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Showing 1 of 68 conversations about:
DimaG
610
Jun 27, 2017
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Love the bundle, but as for the player itself... I always wondered how one of those pricey A&K players sounded compared to a mid-fi desktop setup (say Schiit Modi Multibit + Magni Uber). I'd like to think it'd get its ass handed to it, but not kin on paying 4 digits to find out.
PureAngus62
96
Jun 27, 2017
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DimaGGoing up in audio quality isnt a really linear increase in price.
You can't go wrong with a mid-tier Schiit stack, it sounds awesome and way better than 99% of the other comercially produced products from large companies trying to make and extra buck.
Will this sound better? Absolutely. Will anyone who isn't a critical listener/audiophile notice? Probably not.
The law of diminishing returns hits pretty hard in the audio world but for enthusiasts with the funds available its totally worth the investment (in listening pleasure, not monetary value)
Will this sound better? Absolutely. Will anyone who isn't a critical listener/audiophile notice? Probably not.
The law of diminishing returns hits pretty hard in the audio world but for enthusiasts with the funds available its totally worth the investment (in listening pleasure, not monetary value)
micahjrose
126
Jun 27, 2017
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PureAngus62I disagree with this. I love the AK240, but the increased price won't necessarily mean increased sound quality, especially since the AK240 has a weak-sauce amplifier. Many headphones either need or benefit from extra power, so the AK240 may not be better than other options out there.
I see the primary value of this drop as the music. 75 24/96 albums of great jazz is worth between $15 and $20 per album, that's up to $1500 value right there. The AK240 is definitely worth the additional $199.
I see the primary value of this drop as the music. 75 24/96 albums of great jazz is worth between $15 and $20 per album, that's up to $1500 value right there. The AK240 is definitely worth the additional $199.
PureAngus62
96
Jun 27, 2017
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micahjroseA&K is also the king of ultra-expensive luxury DAPs so there's going to be price gouging as long as people keep paying the full retail price. Going back to @DimaG , this is going to be of higher sound quality than a mid level schiit stack, but alot of people may not see it as being $xxxx better.
Like you said, @micahjrose , the real value in this drop is in the music.
Like you said, @micahjrose , the real value in this drop is in the music.
micahjrose
126
Jun 27, 2017
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PureAngus62Whether the DAP represents an increase in sound quality will depend on if 2.3 Vrms is enough to drive whatever headphones the user has. For sensitive IEMs, this will be totally fine, but for someone throwing anything more demanding at it, it might not perform up to snuff. I'd also say without a volume matched comparison, I wouldn't have much confidence in declaring victors in this comparison (Low level Schiit stack vs. AK240). It very well may be that the AK240 outperforms, but it also might lose.
PureAngus62
96
Jun 27, 2017
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micahjroseTrue, even if the AK240 is objectively better, someone could easily prefer the sound of something much "lower end".
micahjrose
126
Jun 27, 2017
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PureAngus62That's not necessarily what I mean. I mean if someone tries to compare the two with a Beyerdynamic 250 ohm headphone, the Schiit stack is going to objectively smoke the AK240 in performance, no matter sound signature preference.
Bobthedespot
85
Jul 3, 2017
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PureAngus62I have a sansa clip 4gb player with a pair of bose headphones from my childhood. MP3s... but memories. Lossless into my AK/D'Agostino/Focal system doesn't do justice to my memories.
Bobthedespot
85
Jul 3, 2017
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micahjroseEh, I see where you are coming from, but I'd disagree. Even if the lower frequencies are less dynamic, and the highs less intimate, there are things my AK reveals that my schiit stack never could. I'm not a basshead though, and I certainly appreciate that the Schiit completely thrashes my AK in sub-bass musical passages.
Plus, 4 years later, my original ak120 is still cranking, and the schiit stack has broken twice.
Plus, 4 years later, my original ak120 is still cranking, and the schiit stack has broken twice.
benjdbs
7
May 24, 2019
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DimaGOn the Road, it has one of the largest soundstage out there. Clarity, Cohesion & imaging. Compared to even the latest sp1000, still on top of its game. What is better w/ the latest? Nuances, low level (the millennial call em micro) details, but not by a huge margin. FWIW, im using a W50 w/ silver cables & custom tips...
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