Astell&Kern AK500N

Ok but is the DAC inside at the Level of +$5000 desktop DAC ?

for the asked price you can have a 1To NAS + auralic ARIES + Vega DAC + thaurus II amp !
 
AK500N offers great value/money ratio for people who don't want any cables, problems and PC-knowledge. It's out of the box solution.
 
I agree totaly to the concept, but still I will be interested to hear your comments about it's sound signature ( warm ? Analytical ? Lay-back...) and sound quality compared to the AK240
 
Dear Sir,

any news on your tests AK240 v/s AK500 and also comments on the quality of the DAC inside the AK500 ? :exciting:

Indeed, I am about to place an order for a TotalDAC Server OR Auralic Aries + a TotalDAC D1-DAC: 2 solutions that are supposed to offer "stellar" sound, but... I am still intrigued and interested in the AK500 1 box solution (rather than : NAS + Server + DAC )

so, some preliminary comments could help before I plunge for one solution or another.

thanks in advance...

and sorry for all those questions
 
bmichels - test leaks: AK500 sounds the best from SD cards, USB and ethernet ... Internal HDD are on the end of this list. Auralic Aries sounds better (more neutral and transparent) than AK500 (as a transport).
 
SoundRebels said:
bmichels - test leaks: AK500 sounds the best from SD cards, USB and ethernet ... Internal HDD are on the end of this list. Auralic Aries sounds better (more neutral and transparent) than AK500 (as a transport).
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. This help me to make final decision : NO AK500.

--> I will go for Auralic, aurender or TotalDAC D1-Server + a TotalDAC D1-Tube DAC mk2
 
But..... still I am curious:

- have you compared to the AK240? Isn'it any better sound quality wise ?
- can you stream QOBUZ on it like you can on a AK240 ?

thanks
 
bmichels said:
But..... still I am curious:

- have you compared to the AK240? Isn'it any better sound quality wise ?
- can you stream QOBUZ on it like you can on a AK240 ?

thanks
Click to expand...


Of course AK500N as a separate component in Hi-Fi system sounds better than AK240 - more powerful, and with more finesse. Unfortunately in Poland QOBUZ doesn't work on AK240.

Full Polish review

e17c186eb9077cbeac8526f7738e2917_XL.jpg
 
thanks a lot.

you say that it is better as a desktop system. This is great. have you also compared them also just through their headphone plug ? is the headphone Amp of the AK500 better & more powerful than the one of the AK240 ?

And... Is there an English version of the review or.... should I "try" Google translate :cool:
 
bmichels said:
thanks a lot.

you say that it is better as a desktop system. This is great. have you also compared them also just through their headphone plug ? is the headphone Amp of the AK500 better & more powerful than the one of the AK240 ?

And... Is there an English version of the review or.... should I "try" Google translate :cool:
Click to expand...

U welcome. Headphone amp in AK500 sounds almost the same as AK240, if ... You choose playing music without charging batteries. With active charging the sound is worse than 240. And one thing - if You've got AK500 on Your desk ergonomy is perfect - 7" display, big volume knob, but if You're listening on a few meters wire distance every change means walk. Of course dedicated app should be available on April, but now ...
English version isn't available yet, and it depends on Polish dealer.
 
I had a dream for the AK500n successor: A slim book size device with 8" OLED touch screen...
wink.gif




1 Tb SSD, Desktop class chips, XLR & 1/4" headphone out, XLR & RCA line out, MQA hardware decoding, TIDAL, Roon server...
 
the successor to the AK380 is anounced :-)


9943889.jpg



The AK Ultima SP1000 to be launched at MUNICH this week.


more info here: http://www.quebecaudio.com/index.php/astellkern-launches-new-product-lines-at-high-end-2017-munich/


• Dual AK4497EQ DAC
• Octa-Core CPU to optimize system performance
• Sound designed with high output power with low distortion
• 5 inch LCD screen, new GUI, USB 3.0, and multifunction wheel
and.... 12 hours playing time (advertised :-) ! )


SS version available in MAY... and CU version available later.


but.... no infos about storage and about TITAL (and TITAL Off-line)
 
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