[mikaell]

How snappy UI does Kann Alpha have? Currently in possession of the iBasso DX160 and think it sometimes are slow. Does anyone know what processor inside?

To me the AKKA UI is unacceptably sluggish, with tiny text and small touch targets and an overall bad experience. It looks pretty in pictures and that's pretty much it. It is a fine sounding player but one that does not tickle the joy sensors in any way. I encourage you to look at my many messages on the topic I've had it and wanted to love it for more than 6 months ... alas we broke up.

 

[Sebbai]

To me the AKKA UI is unacceptably sluggish, with tiny text and small touch targets and an overall bad experience. It looks pretty in pictures and that's pretty much it. It is a fine sounding player but one that does not tickle the joy sensors in any way. I encourage you to look at my many messages on the topic I've had it and wanted to love it for more than 6 months ... alas we broke up.

Thank you, I got a feeling it was a bit sluggish because they hide the CPU information. Hope AK take this in to consideration and release a updated version of their Alpha, as a lot of people certainly want more powerful DAP, but also want something that can run smoothly.

 

[Figjam]

Thank you, I got a feeling it was a bit sluggish because they hide the CPU information. Hope AK take this in to consideration and release a updated version of their Alpha, as a lot of people certainly want more powerful DAP, but also want something that can run smoothly.

It is a bit sluggish, but far better than the buggy mess of the DX160.

 

[newworld666]

Thank you, I got a feeling it was a bit sluggish because they hide the CPU information. Hope AK take this in to consideration and release a updated version of their Alpha, as a lot of people certainly want more powerful DAP, but also want something that can run smoothly.

You can see how obsolete is the Wi-Fi module (limited to the antic 802.11g) so you can guess that all the hardware is at this level ..
Even for the amp part, there are loads of distortion when you go over 135/150 in high gain.

Kann Alpha is just a fail... I am waiting for M17 (maybe the future Dx300Max will do the job too).

 

[Kiats]

You can see how obsolete is the Wi-Fi module (limited to the antic 802.11g) so you can guess that all the hardware is at this level ..
Even for the amp part, there are loads of distortion when you go over 135/150 in high gain.

Kann Alpha is just a fail... I am waiting for M17 (maybe the future Dx300Max will do the job too).

Sadly, all the AKs do struggle with wifi on and off thereby deprecating the joy of Roon.

 

[mikaell]

You can see how obsolete is the Wi-Fi module (limited to the antic 802.11g) so you can guess that all the hardware is at this level ..
Even for the amp part, there are loads of distortion when you go over 135/150 in high gain.

Kann Alpha is just a fail... I am waiting for M17 (maybe the future Dx300Max will do the job too).

oh dear, yes! the wi-fi is a mess as well. I've had to set up a special 2.4GHz network for this alone.

 

[Kiats]

oh dear, yes! the wi-fi is a mess as well. I've had to set up a special 2.4GHz network for this alone.

Sadly, I hit patches where my AK Roon ready devices have issues loading from Roon itself. Whereas there are no issues with other devices streaming from the internet. Or my desktop streaming from Roon Core and they too are on wifi. Sigh...

 

[Luvdac]

New batch of Alpha's now available in blue, if anyones interested.

 

[aleniola76]

the wi-fi is a mess as well

my AK Roon ready devices have issues loading from Roon itself

Weird, I am not having any issue with wifi or Roon, despite using the Alpha for a few hours every day.
The only problem I still face is related to Tidal embedded app, which keeps skipping tracks while the "non official" Tidal app works with no issues.

 

[waveysoundz]

Jason, what about the original KANN? I'm thinking of subscribing to Tidal but wonder how it is working with the KANN first.

BTW, I'm still on the original factory firmware, never updated.

hi is there any way of pulling the firmware and sending a copy i have one but needs the firmware to work.
thanks

 

[Luvdac]

I have my kann alpha since a couple of weeks, in blue no less! So far no issues with wifi. Roon works great. I love that I can switch from roon to local files in a jiffy. Helps in a/b testing tracks from roon vs local.
Stoked!

 

[Figjam]

I have just installed the latest Apple Music app (3.6.0) and it looks like it has lossless capability, but I don’t think there is any way to tell what the player is actually outputting?

 

[newworld666]

I have just installed the latest Apple Music app (3.6.0) and it looks like it has lossless capability, but I don’t think there is any way to tell what the player is actually outputting?

Use a toslink cable to the 3.5mm Kann Alpha output and you will see on an external DAC what is the real output rate comming from the Kann Alpha. It should be possible too with the Kann Alpha USB-C port connected to an external DAC

 

[Onik]

Weird, I am not having any issue with wifi or Roon, despite using the Alpha for a few hours every day.
The only problem I still face is related to Tidal embedded app, which keeps skipping tracks while the "non official" Tidal app works with no issues.

but the non official/sideloaded Tidal app can't play MQA files right? cus I always see the Blue light not Green!

 

[Figjam]

Use a toslink cable to the 3.5mm Kann Alpha output and you will see on an external DAC what is the real output rate comming from the Kann Alpha. It should be possible too with the Kann Alpha USB-C port connected to an external DAC

Thanks, tried this and it looks like it is only outputting 16/44.1 (source file is 24/192)

Also red light remains on, so I assume it it just all 16/44.1 still.