[Toolman]

  all this talk about looks, never did i read a thread that slams a dap just because of its looks
 
good luck with next ak flagship that will be over 4000 usd at least you are paying 3000 usd more just for looks

...then all the talk will be about the price, lack of SD card support, lack of long battery life, lack of an integrated amp, lack of this, lack of that. After 7 pages I'm not sure if anyone have even held a KANN in their hand 

 

 

[Sound Eq]

 
...then all the talk will be about the price, lack of SD card support, lack of long battery life, lack of an integrated amp, lack of this, lack of that. After 7 pages I'm not sure if anyone have even held a KANN in their hand 

 

maybe if ak priced it to be 4000 usd then people would be all over it, and it will look dam appealing then, thinking that its looks will be magical 3000 usd worth, and what is preceived as ugly will become like a rubbish 3 million usd painting of a high profile artist that you see some people praising while you look at it and wonder what the heck are they seeing

 

[Toolman]

AK240 -- $2,499
AK380 -- $3,499
AK4XX -- $4,499??

I bet the AK480 will be way more than just $4.5K looking at the direction high-end portable audio is heading towards...you have the HiFiMan, Audeze, JH Harvey, the countless independent iem makers and now Woo Audio joining the club to make portable audio out of the reach of mere mortals

But let's leave that for another day, another discussion. For now can't wait to hold the KANN on my hand and see how it fits. Guys put up with the weight of the AK380SS+amp and the 1Z so I'm sure this is not just about the weight. It's natural for guys to want their cake and eat it too

 

[addyg]

AK is more down to earth with pricing after Onkyo and Sony did offer competitive DAP.

 

[Rockcoon]

I really hope, that we're standing on the beginning of the age of a good sounding DAPs without mind breaking prices.

 

[jmills8]

I really hope, that we're standing on the beginning of the age of a good sounding DAPs without mind breaking prices.

No matter how good, you still going to buy the next new dap.

 

[Replicant187]

I really hope, that we're standing on the beginning of the age of a good sounding DAPs without mind breaking prices.

imo we already have many good sounding DAPs without mind breaking prices.

 

[Rockcoon]

No matter how good, you still going to buy the next new dap.

It's audiophile curse

imo we already have many good sounding DAPs without mind breaking prices.

Something level of LPG for 1k.

 

[Traveller]

 

  well to me it looks good enough if it has the power that i can use it without an amp and stacking, as all daps I used I needed to stack an amp to them even for iems. So if the Kann is close to the power of Ak380 and amp I am all for it.
 
i feel judging by looks is not the right way to look at it and ignoring its features, and from my experience with daps what matters more is the dac brand and I love that dac and i do not care about dac quantity, and the power of the amp is very very important to me as well. So for 1000 usd I feel this will be a good hit, and if you are not pleased by the features then you can wait for next ak480 for 4800 usd and then stack an amp to it for an additional 1000 usd

 
My 2c
 
Setting aside the general appearance (some will like it, some won't) my main issue is bulk. Also my first impression was that it was going to come in at well over 300g but I was amazed to see the spec figure of 279g!
 
The price & specs are great - I imagine, owners of the 300 / 320 are scratching their heads wondering why A&K didn't give up the DAC's  full bit2bit functionality in the first place and the 380+Amp guys are looking at their €4K+ invoices and reminding themselves of how damn good the stack looks... .
 
 
But here's my question: why would I need 7V rms to run my 17ohm Angie IIs or my 32ohm T5p.2s or my 40ohm K872s or even my 100ohm ER-4S...??? Why would I want to lug around that brick just to power those?
 
So fine, let's say I finally add a 300ohm HD 800 or 250~600ohm+ Beyerdynamic to my collection... then I'd go buy A&Ks Amp and stack. This way, when I want to cruise with my Angies, I leave the Amp @home and I have a much leaner profiled DAP in my pocket.
 
So it's not only a question of aesthetics but of practicality and need... .

 
 
 
 
Quote:

...I don't know what the issue is.This looks like a pretty great All-in-one solution to me. It's the only AstellKern Dap that I'm seriously thinking about buying, Well priced, well spec'd and with ample power, you don't need any external amplification or stacking to power your headphones...

Again with the "need for external amplification"... what are you guys using, Sennheiser HD800s? Beyerdynamic T1s?
Don't get me wrong; if you're from the higher-impedance cans sound better camp,  well power to you (pun intended).
 
But let's be honest; most cans / IEMs on the market these days are are being designed with portability in mind. And hence my original post (above) - if I don't need the external amplification, I don't want to have to lug it around. Stacking is both "messy" and / or expensive but it has the enormous benefit of using (carrying) exactly what you need, when you need it.
 
