Bakoon HDA-5210MK4 (and related Bakoon Products/Satri Circuit Laboratory news)

[Nostoi]

Can the HDA-5210mk4 be ordered with a volume control that is continuously adjustable, instead of one with discrete steps?

I don't think that's possible. The 23-step attenuator is part of the design.

 

[GaryP]

DAC-9740 and working HDA-5230 arrived. Impressions to follow.

Can't wait your impressions... meanwhile enjoying "the younger brother"

 

[Nostoi]

Can't wait your impressions... meanwhile enjoying "the younger brother"

Will update in the coming days. Sorry for the delay!

 

[Nostoi]

Bakoon Friends, sorry again for the delay. Basically, I had to send my HDA-5210MK4 back to Japan as it developed a fault (channel imbalance and some kind of motherboard issue). A new unit is on its way back to me and I will report back with a full post soon. In addition, I also ordered the Bakoon CAP-1005 with the Bakoon FIL-3102 for a trans-portable set-up to be paired with HDA-5230. I will offer impressions on this soon.

In the meantime, some broad thoughts:

- Having now heard the Bakoon circuit in its Satri entirety, it is clear to me what kind of vision Akira Nagai is striving for. I would describe it as something like high-definition analog sounding without any digital artefacts or glare. In a sense, you can tell Akira Nagai has a great veneration for the audio reproduction from the past, but is attempting to translate this to a contemporary context with modern standards (my sense is that Bakoon operates in its own eco-system unaware and perhaps uninterested in other brands, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing at all).

- While the 5210MK4 has been away, I've been pairing the DAC 9740 with either Bakoon-5230 or a recently acquired Phatlab Phantasy II. As I hear it, the 9740 sounds very much like an R2R source, and I think anyone who cares for R2R sounding sources will greatly appreciate the 9740. When I first received it, I thought it sounded a tad soft and smooth. I think this was due to (i) I am basically very accustomed to Chord's house tuning; (ii) the need for some burn-in on the 9740; and (iii) I would finally add that the 9740 is very sensitive to interconnects and power cords. On the last points, I can say now that the 9740 is a very dynamic sounding DAC which is faithful to the music but without any glare or harshness. I do think it has opened up with use and I also think power cords are worth attending to. I am now using Crystal Cable Micro Diamond power cables which no doubt help with dynamics and transients. I'd also say, the 9740 pairs very well with each amp I've connected it to. (BTW: as a testament to how much the Bakoon DAC tuning has charmed me, my Hugo2Go is now on classifieds....)

- On voltage vs Satri connection on 5210MK4 and 9740, sadly the 5210MK4 developed a fault before full test. But in short -the difference was not night and day. Satri has a blacker background, a slightly smoother presentation, but with more precision. It was also difficult to do a direct A/B between these modes, as Satri output seems to be a few DB quieter than voltage, so adjustment on the amp was necessary. More on this soon.

- On the Bakoon-5230, I have to say this little amp has really impressed me on all levels. If you want the 5210MK4 on the go, this amp doesn't disappoint. It has all the richness, punch, and holographic presentation of the 5210MK4 albeit on a smaller audio scale. Build is remarkably good as is battery life - at least 10 hours on a single charge and it takes only 2 hours to charge. Of course, pairs beautifully with planar headphones, with dynamic headphones it's more picky. I'm sure HD800s would be stellar, as it can drive 600ohm DT990 with ease and sounds phenomenally good.

- Finally, I want to recommend Moonsoo Park from Bakoon Mania. If you are going to buy a Bakoon product, personally I would go via Bakoon Mania. I'm not going to make comparisons with other sellers and distributors (and please note I have not ordered direct from Bakoon themselves), only to say Moonsoo Park is excellent to deal with, friendly, highly knowledgeable, and very rapid in communication.

Hope this was helpful!

