[stephenkostas]

I hesitate between the ULTRA and the SE 300, besides the power range, what are the main differences ? Will you consider the SE 300 as an higher level ?

I think at it's best (OS DAC + Class A Amp) SE300 provides more detail and better imaging than KANN Ultra, but SE300 can also skew a little bright. Ultra's delivery sounds more natural to me, but the imaging is not as holographic. So it partly depends on what sort of realism you're looking for.

Do you need exceedingly natural timbre and note weight for acoustic instruments? KANN Ultra is the pick
Or would you prefer more lifelike immersive imaging? Then it might be SE300.

 

[JasonNYC]

I hesitate between the ULTRA and the SE 300, besides the power range, what are the main differences ? Will you consider the SE 300 as an higher level ?

The two players are really different. If you have the opportunity to listen to both, I highly recommend it. Depends on if you are a fan or delta-sigma DACs like what is used in the Ultra or R2R DACs like the SE300. Also depends on what type of headphones you are planning on using. If you are mainly using IEMs, either one would be great, again it would come down to what sound profile you prefer.

 

[Frabera]

I only use over ear closed back Headphones (ZMF VC - Solitaire T - Kennerton Gallahorn JM Edition - JM audio closed backs...)

 

[Badgerio]

No English ones unfortunately

But I watched it with eng sub. Did you just turn subtitles on, without selecting "english" in translation options?

 

[Benesyed]

I'm working on a video right now, and I'd say that Expanse and Stealth are going to come down to your listening preferences and genres. If you like to listen to EDM really loud, you're probably going to get some clipping in the bass. If you listen primarily to rock, classic pop, jazz, funk, etc. KANN Ultra + Expanse/Stealth should be perfect. I listened quite a bit with E3 between the written portion and shooting the video. E3 is just a hair more sensitive than Stealth, and my typical listening level was 100-110 on High Gain. I didn't experience any clipping or noticeable distortion at those levels, but slam was very good and it didn't feel congested or as if anything was missing there.

I listen to EDM but I do not listen to it very loudly because I don't want to damage my hearing and at baseline its loud enough. For example I pretty much listen to my Expanse through my JDS labs at the upper part of low gain and the lower part of the high gain

 

[nephilim32]

I'm working on a video right now, and I'd say that Expanse and Stealth are going to come down to your listening preferences and genres. If you like to listen to EDM really loud, you're probably going to get some clipping in the bass. If you listen primarily to rock, classic pop, jazz, funk, etc. KANN Ultra + Expanse/Stealth should be perfect. I listened quite a bit with E3 between the written portion and shooting the video. E3 is just a hair more sensitive than Stealth, and my typical listening level was 100-110 on High Gain. I didn't experience any clipping or noticeable distortion at those levels, but slam was very good and it didn't feel congested or as if anything was missing there.

I gotta say the KANN MAX is not suitable for those headphones. The MAX’s amplification power resource is know-where near refined enough nor does it deliver a sufficient amount of current most planars absolutely crave. Speaking from experience and being an owner of the Kann Max it doesn’t even handle my LCD XC well. It lack’s current and I can definitely hear it.
Some headphones like the stealth, expanse and even the LCD XC need a full sized amp with proper and large transformers.

I would be the first person in line to say to an Expanse or stealth owner to not think of the KANN Max as a one stop shop amplification source. That would be a very bad thing; in fact, it is not even close.
Planars are tricky. They are current hungry.

 

[Trickness]

Just got my Ultra today, very excited. Question which I don’t think has been covered before (apologies if I missed it) - the user manual shows a “Roon Ready” menu item that is not in the OS loaded on my player. I’ve installed Roon Arc but was hoping to use my Ultra as an endpoint - am I missing something?

 

[JasonNYC]

Just got my Ultra today, very excited. Question which I don’t think has been covered before (apologies if I missed it) - the user manual shows a “Roon Ready” menu item that is not in the OS loaded on my player. I’ve installed Roon Arc but was hoping to use my Ultra as an endpoint - am I missing something?

Roon Ready support will be available in a future firmware update. It was not certified yet by Roon when the Ultra began shipping. It has since been certified.

