[bflat]

I did read your question........
The answer is still no different. Until Tidal removes the restriction away from just iOS or Android as AK quote above, anything else is just PURE speculation at this point in time. So maybe down the road, it maybe possible. It is really all just a software implementation restriction I would imagine so it could.

I would not take AK on their word. My opinion is that Tidal would love to certify the AK custom Android app for Tidal download since doing so would only help their reach. However, I'm sure there are strict requirements to ensure that downloaded files can never be de-crypted so the music can be effectively stolen. I would not be surprised if the record industry requires Tidal to know where each and very downloaded file is at any given point in time. My guess is AK has not met those download/tracking requirements so my answer to the OP is a little different - there is no definite timeline for offline play, but we should tell AK to get off their butts and get it done and withhold purchasing their DAPs until they do. For every person who values the offline mode, if you buy an AK DAP now, you are only delaying when it will get done. I made the same comment about getting the Tidal app in the first place. I think it was a full 2 years when they first mentioned it and when they actually rolled it out. All of this IMHO of course.

 

[Deftone]

lol, man you totally can and I salute you (AC/DC), its just all that crashing and smashing to me isn't really a good test of true sound if I can make that point. If your into death metal and smash rock it will sound killer as the SP1000 is a killer unit but for the money if that is all you listened too you might be better off saving a few grand and get the DX200 or something in that price range. Wide variety of music... SP1000 and never look back.

Dude, im here for the love of music, i will not listen to something i do not like just because its better recorded and mastered. ACDC is ok but too soft for my liking. Also just because i listen to only metal does not mean high end gear is not worth it for me, there's a lot of people on here with multi thousand dollar rigs just for metal and even some using Stax. Buying a Chord mojo was one of the best choices i made for my large metal collection.

Id be grateful if someone could listen to this track on SP1000 and let me know how it sounds. Thanks

 

[Deftone]

I demoed the 1000 for 30 mins. This was one of the many tracks I used.



Also tried slower tracks like: Tom Petty , Pat Metheny, and Steely Dan.

thanks for your input jmills

 

[SoundBytes]

The latest statement to me from Astell & Kern regarding my inquiries on the EQ and an amp for the SP1000:

Hi,

Glad to hear you decided to give the SP1000 a second chance!

Changes to the 20 band parametric EQ is very subtle, as it can make very fine adjustments to the sound. Even though changes cannot be audibly heard, the changes are there when heard and analyzed by professionals such as mastering engineers and producers.

The SP1000 is compatible with any generic headphone amplifier, provided it is connected to the amp using the right cables/interconnects. An amp specific to the SP1000 isn’t available just yet, but we hope to have it launched soon. Please stay tuned to our email blasts, website, and social media pages for the latest updates and product news!

Let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Regards,

Astell&Kern / iriver North American Customer Service Center

 

[bflat]

The latest statement to me from Astell & Kern regarding my inquiries on the EQ and an amp for the SP1000:

Changes to the 20 band parametric EQ is very subtle, as it can make very fine adjustments to the sound. Even though changes cannot be audibly heard, the changes are there when heard and analyzed by professionals such as mastering engineers and producers.

The SP1000 is compatible with any generic headphone amplifier, provided it is connected to the amp using the right cables/interconnects. An amp specific to the SP1000 isn’t available just yet, but we hope to have it launched soon. Please stay tuned to our email blasts, website, and social media pages for the latest updates and product news!

Let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Regards,
Astell&Kern / iriver North American Customer Service Center

Thanks for sharing but WOW. I read this as a "f*ck off" response. Not something I would expect them to say to any customer shelling out $3500 for their product. Apparently, your ears are not good enough for AK products but they will do you a favor and let you buy their DAP anyway LOL.

 

[asnyc75]

Besides the micro SD firmware update 1.01 a couple of days ago, there is a new firmware 1.03 released last night; I feel my SP1000 more responsive and even faster after this. Love this player so far.

 

[SoundBytes]

For the life of me I couldn't understand why the EQ was sounding that way, it was really killing me to the point I was about ready to return the unit. Nobody was really commenting on it so I figured well maybe the SP1000 wasn't out long enough so nobody could. Well they may be a bit elitist but it really is a fantastic machine. Others did say all the AK's EQ's sound like that...well it plays so well without any help. I was also able to EQ it in the car and amp it via bluetooth and wow... so when an amp is released it should be even better for large cans.

 

[bmichels]

Another very very interesting feature of the new 1.03 firmware:

You can now connect an external HD to the USB-C which is now OTG, and play music directly from the external HD

So now you can have 256 internal + 256 microSD + .... 1 or 2 To External !

 

[SoundBytes]

That is fantastic!

 

[jscmd2000]

Need your opinion,
Trade in program offering 2200 usd for ak380 cu and ak380amp cu to be used for purchasing new sp1000.
Is it worth it?

 

[audionewbi]

Need your opinion,
Trade in program offering 2200 usd for ak380 cu and ak380amp cu to be used for purchasing new sp1000.
Is it worth it?

To me it is a good deal however if you are happy with the sound skipping two generation of AK flagship seems to be the wise thing to do as normally the jump from one flagship to another isn't as huge. For me the gap between AK120 and AK240 sonic-wise wasn't huge, to me was a more a downgrade in terms of musicality however AK380 vs AK120 seems to be a worthy upgrade.

I don't see how any AK380 owners could be unhappy, but SP1000 does seem to be truly flagship worthy device, arguably AK first true attempt to make a product worthy of its asking price. I find AK to be overpriced in general.

 

[Hydrored]

Can anybody compare to the 1Z? I had a chance to demo the 380 for a month and still preferred the 1Z.

Thanks-

Hydro

 

[bmichels]

now that we can connect an external SSD to the SP1000, we need to find a small portable SSD that has a very low power consumption. Indeed, SSD draw much more power than people think !

any idea ?

At home I have a 1 Tb Samsung T3 Portable SSD connected to my ARIES. At 51 grammes it is very very small but... I do not know it's power consumption ?
I will test in July with the SP1000.

 

[jscmd2000]

Thank you,
Is ak380 to sp1000 a huge or considerable upgrade?

 

[jamato8]

now that we can connect an external SSD to the SP1000, we need to find a small portable SSD that has a very low power consumption. Indeed, SSD draw much more power than people think !

any idea ?

At home I have a 1 Tb Samsung T3 Portable SSD connected to my ARIES. At 51 grammes it is very very small but... I do not know it's power consumption ?
I will test in July with the SP1000.

Will it be worth it with the much shorter play time? Even if less than a normal HD, it will most likely pull it down a few hours at the least.