I personally have long been waiting for such a device as the AK100: Small, compact and uncomplicated player, with excellent sound, superior well made and even without hard disk with enough capacity that I can have here my entire music collection ever. I am just still the generation of those who also "own" their music and not only (a la Spotify or so) "rent" want, so you are guaranteed in every corner of the world can still hear his music without mobile access.
If a device like the AK100 iRiver comes, I am not surprised. Whether it's now essential to establish a luxury brand would have taken as "Astell & Kern," remains to be seen; But as the car industry ("Lexus" as luxury brand of Toyota) makes before it, and it seems to work. I for one would have bought the AK100 also under the trademark iRiver, because my experience with iRiver are very good. In 2004 I bought a IHP 140 (with the same technology as the successor H140, only other display and housing). This was then the best that you could get when it comes to mobile hi-fi equipment, and also makes these days (especially with Rockbox firmware) still a very good figure. Sure, the 40GB hard drive (I have replaced times against a least 60GB large model) was then great, now you get the same (or more) capacity than flash memory.
In 2010, then I moved to a more compact, less sensitive player. It was a Cowon S9 (32GB flash memory). The sound quality of the S9 is also excellent; However, once you are disappointed at the first hearing because its basic setup seems rather flat and lifeless. Only after the "JetEffects" settings has tried something, the full sound potential opens up. What remains is a slightly uneasy feeling, because it is really necessary to have to revamp the sound only through DSPs? A high-quality players should have a basic vote IMHO, the same sounds really good on a good set of headphones. The same was observed when games Cowon X7 (160GB hard drive), which I had as a supplement risen times in order to have my entire music collection can thereby. Added to this was the really grottige user interface of the X7, which reminded one of the digitizer of an old Palm V PDA. Still, I was quite happy with this years player combo, because the decisive point, the sound was absolutely okay, DSP or not.
After this little trip in my personal equipment history now back to the AK100.
First impression and firmware update
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After unpacking once you are impressed (and remains so): Solid aluminum. For the size of unusually heavy. The card slots are protected by a high-quality sliding mechanism. Exemplary! Initial power: The display is relatively grobpixelig (> 200 dpi you can not expect here), but absolutely okay for a pure music player. Overall impression so far: Noble minimalist.
Firmware 1.30 AHA. Currently 1.33, So, at first announced firmware update. This is very easy even without the iRiver software (which I have not even installed): Download the iRiver site, unzip the file. The result is a "AK100.hex" file that you simply transmits to the root directory of the internal memory of the AK100. Off and on, already recognizes the player the firmware file and offers the installation. After another 1-2 minutes you're done.
In the box you can still find a protective bag, which although served its purpose and also looks classy minimalist, but here iRiver has perhaps somewhat exaggerated. Would certainly be for the price and a higher quality case, at best with belt loop, have been possible. Well, let's see what the aftermarket in the coming months so hergibt ...
Storage expansion with microSD cards
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Although microSD card support> 32GB only half officially iRiver (and probably more of "political" reason to the larger model AK120 not cannibalizing): I can confirm that the AK100, with at least the firmware 1.33 without problems 64GB microSDXC cards (Sandisk Class 10) works, because just as I run it (and both cards are from a few GB almost completely filled). The important thing is that these are previously FAT32 formatted on PC. Windows can not default, but there are a bunch (also freeware) tools that can do this (I personally have my Paragon Partition Manager for use). In addition, the cards must also be filled on the PC. (If you connect the AK100 with inserted card to the PC, Windows displays Although a total of three drives to (1x int. Memory, 2x SD card), but does not recognize content on the SD card and says, these drives are not formatted .) A big disadvantage is that, because the SD card (either taken quite quickly with long fingernails or a small auxiliary tool) and reinserted.
Sound
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Now for the (for me personally) importantly, the sound. My headphone reference here is my Beyerdynamic T5p, so a real flagship, which is designed to be relatively neutral and meets all requirements and any music material. And ... yes, there it is again! The good old "iRiver" feeling :-). Right from the start an absolutely pure, wonderfully spatial and lively, almost "analog" sound, as you can imagine it any better. Of course this applies particularly to high-resolution FLAC files (a few meaningful demos are indeed supplied, I have also even some albums with up to 24 bit / 192 kHz), but even my "standard format" (Ogg Vorbis, ~ 160 kbit / s, 16-bit / 44 kHz) sounds just absolutely superb and the crucial bit better than, say, with the Cowons.