 
 
 

...all this talk about looks, never did i read a thread that slams a dap just because of its looks...

Your argumentation is just about as one-sided as those that don't like the aesthetics of the Kann. Why not agree that it might just be the "end game" for some but not for everyone... ?
 
In terms of cost, I agree with everyone - the TOTL DAPs have an unreasonable asking price. Heck, we can also say the same for today's TOTL cans and just about every other component in this game. I'll be the first to say that my own AK320 is not worth the price tag but I allowed myself the indulgence*. But we can all agree that A&K was not the first to realize our frustration with the direction the industry is headed towards and the FIIO X5 III is a great example of a common meeting ground.
 
*And yes, it does look effing awesome...

 
 
p.s. Some TOTL cans and their impedance ratings:
AKG K812 (K872) - 36 Ohms
Audeze LCD-4 - 200 Ohms
Beyerdynamic T1.2 - 600 Ohms
Focal Utopia (/ Elear) - 80 Ohms
Fostex TH-900 MK II - 25 Ohms
Grado PS1000e - 32 Ohms
Hifiman HE1000 V2 - 35 Ohms
Mr speakers Ether Flow - 23 Ohms
Oppo PM-1 - 32 Ohms
Sennheiser HD 800(s) - 300 Ohms
Sony MDR-Z1R - 64 Ohms
 
As for IEMs, AKG, Audeze, Campfire, JHA, Noble, Sennheiser, Shure, Westone, ... all under 50Ohms. My old 100-Ohm Etymotics are probably the hardest to drive but the AK320 has no problem feeding it.

 

[Robert Joe]

I heard the KANN at the recent CamJam over the last two days. I must have went back for a listen at least 5 times. I don't mind the looks and I love the physical buttons. The UI is the same as my AK70. It is a lot bigger than my AK70 though.
 
I was most interested in the native DSD comparing it against my AK70 which converts DSD to PCM. The difference can be best described as the difference when one compares a DSD track to the equivalent PCM track on the same DAC e.g. both layers of a MOFI SACD. I would describe DSD as "more of everything and analog like".
 
Next, I compared a 44/16 track and the difference/improvement was the same. I did not expect that.
 
Before my last comparison, I did the same at the Opus booth with the Opus3 right before going over to the A&K booth. I heard similar improvements on the Opus3 but I would say the KANN was a little better.
 
If I had not just dumped $2K on the Sony MDR-Z1R headphones at the show, I would have purchased one. That is a LOT of improvement for $400 over the AK70. This is NOT your AB "I think I hear a difference".

 

[Toolman]

Funny those who thot KANN is too heavy/bulky/ugly and wanted to have the flexibility of being portable when needed or to add an amp/stack for time when they require more power...the last I check AK70/AK300/AK320/AK380 is still in production and should meet your expectations. Its not the end of your world you know?

AK is trying to push the envelope and provide options to those who need more power most of the time without turning to their expensive add on amp or carrying a stack at a cost effective pricing...for which they might have hit on a winning formula?

For those who have a chance to handle KANN, kann you tell me how balanced is the whole thing on your hand? Thanks

 

[Rockcoon]

I heard the KANN at the recent CamJam over the last two days. I must have went back for a listen at least 5 times. I don't mind the looks and I love the physical buttons. The UI is the same as my AK70. It is a lot bigger than my AK70 though.

I was most interested in the native DSD comparing it against my AK70 which converts DSD to PCM. The difference can be best described as the difference when one compares a DSD track to the equivalent PCM track on the same DAC e.g. both layers of a MOFI SACD. I would describe DSD as "more of everything and analog like".

Next, I compared a 44/16 track and the difference/improvement was the same. I did not expect that.

Before my last comparison, I did the same at the Opus booth with the Opus3 right before going over to the A&K booth. I heard similar improvements on the Opus3 but I would say the KANN was a little better.

If I had not just dumped $2K on the Sony MDR-Z1R headphones at the show, I would have purchased one. That is a LOT of improvement for $400 over the AK70. This is NOT your AB "I think I hear a difference".

How Kann doing with bass reproduction? I've read that AK300 is bass lighting.

 

[moemoney]

https://youtu.be/sPo1536fEbY

Check it out

 

[jmills8]

https://youtu.be/sPo1536fEbY

Check it out

He uses this word a "SHOULD" instead of "will".

 

[Sound Eq]

He uses this word a "SHOULD" instead of "will".

what a nice tiny little dap, soon it will be in my hands pre-ordered it