The Astell & Kern AK120
Jun 29, 2016 at 2:41 PM Post #6,901 of 7,071
Could anyone help me please? I'm completely new to this forum so I apologise if I I do things the wrong way.
I have the AK120 Titan with Westone 4R, I also listen by connecting it to a Marantz NA7004 via digital optical. My question is are the DACs onboard the Titan being bypassed when used with the Marantz? So am I losing quality?
Also so far I haven't been able to use it as an external DAC, my Mac and MacBook recognise it but no sound comes. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 
If you are using optical then yes you are bypassing the dac on the AK120 and using it as a transport instead. I had my united modded to the S-mod (they upgraded the dual wolfson chips.) Absolutely no comparison from stock at all. Amped via Triad or the T1 amp via LO
 
Jun 29, 2016 at 3:23 PM Post #6,902 of 7,071
Thank you so much for the reply, I've read about the mod and now think I understand why people have it done. I'm afraid some of the technical terms will go over my head, your last sentence will need translating please. So with the mod it will use the onboard DACs when connected to my hifi, will it still perform as it has with iems? Is there a way to connect it as a DAC and play what's on it? So far it seems that isn't possible?
 
Jun 29, 2016 at 4:18 PM Post #6,903 of 7,071
Thank you so much for the reply, I've read about the mod and now think I understand why people have it done. I'm afraid some of the technical terms will go over my head, your last sentence will need translating please. So with the mod it will use the onboard DACs when connected to my hifi, will it still perform as it has with iems? Is there a way to connect it as a DAC and play what's on it? So far it seems that isn't possible?

 
If you connect the Ak120 to a DAC via optical it will bypass the on board chips no matter what. What you will need if you go through with the mod is a good amp to fully utilize this monster. The Tralucent T1 amp is wonderful for me on the go and sounds amazingly good. Too good for its price. Not sure if they are available anymore. At home I use the Triad L3 amp plugged to a PSU. Vinnie installs a dedicated LO where the volume knob use to be on the AK120. You have 2 true LOs this way but his that he installs sounds superior to the stock HO from AK.
 
Jul 9, 2016 at 4:00 AM Post #6,904 of 7,071
Hi, I am an occasional reader on this forum ; althought I don't understand all the technical conversation, I like this meeting with specialist, newbies.
So, I hav a problem too :
Today the screen of my AK120 titan turned black. I can still see a dim light beneath this horrible black, dark blue screen.
I have try to reset it  but nothing happened : it seems bricked.
Has anyone experienced such a behaviour, can I throw it ? Is it worth repairing, and if so, where ?
I have to say that for several months the minijack was not so tight and the headphones plug have to be very still to hear both canals. But I think this is another kind of problem.
 
Thank you for your help on this.
 
Stéphane
 
Jul 9, 2016 at 5:37 AM Post #6,905 of 7,071
Hi, so sorry to hear about your screen! Can you still hear music playing by using the side buttons? Does it still appear when connected via usb? (I realise that might be tricky as you'd need to use the touch screen to select usb DAC etc but I've had a phone with a screen that went but the touch aspect still worked, I just had to remember which part to touch!). I would try all of these before the next step.
 
Aug 8, 2016 at 3:34 AM Post #6,907 of 7,071
How does the 120 compare to the new offerings from A&K particularly the AK70 and AK300? Or if anyone has tested the 120 against other DAP's like the X7, DPX1, Opus#1, etc.... The Ak120 is still available new at some places and offered at discounts. I was just wondering if its still a good buy at 3 years old.
 
Aug 8, 2016 at 3:53 AM Post #6,908 of 7,071
Some key differences between AK120 and the AK70/300
 
1. AK120 is smaller in size
2. AK120 has 2 micro SD cards slots
3. AK120 has warmer sound signature than the AK70/300
4. AK120 doesn't have balance output, while the AK70/300 support balanced output
 
Aug 8, 2016 at 5:09 AM Post #6,909 of 7,071
I recently bought a very nice used A-K AK120 - original version.
Firmware is 1.42.
 
Sounds good, a slight improvement in detail over my iBasso DX-90 -
 
but...
A few things don't seem to work very well:
 
It refuses to recognize APE files.
It does recognize some DSF files but has trouble with others. (Al of which play just fine using Winamp on my PC)
DSD  menus can't display graphics.
 
I thought APE files would not be a problem, and DSF files are in the DSD family, so I expected this pricey player to work with them - all of them
 
WAV files, even when they are properly tagged as verified in Media Monkey, all show up as unknown album and unknown artist.
I had to flac-en all my WAV's so they could organize in albums in the AK120
 
The graphic for the volume control is a nuisance, takes over the entire screen and takes too long to disappear.
The volume control itself is very sensitive to the touch, the increments are needlessly fine.
 
