[Whitigir]

P.S. You actually surprised me that a pre-amp further improves the sound. I don't understand how it works from technology perspective, as it seems that SP3000 is more than enough to power HE1Kv3.

I think you are confused between driving power and loudness. One of the symptoms of lacking of driving power but with high loudness is that you need to crank up the volume from the device very high like 80%+ in order to start hearing to your satisfactions. But that is not all, once the body of an instrument isn’t powerful enough and that triggers you to start tweaking EQ then losing so much in separations, staging, is because the device can’t have enough driving power to drive your headphones correctly.

This is where having a preamp, or a powerful amp can play to hugely improve it, just due to power alone. From you discussions alone, I think the SP3K can output a good amount of voltage for loudness but lacking the current to controls the headphones…. Which to simply put, it can get loud but it can’t get good enough (a lack of proper driving power)

Once we are pass this, then we will start facing the Line out issues, and that will be another confusing topic. Why is that ? Because in order to benefits the most out of a preamp, the input signals toward the preamp has to be a true Line out instead , so to avoid double amping

 

[subguy812]

I think you are confused between driving power and loudness. One of the symptoms of lacking of driving power but with high loudness is that you need to crank up the volume from the device very high like 80%+ in order to start hearing to your satisfactions. But that is not all, once the body of an instrument isn’t powerful enough and that triggers you to start tweaking EQ then losing so much in separations, staging, is because the device can’t have enough driving power to drive your headphones correctly.

This is where having a preamp, or a powerful amp can play to hugely improve it, just due to power alone. From you discussions alone, I think the SP3K can output a good amount of voltage for loudness but lacking the current to controls the headphones…. Which to simply put, it can get loud but it can’t get good enough (a lack of proper driving power)

Once we are pass this, then we will start facing the Line out issues, and that will be another confusing topic. Why is that ? Because in order to benefits the most out of a preamp, the input signals toward the preamp has to be a true Line out instead , so to avoid double amping

With all due respect @Whitigir for the most part I throw my MB 475 into the mix, but not when using the HE1000 Stealth. The synergy with this paring is sublime and they are driven very well. I do however agree that with many headphones there is a benefit to adding an amp when using the SP3000. What you and everyone is talking about is driving authority. There is a major difference between volume and the authority to drive. The SP3000 can provide plenty of volume in most instances, but lacks authority. I have learned to try to pair my headphones to my source, meaning impedance, sensitivity etc. All of this said, the HE1000 Stealth is an incredible pairing and doesn't need my 475.

 

[uncle b]

This is more of a software quirk/issue than anything sound-related, as in my opinion, this SP3000 is one of, if not the, best of the many DAP’s I’ve owned.
I have a multi-disc set (2023 Super Deluxe Edition release of The Who - “Who’s Next / Life House”) that consists of 10 CD’s. Through Apple Music, I ripped each CD,
meticulously organizing each CD with the title “Who’s Next / Life House” then [Super Deluxe Edition], then the disc number and the disc info [Disc 1 - “Who’s Next” Original Album] and on and on for all 10 discs.
For some reason, when I moved the entire 10 disc set over to my SP3000, the tenth disc does not line up at the end, after the previous nine discs, it is listed underneath Disc 1. Kinda strange, and for an organizer like me, frustrating!

 

[Tanalasta]

For some reason, when I moved the entire 10 disc set over to my SP3000, the tenth disc does not line up at the end, after the previous nine discs, it is listed underneath Disc 1. Kinda strange, and for an organizer like me, frustrating!

Try renaming 1 through 9 - 01... 02.... 03.... etc so that you are using a two integer format. NO idea but wonder if that would work.

 

[uncle b]

Try renaming 1 through 9 - 01... 02.... 03.... etc so that you are using a two integer format. NO idea but wonder if that would work.

Thanks for that idea! I’m gonna try that!

 

[uncle b]

Try renaming 1 through 9 - 01... 02.... 03.... etc so that you are using a two integer format. NO idea but wonder if that would work.

That works perfectly, thanks!!!

 

[walshyy]

I think is better to wait for sp4000 but wait seated so you don't get tired

Just as I thought. I imagine we are still probably a good 18 months away from the SP4k so not too sure. Might get the SP3K then sell it on.

I also have the Mojo 2...does this elevate the SP3k at all or is the SP3k sublime on it's own?

Cheers

 

[JasonNYC]

This is more of a software quirk/issue than anything sound-related, as in my opinion, this SP3000 is one of, if not the, best of the many DAP’s I’ve owned.
I have a multi-disc set (2023 Super Deluxe Edition release of The Who - “Who’s Next / Life House”) that consists of 10 CD’s. Through Apple Music, I ripped each CD,
meticulously organizing each CD with the title “Who’s Next / Life House” then [Super Deluxe Edition], then the disc number and the disc info [Disc 1 - “Who’s Next” Original Album] and on and on for all 10 discs.
For some reason, when I moved the entire 10 disc set over to my SP3000, the tenth disc does not line up at the end, after the previous nine discs, it is listed underneath Disc 1. Kinda strange, and for an organizer like me, frustrating!

In the ID3 tag, does the track number tag have each track number listed? AK players base sorting on ID3 tags, where other players are a little more lenient with file naming taken into account.

 

[uncle b]

In the ID3 tag, does the track number tag have each track number listed? AK players base sorting on ID3 tags, where other players are a little more lenient with file naming taken into account.

@JasonNYC thanks so much for the reply! I’m not sure where I can find the ID3 tag for each track.

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC thanks so much for the reply! I’m not sure where I can find the ID3 tag for each track.

I am overly obsessed with ID3 tags on all my digital music. I use Mp3tag, which is available for both Windows and Mac. Been happy with it for a few years and works with just about any digital file format - https://www.mp3tag.de/en/

 

[NYanakiev]

Anyone tried the UM Mentor or the Annihilator 2023 with their SP3000? Wondering which one to go for.

Thanks!

 

[aaf evo]

Anyone tried the UM Mentor or the Annihilator 2023 with their SP3000? Wondering which one to go for.

Thanks!

M Mentor w SP3000 is incredible synergy wise.

 

[phiemon]

M Mentor w SP3000 is incredible synergy wise.

... but the CU version is better for me than the SS.

 

[NYanakiev]

M Mentor w SP3000 is incredible synergy wise.

Thanks Bobby Ordered a pair from Musicteck!

EDIT: Will the Mentor benefit from the PA10 amp? Wondering whether to keep it or not.

 

[LukeW]

I have a question. I’m not deeply versed in audiophile tech so please help me learn. I was listening to an Apple lossless jazz recording over wifi through the Apple service on my Sp3000 and A18t iems. The sound was harsh at times and I tapped on the DAR button and suddenly, the sound lost all of the harshness and was beautiful in the treble regions. Why?