Will the AK4499EX successor come out in 2025?

[tyanlion]

Yes, but I still don't fully understand your situation, hence I can not recommend anything besides looking for a more suitable audio switch/hub/digital preamp of sorts. It's a bit unconventional to use a computer monitor as a digital audio input hub, so no wonder things do not work out as well and as easy...

I am not asking for a recommendation now I am just asking if anyone knows when the AK's flagship dac will have a new model.

 

[NTK]

Know that the KH80 uses a Cirrus Logic CS42526 for DA/AD conversions and TI TAS5613A for amplification (SINAD not better than 0.01% or 80 dB). Why worry about anything with "better" performance upstream.

Neumann KH80DSP Teardown

A friend of mine decided to look at the inside of the KH80DSP because he found the Neumanns run hotter than his JBL LSR305P MkII. Seems like there hasn't been any teardown picture of the KH80DSP on the internet. My friend kindly allowed me to share these disassembly pictures on this forum, so...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[tyanlion]

Know that the KH80 uses a Cirrus Logic CS42526 for DA/AD conversions and TI TAS5613A for amplification (SINAD not better than 0.01% or 80 dB). Why worry about anything with "better" performance upstream.

Neumann KH80DSP Teardown

A friend of mine decided to look at the inside of the KH80DSP because he found the Neumanns run hotter than his JBL LSR305P MkII. Seems like there hasn't been any teardown picture of the KH80DSP on the internet. My friend kindly allowed me to share these disassembly pictures on this forum, so...

www.audiosciencereview.com

View attachment 420297

So basically there will be no sound difference when using a higher quality dac ?

 

[NTK]

So basically there will be no sound difference when using a higher quality dac ?

Your EX5 is as good as you'll get.

 

[tyanlion]

Your EX5 is as good as you'll get.

When I use the EX5 vs the focusite I can tell there's some differences though. EX5 is definitely a lot brighter

 

[staticV3]

So basically there will be no sound difference when using a higher quality dac ?

Correct.

The AD and DA converters inside the KH750 and KH80 have way more noise and distortion than any Topping DAC.

Using an external DAC necessitates that the signal passes through these internal converters, negating any benefits it may have had.

An optimal setup would cut down on the number of conversions outright, though I see that trying to do that with your display's built-in Toslink output didn't work out.

 

[unpluggged]

The AD and DA converters inside the KH750 and KH80 have way more noise and distortion than any Topping DAC.

Too bad I have yet to see a similar teardown of the KH 750 DSP to solve the mistery regarding its DAC chip (Neumann only publishes its SNR at >123 dBA)

IME, I would not say it has "way more noise" than the better-performing standalone DACs. But whatever is the case, I don't think it is in any way underperforming.

 

[JeremyFife]

I don't think anyone knows when those AK DACs will be available. Most people here are saying that it just doesn't matter.
If you need a new DAC then choose based on the features and aesthetics that you want. You won't get improvement in sound by fiddling with different DACs, as long as they are decent.

Ideally, persevere with digital connections to your speakers. If you've had enough of that (fair enough) then just get a nice DAC and be happy.

 

[tyanlion]

I don't think anyone knows when those AK DACs will be available. Most people here are saying that it just doesn't matter.
If you need a new DAC then choose based on the features and aesthetics that you want. You won't get improvement in sound by fiddling with different DACs, as long as they are decent.

Ideally, persevere with digital connections to your speakers. If you've had enough of that (fair enough) then just get a nice DAC and be happy.

Tbh its more of getting value for your money, if I change out the neuman speaker system I have, for speakers with no dacs inside, the better dac it would be better. Whether that may or may not be perceptible in the future is a point that can be debated in the future.

I have said time and time again on this thread not to search for underlying causes for what I want to do but people just don't seem to understand that and keep digging on the kh80 and kh750. I feel I should have just said some non-dac speakers just to remove this problem.

