[nephilim32]

I address this in the video – and the simple fact that even the highest capacity portable sized battery would be instantly depleted trying to match the potential of household current – but I'd still say that Expanse and Stealth are on the edge of the need for current where one listener might think that they're absolutely perfect with KANN Max/Ultra while another finds the sound lacking.

“Might think” are the key words here in your thoughts regarding user experiences. For me personally, it actually comes down to a tech issue and not a synergistic one.
As noted by you. People might think this is an acceptable pairing, but people with more experience and who are more versed in amplification capabilities that ‘might think’ turns into a resounding no-go. Lol.

 

[NYanakiev]

@JasonNYC having quite a few issues with the HB1:

-battery depletion rate via Bluetooth
-unreliable connection with the A&K Control app on both iOS and Android
-listening to music via Bluetooth (ldac) was pretty great until I had a call come in with the ringtone at a deafeningly loud level

All of the above are deal breakers as far as I'm concerned and things that need to be addressed asap..

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC having quite a few issues with the HB1:

-battery depletion rate via Bluetooth
-unreliable connection with the A&K Control app on both iOS and Android
-listening to music via Bluetooth (ldac) was pretty great until I got a call come in with the ringtone at a deafeningly loud level

All of the above are deal breakers as far as I'm concerned and things that need to be addressed asap..

thank you for the info. I will pass this on.

 

[stephenkostas]

“Might think” are the key words here in your thoughts regarding user experiences. For me personally, it actually comes down to a tech issue and not a synergistic one.
As noted by you. People might think this is an acceptable pairing, but people with more experience and who are more versed in amplification capabilities that ‘might think’ turns into a resounding no-go. Lol.

So I'd kind of out it like this: with Susvara, it's not even the same headphone on the KANN Ultra or Diablo 2 as it is even with something on the level of a Burson Soloist Performance (let alone using something like the Enleum or the EF1000). However, with Expanse and Stealth, it's the same headphone just not 100% of it. You can get a better experience with a higher current desktop amp - no doubt - but you're still getting the key characteristics.

So, where I'd say KANN Ultra is objectively not powerful enough for Susvara, I'd say that at the level of Dan Clark's flagship headphones, there's more room for a subjective evaluation.

 

[Trickness]

For the life of me, I don’t know why anybody would complain about a battery powered DAP not being able to drive the most demanding headphones on the market to 100% of their performance. I’m listening on my Empyreans which OK are not the most difficult planars to drive, but I’m not even using the highest gain setting and they sound incredible on the ultra.

 

[Badgerio]

1. So USB dac function is depleting Kann Ultra battery. Its niether beeing charged nor the power is taken directly from usb to avoid battery drainage (like in Fiio m15s and m17). Is it supposed to be like that?

2. Am I the only person who find it extremely counterintuitive that the upper button is assigned to "previous" instead of "next" track?

3. To my ears the only advantage of using DAR in DSD mode is huge soundstage. Everything else (exept of details retrieval maybe) gets worse compared to PCM or DAR turned off (and I mean much worse). When choosing between PCM and no DAR at all, it depends on the track.

4. Crossfeed is a godsent and should become a standard in daps. It pushes the soundstage a little away from you. The final effect is hard to describe, its kind of similar to listening to pair of stereo speakers. But what is the most important it reduces listening fatigue to almost zero.

 

[FooFighter]

@JasonNYC
I've made that change request yet to Cayin too:
Preamp volume though LO port and headphone volume through PO port isn't treated seperately.
That means if you are running an external amp with 100% preamp volume and then switch to running IEMs through PO port you start at 100% volume!
That's a risk for damaging hearing and connected gear!
If you could implement individual volume configurations for each port that'll be a very useful feature

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC
I've made that change request yet to Cayin too:
Preamp volume though LO port and headphone volume through PO port isn't treated seperately.
That means if you are running an external amp with 100% preamp volume and then switch to running IEMs through PO port you start at 100% volume!
That's a risk for damaging hearing and connected gear!
If you could implement individual volume configurations for each port that'll be a very useful feature

noted. Will pass on.

