[sklonchpower]

Line out was used - Hugo1, Sony 1Z, AK380. all the time the same - less transparent and less detailed. I do love Hugo, but KSE is MUCH MORE GOOD WITH USB!!!!!!!!!!
USB using LabKable silver - AK70, shanling M1 and AK830. - The best transport is AK380. - result - more wider soundstage, more details opened, more bass.
I saw shocked. Realy.
NOW i believe in transport. Good transport with a great digital part.
Have a great experience!!!!

 

[Leexu]

Thanks! It's good to know the details. So now it is really a disappointment to hear that KSE series' line-out input is not as good as it usb input, which seems to push me away from KSE1200. I use SP1000 and its internal dac is supposed to be better than the KSE1500's. And now the choice becomes a real dilemma...

BTW, it seems to me that Sony 1Z doesn't have a line out, and AK380's line out has to bypass its internal amp, which might not be a real line out.

 

[bobeau]

KSE series' line-out input is not as good as it usb input, which seems to push me away from KSE1200. I use SP1000 and its internal dac is supposed to be better than the KSE1500's

USB is digital -> using the KSE1500's DAC. If you want to use the DAC from your player you're using the analog in. If you don't think you'll be using the DAC/DSP features of the 1500 the 1200 is the better option, slightly more compact with about 50% better battery life, and of course the price diff.

 

[Leexu]

USB is digital -> using the KSE1500's DAC. If you want to use the DAC from your player you're using the analog in. If you don't think you'll be using the DAC/DSP features of the 1500 the 1200 is the better option, slightly more compact with about 50% better battery life, and of course the price diff.

Thank you for your replyI Yeah, I am still struggling with which one I should get. The 1500 or the 1200? Probably I should try them first.

 

[cj3209]

Thanks! It's good to know the details. So now it is really a disappointment to hear that KSE series' line-out input is not as good as it usb input, which seems to push me away from KSE1200. I use SP1000 and its internal dac is supposed to be better than the KSE1500's. And now the choice becomes a real dilemma...

BTW, it seems to me that Sony 1Z doesn't have a line out, and AK380's line out has to bypass its internal amp, which might not be a real line out.

I use the SP1000, line-in to my KSE1200 and although I don't own the KSE1500, I can't imagine that the KSE1500's DAC is better than my SP1000. In fact, one of the biggest gripes about the KSE1500 was the inferior quality of the DAC that Shure is using via USB line-in; hence, the KSE1200.

Just my two cents.

Happy listening on this wonderfuly SoCal Thursday night.

 

[Leexu]

I use the SP1000, line-in to my KSE1200 and although I don't own the KSE1500, I can't imagine that the KSE1500's DAC is better than my SP1000. In fact, one of the biggest gripes about the KSE1500 was the inferior quality of the DAC that Shure is using via USB line-in; hence, the KSE1200.

Just my two cents.

Happy listening on this wonderfuly SoCal Thursday night.

Thank you so much! Yeah, I also think the KSE1200 is a better option to pair with the SP1000. I am not very confident with KSE1500's DAC, but sklonchpower just pointed out that the KSE1500's line out is worse than its digital out even when connecting with a Hugo. Probably I will need to try both the 1500 and the 1200.

 

[sklonchpower]

Just try it. Just try to use SP1000 if you have it using USB. Realy.
You will see the difference.
I dont want to say that Hugo, SP1000, Sony 1z are not great DAPS. They are great. Definitely.
BUT my point of view is that the pest potential of KSE1500 is in USB, and it doesnt matter that its own DAC not so new on the market. It sounds good when U provide its with a good source of digital. SP1000 and AK380 have a GREAT digital part and it will have a great influence on the internal DAC of KSE. I mean HOW Great it Sound with it.
Just try.
JUST TRY TO USE SP1000 or 380 as a transport.
....for example: as many of us know that many players using AKM now BUT!!!!!! it sounds differ in other players!!!!!!!! this is the fact.
My point of view - just give internal DAC a chance to show its potential!!!!

