[Loquah]

Has anyone had the pleasure of trying both the AK100 and RWAK100 (or other modded AK100) with a quality amp like the T1?

I'm trying to work out 2 things before I consider the mod:
1. Does the mod improve SQ when used with external amp?
2. Does adding an external amp to the modded AK provide significant benefits as it does with stock AK?

 

[Gintaras]

Quote:

AK100 Battery Update
 
5 hours in of non-stop play (90% FLAC 16/44, 10% FLAC 32/96-192) at 50% volume and the battery meter shows one increment down from full (i.e. showing around 75-80% charge still)
 
Unless the graphic is completely inaccurate and useless (a possibility), the little AK is on track for a mammoth 20+ hour performance which seems unlikely, but maybe the 50% volume is the key for those using external amps.

 
curious to hear from you about battery meter. i mean would be curious to hear what the meter will be showing you before your DAP powers off itself.
still i do not expect miracles and it seems more people now confirmed the meter being crap.
 
i charged RWAK so will do some listen at 50% volume to see how battery lasts.
 
thanks for many useful responses.
 
as regards RWAK sonics to me there is not much warmth in its presentation, rather contrary I find sometimes RWAK can sound even edgy a bit. i also agree about super wide stereo imaging. overall RWAK does a great job with sound. but where i find a small limitation is sound layering and full dynamic.... after listening enough to RWAK i have a feel that this player tries to be overly energetic in retrieving every subtle musical detail which sometimes comes at the expense of sound layering and micro-dynamics decreasing the stage depth. nothing wrong here since quite a few highly regarded high end CDPs do the same, if someone ever listened to the famous Cyrus CD8se he would understand me.
 
overall i find RWAK crisp sounding and portraying instruments very well, i just hope that battery issue will go away once i re-adjust my user habits.
 
:-D

 

[milarepa]

Ak100 or hm-901 for my tg!334s when on the go? I wonder.

 

[spkrs01]

I will probably come back to you with thoughts when the 901 becomes widely avaible, as I have intentions adding this player.....

 

[Saintkeat]

I've got a question.

Aren't you suppose to run the AK100 at 100% volume (75) to negate the effects of built in DAC when connecting to an external amp?

 

[lee730]

Supposedly but the problem is having the amp have good enough volume control without destroying your ears and running into channel imbalance.
 

 

[Loquah]

Quote:

I've got a question.

Aren't you suppose to run the AK100 at 100% volume (75) to negate the effects of built in DAC when connecting to an external amp?

 
That's what the literature says. I don't fully understand it because the sound is still passing through the amp. My understanding (which may be very wrong) is that the volume adjusts the DAC's scaling of the low-level analog signal that goes to the amplifier FETs.
 
I played around a bit and couldn't hear a significant difference between lower volumes and full vol, but I didn't give it a lot of time or testing.

 

[Saintkeat]

Lee I suppose any amp with gain settings would help with that.

I thought the circuitry was designed to cut off the DAC when the signal is boosted to maximum output.

 

[milarepa]

I will probably come back to you with thoughts when the 901 becomes widely avaible, as I have intentions adding this player.....

Thanks spkrs01, I am looking forward to your thoughts on the subject.

 

[Fidelity182]

This small little fellow is a killer.
Battery life is good too ! 
If used solely, some may like it , some may not, as it sound very clean, with analog feel.

 

[spkrs01]

Quote:

Thanks spkrs01, I am looking forward to your thoughts on the subject.

 
My pleasure

 

[Loquah]

I've cranked the volume to wear this sucker out and it's still going!! I might have to give you a report on the battery tomorrow.
 
Don't judge playing time based on my posts today - I had to reload some tunes this afternoon so it re-charged the device partially. The 16-20 hour mark seems very achievable for 50-60% volume.
 
I'll keep it going tomorrow and watch the battery graphic to see how accurately it reports.

 

[spkrs01]

This combination is really sounding so so good!!!
 
The AK100 with the FitEar MH335DW and 000 cable. The MH335DW are like marbles in feel and finish, simply awesome......
 

 

[Swimsonny]

:O Too right they are!

 

[Gintaras]

congrats mate. if you do not mind me asking - how much you paid for your FitEar?
 
Loquah, i am all ears to hear about battery and meter. i will do more experimenting to see if Ok or i need to exchange the battery. hopefully i will not have to...