 

[Nostoi]

I have just received the CAP-1005 and FIL-3102 filter system. First impressions - impressive! The 1005 offers a very clean, transparent, and dynamic presentation with a notably large soundstage and excellent layering. Naturally the CAP-1005 pairs majestically well with HDA-5230, but I'm also very pleased with how it sounds with Mass Kobo 428. With this combo, you have a very incisive, fast, and linear amp performance coupled with whatever special musical sauce is part of the Satri DAC infrastructure. The overall package is perfectly tenable in a transportable system, though a bit cumbersome with the FIL-3102. No USB input on 1005, incidentally, so you need a coax source like the Hiby RS2 below or Bakoon's own 1001 converter or any other converter.

My hearty thanks again to Moonsoo Park at Bakoon Mania - top recommendation!

 

[Nostoi]

Dear Bakoon/Satri fans, interesting news. It seems as though Satri/Bakoon will put out a MK2 of their HDA-5520 portable amp, which was the predecessor to the HDA-5230. On Nagai Akira's Facebook page, he writes as follows:

"Today we start testing a new headphone amplifier: the MJK-1003 phono amplifier, a collaboration with MJ magazine, has achieved the best low-noise performance to date, so we have applied this technology to develop a headphone amplifier. This is the MK2 of the previously released HDA-5520. It can run for more than 10 hours on AA batteries. I will use it continuously before releasing it as a product."



He also adds, availability might be as soon as next month. I'm assuming the above image is a prototype. Naturally, I will have to buy one to compare to HDA-5230.

Finally, I have the altered the title of this thread to make it a news thread for incoming Bakoon/SCL information. I realise it's a niche interest, but nevertheless I hope it's of use to some.

 

[Nostoi]

For those interested, a review of Bakoon DAC-9740 has come out in South Korea. The discussion of the 9740 is introduced via a discussion of painting and perception; fitting for Bakoon though not everyone's cup of tea. In any case, the review certainly resonates with my experience.

"What I always felt in Bakoon Audio was the power of blank space in Inwang Jesaekdo. Unlike Western paintings, which fill the space tightly with paint, the blank space in Bakoon's sound made the sound stand out more and more clearly, just as objects and scenery are expressed with blank space. Just as the fog of the empty space was invisible but easily supported the peak and showed a clearer mood, the pure white, colorless and odorless void of sound made sound particles seep into the ear clearly."

Review here.



///

In addition, for anyone (probably only me) wanting to dive deep into the Bakoon rabbit hole, Bakoon Mania runs a forum type of space with an abundance of information and news here. Some of the translation is a bit glitchy, but you'll get the idea.

 

[LoveKnight]

May I ask what is the difference between two Bakoon DAC models, the 9740 and the 9730? The Bakoon 9730 has the price tage more expensive than 9740. Still saving my money to buy a Bakoon amps but I have to spend money on something else for the life such as a car for work lol.

 

[Nostoi]

May I ask what is the difference between two Bakoon DAC models, the 9740 and the 9730? The Bakoon 9730 has the price tage more expensive than 9740. Still saving my money to buy a Bakoon amps but I have to spend money on something else for the life such as a car for work lol.

I asked about this myself and attach response below. I was tempted by 9730 but the size of the 9740 is better for me and I understand that 9730 is softer sounding than 9740, and I prefer a more dynamic presentation. If you follow the link to Bakoon Cafe above, you'll find lots of information on this. It's a great resource.

 

[Nostoi]

After a bit of an adventure, HDA-5210MK4 is safely back, repaired, and never sounded so good. Along the way, it got an attenuator upgrade as well as a new gold fuse (more here on the special South Korean version of amp). I cannot speak about the legitimacy of "audiophile fuses," but I do know that the returned amp is even more punchy, more dynamic, more vivid, more holographic, and more weighty before. Without wishing to sound hyperbolic, but with the right paired headphones, this amp is simply breathtaking. The HDA-5230 - baby Bakoon amp - is a fantastic portable amp, but in terms of authority, weight, and precision nothing has come close to the 5210MK4. I only hope this amp will survive many years.

Once more, shout out to Bakoon Mania not because they need publicity or anything, but because dealing with them is genuinely and always a real pleasure.