I would say, things were going at the moment is not easy. Even my excellent high end sound chain on PC (M2Tech hiFace soundcard, VDAC D / A converter, Lehmann Audio Black Cube headphone amplifier) must make an effort to arrive, however.
A maximum of AK120 could still sit on one, but 600 Euro Surcharge for the supposedly again sounded enhancing dual mono operation of two Wolfson WM8740 D / A converters, 32GB were more internal memory, the official support of 64GB microSDXC cards and gapless play me personally too much.
Service
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Operation is no mystery what even it is already that the AK100 is a very minimalist player. No frills for highest sonic quality (except for the equalizer that would have been but also confidently from me to omit), and in general there are other than the display brightness, the display turn-off interval and duration to automatically turn off actually no settings. But it fits, because the handling is almost perfect, in my view: Power On / Off Long press on the power button. In operation it is possible by briefly pressing the power button on and off the screen. The three buttons Play / Pause, Next / Prev and FFW / REW are absolutely sufficient, you do not need more. The volume knob is obviously a dream come true. Almost like the volume knob on the Black Cube.
Operation via the hardware buttons and the volume control is not automatically turn on the display, which I think is good, because it prevents unnecessary power consumption.
Unfortunately, the database does not support the AK100 more than 10,000 titles. Since I have more than 30,000 titles on the device, I have the same database completely switched off and only use the folder navigation. This also works very well and fast. Only for very large folders (I have an "album" folder with more than 1000 subfolders) it takes before 5-10 seconds, until the folder structure is displayed, but that's okay, and it is also always aware of what the player is doing. Scrolling in such a long directory trees is also in order, because you can quickly move to the approximate location where the desired subfolder is the scroll bar with a mop.
If you do not switch off the player in between, you end up with renewed navigation where you were before. After cycling power, it is of course only once again in the root directory. When you turn off the player remembers, what song was being played, and this jumps after switching on again, but it plays again. So he does not remember the position within the track, which may be annoying for audiobooks, but otherwise hardly bothers (who listens to audio books as a machine?).
Other
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Something I had doubts at first because of the relatively high output impedance (> 20 ohms) of AK100. Some headphones come thus not clear what gets to undesirable changes in sound (eg slight height loss) noticeable. When AK120 iRiver has this impedance to this concern, however, was a precaution unfounded; all of mine tested headphones (see below) showed an impeccable, lively sound. The anyway I preferred Beyerdynamic Headphones tolerate a certain output impedance; Beyerdynamic has its own headphone amplifier by default with 100 Ohm.
The output power at the Headphone output is sufficient for the T5p out definitely. Permanently I hear hereby maximum at level 55 (from 75). If it's supposed to be sometimes loud, I go sometimes even to 60-65, but only briefly. About 65 would probably damage hearing even in a very short time. An artificial "EU compliant" volume limit there is not the way.
Note, however, that the T5p with 32 Ohm is ever quite sensitive and by the Tesla technology has a high efficiency. In particular, high-impedance headphones (250 or even 600 Ohm) with poor efficiency programs may require a mobile headphone amplifier. Since probably only helps the desire headphones to test times at AK100.
I have tried the following Headphones, which are part of my "collection":
- Beyerdynamic DT-990 Edition 2005 (32 ohms). Requires 5-6 levels more power than the T5p, can be at AK100 thus still operate prima directly. Sound excellent.
- Sony XBA-4 In-Ears: Same efficiency as the T5p and also superb sound on AK100. Good replacement for the T5p when this place moderate or otherwise not can or should.
- Koss Porta Pro: Just time for fun ... Here you realize then that the price range for its absolutely outstanding, but just "cheap" Porta Pro to its limits. Although it sounds, considered in isolation, really passable, but clearly überfordet when it comes to bringing the full potential of the AK100 on the ears.
Disadvantages
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Now I have all the time almost exclusively written about what the AK100 good at making. But there are also a few points of criticism:
- No gapless play.
Bothers me personally not so much because I rarely listen to music in which the pieces without a break into each other. But if it's a bit annoying, and should not be a topic for devices in this price range.
- Do not turn-off fade-in when jumping to a title.
Occasionally (especially when jumping to another track) the first fraction of a second of a song will not be played. It seems to me that here was a fade-in implements, which unfortunately is not switched off.