 

[Trickness]

Roon Ready support will be available in a future firmware update. It was not certified yet by Roon when the Ultra began shipping. It has since been certified.

Thanks Jason!!!!

 

[Benesyed]

I gotta say the KANN MAX is not suitable for those headphones. The MAX’s amplification power resource is know-where near refined enough nor does it deliver a sufficient amount of current most planars absolutely crave. Speaking from experience and being an owner of the Kann Max it doesn’t even handle my LCD XC well. It lack’s current and I can definitely hear it.
Some headphones like the stealth, expanse and even the LCD XC need a full sized amp with proper and large transformers.

I would be the first person in line to say to an Expanse or stealth owner to not think of the KANN Max as a one stop shop amplification source. That would be a very bad thing; in fact, it is not even close.
Planars are tricky. They are current hungry.

Thanks! the ultra isn't much more powerful than the maxx so I guess I'll have to keep waiting. Maybe a topping G5 + my laptop will have to suffice

 

[Frabera]

It is really a pity the Ultra cannot power most of the good planars on the market, it was supposed to do as the main feature, they did not go fare enough to produce a powerful DAP.

 

[NYanakiev]

This is a known issue and will be fixed in a future update.

After a number of requests, AK will produce a case for the HB1. It will be available as a separate purchase and be available in January. More info will be available next week.

Any update on this?

 

[Trickness]

@JasonNYC also not sure if this is a bug, but when you turn on the equalizer, you get a message that the “built in eq cannot be changed”. It is not possible currently to adjust individual frequencies with the EQ, there is just a “normal” preset.

Also: DAC Input mode is not selectable, MTP is the default and cannot be changed (when you select this mode, it does not switch to DAC Input, it stays checked on MTP). And even after installing OpenMTP, the Ultra does not appear on my desktop as USB storage, or as a phone. Any other Mac users with the Ultra figure out how to get the device to appear on your desktop?

Also: it would be great it it were possible to delete files directly from the device instead of having to do this on a computer. I'd really like to get rid of the preloaded content and as a Mac user its kind of a bummer that I have to download OpenMTP just to erase files from the device (unless I'm missing something).

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC also not sure if this is a bug, but when you turn on the equalizer, you get a message that the “built in eq cannot be changed”. It is not possible currently to adjust individual frequencies with the EQ, there is just a “normal” preset.

After you turn EQ on, press normal and you should see a box open up with a + sign and normal. Press the + sign to create a custom EQ. Another box will open saying "Add" and allowing you to name the new EQ setting. Click "Save" and the EQ adjustment screen will open.

Also: DAC Input mode is not selectable, MTP is the default and cannot be changed (when you select this mode, it does not switch to DAC Input, it stays checked on MTP)

You need to have the player connected to a computer first before you can select USB DAC mode

Also: it would be great it it were possible to delete files directly from the device instead of having to do this on a computer. I'd really like to get rid of the preloaded content and as a Mac user its kind of a bummer that I have to download OpenMTP just to erase files from the device (unless I'm missing something).

In folder view, you can delete items in folders. If you click on the three dots next to what you would like to delete, a menu opens up. Delete is the 4th option in the menu.

If you click on the icon that looks like a pencil. you can select multiple files/folders and then click the trash can icon to delete.

 

[Turbodub]

I think at it's best (OS DAC + Class A Amp) SE300 provides more detail and better imaging than KANN Ultra, but SE300 can also skew a little bright. Ultra's delivery sounds more natural to me, but the imaging is not as holographic. So it partly depends on what sort of realism you're looking for.

Do you need exceedingly natural timbre and note weight for acoustic instruments? KANN Ultra is the pick
Or would you prefer more lifelike immersive imaging? Then it might be SE300.

I appreciate the insight / comparison. Putting aside sound quality / characteristics for a moment - any sense for the UI performance of the KANN Ultra vs the SE300? In particular, is one of them more responsive and snappy when using the Tidal app (the version that allows offline music)? In the specs, it looks like the Ultra has an octa-core and the SE300 has quad-core - would love a sense for how that translates to actual user experience (for someone that almost exclusively uses Tidal).