Astell&Kern AK120 Mastering Quality Music Player unboxing

[@collectibleasmr]

ignore this guy. I like your videos just the way they are. Nice, plain and simple. No fancy editing or nonsense. It's why I subscribe!

[@derbigpr500]

[@derbigpr500]

Well mid-range is sort of 500-2500, upper midrange up to 5000, above is treble. Thats the thing most people mix up. Most people assume that treble comes in at much high frequencies than it actually does. If someone let you hear a 3khz tone and ask them to guess what it is, most people would say something closer to 10k than 3khz. Up there at 10khz there's not a lot of pure tones. Vocals and most instruments dont reach nearly as high, its mostly just details up that high.

[@elawesomo87]

01:15 "this is the first audiophile player... " that's not true. There are players by colorfly, hifiman, ibasso, fiio, hisoundaudio...etc

[@derbigpr500]

Yea, but the fact is, an Ipod (or any regular non-audiophile player) connected into a Centrance Hifi-M8 will outperform the Ak120. The amp inside the AK120 is really only good enough for actual portable low impedance headphones. I tried it with a DT770 250ohm version, didn't have enough juice. I'm scared to think what would happen if I plugged in the T1's. Point being, you still most likely need a separate amp with the AK120 to do high-end portable headphones some justice.

[@itachi1742]

I'm curious if you're able to lock the volume knob in place? It would be a shame if you were walking around with it in your pocket, then all of a sudden you get blasted with 100% volume.

[@fillet-o-jing]

You could try ak100 if you think ak120 is too expensive. It's about half the price and sounds kinda similar.

[@derbigpr500]

Well I don't really know where you heard an upper midrange peak in the HD600's, which are pretty much completely flat in the upper midrange, they're +-2 db from totally flat up to 5000 hz, and even above that, they're very close to flat. On the other hand Fostex has very peaky frequency response, on top of the bass which is lifted for 10 db compared to 1khz level.

[@derbigpr500]

I dont rly hear that 10k peak to be honest, also. I don't know why, but nothing seems to peak out with T1's. DT880's do sound like they have their highs artificially lifted, but T1's sound totally flat. To me even the HD650's have more fatiguing highs than T1's, and that says a lot. It must be the angled drivers or something, but T1's overall sound so smooth nothing ever feels exaggerated or peaky / sharp. It just feels totally transparent.

[@I514]

For me, treble and bass are the end caps of the spectrum, bass at 0-500, treble at ~14-15khz to 22khz, and the rest is midrange, divided into 3 sub-sections, treble and bass beind subdivided into 2 sub-sections each.

[@I514]

I've heard the Phonitor is pretty good, but tbh postprocessing just doesn't sit well with me. The other one I know of that may qualify is the Smyth Realiser A8, but that isn't really crossfeed. I'd love to try it, but I would never use it in a real setup. What's the point of buying a properly designed amp and DAC if you're then throwing postprocessing over the output? That's like ordering a masterfully made plate of sushi with the best quality fish, and dumping wasabi all over it.

[@Xentradi97]

Okay so you got this amazing high quality music player. Good. Where do you get music that fits this device? Does regular MP3 music also plays better on this? Where do you get MSQ or high quality music file that will make this device worth a while?

[@LordVictorHalgaard]

This is exactly what i was looking for. It is a bit expensive yes, but thats why its so important to be able to see it on more than just pictures etc. :P

[@aumkar2]

That choppy touch killed it , hope the sound makes up for it .

[@tabou1]

I know I'm going to say something truly horribly barbarian, but can a (preferably small) bluetooth adaptor be plugged into this to then use bluetooth headphones?

[@I514]

Because the AK120 seems to have some pretty nice hardware in it, and it's a portable player, so it seems to be the best option for me right now, until I have the disposable income to get a desktop amp/DAC. Maybe an AK100 though. People's descriptions of the TH-600 sound very much like a cleaner, faster, and even more euphonic version of the modded V6, so now I need to find somewhere to try one, but it's likely that'll be the headphone I'm totally happy with.

