[Dopaminer]

  where can one buy one of these cases?

They`re also for sale in Japan now, where I currently am not, but soone will be.  
 
Here are tons of photos of the Van Nuys cases for 100ii and 120ii, if anyone is interested: 
 
http://www.e-earphone.jp/blog/?p=371

 

[thinblueline]

Does anyone use their AK120II to feed the Sennheiser HDVD 600?  I was thinking of running AK120II Balanced out->HDVD600->Balanced HD800.  Since I am a noob, is here such an AK 2.5mm cable to male XLRs for input into HDVD 600?  Perhaps there is no advantage to run balanced out when compared to SE out?  Thank you for any potential pointers and opinions.  

 

[RUMAY408]

  Does anyone use their AK120II to feed the Sennheiser HDVD 600?  I was thinking of running AK120II Balanced out->HDVD600->Balanced HD800.  Since I am a noob, is here such an AK 2.5mm cable to male XLRs for input into HDVD 600?  Perhaps there is no advantage to run balanced out when compared to SE out?  Thank you for any potential pointers and opinions.  

The balanced out is such an upgrade over the SE.  I've gone back and forth with the HD800 and HD650 several times and compared multiple times, it is not close from my standpoint.

 

[flymetothemoon]

And now for the bad news, the official Astell and Kern DIY kit gives me about 6 inches more separation on both sides playing King of Anything right out of the gate. The difference is obviously noticeable.

This is over a Norne audio 2.5 trrs with same silver dragon cable, cardas tri-e solder - and the current connector moon audio uses

Strain relief is going to be a little strange because the cable exits 90° to the housing

Strangely, the case does not fit exactly on when the kit is attached

Sorry about your wallet

Great to learn that this output gives you good results.  Curious if you have compared this with the optical out [to DAC] from your AK?  

 

[jamato8]

I don't get the price of the cases. They are embossed leather and vegetable tanned or not, 100 dollars is a lot of money for something that once you have the dies set up, is fast and easy to stamp out and assemble, having done this professionally in the past I know. A little stitching, glue and edge coat. It is all good though. 

 

[kt8509]

  I don't get the price of the cases. They are embossed leather and vegetable tanned or not, 100 dollars is a lot of money for something that once you have the dies set up, is fast and easy to stamp out and assemble, having done this professionally in the past I know. A little stitching, glue and edge coat. It is all good though. 

 
Has anyone bought a case from these guys?
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/A6-EASECASE-Custom-Made-Genuine-Leather-case-for-iriver-AK100II/429058_2019907199.html
 
Pretty much any leather and lining color combination you want, engraved, shipped to US for a total of $50.  Since it's custom made per order, the order/delivery time is over a month.

 

[jamato8]

  
Has anyone bought a case from these guys?
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/A6-EASECASE-Custom-Made-Genuine-Leather-case-for-iriver-AK100II/429058_2019907199.html
 
Pretty much any leather and lining color combination you want, engraved, shipped to US for a total of $50.  Since it's custom made per order, the order/delivery time is over a month.

Interessting. They could be 35 dollars though, knowing the cost of the leather and labor. I don't expect them to be a finely finished as the ones AK is offering but to get to a well finished product isn't that hard but you have to have an eye and QC for it. 

 

[Dopaminer]

   
Has anyone bought a case from these guys?
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/A6-EASECASE-Custom-Made-Genuine-Leather-case-for-iriver-AK100II/429058_2019907199.html
 
Pretty much any leather and lining color combination you want, engraved, shipped to US for a total of $50.  Since it's custom made per order, the order/delivery time is over a month.

I love the faux ostrich-hide pattern.  Still, the AK cases are so incredibly well made, I have no problem paying their asking price.  

 

[Puma Cat]

 
The balanced out is such an upgrade over the SE.  I've gone back and forth with the HD800 and HD650 several times and compared multiple times, it is not close from my standpoint.

I have an AK100 II also, and would eventually like to run it balanced out with my HD600s. What cable or cable/adapter system do you use to run it balanced out with your Senns? 
 
Thanks,
Stephen aka Puma Cat
 
(PS, I am listening to my AK100 II for the first time with my Shure SE535 IEM and am quite impressed. 

 

[JeremyLaurenson]

  Great to learn that this output gives you good results.  Curious if you have compared this with the optical out [to DAC] from your AK?  

I have not - I sold my HiFiM8 a while ago - my rig is strictly super-portable (which is a big reason I switched to the AK)

 

[Skyfall]

double post

 

[Skyfall]

  just found a cheap alternative bluetooth remote for ak120ii
i just bought a cheap Chinese Bluetooth remote from this link
http://www.dx.com/p/multifunction-wireless-bluetooth-v3-0-selfie-shutter-remote-game-console-controller-white-363574#.VKoLhyuUcwA
it has 3 paring more, mode 1 is android, mode 2 is android music and mode 3 is ios
i tried mode 2 and it worked quite well
so far i have tried with ak120ii and also ak120
i found these function perform ok:
on ak 120:playing mode(normal, shuffle), play, vol up/down, next/back are working
on ak120ii: vol up/down, next/back, menu back, if you want to play you need to press next track so it start playing from next track
the only missing button is "stop" function so if you want to stop you need to take your ak out and do it manually on the dap )
 
all were done on key mode, game mode acts differently 
 
#edit: just found play/pause button, its also the on/off button of the remote, it was written on the manual of the remote :">, everything seem ok now

 
I need this.
Thx for sharing

 

[jamato8]

 
I love the faux ostrich-hide pattern.  Still, the AK cases are so incredibly well made, I have no problem paying their asking price.  

 
The thing is, it would have cost them maybe a dollar or 2 more, actual cost, to make the original out of real leather and the labor is the same. 

 
I have an AK100 II also, and would eventually like to run it balanced out with my HD600s. What cable or cable/adapter system do you use to run it balanced out with your Senns? 
 
Thanks,
Stephen aka Puma Cat
 
(PS, I am listening to my AK100 II for the first time with my Shure SE535 IEM and am quite impressed. 

I don't know that the power out, balanced, will do justice to the HD600's. I know that the 650's need more power but they really come alive balanced over being SE. IMO

 

[RUMAY408]

 
I have an AK100 II also, and would eventually like to run it balanced out with my HD600s. What cable or cable/adapter system do you use to run it balanced out with your Senns? 
 
Thanks,
Stephen aka Puma Cat
 
(PS, I am listening to my AK100 II for the first time with my Shure SE535 IEM and am quite impressed. 

AK100 ll>ALO 4 point mini balanced interconnect>ALO MK3B+>(ALO Green Line Balanced HD650/Norne Audio Draug2 balanced HD800)
For the HD600 you can run balanced either amped or straight out of the AKl00 ll, I owned the amp prior to the player so I went that route.
 
For the SE535 I would recommend running balanced straight out of the AK100 ll, no amp in my opinion needed for that IEM.
The Shure 530/535 threads have links for multiple inexpensive/expensive balanced cables for the 535.

 

[thor777]

I bought a right-angle cable for strain relief of the 3.5mm jack on my AK100ii. But now the plug pivots a lot in the jack. Will this wear down the jack and cause connection issues in the future?