 

[JasonNYC]

For HB1 owners,

I was asked to compile a list of feedback from HB1 owners on Head-Fi for the team. They are looking for feedback on what people like and dislike about the HB1, things that can be changed or improved, etc. I have compiled all of the posts here, but if anyone would like to PM me with more info or other things not mentioned here or I might have missed, please do so.

 

[Hubert481]

Did anyone compare KANN Ultra with Fiio M17 ?
could not find any direct comparsion

 

[123peter]

For HB1 owners,

I was asked to compile a list of feedback from HB1 owners on Head-Fi for the team. They are looking for feedback on what people like and dislike about the HB1, things that can be changed or improved, etc. I have compiled all of the posts here, but if anyone would like to PM me with more info or other things not mentioned here or I might have missed, please do so.

I will politely remind you of the topics for the meeting of Kann Ultra
It would be nice if the first update included:

1. USB-DAC - color change and information on the display, e.g. 44.1kHz - 24bit...
(You wrote yourself that you also see shortcomings here.)
2. End of charging mode - the red LED turns off after finish?
3. "Safely remove SD-Card" - placing this function deeper in the menu
(after so many years in the old UI, in the new perfect UI Crimson it's already there time to move it "deeper"
- no one takes out the SD card every day) I accidentally click on it
4. Colleague Badgerio also reported a next "very old" wrong message

5. Turning DAR on and off distorted at different sampling rates.
When this happens, it is necessary to turn DAR back on for a while and then turn it off
6. What type of potentiometer does in Kann Ultra ?
On very high gain in a quiet song you can hear electric clicks in the headphones
very, very quietly, as well as outside the case when turning the volume control quickly.

 

[JasonNYC]

I will politely remind you of the topics for the meeting of Kann Ultra
It would be nice if the first update included:

1. USB-DAC - color change and information on the display, e.g. 44.1kHz - 24bit...
(You wrote yourself that you also see shortcomings here.)
2. End of charging mode - the red LED turns off after finish?
3. "Safely remove SD-Card" - placing this function deeper in the menu
(after so many years in the old UI, in the new perfect UI Crimson it's already there time to move it "deeper"
- no one takes out the SD card every day) I accidentally click on it
4. Colleague Badgerio also reported a next "very old" wrong message

5. Turning DAR on and off distorted at different sampling rates.
When this happens, it is necessary to turn DAR back on for a while and then turn it off
6. What type of potentiometer does in Kann Ultra ?
On very high gain in a quiet song you can hear electric clicks in the headphones
very, very quietly, as well as outside the case when turning the volume control quickly.

Yes. I just got the latest build of the next firmware this morning. Installed it but have only tested Roon support.

5. Turning DAR on and off distorted at different sampling rates.
When this happens, it is necessary to turn DAR back on for a while and then turn it off

I know this is supposedly fixed in the next firmware. Will test it today/tomorrow. I have not seen the full list of fixes and feature updates yet.

The other issues have been submitted, but I do not think they were able to include in this firmware round. Will confirm.

 

[Pablo67]

A couple of questions for the group…

Are there ANY recommendations on wall chargers for the Kann Ultra?

Secondly, has anyone experienced better results via “burn-in” of the Ultra? Is burn in recommended??

 

[Trickness]

A couple of questions for the group…

Are there ANY recommendations on wall chargers for the Kann Ultra?

Secondly, has anyone experienced better results via “burn-in” of the Ultra? Is burn in recommended??

It charges via USB-C, and pretty quickly. So whatever USB-C to AC solution you use it should be fine.

I let mine play for a couple of days and I’m not sure it made any difference, so burn-in improvements are pretty subtle

 

[123peter]

In the New Year, I wish for love in our hearts to be stronger than hatred, and for every note of music to be a manifestation of that desire – the desire for peace, understanding, and unity.

May the melody of our lives play notes of understanding and empathy, so that current conflicts give way to reconciliation, allowing those caught within them to return home and cherish the love of their families accompanied by the tranquil music.

At this moment when people worldwide are engaged in conflicts, I wish for politicians to tune into the harmony of music, reminding them that people desire love, peace, and the warmth of home, not wars and bloodshed.

I wish for all of us that the year 2024 brings not only the beauty of melodies but also a true chord of peace resonating in the hearts of every individual.
Happy New Year !.
Peter