Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000

[yaps66]

Very nice can you share where this was purchased?

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063113087031

You then contact him over Facebook Messenger to order.

 

[Kobe4ever]

My first tests between my SP3000 and my new SE300.
Premise: the SE300 has only a few hours of use, so it hasn't yet had the burn-in of the SP3000.
I used the Aroma Thunder, with PWA First Times cable
All the same songs were streamed on Qobuz, using equal volume on the two DAPs.
SE300 setting : High Gain , NOS, Amp AB
SP3000 setting : DAR on PCM
First things first: the SE300 sounds very natural, with a pleasant analog lean, with excellent balance, wide soundstage, deep bass, raised mids, airy highs.
The synergy with the Aroma Thunder is fantastic !
BUT : SP3000 is Better : In every song, the SP3000 gives you a more neutral detailed sound, with a wider soundstage, which gives even more airiness to the highs. The bass is powerful but even more controlled , the mids are superlative .
So both DAPs are , to me , fantastic and complementary .
And I'm not surprised that the SP3000 is the real TOTL, but the SE300 has great potential.
I'll have to try it with Jewel too and plugged into my A100TB amp
These are just my first impressions, without claiming to spread the absolute truth

 

[Kiats]

Agree that the SE300 sounds organic and very analogue. I listened to it on high gain, NOS, Class A Amp. Using the FitEar DC/Eletech Aeneid.

I am not quite sure if I would say straight off that the SP3000 is better. It is if what you crave is that particular signature. But I reckon that, at that price point, AK figures that is what people are willing to pay for. Whilst the SE300, as is the case with the A&futura range, is more experimental to allow AK to try its hand at the more niche configurations.

The way I have looked at the SE300 is it will be fantastic for long haul flights or all day listening. Much less danger of fatigue. What is pleasing is that whilst the R2R nature of the DAC does shine through, AK still managed to impress its house sound or characteristic on the SE300.

 

[Tomz1313]

wrong thread

 

[CharlyBrown]

Sorry for the delay. I did report this to the HQ team. We have been testing extensively here in the US and unable to reproduce the issue. I spent over 6 hours on Friday and another few hours over the weekend playing back starting from about 42% charge through fully charged and leaving it plugged in. No issues at all playing tracks from internal memory or microSD card. Spent a few hours also playing back through Roon and steaming both Qobuz and Tidal. The head of US support also spent 4 1/2 hours with a different unit, playing songs with internal memory, microSD, Tidal and Apple Music and also had no issues at all.

I need some additional info to pass along to the team as we are not able to produce the issue on multiple units here. I'll start reaching out in the next day or two. From what I can see, all who are having the issues seem to be located in the EU and nowhere else, correct? I spoke to a number of US owners who do not have the issue. Just trying to get as specific as possible to get this rectified quickly.

This is very strange. It is definitely felt quite a few of us with this problem. Whether they are all from the EU, I don't know. Anyway, I am from the EU / Berlin. What role would that play? Different firmware?

Maybe a pair of info about it:

- Update on the last firmware.
- Then reset to factory settings and only Tidal installed.
- SP3000 is connected to the PC, with original cable.
- It doesn't matter if DAC mode or not: if SP3000 is on 100% and the device is operated, a freeze with reset happens. This is completely random, regardless of anything.
- Only in DAC mode without operation on the device itself there are no problems.
- Ehm, since yesterday I don't have the problem though. What has changed is: Tidal update to 2.80.0 (from "Download" installed - as always) and I use a different USB-C cable on the front (case) port of the pc. I'll edit this right away in case I have another freeze/reset.

As always, thanks for the patience and efforts!

EDIT: Here we go again: just freeze/reboot after wake up. I'll try again with another USB-C cable, even if that will certainly not help...

@JasonNYC @phiemon

Has this problem meanwhile been addressed?

I have a history with the SP3K. My first unit, bought in December, had the reboot problem. While plugged in, it rebooted as soon as I started using a streaming service. So I returned it.

Then I bought my second 3000 and this unit was running fine all of the time, zero reboots.

Both devices used in EU/Germany with German language and corresponding time zone / Amsterdam.

Could the problem be based on language setting? Probably not only that because my second unit was also set to German. Timezone maybe? Just to give something to play with @phiemon

I ask because I'm waiting now for my 3rd and hopefully final SP3k after a journey with the SE300 which was not the right device for me...

 

[phiemon]

@JasonNYC @phiemon

Has this problem meanwhile been addressed?

