMs.

I have the ZMF Blackwoods and they sound stunning out of my Schiit Mjolnir. They sound a bit flat out of the Kann. That’s not knocking the Kann. They are very hard to drive well.

As far as transportable goes the Kann Cube is impressive. My EL-8C sounds amazing out of it. Best DAP pairing I’ve tried.

 

[CANiSLAYu]

.

 

[PACSman]

How are you liking the case? Does it affect the Bluetooth connection? And what in the world are all the hi-res stickers for?

I wouldn't keep the KC without the silicon case. It protects the unit but retains all the functionality including WLAN and Bluetooth. It also protects my hands, furniture, backpack, luggage, innocent bystanders etc. I'm clumsy so the KC and others are at risk unless I am able to grip and handle it better.

 

[thecrow]

I wanted to ask for a while now someone (maybe you, @thecrow?) who has both Cube and desktop equipment what to expect, how far I have to go if I ever decide to go for desktop direction.

My cube should arrive in a few days. Only ordered it on the weekend. Will let you know how i go

The desktop dac i have is the metrum hex. Which when released a few years ago was (I’m guessing) about $3500. This dac will never be sold by me - ie i really like it

so from demoing the kann cube and briefly comparing it with my dac that i took in I don’t think the cube will be better.

but the reason i chose the cube was the finesse/nuance that i thought i heard combined with the power it provides. And that combo is why i chose it over the sp1000 open box special that was offered at the same price.

The “price” i have to pay is the size of it when choosing to carry it around vs the benefit of the power it offers for full size headphones when laying in bed or on the couch and not wanting to sit at my desktop setup. (And i may use it as a source for my active jbl monitors)

even though I’m very happy listening to my hekse at home (mini ipad) and my se846 on the go (with my iphone) day I’m hoping that i find a good size improvement with the kc and i shall see how much i do in fact end up using it.

Buying it was a bit of a splurge /another indulgence in this “hobby” which was pretty much unnecessary.
Having said that it appears to be a solid “jack of all trades”

Let’s not underrate what we hear from our non audiophile devices

Demoing in a store can only show me so much so i shall let you know how i go “in the real world”

 

[Cat Music]

How much impedance can the Kann Cube handle in headphones? more than 300 ohm?

 

[gc335]

How much impedance can the Kann Cube handle in headphones? more than 300 ohm?

Shouldn’t be a problem! This thing has massive power. There is more power requirements than ohms. Planar are low ohm but take a lot of power to drive well. I had a pair of 600 ohm headphones that were driven fairly well by most sources.

 

[gc335]

How much impedance can the Kann Cube handle in headphones? more than 300 ohm?

Is there a specific headphone you were looking to pair with the Kann Cube?

 

[tb303]

How much impedance can the Kann Cube handle in headphones? more than 300 ohm?

It can easily run my MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed and these are real monsters - KC can run them with ease no matter whether on a balanced cable or not. I'm almost certain it will handle majority of 300+ ohm cans

 

[tb303]

Has anyone tried pairing KC with ZMF Eikon? Just burning in the combo (and my brain) and would like to discuss my sound perception with other ZMF Eikon, Atticus, Aeolus owners. Thanks in advance!

 

[gc335]

Has anyone tried pairing KC with ZMF Eikon? Just burning in the combo (and my brain) and would like to discuss my sound perception with other ZMF Eikon, Atticus, Aeolus owners. Thanks in advance!

I’ll have the Aeolus soon and can give you some impressions.

 

[PACSman]

Is there a specific headphone you were looking to pair with the Kann Cube?

My Mr Speakers Ether Flow C never sounded better than when paired with the KC.
My Layla and Fostex TH909 (lower impedance) scale even better than the Ether Flow C.
I thought I was in the market for new headphones but now I'm not.
I wish you well with your search and I'm confident that anything with a good reputation and reasonable impedance will play great

 

[gc335]

My Mr Speakers Ether Flow C never sounded better than when paired with the KC.
My Layla and Fostex TH909 (lower impedance) scale even better than the Ether Flow C.
I thought I was in the market for new headphones but now I'm not.
I wish you well with your search and I'm confident that anything with a good reputation and reasonable impedance will play great

Are you using the Layla with the SE or Bal output? I have been using balanced but I'm thinking about trying single ended.

 

[Cat Music]

Is there a specific headphone you were looking to pair with the Kann Cube?

I thought that with the Sendy Aiva it would be a good combo, I suppose that being a planar will not be the best ...

 

[PACSman]

Are you using the Layla with the SE or Bal output? I have been using balanced but I'm thinking about trying single ended.

Balanced. I switched to blanced for all my headphones. I know that Chord is good with single ended. I briefly tested the single ended on the KC and found it good but balanced was clearly better for my ears.