Takuya Sugiyama san Tower Set up 2017 with Focal Utopia

Sony WM1Z burn in - rudi0504

HD 6 XX burn in time at office

Source:
Sony WM 1 Z

Amp:
Bakoon HDA 55200

Headphone:
Sennheiser Massdrop HD 6 XX

Cable:
IC Crystal Cable Reference Diamond
Oyaide PCOCC - A for HD 600 / 650 upgrade Cable

CEntrance Globe A1, T5p - rudi0504

 

 

 

AK 380 Copper made in Korea, AK 380 Amp Copper, IEM: Kumikate Trio Silver Sterling made in Japan - Rudi0504

Work of Art in Portable Audio World
These two are my best looking set up
Source:
AK 380 Copper made in Korea
Amp:
AK 380 Amp Copper
IEM:
Kumikate Trio Silver Sterling made in Japan

Music:
Zubin Mehta
Wiener Philharmoniker
Mahler symphony Nr2

This set up is high end set up in Portable Audio.
I can not imagine 10 Years ago that portable set up can sound so excellent.
So far AK 380+AK 380 Amp pair with Kumikate Trio silver sterling has great synergy.

Note:
If you maintain your Copper and Silver and Brass Material very carefully.
They shine like new open the box i i use only
Jewellery Cloth so far so great.

Kumikate Trio Sterling Silver, Fit Ear MH 335 DW SR comparison - rudi0504

Two high end IEMs from Japan comparison review

-rudi0504

Source: AK 240 SS
IEM: Kumikate Trio Sterling Silver.
CIEM: Fit Ear MH 335 DW SR with Wagnus Diamond Dust Enigma TRRS Balanced.

Fit Ear MH 335. DW SR
Highs:
Is good and has rich of micro details.
And has great rendering ,but not as sparkle like Kumikate Trio .
Fit Ear High has more body and natural.
Mids:
Is the strong point from MH 335 DW SR.
Has very good pronounce .
I love how the Piano sounds so natural and neutral.
Bass:
Has very good Bass impact and the bass can go deep without any distortion.
Separation:
Very good separation that i can hear the individual instrument placement very easy where they come from.
Soundstage:
Very wide and has very good depth.

Kumikate Trio sterling silver:
Highs:
Has more sparkle than the Fit Ear Mh 335 DE SR.
Overall has the same high quality and is rich in micro details.
Mids:
Is not as thick from MH 335 DW SR.
Has great pronounce too.
Bass:
Very good bass detail and great bass impact too.
But the bass can go as low as MH 335 DW SR.
Bass Quality both are excellent
Separation:
Is very good about on par.
Soundstage:
Kumikate Trio has slightly wider soundstage and less depth

Conclusion:
These two Top Tier Japanese amp sound quality are about on par.
If you like a brighter sounding IEM then the Kumikate Trio is your choice.
It you like a natural sounding IEM then the Fit Ear Mh 334 DE SR is your choice.

Note :
Kumikate Trio fit is not as easy as Mh 335 DW SR custom IEM.

Dita Gold TRRS balanced Edition, Dita Brass D.BSpoke (Limited Editionof 20 units), Kumikate Trio Sterling Silver - Rudi0504

Comparison review of 

Dita Gold TRRS Edition Singapore 

Dita Brass D.BSpoke (Limited Edition of 20 Units)

Kumikate Trio Silver Sterling, Japan

-rudi0504

Source:
AK 380 Copper

Amp:
AK 380 Copper Amp

IEMs:
Dita Good TRRS balanced edition.
Dita Brass D.BSpoke (Limited Edition of 20 units).
Kumikate Trio Sterling Silver.

Dita Gold TRRS balanced edition.
Highs:
Has sparkle and excellent detail and clarity.
Mids:
Clear, sounds thin and not so analog.
Bass:
Very good in speed and detail but less bass body.
Separation:
Great separation.
Soundstage:
Very wide and less depth.

Dita Brass D.BSpoke (Limited Edition 20 Units).
Highs:
Has better focus and rendering than the Dita Gold Balanced.
Mids:
Is sweet and clear and has excellent pronounce.
Bass:
Has better bass body and has greater bass impact when compared to the Dita Gold balanced.
Separation:
Is better than Dita gold balanced.
I can hear the music placement better.
Soundstage:
Is very wide and has great depth and height.
I love it.

Kumikate Trip Sterling Silver.
Highs:
Is the best out of these 3 IEMs
Has sparkle , airy , good high rendering and more focus.
Cymbals - they are more natural and are rich in micro details.
Mids:
Very sweet and analog .
Reminds me of my home audio set up Lile JBL Everest .
And great pronounce.
Best from these 3 IEMs
Bass:
Very solid and very good bass impact and detail.
Bass sounds natural and very clean.
Separation:
Very good separation.
It is on par with Dita Brass D. BSpoke
Soundstage:
Is less slightly wide than Dita Brass D. BSpoke
But with better depth
Like medium concert hall
Dita D. bSpoke like big concert hall

Conclusion:
Fit:
Dita Gold Balanced TRRS and Dita Brass D BSpoke are excellent.
Kumikate Trio fit is not so good, but once you get the right fit and seal the sound quality is excellent.