I have a history with the SP3K. My first unit, bought in December, had the reboot problem. While plugged in, it rebooted as soon as I started using a streaming service. So I returned it.

Then I bought my second 3000 and this unit was running fine all of the time, zero reboots.

Both devices used in EU/Germany with German language and corresponding time zone / Amsterdam.

Could the problem be based on language setting? Probably not only that because my second unit was also set to German. Timezone maybe? Just to give something to play with @phiemon

I ask because I'm waiting now for my 3rd and hopefully final SP3k after a journey with the SE300 which was not the right device for me...

Unfortunately, there is no news yet. I have been waiting for two (?) months by now. The problem persists: when the SP3000 is 100% charged AND on the PC or power supply AND it is operated, there are completely random freezes with reboot. If used in DAC-Mode there is no problem at all. My SP3000 is EU/German with German language and corresponding time zone / Amsterdam if it does matter.

I must say I am unfortunately quite disappointed that the HQ of A&K is so slow to address such an urgent problem (actually, if that will ever happen …) with such an high-end product with super premium price. This is very bad!

 

[CharlyBrown]

Unfortunately, there is no news yet. I have been waiting for two (?) months by now. The problem persists: when the SP3000 is 100% charged AND on the PC or power supply AND it is operated, there are completely random freezes with reboot. If used in DAC-Mode there is no problem at all. My SP3000 is EU/German with German language and corresponding time zone / Amsterdam if it does matter.

I must say I am unfortunately quite disappointed that the HQ of A&K is so slow to address such an urgent problem (actually, if that will ever happen …) with such an high-end product with super premium price. This is very bad!

Thank you for your feedback!

This is unfortunate, indeed. With so many replies regarding this issue and my own experience, this seems to be a random issue but definitely not extremely rare.

Out of curiosity, and I don't really think it will do much but still, could you set your device to English and maybe even any US or South Korea time zone (AND reboot) just for a quick test and then charge (to 100) and operate the 3000?

I doubt this is can be the only reason as my 2nd SP3k didn't show this problem and was also set to German/Amsterdam.

Another theory would be that some batches delivered to Europe where faulty and this has nothing to do with software settings and many people just live with this or haven't even noticed because they never use their 3k while charging?

 

[phiemon]

Thank you for your feedback!

This is unfortunate, indeed. With so many replies regarding this issue and my own experience, this seems to be a random issue but definitely not extremely rare.

Out of curiosity, and I don't really think it will do much but still, could you set your device to English and maybe even any US or South Korea time zone (AND reboot) just for a quick test and then charge (to 100) and operate the 3000?

Yes, I'll be happy to test that tonight.

I doubt this is can be the only reason as my 2nd SP3k didn't show this problem and was also set to German/Amsterdam.

But have you checked to see if you have this problem too? I have written above when it occurs. Without connection to the PC or power supply, the SP3000 works perfectly.

Another theory would be that some batches delivered to Europe where faulty and this has nothing to do with software settings and many people just live with this or haven't even noticed because they never use their 3k while charging?

If you look at the post from when I wrote my post, you will see that there are actually many with the same problem. The problem is not as rare as you think. All of them come from the EU it seems. I would go so far as to say that so far no one from the EU has come forward and said they don't have the problem. In other words, as far as I know, everyone from the EU has this problem. On the other hand, there are obviously not many who run the SP3000 on the PC or power supply.

 

[CharlyBrown]

Yes, I'll be happy to test that tonight.


But have you checked to see if you have this problem too? I have written above when it occurs. Without connection to the PC or power supply, the SP3000 works perfectly.


If you look at the post from when I wrote my post, you will see that there are actually many with the same problem. The problem is not as rare as you think. All of them come from the EU it seems. I would go so far as to say that so far no one from the EU has come forward and said they don't have the problem. In other words, as far as I know, everyone from the EU has this problem. On the other hand, there are obviously not many who run the SP3000 on the PC or power supply.

Let's narrow this down a bit further. (And yes, I understand the problem ).

My first unit was purchased early Dezember 2022 - reboots when charging & using while charging. Normal operation when not charging / using without USB-C cable attached.

2nd unit purchased mid January 2023 - No problems whatsoever. I could charge for hours, leave at 100%, stream Apple Music, Tidal, play local files. No reboot. I had this device for 3-4 months before selling it without a single problem.

When did you purchase yours?

 

[phiemon]

Let's narrow this down a bit further. (And yes, I understand the problem ).

