[ekbalco]

To my ears the K2 HD setting adds a sort of ‘richness’ to the sound. Overly warm as well from what I can hear. It’s just not a type of filter (or whatever you want to call it) I like. Nothing wrong with it as such, I just always tend to head towards Bit Perfect (or NOS).

*I have only listened to the K2 HD setting for less than half an hour so my opinion is only brief and certainly not definitive. I DO like the Bit Perfect filter and this Go Bar is certainly a nice listen on that setting for me.

 

[iFi audio]

Sounds like exactly what the folks at JVC were going for when they set out to "restore" what they felt was lost in the CD process, a loss of some warmth, and perhaps what we all felt (Those that grew up in an Analog era) that loss of connection.

Don't get me wrong I loved the convenience of CDs when they came into the market, but even at that time I missed that sound I grew up with! (Yes I'm referring to Vinyl and 8 tracks in the car)

Cheers!!

 

[rafaelo]

Just received that ....thank you so much @iFi audio for the opportunity

I can confess that i am bit drunk after a company drinks night out to test this ... even to open the box properly ...but surely i will do it the whole ceremony tomorrow ... unpack, photos and everything...

 

[brjoon1021]

Sounds like exactly what the folks at JVC were going for when they set out to "restore" what they felt was lost in the CD process, a loss of some warmth, and perhaps what we all felt (Those that grew up in an Analog era) that loss of connection.

Don't get me wrong I loved the convenience of CDs when they came into the market, but even at that time I missed that sound I grew up with! (Yes I'm referring to Vinyl and 8 tracks in the car)

Cheers!!

Oh yeah! I have a good cartridge on a good turntable properly set up by the old guy at the Hi-Fi store who has thousands and thousands and thousands of records and hates digital ! So my turntable sounds really great I haven't listened to it since before Christmas because I've been hoarding new dongles and having fun with that. But I put on a couple of my favorite albums two nights ago oh man It sounded so good and it was so engaging. I wish I knew what the difference was. I wish I could buy it in a spray or something. I would love for all the dongles and dacs I have to do the same thing but they just don't yet. but I appreciate them for what for what they are it's different and I do like my digital side now since I've improved it

Andy's recommendations are so good! I have some very enjoyable dongles and I have been stoked about that too, but I was kind of shocked about how engaging the records were and I have my transistor amp in there now my tube amp is in there it's even up a whole other level

 

[iFi audio]

Just received that ....thank you so much @iFi audio for the opportunity

I can confess that i am bit drunk after a company drinks night out to test this ... even to open the box properly ...but surely i will do it the whole ceremony tomorrow ... unpack, photos and everything...

Hey, we all deserve our personal time right!!

Hope you enjoy the Kensei, I'm sure your thoughts will be valuable to the community!

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

Oh yeah! I have a good cartridge on a good turntable properly set up by the old guy at the Hi-Fi store who has thousands and thousands and thousands of records and hates digital ! So my turntable sounds really great I haven't listened to it since before Christmas because I've been hoarding new dongles and having fun with that. But I put on a couple of my favorite albums two nights ago oh man It sounded so good and it was so engaging. I wish I knew what the difference was. I wish I could buy it in a spray or something. I would love for all the dongles and dacs I have to do the same thing but they just don't yet. but I appreciate them for what for what they are it's different and I do like my digital side now since I've improved it

Andy's recommendations are so good! I have some very enjoyable dongles and I have been stoked about that too, but I was kind of shocked about how engaging the records were and I have my transistor amp in there now my tube amp is in there it's even up a whole other level

It just simply brings you to another place doesn't it?

I think streaming is great, it allows us to listen to a whole world of music we have yet to own, and when I find an album through a streaming service I am fascinated with I tend to buy it on Vinyl if possible, or CD at a minimum. I have yet to spend more than a day with the Kensei, but I did truly like the K2 HD mode, I will refrain from going on because I simply did not have it long enough, but I did like it very much.

Cheers!!

 

[jsmiller58]

Sounds like exactly what the folks at JVC were going for when they set out to "restore" what they felt was lost in the CD process, a loss of some warmth, and perhaps what we all felt (Those that grew up in an Analog era) that loss of connection.

Don't get me wrong I loved the convenience of CDs when they came into the market, but even at that time I missed that sound I grew up with! (Yes I'm referring to Vinyl and 8 tracks in the car)

Cheers!!