 

[Nostoi]

For those interested - a niche but select bunch, it is true - HDA5520 MK2 is forthcoming next month, details can be found here. I have one incoming and will be happy to compare with the HDA-5230 if there's interest.

Note the new typeface on the SCL design/aesthetic. I think it looks quite fetching.


https://cafe.naver.com/bakoonmania?...leRead.nhn%3Fclubid=25318677%26articleid=3607

 

[WiredGhost]

Greetings to all senior Bakoon users.
I am not from an English-speaking country, so I apologize if this is difficult to understand.

I am planning to buy Susvara this year.
After that, I am planning to update my amp and DAC as well. I came to head-fi to gain knowledge for that.
That's where I learned about Bakoon.

Unfortunately, Bakoon is not well known in Japan, despite being a Japanese manufacturer. This makes it very difficult to gather information in the domestic community.

I would like to know if the HDA-5210MK4, which is currently manufactured and sold by Bakoon, can drive Susvara without any shortage.

Originally, I wanted to confirm it by listening to it, but I don't have such an environment nearby, so I am ashamed to take the means to ask someone with knowledge about it.

 

[Nostoi]

Greetings to all senior Bakoon users.
I am not from an English-speaking country, so I apologize if this is difficult to understand.

I am planning to buy Susvara this year.
After that, I am planning to update my amp and DAC as well. I came to head-fi to gain knowledge for that.
That's where I learned about Bakoon.

Unfortunately, Bakoon is not well known in Japan, despite being a Japanese manufacturer. This makes it very difficult to gather information in the domestic community.

I would like to know if the HDA-5210MK4, which is currently manufactured and sold by Bakoon, can drive Susvara without any shortage.

Originally, I wanted to confirm it by listening to it, but I don't have such an environment nearby, so I am ashamed to take the means to ask someone with knowledge about it.

Greetings and salutations. So strange that Bakoon isn't even well known in Japan. Unfortunate also that there's no opportunity to demo it in Japan given the abundance of high-end audio stores. It really seems that Korea is where Bakoon thrives (aside from this one location in Vienna ) . They are manifestly people of good taste.

Of which, I think @KKNAYANA might able to help you with your question.

 

[WiredGhost]

Greetings and salutations. So strange that Bakoon isn't even well known in Japan. Unfortunate also that there's no opportunity to demo it in Japan given the abundance of high-end audio stores. It really seems that Korea is where Bakoon thrives (aside from this one location in Vienna ) . They are manifestly people of good taste.

Of which, I think @KKNAYANA might able to help you with your question.

Thanks for your reply.
I have also read your previous posts.
It seems that Bakoon is very popular in Korea.
What noble people!

 

[KKNAYANA]

Hello. I would like to share my impressions on the HDA-5210MK4, the top-of-the-line headphone amplifier from Bakoon Japan, currently sold under the name Satri Circuit Laboratory. I had heard about it through a strong recommendation from @Nostoi and had the opportunity to listen to it at one of the shops in Korea where it was exhibited


The setup at the shop was connected to a Chord Hugo TT2 DAC, and music was played from a regular laptop using Tidal. Before sharing my impressions, I must mention that the headphone I use every day at home are Hifiman Susvara. Unfortunately, I could not bring it to the shop due to personal schedule issues on the day of my visit.
Also, for reference, my current home setup consists of Zahl HM1 and Enleum Amp-23R connected to a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC.
Please understand that the comparison between these amps and the 5210MK4 may not be accurate due to differences in DAC and cables.
With that said, let's begin.

The first headphone I listened to was the newly released YH-5000 from Yamaha. Since there was no place to listen to the 5210MK4 at first, I listened to it first with my own Hiby RS8 DAP. The headphone itself was very light and comfortable to wear, but in my opinion, the tuning was a bit off. The sub-bass was too weak, and a certain part of the treble was overly emphasized, resulting in a lot of sibilance. In short, it was a tuning that couldn't be comfortably listened to for a long time.