My first unit was purchased early Dezember 2022 - reboots when charging & using while charging. Normal operation when not charging / using without USB-C cable attached.

2nd unit purchased mid January 2023 - No problems whatsoever. I could charge for hours, leave at 100%, stream Apple Music, Tidal, play local files. No reboot. I had this device for 3-4 months before selling it without a single problem.

When did you purchase yours?

I received mine in February 2023.

Man now do not tell me that my unit is defective!? If you no longer have the problem with the new unit, something is wrong.
Were there any other differences between your models? Firwmare upgrade or anything else?

@JasonNYC Can you please follow up with tech support?

I already had my CA1000T replaced due to similar issues. I'm starting to think that A&K has a fundamental quality problem and is to be avoided. They may deliver the best sound, but something like this is unacceptable! @JasonNYC sorry for that but it must be said in view of these facts.

 

[CharlyBrown]

I received mine in February 2023.

Man now do not tell me that my unit is defective!? If you no longer have the problem with the new unit, something is wrong.
Were there any other differences between your models? Firwmare upgrade or anything else?

@JasonNYC Can you please follow up with tech support?

I already had my CA1000T replaced due to similar issues. I'm starting to think that A&K has a fundamental quality problem and is to be avoided. They may deliver the best sound, but something like this is unacceptable! @JasonNYC sorry for that but it must be said in view of these facts.

This is what I was trying to express. Yes, I guess/fear that your device has a hardware problem but please take this with a grain of salt as I have zero insights and detail knowledge here. It could still be just a software problem, only A&K can assess that.

I was in doubt regarding software problem back in December and that's why I returned it within the 14-day period for a full refund. (you can check back in this thread, I was posting my problem here and I think I was even the first one reporting the reboot problem). That's my "problem", I always find about these things...

And yes, repeating myself, my second SP3000 was running perfectly under all circumstances, also while charging.

I guess I will receive my new SP3k (Copper) tomorrow or Thursday and I'm now kind of uneasy. I will test this scenario asap, this will be the first thing.

 

[phiemon]

This is what I was trying to express. Yes, I guess/fear that your device has a hardware problem but please take this with a grain of salt as I have zero insights and detail knowledge here. It could still be just a software problem, only A&K can assess that.

I was in doubt regarding software problem back in December and that's why I returned it within the 14-day period for a full refund. (you can check back in this thread, I was posting my problem here and I think I was even the first one reporting the reboot problem). That's my "problem", I always find about these things...

And yes, repeating myself, my second SP3000 was running perfectly under all circumstances, also while charging.

I guess I will receive my new SP3k (Copper) tomorrow or Thursday and I'm now kind of uneasy. I will test this scenario asap, this will be the first thing.

I think there was a firmware update towards the end of the year, could it be? And did you always use the stock cable?

 

[CharlyBrown]

I think there was a firmware update towards the end of the year, could it be? And did you always use the stock cable?

I don't know when versions were released. I was always on the latest ones.

I used both, A&K stock USB-C cable and several others like the white Apple USB-C cable for charging etc.

 

[phiemon]

I don't know when versions were released. I was always on the latest ones.

I used both, A&K stock USB-C cable and several others like the white Apple USB-C cable for charging etc.

Then try it with your current SP3000 with the stock cable. Same procedure: charge 100% and play with it. Then let me know again how it behaves .

It sounds absurd, and actually it is, but with cables other than the stock, the SP3000 will NOT charge enough when used - as if the cable doesn't transfer enough power; it stays at 100% for a while then goes to 99% etc. I have tested several high quality cables: same result, only with the stock cable it is different.

I had exactly similar problems with the CA1000T.

 

[CharlyBrown]

Then try it with your current SP3000 with the stock cable. Same procedure: charge 100% and play with it. Then let me know again how it behaves .

It sounds absurd, and actually it is, but with cables other than the stock, the SP3000 will NOT charge enough when used - as if the cable doesn't transfer enough power; it stays at 100% for a while then goes to 99% etc. I have tested several high quality cables: same result, only with the stock cable it is different.

I had exactly similar problems with the CA1000T.

Oh, good point, I will try that. I think it arrives on Thursday and this will be the first thing I will try.

But, thinking back I’m very sure the problem also happened to me with the Apple cable, not just the A&K one. If It’s just the cable, easy solution, don’t use the cable anymore.

I’m also sure with the Apple cable it charged to 100 and stayed at 100 until disconnected and used. But I will try as you say.

Do you have the reboots also with your CA1000T or just the charging issue?