Hi everyone,
I may have a silly question, but I tried to google I cannot find the answer.
I have Ak300, and I am thinking of purchasing M11 Plus LTD. Do you think it is worth the upgrade (in case it is an upgrade)? I will use it with my UE CIEM.
Thanks in advance. I am looking forward to your kind answers.
There is several aspects to the ‘comparison’ that needs be factored.
Firstly - the general rule of thumb regarding the pricepoints of the respective parts; both are arguably ‘price breakthroughs’ and I suppose my parallel is moving from a ‘higher price tier’ Questyle QP1R to the FiiO M11+..
The Questyle was inarguably priced ‘too cheap’ (hence why successive replacements jumped in price considerably.. (for little ‘improvements’)); it had a technology in the amplification aspect, Current Mode’ amplification and featured no wireless… it was ’house tuned’ for audio. A definite ‘pure audio box’ (much like A&K typically produce)..
The Questyle is a fantastic transport, and I’d argue a better headphone amp.. (in some ways it beats out an M11+); the A&K units have been doing ‘high end’ audio for a long while now, and certainly have ‘it’ figured.
The age gap between their releases, should, if audio IS evolving (and value for money going up) balance the players ‘tiers’ somewhat (the older models, ‘yours and mine’ being from a higher price tier, yes?);
Going from a single AKM4490 to two AKM4497 is a large jump, but naturally circuit implementation is significant.
Chip enthusiasts- say ‘home DIYers’(Do It Yourselfers), state the jump from the 4490 to the 4493, was something, and the jump from the 4493 to the 4497 was ‘something more’ (and from what I have read, those same people say that the 4499 was akin to the 4497, but just with more volume output; which makes me then question the amount of ‘data’ suggesting that the 4499 is ‘better’ than the ‘4497’, being that -in the field of audio- louder is often perceived as ‘better’, and for anyone NOT PLAYING WITH OUTBOARD AMPLIFICATION, the increased power capabilities of a AKM4499 circuit would mean it is certainly capable of cleaner, ‘more nuanced’ delivery.. (as the 4497/4499 isn’t the discussion- let’s put a pin in this discussion perhaps).
The single femtosecond clock in the A&K, with measurements given at a sales sheet level, MIGHT outperform a femtosecond clock of unspecified performance (yes, I know the word “femtosecond” qualifies it
somewhat_), but the dual femtosecond clocks in the FiiO unit & the evolution in board design, I would believe (easily) makes it the superior part to the A&K unit.
Regarding amplification then; I’d not have anything to say on this topic- the A&K are ‘evolved’ parts, and just like FiiO dropped ‘years of refinement’ in their amplification circuit to ‘go with THX modules’, this one could be a tie, or ‘go
either way’.
From a front end and usability weighing, the FiiO would likely nail the A&K to the wall..
Of course we learn a given front end, and I can only guess there will be things you love about the new FiiO unit, such as dedicating the side button as ‘making a track a favorite’ (without having to turn the screen on), and there might be things about the music playback software in the A&K you miss. (Don’t be afraid to ask FiiO techs for features that really hold back the FiiO units having an ‘easy win’; the FiiO team listens and is dedicated to evolution, and we see it constantly..)
I would surmise that ‘build quality‘ etc not being considered (including weight etc), the FiiO would be a worthwhile upgrade and not just a sidegrade.
This isn’t always a ‘given’ when dropping a ‘tier’ in the audio world… (I have twenty year old DACs that ‘hold their own’ pretty well due to being quality (once upon a time))..
I’d feel confident to recommend the player (M11+) as an upgrade, but acknowledge that we haven’t spoken at all about what you wish to drive from it or ‘useage scenario’ etc..
A person in a dedicated ‘head-fi’ shop might identify aspects of the ‘change up’ that might make ‘worlds of difference’ ‘in the real world’ as you would experience in actually
using the parts…
As a ‘jack of all trades part’ that I bought the M11+ to be, it is
one of the best audio purchases I have ever made. And unlike many of the second hand bargains I have netted in thirty plus years of trade, ‘that is really saying somthing’ given I paid retail to ‘buy it new’. Happily I might add. (“Here take my money I am begging you!” was more the line of interaction; the manager of the store ringing me to confirm ‘OK’, and making me a
very happy camper)
I’d say “safe bet”. (and I am an A&K enthusiast, especially regarding their clock modules and exceptionally low jitter rates)(the present FiiO M range really are ‘things of beauty’!)
