Quote:Originally Posted by
jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Sorry about the double post; I figured out how to use multi-quotes one response too late. (>_>)
So often the mind set is that more money equals better quality. Sometimes true but so often not the case. I have Leica cameras, rather expensive but do they hold up any better, being German built and having been around since 1928? No, but I do enjoy using the camera and the lenses are superb.
And in Audio, what is best, the highest price? I think far from it. I have seen million dollar home systems and read reports that they often aren't any better than a good 30,000 dollar setup. So, let your ears be your guide, not the money figure before your eyes. :^)
Well, I guess I assumed that in-house designs generally tend to improve with cost—especially with the more reputable brands. For example, if you're comparing Random Sony IEMs "A" to Random Klipsch IEMs "B," I might not necessarily assume that the cost is the sole determining factor; however, if you showed me two pairs by either manufacturer I'm likely to expect that the later model (typically the more costly one) is an improvement on the manufacturer's house sound. Likewise, I took for granted that the A&K DAPs were essentially similar in sound but perhaps with the 240 having a blacker background and greater accuracy, plus UI improvements, etc.
Interestingly, with as little as I know of photography I actually wouldn't make this same type of assumption because I'm aware that many people still prefer film-based cameras to digital devices, and sometimes things truly aren't built "they way they used to be" any more.
I wouldn't say you are ignorant, just lack experience due to access and time. This is off topic, but I debated a long while before I got my AK240 due to the use of Cirrus Logic DAC inside (less warm compare to the Wolfson's). I started off with my AudioQuest Dragonfly with it's clean ESS Sabre sound, which is similar to Cirrus Logic's. Then I got a bunch of VentureCraft / V-Moda DAC with interchangeable OpAmp that I started to toy around with different sound signature. Next the AK120 came out and I am pretty sure that Wolfson's DAC is my thing, which I confirmed with my Practical Devices XM6 with it's Wolfson 8741 for my Sony F807 and loved the sound. Now with the DX90 and AK240 for different use. If I have known what I know now, I would have just go straight to the AK120 with a pair of Noble K10 or JH Roxanne and be done, and saving hundreds in the process (IEDs, DAC/AMP, and DAPs just sitting around). But seriously, this is NOT about how much crap I own or how expensive they are, rather I just want to share about my Head-Fi journey, so you all don't have to spend all this time and money to figure things out.
Oh, I'm plenty ignorant, and of a great many things. I'm okay with that label because ignorance is curable, whereas stupid is forever.
I'm only now learning that hardware manufacturers don't create all of their components in house. I just sort of figured everyone's drivers were their own and that the DACs, amps, etc., were unique to brands. I was surprised to learn within the last two or three days that many IEMs share BA drivers from a handful of manufacturers. (On that note, I've never even heard a BA driver and I couldn't describe one's sonic qualities without relying on second-hand information.) Likewise with the chip sets for various DAPs.
You drop names like Sabre, Wolfson, etc., but that's all above my head because I had no idea that one might find similar chips in—for example—one FiiO DAP (but not the others in its line) and an iBasso or A&K device. You more experienced users understand that sound quality often relates more directly to the properties of specific hardware components rather than the brand they're assembled and packaged under. Those of us still working on our audiophile bachelor's degrees likely think "Brand A = Brand A = Brand A," etc. Your preferring the A&K120 to the 240 makes a whole heck of a lot more sense now that I have some understanding that chip sets vary from DAP to DAP even within a single product line, and that a "house sound" might more appropriately be defined by the amp's or DAC's manufacturer than the DAP's.
For the record, your collection is impressive as all hell.
