[jmills8]

Mm..A&K chose to discontinue the AK line and launch a new line (A&ultimate) for their TOTL DAP. For a company that has a proven track record of making some of the finest DAPs on the planet, I expect the SP 1000 to outperform the previous flagship, the AK 380s. I expect no less.

Thats a powerful feeling, to feel like you know (expect).

 

[raypin]

Mm..borne out of personal experience, starting with the AK 240, followed by the AK 380 and followed by the AK 380 cu. A&K has always delivered for me, except for their amp. The 240 can still hold its own against other newer DAP. Flawlessly functions to this day and pairs really well with my Vorzuge Pure 2 Plus.

 

[bmichels]

I've grown a little tired of polishing the player (OCD) and though it looks beautiful, I'm leaning towards the SS version.

We got infos on the A&K booth that this time the CU version will be protected by a transparent layer above the CU. So, apparently no need for polishing anymore ...

 

[raypin]

Mm...the 380 cu has a protective coat but it is not permanent so tarnishing/aging is inevitable. If the new coating (like a laminate??) is much more durable, that is very welcome news.

 

[bmichels]

Also please note that there are 5 (ground added since AK380) contacts at the bottom available for an external AMP but... A&K told us that they have no AMP in development since instead they open the specs to allow third party manufacturer top develop AMPs (and docking stations) for the SP1000.

Btw the UI is very snappy and rescanning very fast. It feel very robust and enjoyable to hold and operate

 

[kel77]

Also please note that there are 5 (ground added since AK380) contacts at the bottom available for an external AMP but... A&K told us that they have no AMP in development since instead they open the specs to allow third party manufacturer top develop AMPs (and docking stations) for the SP1000.

Btw the UI is very snappy and rescanning very fast. It feel very robust and enjoyable to hold and operate

Did you get to try DSD files on the player? Does it pause for 2-3 secs before play when switching from PCM to DSD like the current batch of AK DAPs?

 

[bmichels]

Firmware was 0.8, so not final, and therefore the DSD and Search function was not totally operational...

now some audio-porn...

 

[musicday]

This is player is beautiful. But why doesn't play DSD512 when AKM 4497 Eq DAC chip is capable handle the codec.

 

[PhilW]

The stainless should be available in UK as of next month and copper the month after. Pre-orders are available.

 

[musicday]

Maybe some companies will release an add on amplifier with a 4.4 mm balanced output,and simultaneous charge and play,so we don't worry one will run out of battery before the other.

 

[bmichels]

Additional infos about headphone out SE v/s Bal :

In MUNICH, A&K's ingenieurs (I do not ask any more questions to A&K's sales guys) told us that they have now with the SP1000 fixed the issues that makes the balanced output of the AK380 not better sounding (or even inferior in some cases) than the SE output.

They explained that the Bal output of the AK380 has a too high impedence, and that this is why with some headphone, the result was no good. They swared that they have corrected this. This is why now the output of the Bal (3,9 volts) is now almost twice the SE (2,2 volts) while with the AK380, SE and Bal were almost the same 2,2 v/s 2,4 volts.

So... gentlemen rewire your headphones balanced...

 

[bmichels]

The stainless should be available in UK as of next month and copper the month after. Pre-orders are available.

I have listened intensively to booth SS and CU at munich, and with the SHURE KSE1500 I prefered the CU, but.... I am still wondering if I should order the CU or the SS ?

Indeed, since I am considering getting the 64 Audio Tia Foutré IEM that apparently offers generous BASS and OUPPPSSS, may be.... with the Fourté the SS may be more appropriate ? May be "Fourté + CU" will be too much OUOPOPSSSS and BASS ?

Or may be, as A&K suggested, CU is better for Rock/pop and SS for classical music (details...)

 

[Jalo]

I have listened intensively to booth SS and CU at munich, and with the SHURE KSE1500 I prefered the CU, but.... I am still wondering if I should order the CU or the SS ?

Indeed, since I am considering getting the 64 Audio Tia Foutré IEM that apparently offers generous BASS and OUPPPSSS, may be.... with the Fourté the SS may be more appropriate ? May be "Fourté + CU" will be too much OUOPOPSSSS and BASS ?

Or may be, as A&K suggested, CU is better for Rock/pop and SS for classical music (details...)

Did you ask AK why the difference in the sound for the SS and the CU model. Is it just because of the casing or did they tune them differently. If it is because of the case material, did AK utilize the case for grounding or for anything else. That will save a lot of argument later.

 

[Mimouille]

Did you ask AK why the difference in the sound for the SS and the CU model. Is it just because of the casing or did they tune them differently. If it is because of the case material, did AK utilize the case for grounding or for anything else. That will save a lot of argument later.

They usually don't answer that at first. They wait for people to invent stuff and then confirm the most popular theory.

 

[noplsestar]

They usually don't answer that at first. They wait for people to invent stuff and then confirm the most popular theory.

Haha