[@tabou1]

Mac owners beware: the AK120 can be used as a DAC ONLY IF YOU HAVE the 10.7 OS and beyond. I have the 10.6.8 version of Safari and I'm screwed out of being able to use this device as a DAC on my computer, and that sucks big time...

[@Takato142]

I feel the same way about equalization. I shouldn't have to artificially "fix" a headphone to fix a problem. In the end, I end up paying attention to the EQing I've done instead of the music. Additionally, when it comes to the FR, I'm sort of apathetic. If there are no outright problems (resonances, peaks, bad recessions, etc) my ears will adjust to differing FRs without issue. My vintage KOSS Pro/4AAA is basically all mids but whats there is so good that it gets used more than my stats.

[@DazDaJoker9]

How do you install music from a high quality source like a cd with quality loss ?

[@jvanegas14]

what about the hifiman audio players?

[@AllTheArtToday]

Can you just use regular headphones

[@MusicFillsMyLife]

i loved the iRiver T10 few years back... can't imagine what this would sound like!

[@derbigpr500]

By the way, when you have a neutral headphone, you don't EQ to fix the headphone, you EQ to fix the music. Some records are just poorly EQ'ed, especially some older ones. The Rippingtons - Tourist in paradise album comes to mind...it really has no bass to it, drums in it are totally liveless. Some EQ can totally transform that album.

[@I514]

Studios don't use headphones for anything but closely inspecting a track for flaws. Imaging and soundstage on a headphone aren't even considered, only a bad studio would gimp their monitoring abilities by using headphones. Yes I know what crossfeed does, and the issue is that there hasn't been a crossfeed circuit or software yet that doesn't also unintentionally act as an uncontrollable EQ. Postprocessing isn't the way to go. If you need imaging, you use speakers.

[@iScorpio1971]

great review, how does it compare with the Fiio X3?

[@Lagniprimatte]

How is the UI and touchscreen? Sir, can you ship me this device? I will pay for shipping.

[@derbigpr500]

Thats why I sometimes EQ the music with T1's. Because its so transparent, some music just sounds plain bad. Either has too much bass, or too little bass, or its sibilant, etc. I used to hate EQ's as well and thought it would be a blasphemy to do it, but TBH once I realized music is heavily EQ'ed already, when I get it, it doesn't bother me anymore. If I want more impact in the sound, I'll just EQ it a bit and enjoy it more that way. I even thought about getting a real hardware EQ.

[@Dc209Tech]

Whats the price of the device

[@I514]

This obviously wasn't made for people like you, this was made for people who understand exactly what they're getting, and why they need it. A classic case of "if you don't know if you need it, you don't need it". There's no need to express negativity towards it.

[@3181able]

For those who want and "can" buy -lucky ones- you can buy and download HQ/HI-FI music in different formats from HDTracks.com, it's limited in stock but it's going to increase depending on the demand. Another interesting thing is the capacity of the memory of all the Hi-Fi music players: they seem to have a huge capacity of memory, but something most people don't know is that this kind of music format are heavy, much more than the MP3 format, that's the reason of the memory capacity.

[@derbigpr500]

You say its design is sound quality centric...and other amps and DAC's are not? And how would a "stronger amp circuit" sacrifice on refinement? Having heard the AK120 and Centrane Hifi M8 maybe 20 minutes apart from each other, I can tell you that M8 blows the AK120 to hell and back in terms of sound quality and power. Of course, its only a dac/amp, no player, but at half the price. Ak120 is not bad, but at 1300 dollars, it definitely isnt sound quality centric, you're paying half for actual SQ.

[@ianmedium]

Mine should be here on Friday, can't wait! Love the case, hand made in Italy, nice!

[@2013mrmike]

how do you get the high quality music tracks

[@MasterGravitron]

No fixed volume line level out?

[@Sebbenify]

Doesn't matter what people say , i still love you Sansa Clip

[@Leifikins]

If this unit has 128 gb internal , can I use 2 -200gb cards in each slot??

[@marcusbuntu6784]

Where is this made in?

[@derbigpr500]

Postprocessing is something you cant run away from. It can be done very well, and it is done in every studio in the world. You can take the purest audiophile recording everyone swears by, and it still has a decent amount of fiddling done to the sound after it was recorded. There is no such thing as pure original sound, you can only get that if you listen to a live performance. Anything recorded has been tainted with, so why not play with it some more and make it more enjoyable?

