[ohyeeeee]

HI! I am looking for a portable music play! I have hifiman901, ak 120 and sony NW-ZX1 in my list. Give me some advises!!
I heard sony NW-ZX1 can beat the ak 100 and able to compare with ak 120.

 

[DrSheep]

That was from a very rough Japanese review.  Get the RWAK120 (not -S) if you want to have the best sounding DAP; get the ZX1 if you need Android; get the 901 if you need a high power amp or go balance.

 

[ohyeeeee]

Thank you! I dont use overhead headphones. I only use in ear monitor. Do I need a high power amp? ak 120 looks much better and more portable than the hifiman 901.

 

[DrSheep]

For IEMs you do not need a high power amp.  You really can't go wrong with any of the DAPs above.  However, for me the 901 (aka the iBrick) is just too big and old fashion.  You can always buy an external DAC/AMP later, so why pay for features that you can't really use?

 

[stvc]

RWAK120B can go with balance right? It had trrs out.

 

[DrSheep]

RWAK120B can go with balance right? It had trrs out.

I think so, but just email Red Wine for all the details.

 

[stvc]

I was thinking to get RWAK120B >balance out to SR71B > balance out to roxanne.. maybe over kill lol

 

[DrSheep]

Not really, consider you are getting the RWAK120, so pretty much anything goes after that point.

 

[stvc]

But I wonder how good they are.

 

[cladane]

But I wonder how good they are.

I bought the RWAK120-B paired with the ALO Mk3 in balanced mode.
The point is that I informed Vinnie that in Balanced or SE modes sound is saturated in high trebles or low bass (very audible on AKG3003 for example).
I don't know if it is a problem of impedance or output level saturating the Mk3 input (balanced or SE inputs). Volume can't be modified on the RWAK.
I haven't compared with a standard AK120.

 

[stvc]

Any respond from Vinnie? Probably alo gain is too high?

 

[cladane]

No gain L or M on the Mk3.
Vinnie asked me to post him back the unit and drop him some files sounding distorted.
Will see what happens.

 

[cladane]

I posted back my RWAK120-B to Vinnie and he found that both Wolfson chips had to be changed (chips or connections problem).
I should get the device back next week. It is the best portable sounding device.
People go for the 901 when they want a lighter balanced PD but in my case it doesn't matter and I prefer the RWAK connected to an ALO Mk3.
Consider also that you can feed with an AK120 a DAC through the TosLink output, very convenient music server.

 

[stvc]

Still waiting my RWAK120B to reach me, cant wait. which interlink cable for you?

 

[cladane]

Cable from Vinnie and one also from MoonAudio (SilverDragon TRRS/RSA ALO balanced).