[beatmaker234]

Another question that you might ask yourself is once you've got the 120ii and will some day your craving pushes you to the 240 upgrade?

If the 100ii keeps me satisfied than honestly no I wouldn't see a need to upgrade even past that, there's a certain level of quality where I become content. I believe the ak100ii is the cake & anything after that will simply be more icing. For me it's the factor of if the extra 2G for a 240 is worth the cleaner sound you may get. I have no problem paying for the best but only if I feel it's worth it.
My IEM's are a different story tho, I must have the latest that Shure is offering which I do

Local stores in the area sound be getting both daps in this month, I've been dying to test all 3 out. I'll have to sit down & test them with my own ears I suppose.

Also do you believe that ak will release a 240ii anytime soon? I'm not up to date on the news & when I searched have yielded no results.

Thanks

 

[s0ny]

I took the time to read all pages of this thread. I still have one question that I can't find an answer to. How can the AK240 sound better than the AK120II if they have the same hardware specs, besides native DSD support?

 

[archeryc]

I took the time to read all pages of this thread. I still have one question that I can't find an answer to. How can the AK240 sound better than the AK120II if they have the same hardware specs, besides native DSD support?

Actually, few folks from HongKong and Taiwan stated that they prefer the AK120ii than the AK240, so I think basically at this level of dap there are more personal preferance than SQ wise.

 

[CasperBxl]

Soooo .... I feel better, no more cramps  

 
 
I just placed my order for a AK 100 II in the UK (as I live in Belgium).
I'm sooooo looking forward to this ...
 
Current setup: Samsung Galaxy S5 + FIIO E18
 
I wonder how big the difference will be.
 
 
 
Thanks all for all the posts, it helped me out!!

 

[s0ny]

I can afford the AK240, but I think the price is too unreasonable. I'm considering an AK100II as an alternative to my iPhone 5S to make better use of the SE846. I read that the AK120II doesn't sound that great with the SE846. The DX90 seemed more suitable. Maybe I'll buy the AK100II just to try out.

 

[archeryc]

I can afford the AK240, but I think the price is too unreasonable. I'm considering an AK100II as an alternative to my iPhone 5S to make better use of the SE846. I read that the AK120II doesn't sound that great with the SE846. The DX90 seemed more suitable. Maybe I'll buy the AK100II just to try out.

I get the AK120ii only for optical out to my Chord Hugo.

 

[s0ny]

I get the AK120ii only for optical out to my Chord Hugo.

It should sound amazing!

 

[CasperBxl]

  UK Pre Order Now Open
 
UK Price for AK100 II and AK120 II now released.
 
Astell&Kern AK100 II and AK120 II UK Price and Release Date

 
I just ordered a AK100 II with you!  
 
Hoping for a swift delivery (to Belgium) .... I can't wait!!!  

 

[s0ny]

I also ordered an AK100II 15 minutes ago. It should arrive next week. I'll post my impressions.

 

[flymetothemoon]

I also ordered an AK100II 15 minutes ago. It should arrive next week. I'll post my impressions.

Even without a chance in person audition the AK100ii, from what's been read and the spec would offer, 100ii has my vote as the best buy among all 3 [100ii, 120ii and 240], even I'm a 240 owner.
 
Congratulations.

 

[flymetothemoon]

If the 100ii keeps me satisfied than honestly no I wouldn't see a need to upgrade even past that, there's a certain level of quality where I become content. I believe the ak100ii is the cake & anything after that will simply be more icing. For me it's the factor of if the extra 2G for a 240 is worth the cleaner sound you may get. I have no problem paying for the best but only if I feel it's worth it.
My IEM's are a different story tho, I must have the latest that Shure is offering which I do

Local stores in the area sound be getting both daps in this month, I've been dying to test all 3 out. I'll have to sit down & test them with my own ears I suppose.

Also do you believe that ak will release a 240ii anytime soon? I'm not up to date on the news & when I searched have yielded no results.

Thanks

In the digital world the chase would never end.  You have to put your mind in stall and put focus in enjoying what you have and stop looking around.
 
In between 1999 and 2010, I owned an extravagant system (see below) and at the time [1999] I was really out of my mind and spending money without second thought.  However, after acquired the system, I hung on with it for over 10 years (before it was sold in 2010, yes, the whole system).  Over this period, I did not bother to read any hi-fi publications and just focus on enjoying music it delivers.
 
I'm sure the AK240Mk2 in on AK's designing table (or even in its early days of test production!) but I am very satisfied with my current headfi set up and don't think any new investment would bring "wow" performance thus justified new investment.
 
My sytem between 1999-2010
CD : Linn CD12 (24bit, bought 2013)
Pre-Amp : Jadis JPS2S
Power Amp : Jadis JA100 (monoblocks)
Speakers : Venture La Precision
Power supplies : PS Audio P300 (x1); P600 (x2)
Cables : too many 

 

[Gabbante]

Great reviews, they have helped a lot!
 
This is where I'm at.  I have the money to buy the AK240 (I think) and I've been waiting on my Roxanne's for about 8 months.  I'm still very new and don't have a lot of high res files and I listen to a lot of different genres of music.  I know a lot of people will tell me that I should buy the AK240, but should I start with something like AK120II or jump in and get the AK240?
 
Thanks for all the great post and comments!

 

[beatmaker234]

I can afford the AK240, but I think the price is too unreasonable. I'm considering an AK100II as an alternative to my iPhone 5S to make better use of the SE846. I read that the AK120II doesn't sound that great with the SE846. The DX90 seemed more suitable. Maybe I'll buy the AK100II just to try out.

Where did you read that the ak120ii sounds bad with the se 846?
I have the 846's too & was planning to use them mainly with the ak products so that worries me.
Not sure how the dual dacs could sound worse than a single dac also.

 

[beatmaker234]

In the digital world the chase would never end.  You have to put your mind in stall and put focus in enjoying what you have and stop looking around.

In between 1999 and 2010, I owned an extravagant system (see below) and at the time [1999] I was really out of my mind and spending money without second thought.  However, after acquired the system, I hung on with it for over 10 years (before it was sold in 2010, yes, the whole system).  Over this period, I did not bother to read any hi-fi publications and just focus on enjoying music it delivers.

I'm sure the AK240Mk2 in on AK's designing table (or even in its early days of test production!) but I am very satisfied with my current headfi set up and don't think any new investment would bring "wow" performance thus justified new investment.

My sytem between 1999-2010
CD : Linn CD12 (24bit, bought 2013)
Pre-Amp : Jadis JPS2S
Power Amp : Jadis JA100 (monoblocks)
Speakers : Venture La Precision
Power supplies : PS Audio P300 (x1); P600 (x2)
Cables : too many 

Hmmm that's interesting.
I suppose I'm looking to find my end game also & one of these daps will be it

 

[headwilier]

Where did you read that the ak120ii sounds bad with the se 846?
I have the 846's too & was planning to use them mainly with the ak products so that worries me.
Not sure how the dual dacs could sound worse than a single dac also.

I have tried the se846 with AK240, AK120II and I don't think that the difference is material enough for me to pay double the price. On a blind test I might not even be able to tell the difference listening to flac files

As for quality of an iPhone 5, the sound signature is less warm but still sounds great with my SE846. However it feels nice to use my AK120II. No distractions!!!