[@pvfinland]

Where does a Korean company get the Danish/German-sounding names Astell and Kern from?

[@boriuu]

Korea?

[@sencor3378]

What do you think about the apple ipod classic?

[@derbigpr500]

Not to mention all the professional sound engineers who mix on and master on headphones and use crossfeed because it makes the sound coming out of headphones far more realistic and natural, and more similar to speaker listening....not to mention without it, it would be impossible to properly master on headphones and know what the imaging and soundstage will be like on speakers. But I guess crossfeed sucks, it alters the original sound, and we know that doesn't happen at all without crossfeed.

[@I514]

Because we don't treat our equipment like crap, unlike the average consumer, who views headphones and DAPs as disposable, cheap toys that break in a couple months, the ones who view music as background noise at best, and therefor can't understand why we spend more than $25 on it. A DAP like this is a one time investment for us. It'll never break, because we respect and care for our equipment. It is to us, as an instrument is to a musician, especially the headphones.

[@I514]

Because it's essentially going to be my desktop rig and portable rig for a while.

[@PUREaw5umnes]

Head phones???

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

1:01 - Always point the sharp edge away from your fingers, in the opposite direction, not toward your fingers.

[@I514]

A mastering grade hardware EQ is something I would like in a desktop setup, since almost completely transparent ones can be had. I'm kind of hypocritical when it comes to EQ though. :P

[@I514]

I'm extremely sensitive to the upper midrange, that was my issue with the HD600, it sounded like a dusty, dry-ass desert to me. Horrible coloration, really. I know now my preferred FR is essentially the equal loudness curve, with as little THD in the bass as possible. That's what the TH series is delivering, so I'm looking to them. Needless to say, the Grado RS2i was a huge mistake lol, but I got that when I was younger and didn't know what i wanted. :P

[@derbigpr500]

They screwed up by not giving it a crossfeed circuit...or at least a software crossfeed.

[@derbigpr500]

Do you even know what crossfeed is or how it works? Obviously not otherwise you would not write that. But do explain how exactly a crossfeed circuit HEAVILY alters and degrades the sound, and why it sounds atrocious, I'm really interested. I guess all the high-end professional studio headphone amp manufacturers dont know what they're doing...they should hire someone like you to design pro gear for them, you clearly know best how to make headphones sound more natural and greatly improve imaging.

[@SoggyToastStudios]

This looks like a really nice player but it can hardly compare with more popular players like iPods. This is $1200; iPod touch 5th gen. is $230. This plays no games; iPod does. This (i assume) has no WiFi connectivity; iPod does. This has no camera; iPod does. Tell me please, why should I consider this player as an option when the iPod has so much more use? I really just do not see the point in the Astell&Kern.

[@Jonrocat]

for $1200 id expect at-least a good set of in-ears to go with it....

[@Jonrocat]

MASTERUDY Castillo respect bro! i respect a dude that can be honest about their flaws..

[@kenman9524]

people who buy such dap have at least a pair of high end earphones themselves and please, this is not design for the general music listeners

[@cripple1791]

Picked up mine for $600 used on the Head-fi for sale forum in perfect condition.

[@boriuu]

You know of any more?

[@cripple1791]

boriuu There is a professionally modded AK100 up on Head-fi right now for $770 USD, but to be honest, I got really lucky with that sale. You could get lucky and maybe find one going for cheap, but if you're willing to pay what I did for a used one then you could just stretch your budget by a hundred bucks and get a brand new AK100. Either that or settle for something less expensive like a FiiO X5, or ibasso DX90, both of which have great SQ. But if you don't wanna settle, keep an eye out on Head-fi. Someone is always selling so they can upgrade.

[@boriuu]

***** I was thinking about getting this, centrance m8 to make a portable setup for some JH audio custom iems. So ive been thinking about this and I think I'll just have to go full price.