- Hardly support of tags and album art in Ogg Vorbis format.
My beloved Ogg Vorbis format is played back without difficulty though, but so far it did not succeed to get album art on the screen. Neither an embedded image in the file nor a cover.jpg, front.jpg folder.jpg or in the same folder is displayed.
Equally bad is it with the Ogg Vorbis from tags. The artist is still displayed, but only if in the "album artist" is not something else (then shows the AK100 "Unknown"). Fortunately, even my file names that are displayed in full length, descriptive enough so that all this does not really bother me.
Nevertheless: Who here has a tip in stock, I would be grateful. Otherwise, I am hoping for more support in a later firmware update.
In FLAC format's looks much better here the AK100 displays the embedded album art. I have not tried MP3.
- Database support max. 10,000 titles (see above).
- Fixed built-in battery.
Although something is always stupid, but I'm over it rarely trouble. Firstly, can the AK100 open (two screws on the bottom), so it probably will soon provide guidance on the net on how to change the battery yourself. Secondly, I have already made the IHP 140 experience that LiPo batteries really can last: the original battery of 140ers I changed only after 5 years, and even with no need (I only wanted a larger capacity ). This () noname replacement battery (LiPo also) met after four years now still without noticeable loss of its service capacity. Well, and even if you had the player for five years to send in time and pay 70-80 euros for a battery exchange, which would probably also not the end.
Otherwise I find nothing negative, no annoying "Einfrierer" dropouts or the like, which would spoil the fun of a device completely.
Conclusion
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The AK100, in conjunction with an adequate headphones such as the Beyerdynamic T5p, catapulted a sound in a previously unknown League, at least in the mobile sector. Although such a combination truly costs a lot of money, and everyone has to make with yourself, whether it's the worth. But as the saying goes: The loss of money doing just once hurt, this one has many long years of pleasure from the new acquisition (however only if the sound is really the first priority and you can live with the mentioned small drawbacks) ,
Another drawback (not meant quite seriously): The mobile music listening to such a high level can spoil an already existing satisfaction with the less high-quality equipment. With my Samsung Galaxy S2 I like now, even "in between", hear no more, because my aural differences compared to the AK100 with T5p feel like in the 80's the "real" Sony Walkman compared with a cheap copy of the discounters:. - )
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Update on 08/07/2013:
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The recently released firmware update 2:01 brings:
- A prettier, clearer Start screen (4 design variants can be selected).
- Gapless play (is disabled by default and must be something hidden, are capitalized under Equalizer Settings).
- A "Boost" setting, which basically raises the volume level by 3dB (also disabled by default and can be activated under the Equalizer Settings). This is not the world, but it can occur when you submit or other efficiency-weaker headphones, saving the external headphone amplifier.
- Otherwise, some other things, particularly useful detail tuning to the user interface through which I go away here sometimes. The display of album art from Ogg Vorbis files is not there.
However, the gapless play does not work consistently with all formats; FLAC with it goes smoothly, but unfortunately not with Ogg Vorbis files, since the AK100 at the beginning of a Ogg Vorbis file 2-3 "Memorial seconds" inserts. Other formats I have not tried. After all, it seems, but after my previous listening experiences to solve the above described fade-in little problems or at least reduce.
Then I want to get rid of that you can buy in the e-bay for slim EUR 8.99 incl. P a well-made, absolutely precisely fitting leather pouch for the AK100. Have I made and am significantly happier than with the supplied cloth bag. Although the leather case is open at the top (and so are the jacks unprotected), it can be the AK100 also insert when headphones are connected. Especially the protruding volume knob is well protected, so that those being evil expensive protection essays as they are also offered in the bay, can save yourself.
Meanwhile, I have incidentally also a Beyerdynamic T90 (a real piece of cake!), Which - has proven to be the ideal partner of the AK100 - as the T5p. Although he needs, similar to the Tesla loose DT-990 with 32 ohms, 250 ohms impedance for its 5-6 levels more level in order to subjectively be as loud as the T5p, but that creates the AK100 easy yes.
Now, after several weeks of operation, I am still very satisfied with the AK100. The sound of both T5p or T90 as well as with the Sony XBA-4 in-ears (when things should not be a big headphones) is simply stunning and intoxicating, and even with not quite as optimal music material.
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