"I don't think anyone knows when those AK DACs will be available. " I feel if people really don't have any idea here which is suprising. I actually thought I would recieve some sort of answer in the first few post.

Just to be clear I am gonna explcitly state this for any further posters on this thread to stick to the topic. Take it as I want to change my Neuman's to something else with no dacs in them and then try to answer the question.

 

[unpluggged]

Take it as I want to change my Neuman's to something else with no dacs in them and then try to answer the question.

This is unreasonable. But if you do, look at the RME ADI-2 series.

 

[tyanlion]

This is unreasonable. But if you do, look at the RME ADI-2 series.

I already said in that other thread there is no supplier in my country for the RME series, they don't import it in. I've linked that thread here now like several times. Plus the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R BE is way beyond the budget I am willing to spend on a dac/interface.

 

[JustJones]

If there is someone affiliated with AKM who posts here they might have some idea about product releases. The chip you're asking about AK4499EXEQ isn't used as a stand alone implementation but in conjunction with the AK4191EQ so I would imagine any new release would either use the AK4191EQ or something to replace it. They might even go back to a single chip. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball who can answer your question. You say you're not in a hurry so I guess wait and see.

 

[Rednaxela]

I have said time and time again on this thread not to search for underlying causes for what I want to do but people just don't seem to understand that and keep digging on the kh80 and kh750. I feel I should have just said some non-dac speakers just to remove this problem.

"I don't think anyone knows when those AK DACs will be available. " I feel if people really don't have any idea here which is suprising. I actually thought I would recieve some sort of answer in the first few post.

Just to be clear I am gonna explcitly state this for any further posters on this thread to stick to the topic. Take it as I want to change my Neuman's to something else with no dacs in them and then try to answer the question.

Your problem is that your question suggests an expectation which the ASR community would rather not perpetuate.

Has it never occurred to you that DAC chip talk in general doesn’t really flow here?

 

[tyanlion]

If there is someone affiliated with AKM who posts here they might have some idea about product releases. The chip you're asking about isn't used as a stand alone implementation but in conjunction with the AK4191EQ so I would imagine any new release would either use the AK4191EQ or something to replace it. They might even go back to a single chip. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball who can answer your question. You say you're not in a hurry so I guess wait and see.

Actually I think your on the money because they have announced a AK4498EX DAC that will be paired with the AK4191EQ.

https://www.akm.com/global/en/about-us/news/2024/20241118-ak4498exvq/

Btw thanks for actually answering the question

 

[tyanlion]

Your problem is that your question suggests an expectation which the ASR community would rather not perpetuate.

Has it never occurred to you that DAC chip talk in general doesn’t really flow here?

Actually Just Jones gave a good answer just now:

Will the AK4499EX successor come out in 2025?

Yes, but I still don't fully understand your situation, hence I can not recommend anything besides looking for a more suitable audio switch/hub/digital preamp of sorts. It's a bit unconventional to use a computer monitor as a digital audio input hub, so no wonder things do not work out as well...

audiosciencereview.com

I don't think its that difficult to answer my question about potential updates for a DAC. I mean if ppl don't know, appreciate you reading the thread but there's no point to really comment on the thread.

 

[Rednaxela]

The fact that eventually got an answer does not negate my point.

 

[tyanlion]

The fact that eventually got an answer does not negate my point.

"Your problem is that your question suggests an expectation which the ASR community would rather not perpetuate."

My expectation was met

 

[voodooless]

I mean if ppl don't know, appreciate you reading the thread but there's no point to really comment on the thread.

Sure there is. Stopping people from pointless fomo is one of the hallmarks of this forum.

Stop obsessing over DACs and enjoy the music.

 

[tyanlion]

Sure there is. Stopping people from pointless fomo is one of the hallmarks of this forum.

Stop obsessing over DACs and enjoy the music.

Thank you for commenting on the thread and reemphasizing your point again and again, but that does nothing to help with the topic.

 

[Rednaxela]

My expectation was met

That’s all right and I am glad for you but it doesn’t negate my point.