It takes much too long to update when adding media.
It's painfully slow - and this with only one 64GB card and 20GB internal....
 
Also, the battery cannot be replaced once it becomes old and weak-
Really?
Am I supposed to throw away an expensive DAP when the battery dies due to this significant oversight?
 
On the plus side:
Decent user interface, but it takes a takes a long time to scroll through hundreds of tunes to arrive at one near the bottom of the alphabet.
Being able to scroll backward from A would be a good idea,
Nice compact size.
Sounds good.
 
So far, I'm not thrilled with it, as I should be with something this expensive, but I can live with it.
I thought DSF and APE files, at least, would play flawlessly on this pricey player.
 
Any chance there will be a firmware update to address these issues, or, being a discontinued item, no more updates?
 
Marc Stager
Stager Sound Systems
NYC
 
Aug 8, 2016 at 6:42 AM Post #6,910 of 7,071
  I recently bought a very nice used A-K AK120 - original version.
Firmware is 1.42.
 
Sounds good, a slight improvement in detail over my iBasso DX-90 -
 
but...
A few things don't seem to work very well:
 
It refuses to recognize APE files.
It does recognize some DSF files but has trouble with others. (Al of which play just fine using Winamp on my PC)
DSD  menus can't display graphics.
 
I thought APE files would not be a problem, and DSF files are in the DSD family, so I expected this pricey player to work with them - all of them
 
WAV files, even when they are properly tagged as verified in Media Monkey, all show up as unknown album and unknown artist.
I had to flac-en all my WAV's so they could organize in albums in the AK120
 
The graphic for the volume control is a nuisance, takes over the entire screen and takes too long to disappear.
The volume control itself is very sensitive to the touch, the increments are needlessly fine.
 
It takes much too long to update when adding media.
It's painfully slow - and this with only one 64GB card and 20GB internal....
 
Also, the battery cannot be replaced once it becomes old and weak-
Really?
Am I supposed to throw away an expensive DAP when the battery dies due to this significant oversight?
 
On the plus side:
Decent user interface, but it takes a takes a long time to scroll through hundreds of tunes to arrive at one near the bottom of the alphabet.
Being able to scroll backward from A would be a good idea,
Nice compact size.
Sounds good.
 
So far, I'm not thrilled with it, as I should be with something this expensive, but I can live with it.
I thought DSF and APE files, at least, would play flawlessly on this pricey player.
 
Any chance there will be a firmware update to address these issues, or, being a discontinued item, no more updates?
 
Marc Stager
Stager Sound Systems
NYC


Thanks for sharing your experience it helped in making a decision. I can get one new for 700 dollars and for that kind of money I think ill go with something  newer. I have the Cayin i5 along with the Opus #1 in my short list.
 
Aug 16, 2016 at 3:15 PM Post #6,911 of 7,071
My correspondence with the American tech support call with a request to the battery model AK120:
 
Hello Maxim,

Unfortunately, we do not sell parts of our products to end users. 

If you need a battery replacement for your AK120, we do provide replacement service to US and Canadian customers.

Regards, Astell&Kern / iriver US Customer Service Center

www.astellnkern.com
www.facebook.com/astellandkern
www.twitter.com/astell_kern"

 
 
Hi Maximus.

We cannot disclose the model number of the battery as it is against our policy to give part numbers to end users.

Regards,

Astell&Kern / iriver US Customer Service Center


www.astellnkern.com
www.facebook.com/astellandkern
www.twitter.com/astell_kern

 
Space technology :)
 
Aug 16, 2016 at 4:05 PM Post #6,912 of 7,071
My correspondence with the American tech support call with a request to the battery model AK120:



Space technology :)


They basically don't want the older model competing with their million new releases. So they won't help you out without forcng you to go through them.
 
Aug 16, 2016 at 6:08 PM Post #6,914 of 7,071
​I am relieved that at least they are willing to service the unit and replace the battery. Not too long ago A&K in the U.S. was not even responding to multiple requests for assistance, whether by email or phone, and it seemed to some of us that we just would have to throw the unit in the river when the battery finally died.
 
Aug 16, 2016 at 7:36 PM Post #6,915 of 7,071
  ​I am relieved that at least they are willing to service the unit and replace the battery. Not too long ago A&K in the U.S. was not even responding to multiple requests for assistance, whether by email or phone, and it seemed to some of us that we just would have to throw the unit in the river when the battery finally died.

 
True. But as the above questioned.... How much exactly will they expect for the repair? $1000 for battery repair? $200? A definitive answer and a clear indication as to how to go about requesting such service would be nice to know...
 
I was lucky enough to have my battery replaced by Vinnie at RWA.
 

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