[seedubchris]

Hi ,

I have manage to find someone offer me a used AK320. N I m considering it. N wonder should I get a used AK300amp too?

I m trying no to spend too much as I have very limited budget. So I try to max what I have n try to get the best out of it. I can’t afford example extra dac or extra amp. Hope you guys understand what I mean.

As for the other recommendation ifi black label so nice too. But if yet I will have Alo cdm n ifi, 2 dac/amp.

I would jump at the chance to get the 320. I have been very happy with it. You could listen to the balanced line out to your cdm for a while with your xc's and decide if you need more. If at that point you think you want to go for maximum resolution you could get the ak amp at that point. If you are a fan of the xc sound the ultimate portable solution i have found is the ak 320 with the amp. They truly sound their best powered by this system. As I have said the sound is almost as good as with my desk top Violectric V281 which is a monster of a solid state true balanced headphone amp. Considering the price of that amp is over $2000 and the ak amp can be found new for $400 or less if you shop well the difference in performance is small. Amazon has the ak amp on sale.
If you do go the route of the cdm fed line out by the ak remember to get the best cabling you can afford for the trrs balanced interconnect between them. I got a great silver litz cable made custom by Ted Allen for around $50.This made all the difference in the ak320/CDM combo. I will list his email should you decide to go this route you will need a good quality silver cable to accentuate the highs in the warmer tube sound signature.
the good news is the ak amp is currently available new on amazon for less than half price.($379 down from $800) Considering how good it sounds with the LCD-XC I would jump on it before they sell out. Best of luck with your decision making process.

https://www.amazon.com/Astell-Kern-AK300-Headphone-Amplifer/dp/B015OTWK0E
tedallen0220@gmail.com

 

[Ho Kim]

If I do not need portable would I still be good with IFI or would I be better off with a desktop amp/dac at that price? Has anyone tried Schiit Jotunheim or Deckard that want to share an alternate view? Or other amp/dacs ?

 

[frederick-rea]

If I do not need portable would I still be good with IFI or would I be better off with a desktop amp/dac at that price? Has anyone tried Schiit Jotunheim or Deckard that want to share an alternate view? Or other amp/dacs ?

Amp
Felix Audio Elise

 

[Ho Kim]

Amp
Felix Audio Elise

I have a budget of up to 600 USD max...

 

[Astral Abyss]

I have a budget of up to 600 USD max...

Have you looked into Audio-gd? I have the C-2 and it powers the XC very nicely and has a wonderfully silent, black background. I imagine the NFB-1 would be great as well if you prefer balanced. Very inexpensive for what you get. Take a look at the R2R 11 if you want a nice R2R DAC/amp combo.

I think my other choice would be Schiit Lyr3 or Jotenheim with the DS or MB DAC module.

iDSD BL wouldn't be a bad choice either.

 

[iFi audio]

I have a budget of up to 600 USD max...

The best way to do this would be to contact your local iFi distributor/reseller and give iDSD BL a test drive. Our returns policy is generous. If you don't like the oucome, you'll have your money back.

 

[Ho Kim]

The best way to do this would be to contact your local iFi distributor/reseller and give iDSD BL a test drive. Our returns policy is generous. If you don't like the oucome, you'll have your money back.

Do you have any plans to implement balanced output for any of the micro series? If it’s ok to ask...

 

[iFi audio]

Do you have any plans to implement balanced output for any of the micro series? If it’s ok to ask...

We can't say either 'yay' or 'nay'. We can't keep up with our R&D team and at this point we simply don't know.

 

[Ho Kim]

We can't say either 'yay' or 'nay'. We can't keep up with our R&D team and at this point we simply don't know.

Thank you, I was just curious because if the black label had a balanced out, it would literally have almost everything.

 

[UNOE]

I noticed the four screws holding the wood cups in are little loose. Has this happen to anyone else? How much should I tighten them back up?

 

[Ho Kim]

I noticed the four screws holding the wood cups in are little loose. Has this happen to anyone else? How much should I tighten them back up?

My XC's screws seem pretty tight, I believe the best way is the contact Audeze and ask them directly. Sorry that I can not provide help...

I have a question, would a good amp/dac such as Schiit Jotunheim or Ifi Micro IDSD Blacklabel make a significant difference for the LCD-XCs? Balanced or unbalanced? (Percentage?) I currently own Oppo HA-2SE and the sound is loud enough; however, I am just curious if the LCD-XC need more power to sound better or reveal their full potential since the Audeze website indicates that the optimal power requirement is 1-4w.

Thank You!!

 

[Slim1970]

My XC's screws seem pretty tight, I believe the best way is the contact Audeze and ask them directly. Sorry that I can not provide help...

I have a question, would a good amp/dac such as Schiit Jotunheim or Ifi Micro IDSD Blacklabel make a significant difference for the LCD-XCs? Balanced or unbalanced? (Percentage?) I currently own Oppo HA-2SE and the sound is loud enough; however, I am just curious if the LCD-XC need more power to sound better or reveal their full potential since the Audeze website indicates that the optimal power requirement is 1-4w.

Thank You!!

To me they do sound better with more power. I’ve listened to them with my iDSD BL in both normal and turbo mode. I prefer the extra headroom that turbo mode provides. Everything seems more open and dynamic with the extra power and the drivers respond very well to it.

 

[Ho Kim]

To me they do sound better with more power. I’ve listened to them with my iDSD BL in both normal and turbo mode. I prefer the extra headroom that turbo mode provides. Everything seems more open and dynamic with the extra power and the drivers respond very well to it.

Thank you for the reply, have you tried the Audeze LCD-XC balanced? I’m interested in the IFI micro IDSD Blacklabel but other desktop amps with balance output really also intrigue me.

 

[Slim1970]

Thank you for the reply, have you tried the Audeze LCD-XC balanced? I’m interested in the IFI micro IDSD Blacklabel but other desktop amps with balance output really also intrigue me.

I actually have a balanced cable on them now and the difference is minimal. The benefit of having a balanced cable on them gives you the ability to access the balanced amp higher power output which the XC’s like. The only thing I can say about using a balanced cable with the XC’s is they seem to be more focused. The bass is tighter, the mid range is better defined and the highs seem clearer. But that could also be the benefit of using more power to drive them.

 

[seedubchris]

Balanced provides better common mode rejection as well as minimizes crosstalk between channels . It’s not so much a matter of loudness or volume but control and clarity and stereo separation . Lack of bloat in the bass as well as all the positive improvements for whatever reason that @Slim1970 mentioned above. It’s minimal but at this level minimal gains can make a world of difference in achieving the sound we all crave and pay so much for.