prismstorm
100+ Head-Fier
Yeah it's total madness, haha. I'm enjoying the journey. After getting a brand new/sealed JR near Christmas the whole DAP thing has been turned on its head for me. I had auditioned the JR before and had very similar thoughts you have about it. After actually owning it... the sound more than makes up for the slight inconvenience. I'm already used to the UI and the response speed is not a problem al all. It's honestly just fine.
The JR showed me that the DAP market right now isn't mature enough to spend big $$$. I think things will keep improving for a while and the amazing sound will trickle down to the lower tier players. The JR is just amazing... I'm surprised it didn't put the AK100ii/120ii/240 out of business. It is more lively with better tonal density/midrange detail. The sound is more enveloping/lush/3Dimensional without being colored. The slim/smaller package is very nice too. I put gorilla glass front and back and put on a tan offical AK leather case and it's a sweet little unit now. The form factor is just really wow for me.
Initially I bought this thinking I'd pair it up with the new JH Rosie and have a really compact travel unit and pair the Layla up with the AK380 or AK320 for a sit-down-at-coffeeshop kind of listening, but the JR has me 2nd guessing spending $$$ on higher units.
I'm also very curious about the new Cowon Plenue S, as people say that offers better sonics/ui/speed than the AK380 (at least they're saying that in Korea right now).
You need to get off that AK Hamster Wheel... they will keep putting out better units every six months and it's going to drive you nuts(After Copper there is the all .925 Silver Version in the works...)
I've already lost so much after losing the battle and succumbing to AK380 + Amp, I don't think I can handle anymore upgrades in years. And I don't see how they can top the current flagship experience unless they go with 512GB internal storage with support of up to two SDXC cards, full HD display, lightning fast UI, double battery life ... As for sound, I fail to see how the 380 + Amp + Layla (with upgraded cable) SQ can be significantly surpassed in the short-term (for a mobile rig), unless groundbreaking technology comes along like electrostatic hybrid iems bringing best of all worlds.
So, in my delusional, self-deceiving opinion, I am safe ... for the meanwhile (perhaps beside from upgrading the Layla's tips to Snugs).