Solude
Headphoneus Supremus
Bet it goes like if you run it out of the Leckerton
Bet it goes like if you run it out of the Leckerton
I think you'll be very satisfied with the results. It may not quite match the Leckertons, but it makes for a very transparent and neutral, but musical DAP
I have to say:
- It was very well packaged for shipment
- The turnaround was a bit faster than I thought – thanks
- Except for the label on the bottom (very classy), you can’t tell you ever touched the unit – pristine condition
- This is not an insignificant mod – the whole sound was less “digital”, less harsh, almost an analog smoothness with no loss of detail; the background appeared “blacker” and the PRAT has been enhanced. Not that the AK100 was lacking in any of these areas – I enjoyed the stock unit. But this mod definitely improved the entire sound scape – bravo. Definitely worth the price of admission.
I have had a AK100 for about six months now. I use it with a pair of Westone 4r IEMs re-cabled with Whiplash TWag v3.
After reading this thread and much thought (maybe too much), in late-Feb, I sent it off to Vinnie at RWA for the RWAK100 mod (not the "S" mod). I received the unit back on March 13 and was immediately impressed. I wanted to wait at least a couple weeks to make certain this was an actual improvement and not just different.
Here are excerpts from my e-mail to Vinnie:
Nuff said. If you have the funds, but are hesitant - don't be.
Brent
Is your RWAK100 mod basically creating an aftermarket version of the AK100 Mk II?
It is better than that because with the RWAK100, the output impedance is even lower than AK100MkII and we hard wire from the output stage FETs directly to the output jack (bypassing crappy circuit board traces and a connector in the path that connects the main board to the board with the headphone jack).
Hi, McLuzar. No, I did not listen to a MkII. I did ask Vinnie that very question. Here is our e-mail exchange:
I have no reason to doubt Vinnie given the customer service and quality of work I have experienced together with his sterling reputation here at Head Fi. He is a credit to our hobby.
Solude, I guess you are correct: pure and clean does describe part of the resulting sound profile after the mod. Bass was enhanced, though not a boat load, but then again I don't listen to very bass heavy music. I like to use the term "real" - for a pocket-sized rig, I am impressed.