[aleniola76]

So, there is a limit? No 192khz files will play at 192khz?

I think there is.
I always get the red light on the volume knob...despite the display showing a higher sample rate. Non issues with Tidal.

 

[vo_obgyn]

I think there is.
I always get the red light on the volume knob...despite the display showing a higher sample rate. Non issues with Tidal.

Hmm...thanks for your help.

 

[soundblast75]

thanks, will try, what is the sound volumn level when you pair a8000 low gain with KA? I use 65 on average when pair M9 with KA, High gain.

Don't have the A8000, mid gain is fine too if needed, but all my iem including power hungry Clairvoyance is happy on low gain

 

[aleniola76]

here I go...Kann Alpha + Beyerdynamic Xelento.
Ready to bring hi fi quality with me, wherever I go

 

[JasonNYC]

Can the Kann Alpha stream Qobuz? I think so after reviewing this thread but I’d like to confirm. Thanks. If so, how do we get the Alpha to stream Qobuz? I go to apkpure.com, right?

Yes. You would need to install the Qobuz app on the player as it does not come pre-installed. Check out these links for more info:

https://us.astellnkern.com/blogs/news/open-app-service-instructions
https://us.astellnkern.com/apps/help-center#hc-how-do-i-install-music-streaming-apps-to-my-player
https://us.astellnkern.com/apps/help-center#hc-do-astellkern-players-support-xapk-files

 

[JasonNYC]

So, there is a limit? No 192khz files will play at 192khz?

They play back at full resolution. If it is a 24/192 file, it will play 24/192.

 

[JasonNYC]

I think there is.
I always get the red light on the volume knob...despite the display showing a higher sample rate. Non issues with Tidal.

This has been discussed here and in other AK threads.

The LED will only display bit-rate color for tracks played back through the main player app (tracks stored in internal memory or microSD card) and the embedded Tidal app since the embedded Tidal app it is hard-coded in the firmware. It DOES NOT show bit-rate color for tracks played through streaming apps installed via OpenApp.

 

[pepodenata]

This has been discussed here and in other AK threads.

The LED will only display bit-rate color for tracks played back through the main player app (tracks stored in internal memory or microSD card) and the embedded Tidal app since the embedded Tidal app it is hard-coded in the firmware. It DOES NOT show bit-rate color for tracks played through streaming apps installed via OpenApp.

Would there be a possibility of a new firmware update that would include an integrated Qobuz app to correctly display the bitrate color? This would leave A&K owners who are now dealing with doubts more at ease. Qobuz certainly has higher quality than all other streaming services ... Deezer doesn't make much sense in the present, and less in the future.

 

[vo_obgyn]

Would there be a possibility of a new firmware update that would include an integrated Qobuz app to correctly display the bitrate color? This would leave A&K owners who are now dealing with doubts more at ease. Qobuz certainly has higher quality than all other streaming services ... Deezer doesn't make much sense in the present, and less in the future.

Yes it would be great if Qobuz could be hard encoded (like Tidal) in a new firmware update. Would AK consider this?

 

[aleniola76]

This has been discussed here and in other AK threads.

The LED will only display bit-rate color for tracks played back through the main player app (tracks stored in internal memory or microSD card) and the embedded Tidal app since the embedded Tidal app it is hard-coded in the firmware. It DOES NOT show bit-rate color for tracks played through streaming apps installed via OpenApp.

Well, I get the blue indicator for MQA using the openapp for Tidal

 

[JasonNYC]

Well, I get the blue indicator for MQA using the openapp for Tidal

The indicator is incorrect. A Blue LED color indicates a 32-bit track being played. As stated above, the LED color does not display correctly when playing tracks via OpenApp.

 

[soundblast75]

The indicator is incorrect. A Blue LED color indicates a 32-bit track being played. As stated above, the LED color does not display correctly when playing tracks via OpenApp.

Would the displayed mqa info on the open app be correct?

 

[PortableMusic]

The indicator is incorrect. A Blue LED color indicates a 32-bit track being played. As stated above, the LED color does not display correctly when playing tracks via OpenApp.

If the LED color does NOT display correctly, shouldn't the default action be to NOT display ANY colors at all? no random LED colors is better than always INCORRECT LED colors, right?

 

[Vitaly2017]

I’m using the ier-z1r and the fourte noir, I feel that sp2000 is not driving them to the max because I’ve demoed them before with the hugo tt2 and they scaled well. But the hugo tt2 was too expensive.

uhh are you saying kann is a better contender for the noirs then the sp2k? I have the noirs and looking for a dap to have android streaming ability and have a totl sound. I got noirs and symbiote elite 19 cable, I feel I am missing some musicality to achieve my preference. I got hiby R8 atm

is there any hiss for noir with the kann alpha?

My video about Alpha KANN. In my opinion, it's one the best price/quality ratio offers

I check a lot of your reviews on youtube thanks for the good work!
Do you think kann alpha is on the level of sp2k in performance? would sp2k a warmer dap then alpha? I want more musicality fun and same time a totl sound tuning from the flagships daps...

 

[cleg]

Do you think kann alpha is on the level of sp2k in performance?

no, I don't think so. ultima is still a flagship

would sp2k a warmer dap then alpha?

no, it's more natural, more organic, more engaging, etc. but I won't call it warmer

I want more musicality fun and same time a totl sound tuning from the flagships daps...

maybe new SE200? two DACs, two signatures… I didn't test it, but reviews are positive