The Staying Power of the AK240 in 2021

[jayteeare]

It seems that whenever I look up DAP’s online of the higher end type, the one with the most staying power (and I’m going by it’s market resale value exclusively) seems to repeatedly be the now classic “legacy” model, the AK240.

When it came out originally in 2014 it went for $2500; why is it that now in 2021, you still see it ranked so high amongst the greatest DAPs of all time? It’s always on peoples top 10 (even top 3), and just wondering what exactly makes it so sought after even after almost 7 years?

How does it compare with the more modern day AK products, say the SP1000, or the one I purchased the SR25 &norma? Why are used AK240’s still fetching $2000 or slightly less, used?

Is it the DAC, or what innovation does it posses that makes it still to this day compete with other daps?

I’m intrigued by the hype, but was hoping someone can let me in on why the AK240 in particular hasn’t seen to have aged at all.

 

[goodvibes]

There's one that's been in the sale forum at $450 for weeks. I think you're glamourising it a bit. People on ebay can ask for whatever they want but the new ones that actually sell go for up to twice that ($899). It was a good DAP and when something is genuinely good, it continues to be so but some is nostalgia as the 1st balanced/Android based control DAP.
The previous AK120 sold for 1/2 the ak240 when new and also now when used.

 

[jayteeare]

Thanks for the reply. So that must be it is the nostalgia factor; when put up against the current flagship DAP’s from AK, there’s nothing extraordinary about the AK240 in particular. Just curious, and yes I was going off the eBay prices where ppl can add whatever they like.

 

[Randy Myers]

I had an AK240, just recently sold it. Very nice DAP however my new A&K is much better. By the way A&K still sells them new for $1499. Honestly I had a hard time getting $450 range for mine, and it was mint.

I purchased a new SE200 which is quite amazing. Both ESS and AKM flagship DACs which you can switch between.