When it was finally my turn to listen to the 5210MK4, I first listened to it with the voltage output. Compared to my RS8, it was immediately noticeable that it was superior in terms of soundstage and resolution, and that the output was sufficient. However, the missing sub-bass and excessive sibilance that I had heard on my RS8 were still present. Next, I listened to it with the current output, and surprisingly, the soundstage expanded even more, and the lacking sub-bass was slightly enhanced while the tiring sibilance was significantly reduced. However, I still think that the tuning direction of the headphone itself was incorrect.

The next headphone I listened to was the Focal Utopia 2022. First of all, when I listened to it through voltage output, I was impressed by natural sound, spaciousness, and strong bass impact, and I could hear them loud enough at around 50-60% volume. When I switched to current output, the sound stage expanded as the volume decreased a little, but the bass became too overpowering and IMO didn't match well with the Utopia 2022.


Next, I listened to the Dan Clark Audio Stealth, which I had previously heard before with the Fiio K9 Pro ESS. At the time, I felt that the sound was quite flat, but had excellent resolution and a spacious soundstage despite being a closed headphone. When I first listened to it through voltage output, I had to turn the volume dial up to around 80% to hear the sound at a sufficient level. I felt that it had even better resolution and a more natural sound than when I had previously listened to the K9 Pro ESS. However, when I switched to current output, the sound became distorted and the overpowering bass made it impossible to fully appreciate the headphones. It was a completely different feeling from the YH-5000.

The next headphone I listened to was the Dan Clark Audio Expanse, which was an open-back version of the Stealth. Compared to the Stealth, I needed a similar volume level, and because it was a open-back, it had an advantage in openness and spaciousness compared to the closed-back Stealth. However, the bass, which was already a little lacking in the Stealth, became even weaker in the Expanse, so I preferred the Stealth to the Expanse. When I listened to it through current output, I noticed the same issue with the sound becoming distorted as in the Expanse.

Lastly, I listened to the Sennheiser HD800S headphone, and as I have seen in other Korean user's review (https://cafe.naver.com/drhp/1729035), it was really impressive when paired with the 5210MK4. When I first listened to it through voltage output, it only required less than half the volume of the other headphones I had previously listened to, and also showed impressive bass, soundstage, and resolution. When I switched to current output, something magical happened. The soundstage, bass, and natural feel were further improved, and the sharpness of the high frequencies was smoothed out just enough, resulting in a sound that was incomparable to the HD800Ss I had heard before. It was really the best combination of headphone I had listened to that day.

Please note that the following comparison of 5210MK4 between my Enleum Amp-23R and Zahl HM1 cannot be completely accurate as I could not directly compare them side by side. Comparing the Amp-23R to the 5210MK4 based on my memory, I think that both amps have similar resolution, but the Amp-23R has a slightly narrower soundstage and a stronger emphasis on the lower-end and slightly smoother higher-end in terms of tonal tuning. In terms of naturalness and technical aspects of soundstage, I think the 5210MK4 is slightly better, but I prefer the tuning of the Amp-23R, which is more fun and powerful in the bass region. Moreover, in terms of output, I think the Amp-23R is superior to the 5210MK4, may be due to the fact that Amp-23R is originally intended to perform as a passive speaker amplifier. I think that 5210MK4 may struggle to drive hard-to-drive headphones with low impedance and low efficiency. And I have seen a review in Korean audiophile community regarding that 5210MK4 is not powerful enough to fully drive Hifiman Susvara. (https://cafe.naver.com/drhp/1734158)

Comparing the HM1 and the Amp-23R, I think the HM1 is better in terms of resolution, soundstage, tonality, and output. However, I think the 5210MK4 has an advantage over HM1 in naturalness and airyness. Please note that these comparisons may not be entirely accurate due to differences in environmental conditions and the headphones used.

To make a more accurate comparison between amps, I think I need to test the 5210MK4 with the Hifiman Susvara, and I plan to revisit the shop soon with the Susvara.

Thank you for reading!