[@cripple1791]

boriuu Hope you enjoy it when you finally do get it! Bit of advice though.. Unless you're using it to drive really inefficient planar magnetic headphones, you won't really need an amp, as it already has a really good one built in and you don't wanna double amp with the CEntrance amp. It'll degrade the quality of the signal the device outputs.

[@boriuu]

***** OK, thanks but I was reccomended this setup, but do you think I should run it alone?

[@markmaloof2984]

I have the latesrt one (Version 1.33), got it at Rocky Mountain Audio show. Hi Rez and especially DSD tracks sound fantastic on it. Anybody comparing this to an iPod is clueless! Try playing DSD and 24/96 or 24/192 on a iPod. Oh wait, you can't. Note: I'm a professional location sound recordist and audiophile, and yes I can hear the subtle but important (to me ) differences between Redbook cd (or, worse, MP3) and hi res digital music. My iPod is going up on EBay.

[@derbigpr500]

"the issue is that there hasn't been a crossfeed circuit or software yet that doesn't also unintentionally act as an uncontrollable EQ" Oh, yes, there has been, both software and hardware. Do yourself a favor and listen to the SPL Phonitor.

[@derbigpr500]

You will never get pure sound out of any audio setup. And if you ask whats the point of buying a properly designed amp and DAC if you throw postprocessing over it....then whats the point of buying an audio setup at all, if you know in advance that what you're getting is not 100% original? The sooner you accept that, more you will enjoy the music. I even sometimes EQ my music when listening to T1's, which are $1500 headphones designed to be as natural as possible, but some recordings just aren't.

[@Takato142]

However, when it comes to the upstream equipment, I want nothing but absolute perfection. The source should be as transparent, clean, neutral, perhaps even as analytical as possible. Leave musicality and colorations to the headphones. The AK120 seems to do that; its design is sound quality-centric. At $1300, I doubt there's an equivalent desktop rig. The amp may be weak but it IS intended for portable gear, and a stronger amp circuit would sacrifice refinement, size, battery life, etc.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

"There was a protective film, I took it off" Yea, guy. We watched you do it.

[@kittyjewel]

i want one badly, giveaway?

[@SoggyToastStudios]

Sorry, I posted that comment before I knew that this was more than just a MP3.

[@Loljoshhhy]

Technically you can still do better. Red Wine Audio has a RWA AK120 -S Mod where they replace some of the internals. :3

[@Mattkat0410]

hifiguy, you put out decent content and i respect your opinions and knowledge, but i really wish you would improve your video editing, and ESPECIALLY improve your audio. get a good microphone setup, i would enjoy your videos sooo much more! maybe a snappy intro? since you're getting popular i would look into such things.

[@ivanandresprieto8029]

Dont worry bro you always did well and it doesn't have to matter to you the else opinion ..is your money and is your problem what you buy with it :D

[@sonynadidas]

How do you people have the money for this....

[@derbigpr500]

But most people who say they're audiophiles really aren't. That much I can agree on.

[@cerevor]

You will ignore this, and perhaps with good reason, which doesn't mean they're the right reasons, but maybe you should consider doing audio recordings of the headphones and other devices, not for "review", but just for curiosity and it's possible. I do think it would greatly enhance the overall quality of videos, though the accuracy of any impressions would remain largely speculative. Lah-di-dah, just a thought, bye bye (thought).

[@JrKikis]

Everything that plays music, phone, mp3, computer etc. has a DAC. Without a DAC there would be no sound.

[@phyll24]

That's indeed the most expensive mp3 or whatever you call it, I've ever seen.

[@I514]

And, there's the ad hominem. Wouldn't be KZbin without it. No, I don't own one of these yet, I'm anticipating getting one in the future. I'm not rich, I have to choose carefully and save for it. What I do have, however, is a passion for audio that's lead me to do quite a lot of research on everything related to it over the years. But it doesn't matter, we'll never see eye to eye, because I'm not an audiophile.

[@markmaloof2984]

Just bought one at the Rocky Mountain Audio

[@derbigpr500]

"At $1300, I doubt there's an equivalent desktop rig". Sorry, but that is just ridiculous. As someone who's heard the AK120 I can tell you that at 600-700 dollars you can have a DAC/amp that beats it easily in every single way.