 

[tekkster]

I tried the KSE1500, and ended up buying the KSE1200.

To me, the KSE1500 DAC was not an ideal profile. The EQ was pretty cool, but I found the H2 or MP to the KSE1200 to be preferable. Violins, and some cymbal staccato taps and maybe some snare drum rim hits, especially for Dave Brubeck, Keiko Matsui, and several symphony orchestras sounded a tad weird to me when going from a smart phone to the KSE1500 DAC to the KSE1500 Amp.

My current fav portable setup is Opus 3 - optical - h2 - kse1200. Not very portable, so usually just use MP to KSE1200. Heck, if I'm being honest, while the H2 is much closer to sounding right to me, better than the KSE1500 DAC, it's still not quite right to my ears.

But it's all subjective in the end, and each person will react differently. Who knows, maybe there's just something wrong with my ears.

But it doesn't matter in the end, because it's just how things sound to me personally. I don't think anyone can tell you what you will hear is better one way or another.

I certainly do agree that both should be tried and you should pick the one you like more. A good couple of hours should be enough to reach some form of initial conclusion.

 

[mattmc1228]

Hello,
I am looking to get the KSE1200 to pair with the AK SE100. Can I just run the 3.5 out of the AK to the in of the KSE1200.
Thoughts on this pairing would be appreciated.

 

[bobeau]

[DELETE]

 

[NehPets]

Hello,
I am looking to get the KSE1200 to pair with the AK SE100. Can I just run the 3.5 out of the AK to the in of the KSE1200.
Thoughts on this pairing would be appreciated.

Yes, you can, but just be aware that, if the source's output voltage is greater than 1.75V, you might experience clipping.

 

[csglinux]

Yes, you can, but just be aware that, if the source's output voltage is greater than 1.75V, you might experience clipping.

Aha - I bet that's the reason for people preferring the USB input!

 

[bflat]

When I paired KSE1200 with SP1000, line out clipped even with -10 dB padding. I had to use regular variable out at 138/150 of max volume. If I remember correctly, any volume lower than 130/150 started sounding flat and lifeless. This seems consistent with Shure's instructions to set input, just short of clipping or the elusive and occasional orange blink.

 

[Leexu]

When I paired KSE1200 with SP1000, line out clipped even with -10 dB padding. I had to use regular variable out at 138/150 of max volume. If I remember correctly, any volume lower than 130/150 started sounding flat and lifeless. This seems consistent with Shure's instructions to set input, just short of clipping or the elusive and occasional orange blink.

Just to double check, the SP1000 provides line out voltage value as low as 0.7v, and you will need to activate line out button on the volume panel. And when you activate the line out button, the volume is not adjustable. So the KSE1200 has clipping sound even you set a voltage to 0.7v?

 

[bflat]

Just to double check, the SP1000 provides line out voltage value as low as 0.7v, and you will need to activate line out button on the volume panel. And when you activate the line out button, the volume is not adjustable. So the KSE1200 has clipping sound even you set a voltage to 0.7v?

I found my notes from July: In line out mode, 0.7V and 0 dB padding still clips on some of my high dynamic recordings. 0.7V and -10 dB avoids clipping, but sounds flat. 1V with -10 dB padding is clean.

Problem with 1V line out mode is that I don't know how much more it can go without clipping. I ended up using variable with volume at 138 which is probably around 1.3V. All AK DAPs don't have a "true" line out port. It's the same amp circuitry as the headphone out. The top end models have true line out that bypasses headphone amp circuitry but it's only usable by addon devices that connect with the bottom line out connectors like the AK3xx amp. As of today there are no such addon devices for SP1000.

Sony DAPs that use the S Master digital amp are similar to Chord Mojo and Hugo where the headphone out is really a true variable line output with no separate headphone amp circuit.