I hear the same. I will also add that there is just a real richness and body in general to the Kensei - I was watching Dune on my iPad in preparation to watch Dune 2 and the sound through the Kensei was warm, rich and almost enveloping… I know none of that is audiophile speak, but it was an experience to be sure!

 

[jsmiller58]

Just following up on my earlier query regarding Tidal, after trying my experiment with a few other devices as well (Q15, KA17, Earmen Angel) it is clear the issue is with Android version of Tidal… they’ve really messed up that app and don’t seem to be in a very big hurry to fix it….

 

[Ichos]

Sounds like exactly what the folks at JVC were going for when they set out to "restore" what they felt was lost in the CD process, a loss of some warmth, and perhaps what we all felt (Those that grew up in an Analog era) that loss of connection.

Don't get me wrong I loved the convenience of CDs when they came into the market, but even at that time I missed that sound I grew up with! (Yes I'm referring to Vinyl and 8 tracks in the car)

Cheers!!

8 tracks! My father had a huge collection in the car and we were listening during our car journeys!

 

[rafaelo]

As i imagined from the photos ... it is amazing beautiful...

I am not of a big fan of the gold color I definitely prefer white gold, silver or platinum but this silver go bar embarrassingly enough looks prettier even than my wedding ring...

I have tested the original go bar (not gold) around 2 years ago so by memory only I can say that this silver bar does not sound like the original one ... it was apparent to me immediately that this bar is much better and these 3 caps are doing their job properly...

I also believe that it doesn't compare directly with other dongles such as the KA5 and KA17 as this dongle is a different animal. Is 65 grams I think a completely different category of a dongle much more heavy, directly comparable to gold bar I guess, a premium quality construction dongle.

Obviously, it does not sound like a typical dongle but as a larger more serious device.

The way things progressing with these new dongles currently in a few years we could say "oh man... this desktop amp it sounds so good almost like a dongle"...haha...

 

[jsmiller58]

As i imagined from the photos ... it is amazing beautiful...

I am not of a big fan of the gold color I definitely prefer white gold, silver or platinum but this silver go bar embarrassingly enough looks prettier even than my wedding ring...

I have tested the original go bar (not gold) around 2 years ago so by memory only I can say that this silver bar does not sound like the original one ... it was apparent to me immediately that this bar is much better and these 3 caps are doing their job properly...

I also believe that it doesn't compare directly with other dongles such as the KA5 and KA17 as this dongle is a different animal. Is 65 grams I think a completely different category of a dongle much more heavy, directly comparable to gold bar I guess, a premium quality construction dongle.

Obviously, it does not sound like a typical dongle but as a larger more serious device.

The way things progressing with these new dongles currently in a few years we could say "oh man... this desktop amp it sounds so good almost like a dongle"...haha...

Yeah, my sentiments exactly on aesthetics. I don’t like bling - my wife pointed out to me that my “colors” are black and grey - so the Kensei is much more my aesthetic compared to the Gold, but I will admit I’ve never seen that one other than in photos.

As to build - the Kensei is in another league compared to dongles from other companies… it’s is built like a (very small) tank! This thing could serve as a personal defense weapon in a pinch if thrown hard enough! But where other dongles do have the edge is in “user interface”… my KA17, UA5, RU6 and RU7, for example, are more user friendly with their basic LCD screens, while the Kensei is a little more intimidating or less approachable needing to interpret the small LEDs.

But, in the end, it’s all about the sound!

 

[brjoon1021]

Looking forward to review s

 

[KaiFi]

Well, I definitely don't need another amp, but try and stop me--this is my hobby

I've ordered the Go Bar Kensei and will post my thoughts in this thread once I receive it.

 

[jsmiller58]

Well, I definitely don't need another amp, but try and stop me--this is my hobby

I've ordered the Go Bar Kensei and will post my thoughts in this thread once I receive it.

Do any of us actually NEED another dongle, really? The whole point of this hobby is to enjoy ourselves. I hope you love the Kensei!!

 

[iFi audio]

Well, I definitely don't need another amp, but try and stop me--this is my hobby

I've ordered the Go Bar Kensei and will post my thoughts in this thread once I receive it.

Glad to hear that! Of course, we will be looking forward to your thoughts and impressions once you have had a moment to enjoy it!

Cheers!!