[Blue Mica]

Hey there,

I generally haven't had as much time work it as I would have liked.

Hopefully get some more play time this week.

Coming from a dx90 it sounds almost boring. That being said though, it is better IMO in most regards Ryan the dx90, just it's presentation is very neutral compared to the dx90.

The dx90 is a teenager, eager to please.
The ak100ii is an experienced 40 something and tells it how it is

Interesting observations. I have dx90 and recently acquired ak100ii and find ak100ii fills sound in my ears more, the overall sound and especially the Bass really extends and is full but precise. But this is with se846, and I feel ak100ii brings out more of the potential of se846 than dx90. dx90 on high gain.
 
Also ak100ii is a pleasure to use, relatively luxurious lol. But dx90 is still really good given its price.

 

[akhyar]

Recently I also auditioned the AK100ii and DX90 with my ciem Roxanne.
As much as I like the DX90, to me the AK100ii wins me on the mids.
On DX90, it lacks a bit of the upper mids that sometimes I have to focus more to listen to the vocal.
The AK is double the price of DX90 over here in SG, but to me the SQ really complement my Rox.
On neutral or bright sounding ciem, the AK might sounds sterile, but on warmer sounding ciem, the SQ is just marvelous

 

[Blue Mica]

  Recently I also auditioned the AK100ii and DX90 with my ciem Roxanne.
As much as I like the DX90, to me the AK100ii wins me on the mids.
On DX90, it lacks a bit of the upper mids that sometimes I have to focus more to listen to the vocal.
The AK is double the price of DX90 over here in SG, but to me the SQ really complement my Rox.
On neutral or bright sounding ciem, the AK might sounds sterile, but on warmer sounding ciem, the SQ is just marvelous

Thanks for your comparisons. Have you compared the Roxanne to se846? What are the noticeable differences in sound?

 

[akhyar]

 
Thanks for your comparisons. Have you compared the Roxanne to se846? What are the noticeable differences in sound?

 
I'm afraid not.
The last time I tried 846 was early this year, before I received my Rox

 

[Wyd4]

Interesting observations. I have dx90 and recently acquired ak100ii and find ak100ii fills sound in my ears more, the overall sound and especially the Bass really extends and is full but precise. But this is with se846, and I feel ak100ii brings out more of the potential of se846 than dx90. dx90 on high gain.

Also ak100ii is a pleasure to use, relatively luxurious lol. But dx90 is still really good given its price.

Yeah I think I need to clarify, I do prefer the AK to my DX, however my comment I guess was my observations of the way each dap presents. I prefer the more neutral AK, it is more refined, while IMO there is less bass impact, there is more bass quality. It is faster.
Where the dx gets tripped up and congested the AK remains clean and clear and separated.

For twice the price its a tough pill to swallow, but such is the nature of diminishing returns.

I am currently trying to justify the jump in price to myself before deciding which to keep.

 

[mike7898]

I'm a proud owner of the ak100ii, and was wondering I can't seem to find any expert reviews on that model?

 

[Gagarin]

I'm a proud owner of the ak100ii, and was wondering I can't seem to find any expert reviews on that model?

 
There are none that I've seen so far.
 
Can you try something for me- Put your mobile phone right behind the AK100II, while listening to music, and see if there's any of that radio interference. I hate that with my AK100...

 

[dpastern]

I'm a proud owner of the ak100ii, and was wondering I can't seem to find any expert reviews on that model?

 
I think most people who end up reviewing these units are going for the top of the range AK240...there's bugger all on YouTube

 

[mike7898]

There are none that I've seen so far.

Can you try something for me- Put your mobile phone right behind the AK100II, while listening to music, and see if there's any of that radio interference. I hate that with my AK100...

I never thought of trying that,I give a shot and see what happens, What made you think of doing that?

 

[mike7898]

I think most people who end up reviewing these units are going for the top of the range AK240...there's bugger all on YouTube

Yea I seen YouTube has a short clip from a event but that's all,its a well crafted machine and deserves a expert review like that other higher end AK.

 

[dpastern]

Yea I seen YouTube has a short clip from a event but that's all,its a well crafted machine and deserves a expert review like that other higher end AK.

 
I know...it's the same with the AK120 II...there's a few in Asian languages, but since I don't speak them, those reviews are useless to me!

 

[uelover]

There are none that I've seen so far.

Can you try something for me- Put your mobile phone right behind the AK100II, while listening to music, and see if there's any of that radio interference. I hate that with my AK100...

No interference when the ak100ii is placed together with my iPhone 5s. I hold them together in one hand normally when I'm taking train.

 

[mike7898]

There are none that I've seen so far.

Can you try something for me- Put your mobile phone right behind the AK100II, while listening to music, and see if there's any of that radio interference. I hate that with my AK100...

Tried it no interference with my iPhone.

 

[mike7898]

It would be nice to see Astell & Kern do some kind of software updates to for AK100II?

 

[akhyar]

It would be nice to see Astell & Kern do some kind of software updates to for AK100II?

What kind of update that you're looking for?
To me, the current UI is good enough for my daily commute and the occasional home use.
I do prefer AK100ii UI over ZX-1 Android.
To me, AK100ii is way way more polished than those on Calyx, DX's, HM's, Fiio's, etc