Quote from: DaveBSC on July 23, 2013, 07:46:15 PMI'd really like to know how they got to double the cost of the AK100.Oh you know how. People would pay for it, that's how. That said, one chip per channel did make a noticeable improvement to my ears and I didn't/don't like the AK100. That said, I'm very happy w/ my portable rig atm after running through a bunch of opamps to breath new life into the rig. I honestly don't see a point to a standalone DAP anymore. When is a person ever going to be without their smartphone? Thus the DAP becomes another brick to haul around when the argument for all-in-one DAPs has been to reduce brickage. Best to just get a DAC/amp that can work w/ your phone which you will usually have on you anyway. If the AK120 were around the $400-$500 mark, I'd consider it, maybe. But at >$1K, hahahaha!!
I'd really like to know how they got to double the cost of the AK100.
Here's the EC445. The development platform for the x4. I'm always curious as to whether I am hearing shit or not, so it was nice that two guys at the meet stated that they heard a clear improvement with the 445 over the BA. You can read all about the 445 (or Levi) on this site.The power supply is an experimental unit using Xenon gas tubes. I don't think it will be available for the first run of the x4 (whenever that will be), but it may be available sometime in the future for an additional $1000? (the actual production unit, if it's ever made, will likely look much more fancy).
The GS-X sure is a looker... aww yeah.... THE SCREWS! Now all I see are those screws! WHY?
Quote from: RudeWolf on July 22, 2013, 05:43:52 AMThe GS-X sure is a looker... aww yeah.... THE SCREWS! Now all I see are those screws! WHY?i had a "Doh!" moment after i already had the panels for it. You can't install the screws from the back of the XLR jacks because there is no room for the head on that side -- also, for the XLR jacks to be flush, the panel is too thin for standard socket screws to also be flush. And the head diameter of flat-head socket screws is too large. On the combo jacks, you can do it though. But then i'd be left with 2 screws just for the 4-pin XLR and that might look weird. What I realized afterwards I could do is solder the 4-pin XLR to its own circuit board (vertically), and mount the circuit board to the panel instead of screwing in the jack. that would work and hold the jack well enough. But, i wasn't going to change it for the next batch because it pisses off people who were earlier adopters. so screws it is! they blend better on the black panel.
Quote from: justin w. on July 24, 2013, 01:24:43 AMQuote from: RudeWolf on July 22, 2013, 05:43:52 AMThe GS-X sure is a looker... aww yeah.... THE SCREWS! Now all I see are those screws! WHY?i had a "Doh!" moment after i already had the panels for it. You can't install the screws from the back of the XLR jacks because there is no room for the head on that side -- also, for the XLR jacks to be flush, the panel is too thin for standard socket screws to also be flush. And the head diameter of flat-head socket screws is too large. On the combo jacks, you can do it though. But then i'd be left with 2 screws just for the 4-pin XLR and that might look weird. What I realized afterwards I could do is solder the 4-pin XLR to its own circuit board (vertically), and mount the circuit board to the panel instead of screwing in the jack. that would work and hold the jack well enough. But, i wasn't going to change it for the next batch because it pisses off people who were earlier adopters. so screws it is! they blend better on the black panel.Perhaps change the philips screw drives to a more attractive one (hex maybe)? Something a little less "screw-y".
Tom Christensen (sp?) Design: This was a 300B, DIY build by a really nice guy whose name, of course, I have forgotten. He based it on a circuit by the bolded name provided here. A truly fine sound and, until the BHSE/SR-009, as open-sounding as anything I heard, and that's important to me.
