[MistahBungle]

A astell and kern se180 +sem4 is another good alternative

Yep definitely. Any of the AK DAPs would go well.

 

[jjazzy]

Yep definitely. Any of the AK DAPs would go well.

Thing I don’t get what the rest of the companies are doing, I tried all of the other brands, like fiio, ibass, shanling, even their flagships, all of them have a weird sound to them. To much bass emphasis, or to dark muffled sounding etc…

Astell and kern, or a hugo2, chord mojo2 that kind of brands are the only small form factor I would call clean musical

 

[MistahBungle]

Thing I don’t get what the rest of the companies are doing, I tried all of the other brands, like fiio, ibass, shanling, even their flagships, all of them have a weird sound to them. To much bass emphasis, or to dark muffled sounding etc…

Astell and kern, or a hugo2, chord mojo2 that kind of brands are the only small form factor I would call clean musical

Yep I'm same as you, I don't want my gear colouring the sound to any great extent. Can't speak for the other AK DAPs (I still have an AK 120 that works but it's ancient now), but one of the SP2000s (many) strengths for mine is the lack of noise. It's really black.

 

[Neweymatt]

Thing I don’t get what the rest of the companies are doing, I tried all of the other brands, like fiio, ibass, shanling, even their flagships, all of them have a weird sound to them. To much bass emphasis, or to dark muffled sounding etc…

Astell and kern, or a hugo2, chord mojo2 that kind of brands are the only small form factor I would call clean musical

Yep I'm same as you, I don't want my gear colouring the sound to any great extent. Can't speak for the other AK DAPs (I still have an AK 120 that works but it's ancient now), but one of the SP2000s (many) strengths for mine is the lack of noise. It's really black.

I guess it depends what sort of synergy you're after with your gear.

If you want to double-down on the "lean and clean" approach, as you say the AK DAPs pair well with the 12t. The HiBy R8ii would also be a good choice, it is likewise relatively un-coloured, while still being musical.

I am finding, however, that something with a little more warmth/body is nice with my A12t, and the Cayin RU7 I picked up recently is a real winner.

 

[MistahBungle]

I guess it depends what sort of synergy you're after with your gear.

If you want to double-down on the "lean and clean" approach, as you say the AK DAPs pair well with the 12t. The HiBy R8ii would also be a good choice, it is likewise relatively un-coloured, while still being musical.

I am finding, however, that something with a little more warmth/body is nice with my A12t, and the Cayin RU7 I picked up recently is a real winner.

Yep I get you, Matt. Having something that's relatively 'neutral' yet doesn't sound 'sterile' (I know you know exactly what I mean ) & still has that 'musicality' you mentioned.

 

[Takeda`1537]

U18s has LID

Apparently U18t has not LID
https://www.64audio.com/pages/lid

 

[LFC_SL]

U18s has LID

Apparently U18t has not LID
https://www.64audio.com/pages/lid

U18T and U18S are different models (A18T or A18S in custom form factor)

 

[Takeda`1537]

U18T and U18S are different models (A18T or A18S in custom form factor)

I was referring to the U18t ... 18t and 18s are indeed different models

Just received my U18t and I was hoping you to be wrong and to have missed something and my unit to have LID when, unfortunately, it does not. Each model has its own peculiar techs..

 

[Ollie the bear]

Thank you all for the responses! Seems like I need to spend $$. Those AK daps a pricey. Don’t really see any used ones on Classifields

 

[pippen99]

You do not have to spend that much. This will work perfectly well.
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/astell-kern-sr35-w-sealed-gray-case.68212/

 

[LFC_SL]

I was referring to the U18t ... 18t and 18s are indeed different models

Just received my U18t and I was hoping you to be wrong and to have missed something and my unit to have LID when, unfortunately, it does not. Each model has its own peculiar techs..

They have slightly different tuning so that might (or not) matter more:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...a-technologies.826606/page-1449#post-17472285

 

[mattv]

I was referring to the U18t ... 18t and 18s are indeed different models

Just received my U18t and I was hoping you to be wrong and to have missed something and my unit to have LID when, unfortunately, it does not. Each model has its own peculiar techs..

U18t was developed before our LID tech, so it's one of the few holdouts that still doesn't have it. We can't really add LID to U18t because it would change the sound too much. It's something that needs to be implemented while still in the tuning phase.

The lack of LID can be seen as a negative or a positive. Not having LID just means that the IEM is more sensitive to differences between sources and cables, so if you like to experiment with different gear in order to tailor the sound to your personal preferences the lack of LID might make that easier.

 

[pippen99]

Thank you all for the responses! Seems like I need to spend $$. Those AK daps a pricey. Don’t really see any used ones on Classifields

And a even better deal from a trusted Head-fier.
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/fs-a-k-sr35-–-complete-like-new-grade-4-1st-owner.68566/

 

[pankaj1431]

Thank you all for the responses! Seems like I need to spend $$. Those AK daps a pricey. Don’t really see any used ones on Classifields

I have A&K Kann Maxx in mint condition gathering dust as I mostly use WM1ZMK2. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[jjazzy]

I have A&K Kann Maxx in mint condition gathering dust as I mostly use WM1ZMK2. Let me know if you are interested.

How does the WM1ZMK2 compare to say a sp3000, really curious, I have no experience with sony daps