After a long hiatus, I decided to jump back into the portable world for a little, and knew I had to go with the SP3000 after CanJam (and after being a loyal devotee to the SP2k CU). Much like others have alluded to, A&K has aimed for a natural, neutral-sounding DAP that still exhibits excellent musicality through its organic and spacious presentation. At the moment, I am only pairing it with the UM Multiverse on the IEM side, but it very well is the best portable setup I've ever heard. My previous favorite combination was the SP2000 CU + Oriolus Traillii, which had sweet, lush, romanticized mids with a smooth, detailed presentation. However, SP3000 + MM has it beat on 3D staging and overall dynamics (likely due to the BCD and enhanced DAP technicalities) which leads to more versatility and engagement.
Of course we will see how the SP3000 CU sounds versus the SS variants, but SP3000 SS is less warm, more dynamic and more spacious than its SP2000 CU sibling. I must admit that I initially was not impressed with DAR-the sound was a bit digital, sharp at times, and sounded inorganic. But after a switch from DSD to PCM, everything
clicked. Mids were pushed forwards, timbre and texture enhanced, bass a bit more detailed (which was necessary for Multiverses' BA bass), and slightly smoother top end. Soundstage width sounds more expansive at slight cost of depth, which would align with the more forward, organic vocals. Call me a happy camper
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(Is this a PS5?)
I was also impressed to see that pairing the SP3000 with the Meze Elites provided an excellent portable alternative to my tethering desktop rig. The SP3000 drives the Elites easily with volume at about 85-100, providing an excellent soundstage, imaging, detail and musicality that the HP is known for.
With the updated UI, DAP speed, and DAC filters, SP3000 is an easy recommendation from my end if you're looking for a TOTL player. Being a R2R hoe, I can also comfortably state that the SP3000's natural presentation is as close as it gets to that magical, organic sound (perhaps only trailing slightly on instrument, vocal, and bass decay).