[123peter]

Hello. I have a question.

Which has more power (sound pressure?), the dc mode of the fiio m17 or the super gain mode of the kann ultra is more powerful ?

In the specs,
m17 (dc mode) is 3000mW,32ohm
and kann ultra is 16Vrms(8000mW,32ohm? I don't know if this is correct).
The kann ultra seems to have more power by far, but what is the reality?

If the m17 dc mode has more power, which unit determines the power?

I'm new to audio, so I don't really understand how these things work.

Thank you very much.

Astell & Kern and "Vrms"

Don't worry, it's hard to understand even for me.
Headphones' impedance and efficiency will certainly be an important element here.
An interesting example is the Astell & Kern Kann Ultra DAP where in the specification you have 16Vrms
on the 4.4 balanced output and 300ohm Sennheiser 800s headphones - half of the scale - 50% volume, which is already loud for me.

By connecting the Kann Ultra with a balanced 4.4mm output via LineOut 4V to the Astell & Kern PA10 portable amplifier which has only! 6Vrms
is 1/3-30% is the same volume as Kann Ultra.
(A&K PA10 is an add-on, you can have it but you don't have to, Ultra plays great on its own)

Both M17 and Kann Ultra DAPs are great! - listen to them with your favorite headphones.

 

[tonyl59]

The Kann Ultra has plenty of output, but it started to distort at moderately loud volumes with Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire and E3 models. I think those headphones are notoriously demanding. I have no such issue with the Focal Stellia I now have!
I did own the M17 for a while but didn't really get on with it. At the time I found its sound a little uninspiring, and didn't really get on with its charging stand/fan thing, which I found cumbersome and noisy! However, I'm using different headphones now, so perhaps if I heard it again with my current ones it would sound different.
As a footnote, I am very happy with the Kann Ultra. It is versatile, snappy in use with a great screen, and above all sounds lovely. A noticeable step up from the Acro CA1000 I still have (I had the 1000T for a while but sent it back for an annoying volume "cap").

 

[freeryder05]

Does the HB1 support parametric EQ or just graphic? Haven’t been able to find an answer anywhere

 

[JasonNYC]

It’s great to have Roon now! I remain very impressed with this player. It is a joy to interact with and sounds great.

Jason, I notice one small problem with Roon (as I previously highlighted on the Acro CA1000 thread): while using Roon, pressing the physical “next track” button actually skips a few tracks rather than playing the next track. Using the screen to skip tracks works properly.

Confirmed this issue will be fixed in next firmware update. It will also be fixed in the next firmware update for the CA1000, which is expected to be released sometime in the next few weeks.

 

[Trickness]

Another slightly weird one - when I used DAR yesterday, it reversed the stereo channels. Took me a while to figure out what it was, thought my headphone leads were reversed. finally I turned DAR off and on and it went back to normal.

 

[JasonNYC]

Does the HB1 support parametric EQ or just graphic? Haven’t been able to find an answer anywhere

It is just a simple EQ.

 

[Lucikun]

Been enjoying my Kann Ultra with no issues so far. One thing I’d like to see is a way to lock/disable the physical buttons on the side.

 

[tonyl59]

Another slightly weird one - when I used DAR yesterday, it reversed the stereo channels. Took me a while to figure out what it was, thought my headphone leads were reversed. finally I turned DAR off and on and it went back to normal.

Deleted

 

[tonyl59]

Confirmed this issue will be fixed in next firmware update. It will also be fixed in the next firmware update for the CA1000, which is expected to be released sometime in the next few weeks.

That’s great. Thank you Jason

 

[Alexbaw]

friends, good evening after astell kern max, is it worth buying kann ultra?

 

[Alexbaw]

If there is a percentage increase of at least 20 percent? as for the sound.

 

[Trickness]

If there is a percentage increase of at least 20 percent? as for the sound.

I would think it’s more about the feature set of the new unit, increased power, faster interface. I don’t know if a 20% increase in sound quality is a quantifiable thing

 

[Alexbaw]

I would think it’s more about the feature set of the new unit, increased power, faster interface. I don’t know if a 20% increase in sound quality is a quantifiable thing

there was a max, now fiio m15s, but I like Max better and today I have to decide about ultra, it's convenient for me at the price

 

[ChristoT]

friends, good evening after astell kern max, is it worth buying kann ultra?

Nobody could give you a straight answer about what you should or should not purchase. For me personally the Ultra feels like a subtle but clearly tangible improvement over Max in every aspect. The treble is instantly noticeable as significantly refined and crisper, but also the staging is a bit wider, the bass reaches a tad lower, the screen is larger, the new interface, the DAR feature, etc, etc. All those subtle improvements come together for an overall superior experience. I’ve had all Kann models since the original one and so far I’ve never regretted upgrading to their latest release. The Ultra reminds me a bit on the airy and detailed sound signature of the Cube, but with more extended lows.

 

[Alexbaw]

Nobody could give you a straight answer about what you should or should not purchase. For me personally the Ultra feels like a subtle but clearly tangible improvement over Max in every aspect. The treble is instantly noticeable as significantly refined and crisper, but also the staging is a bit wider, the bass reaches a tad lower, the screen is larger, the new interface, the DAR feature, etc, etc. All those subtle improvements come together for an overall superior experience. I’ve had all Kann models since the original one and so far I’ve never regretted upgrading to their latest release. The Ultra reminds me a bit on the airy and detailed sound signature of the Cube, but with more extended lows.