[@boriuu]

I was looking at a rwak100 for 400 pounds. I might just go for that.

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

2:08 - Looks like an expensive, fancy jewelry or perfume case.

[@I514]

...Wow we really made a mess out of the comments section of this video. This probably should have been done with PMs...>__> But yeah, the issue for me is, I shouldn't have to EQ the headphones to correct its FR. I'm a purist like that I guess. Also lol, the T1...that huge 10khz peak almost all Beyers have would drive me batshit insane. If I do EQ a headphone, that's what it's for, reducing a nasty, elevated upper midrange that most headphones today seem to have.

[@CannedBeats]

Doesn't look like it supports DSD

[@JogieGlenMait]

that leather case. Fiio X3, sorry but this one is much more compact. :D

[@towsonualum]

Looks sweet!

[@I514]

Must not go on head-fi much then. :P A good majority of people there are like that, and are "holier than thou" about it. I realized how wrong they were when I got an HD600 and listened to it for ~6 months, and discovered just how bad it is. (yes it had enough power for that ridiculous impedance curve in the bass) But, it lead me to experiment with modding my other cans, and lead to the MDR-V6 becoming the best headphone I own, which is leading me to want a TH-600/AK120 for my "TOTL" setup. :P

[@reddevil211287]

I want one so bad :( Theyre so freaking expensive

[@reddevil211287]

Thanks for the link zune! but reviews on the fiio x3 are really mixed..people having too many issues. :P I ended up getting an external amp/dac to go with my ipod....until I have enough laying around for the Astell&Kern that is

[@holybun]

the holy grail of all media players!

[@I514]

This is a difference in definitions then I guess, upper midrange to me is ~7k-14k, everything above is treble.

[@derbigpr500]

Well, you see, you don't own it, you've never heard, it yet you talk down on people who ask why you'd pay for it, as if you're better than they are because you would pay 1300 dollar for a portable player. I on the other hand have heard the K120 on the Munchen high end show this year, and felt it was overpriced for the sound quality. Yes, you get a nice all-in-one package, but you can put together a better sounding portable system at a considerably lower price.

[@willy1957]

For this kind of money I expect Wlan and or Android to be able to stream Wimp

[@I514]

I obviously didn't mean in the studio, though I'd prefer compressors to be illegal to use unless you actually know how to use them properly. What I mean is between the acquisition of the music, and the imbibing of it. The sushi analogy takes this into account; it's the customer putting wasabi all over the work of art, masking the original. That's what I dislike.

[@moEtoooast]

Hifiguy please dont change the way u make your videos. And dont use seperate audio recording. Keep things real and uncut

[@AllTheArtToday]

It looks awesome

[@FedLegacy2K]

Beautiful packaging lol

[@JetSet11000]

is that a camcorder battery? oh it is an mp3 player.. oh..

[@derbigpr500]

"What I do have, however, is a passion for audio" "because I'm not an audiophile" Pretty ironic.

[@ersteerste]

not bad, but of course isn't worth spending 1200$ (at least from the point of the sound)

[@Alpuka]

It looks like an old phone.. Really old.. There's just colors in this..

[@I514]

Audiophiles don't listen to music, they listen to the money they spent on their gear.

[@worstalentscout]

iriver has a more musical sound than ipod

[@malteadotas4]

obviously you don't understand what this player is all about. Get an ipod and be happy

[@ManuSharma86]

Fuck what timeline is this from lol

[@WitheredAnge1]

Wow 1300$ for a portable player? Sorry but that's overkill.

[@Meleonlight]

download flac files... 24 bits...

[@kennethchan8902]

way better than the Sony NWZ-ZX1 anytime

[@kangarulzx]

The interface are horrible!!!! it reminds me of my dad's old camera. and the case and protective films is nice and all, but it kinda depreciates the product in some way.... but i fell in love the case design and look, its best ive seen in a mp3 player. it can also act as a DAC which makes this product unique, but the ugly interface has to GO. should not go for the brushed aluminium, its kinda old. should go for matt black aluminium

[@RFT15ify]

Beats "Studio"? Seriously?

[@eddieefrati1318]

a dream !!!!