[Sylafari]

But most of the reviews on AK240 raves over the DSD SQ. I think that's quite a big difference if the price is only slightly cheaper..

seriously... what's the point of having DSD playability if it's just a down sampling PCM. Might as well remove that feature and reduce the price.

 
To be honest, I don't care about the DSD SQ at all. I think i'll wait to see what the price on the AK120II is before I return the AK240.

 

[prosperone]

Definitely looking forward to seeing the pricing on the AK120II.  If they get it right, I'm likely a buyer.  If not I'm going with the DX90.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

I am thinking if its easy to detect sonic difference between the new AK100 and 120

 

[INGRAMLI]

I am thinking if its easy to detect sonic difference between the new AK100 and 120

 

I am quite sure that they will somehow create a "handicapped" firmware for AK100II which sounds different to AK120II by making some "tweaks", just like the original AK100 and AK100 MK2, they do tweaks to the firmware to make sure the AK100 would not sound better than AK120 MK2 even with Red Wine's resistor Mods.

 

[high-fidelity]

I learned the prices from Astell&Kern Facebook page.
 
AK100II will cost 999 Euro,AK120II 1799 Euro.
 
So they will be so expensive.

 

[AmberOzL]

Very expensive indeed...
 
I say, AK120 Titan ftw only if I had money.

 

[Levanter]

I learned the prices from Astell&Kern Facebook page.

AK100II will cost 999 Euro,AK120II 1799 Euro.

So they will be so expensive.

I'm guessing that would be a direct conversion to 999 USD and 1799 USD?
Looks like I'll be getting the AK100 II

 

[Levanter]

Not sure how accurate is this, but taken from someone commenting in Korean AK FB.

100 : 1,090,000 / 120: 1,980,000 won

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

I am thinking if its easy to detect sonic difference between the new AK100 and 120

 

I am quite sure that they will somehow create a "handicapped" firmware for AK100II which sounds different to AK120II by making some "tweaks", just like the original AK100 and AK100 MK2, they do tweaks to the firmware to make sure the AK100 would not sound better than AK120 MK2 even with Red Wine's resistor Mods.

LOL
I dont think it happens like that, but the thought of bunch of engineers getting together to tweak/tune the sound to be more inferior is pretty hilarious

 

[vinland029]

Too bad there aren't any impressions on these things yet - my AK100 seems to be in need of replacement...

 

[JonathanCandel]

Any ETA? And indeed... I would love a review (video to check the UI responsiveness!!)

 

[goodvibes]

 

I am thinking if its easy to detect sonic difference between the new AK100 and 120

 

I am quite sure that they will somehow create a "handicapped" firmware for AK100II which sounds different to AK120II by making some "tweaks", just like the original AK100 and AK100 MK2, they do tweaks to the firmware to make sure the AK100 would not sound better than AK120 MK2 even with Red Wine's resistor Mods.

Except that the AK100 came out long before the AK120 and the AK100mkII is not that far off of AK120 performance. Kinda blows the entire theory.
 
We should expect a VG result from the new players judging from how well they used a CS DAC chip in the AK240.

 

[Solude]

More importantly the AK100 and AK120 don't share an analog section while both IIs do.  Assuming you can live without the extra memory the AK100II is going to be the better buy since the 4398 is already a balanced dac.  I wouldn't expect the analog performance to merit the benefits of using dual balanced dacs especially outside.

 

[winterandsummer]

5 years ago :
160gb of mp3 = 1600 album
 
today :
192gb of highrez = 192 album
 
i dont get why bigger memory isnt a priority on such high end players
i was excited at first because i was checking the AK120 titan (128+2card) and thought it could be a upgrade on that
i would like the price of the ak100II if it had proper memory
256 should be standard imo
 
256+128+128=512, so the third of what you could get 5 years ago via mp3
..that annoys me
 

 

[INGRAMLI]

5 years ago :


160gb of mp3 = 1600 album


 


today :


192gb of highrez = 192 album


 


i dont get why bigger memory isnt a priority on such high end players


i was excited at first because i was checking the AK120 titan (128+2card) and thought it could be a upgrade on that


i would like the price of the ak100II if it had proper memory


256 should be standard imo


 


256+128+128=512, so the third of what you could get 5 years ago via mp3


..that annoys me

 

 


It is not the best way to maximize the profit to introduce a (up to) 512GB capable units at this point. The "healthy" market in their perspective is, one should pay 1000 Euros for a 192GB capable unit (AK100II); 1800 Euros for a 256GB capable unit (AK120II), 2200+ Euros for a 384GB capable unit (AK240), and finally 3000+ Euros for a 512GB capable unit (the rumored AK480), and don't forget those already own a AK240 will pay altogether 5000+ Euros in total to own both units in the "upgrade path", that's how the way $$$ is made.