Build quality:
Kumikate Trio and Dita Brass D Bspoke Limited Edition of 20 units are excellent.
Dita Gold TRRS Edition is very good.

In terms of sound quality:
1st place is:
Kumikate Trio silver sterling.
2nd Place:
Dita Brass D BSpoke Limited Edition of 20 units.
3rd Place:
Dita Gold TRRS edition.

High end set up at home - Rudi0504

After work High end set up at home

Source :
iphone 5 s USA Version

Dac / amp :
VentureCraft Go-Dap DD limited Edition 12 Volt as
uSB / SPDIF only

Chord Dave :
as DAC connect to Go Dap DD LE 12 Volt
as Amp too

Headphone :
Enjgma Accoustic Dharma

Cable :
DIY. converter HD 800 male to 4 Pin Female for Stephan Audio Art Cable Endorphin

Cable :
My best Coaxial Cable from my home audio set up
Neuron 99 Digital Silencer from Nanotech Japan

Music Player :
Relisten Player
Song :
Estate ( Summer )
Susannah Mc Corkle
Album : Sabia

Sound Quality:
Awesome for headphone set up
The best sounding Set up for my Enigma Accoustic
Paired with Chord Dave
With better source it can follow the sound quality
From your source
So kind of high End sound quality in headphone set up.

I am waiting since year 2010, now my dream set up has come true.

YL with HD800

Astell & Kern AK380 Copper review - Rudi0504

AK380 Copper review

By Rudi0504.

 I have a long history of owning Astell & Kern products.
Such as:

Ak 100 mk 1 Final Audio Design Edition.

Ak 100 mk 1 Gold Japan Edition.
Ak 100 mk 2 Blue LE japan edition.
Ak 100 II.
Ak 240 ss.
Ak 380 copper.

I base my findings and conclusions on the above and also comparisons to other TOTL 

DAPs I mention later in the review.


Build.

The build of the AK380 copper edition is as any Astell & Kern device, a well tooled and finished piece of perfect design.

The weight is more than previous AK devices due to the material employed (about 350g).

It feels solid when resting in ones palm.

The body is machined from a full solid block of copper over four hours.

See here:  http://www.iriver.jp/products/product_119.php#1

Quite an engineering marvel!

Sound.

The sound of the AK380 echoes much of what has gone before within the AK line of Daps. This although still being part of the AK380 series it does have its own particular signature sound revealed by sessions of critical listening.

My earlier initial impressions:

Source:
AK 380 Copper

IEM:
Fit Ear MH 334 custom

Out the Box Sound Quality compared with the standard AK 380 :

High:
On Par with the standard AK 380 with better rendering and more natural sounding highs and smoother.

Mids:
They are cleaner and has better pronounce, sweeter and more natural vocals.

Bass:
Very clean, deep and more accurate sounding bass.
The bass quality is the best from all the AK DAPs I ever heard up to now.

Separation :
Is better in that the individual music instruments placement is more accurate.

Soundstage :
More 3D, like as in a big concert hall.

Background :
The best black background I have ever heard on a Portable DAP.

So far I am surprised what the AK 380 Copper can produce, its their best sound quality in a DAP to date.

Further more recent thoughts and impressions.

I have listened to the AK380 Copper that I own and have also shared it at several meets to gather other peoples opinions to check and verify my own impressions.

Highs:

Better detail and clearer rendering than the previous Daps in the AK380 series.

Mids:

They are sweeter when compared to the original AK380 and vocals are cleaner.

Bass:

The lower end has more impact, it comes across as tight, detailed and with a fast response.

Separation:

The separation of the music, vocals etc is excellent. As is to be expected.

The Soundstage:

It could be akin to a large concert hall. Expansive.

Features.

32/384 kHz playback.

DSD 256 native.

(AKM) AK4490 DAC.

Graphic EQ.

Compatible with the AK accessories such as the extension cradle, amplifier, CD ripper (all not included).

WAV, FLAC, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF all supported.

Included items: microUSB cable, leather case, screen protective sheet x2, back protective sheet × 2, microSD card slot cover x2, quick start guide, warranty card (body one year / accessories 90 days), Attention statement.

For full spec details see here:

http://www.iriver.jp/products/product_119.php#2

Value.

I think it performs well within the hierarchy of TOTL Daps.

I compared the AK380 Copper to my Top Of The Line Daps as follows:

The music genres used:

Jazz
Classical
Audiophile songs
Mandarin Audiophile songs.

Below is my order of preference when it comes to TOTL Daps:

1st Place:
AK 380 Copper.

2nd Place:
AK 380 Duralium.

3rd Place:
AK 240 ss

4th Place:
Lotoo Paw Gold.

5th Place:
AK 240 Duralium.

IEMs used:
Fit Ear MH 335 DW Studio Reference.

review by Rudi0504.

*Proof reading, editing: expatinjapan.