[voltmeter]

Could you elaborate a bit more on what differences you hear between the SP3000 and 3000M? When I tested the M at CanJam Dallas I compared it to the SP3000T OP amp mode and SP3000 and I didn’t feel they were marginally better, but significantly so especially in stage size and end to end extension. I’m starting to wonder if maybe the MusicTeck demo unit was faulty in one way or another. It sounded quite compressed to me and lacking in sub bass depth. Sort of like a warm/mid range focused tuning.

I am too scared to buy a unit and take the risk of it being the same as what I heard in Dallas.

I had the sp3km and the sp3kt last week. I initially thought the sp3kt sounded better. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I eventually came to realize that there was less sub bass with the sp3km. The sound stage is smaller, but more detailed with the sp3km. I initially thought I liked the sound of the sp3kt better because of the bass, but as time went on, I found myself tinkering with the settings way too often. I can see how someone would love these options for tweaking the sound, but I'm kind of a set it and forget it kinda guy. My main headphones are hekse, so I definitely lean more detail oriented. I was chasing the excellent sound the sp3km had, but with more bass. I decided to try the big boy and get the sp3k. For me there was really no contest. The sp3k isn't as warm as the sp3kt, but the sound stage opened up, the bass filled in enough to satisfy my tastes. I didn't feel any need to try to adjust anything to fix the sound. As a bonus I got that on/off button on the volume wheel. So I sent back the sp3kt.

Now I have the sp3k and the sp3km. DAR works magic for the sp3k that it doesn't do for the sp3km. If I'm A/Bing them, I can tell the sp3k is superior in every way. It's only a little better though, I have to concentrate to really tell(aside from DAR). Now that the sp3kt is out for the listening rotation, I no longer notice the missing bass. I have found myself saying this "this sounds amazing" and looking down, and it's the sp3km. I could easily live with either. It's going to come down to quality of life features between these two.

 

[makbrown]

I could easily live with either. It's going to come down to quality of life features between these two.

In other words, there are differences, they are audible, but they are not night and day, and if a small and light DAP is a priority, then will the sp3km compete with its bigger brother?

 

[voltmeter]

It’s soooo much more pocketable. The only negative I’m seeing is the battery.

 

[voltmeter]

ok, I just started the sp3km test at volume 60, no DAR, screen off, wifi off, 24/96 FLAC from hard drive, I will report back later tonight. I'm hoping to claw back an hour with DAR off, so hopefully 5 hours from now.

I accidentally stopped the test by clicking on an album and it stopped after the album was done.

It was looking like 15% an hour though. It seems like DAR might be using more power than I gave it credit for. I was 3:25 in with 36% left. I’m thinking it was paused for 15 minutes before I noticed. I’ll give it another try tomorrow.

 

[twister6]

In other words, there are differences, they are audible, but they are not night and day, and if a small and light DAP is a priority, then will the sp3km compete with its bigger brother?

Exactly. Yes, based on the 3k and 3kM units I have in my hands, there is some audible difference, especially when DAR is enabled, but the small form factor of 3kM (and its streaming ability relative to other pocket-friendly gems like P6 Pro and LPGT) is a pleasure to handle. Btw, running the battery test now between 3k and 3kM. Will share the results by the end of the day.

Also, I was curious and concerned about Bobby's and Alvin's impressions of the SP3000M unit at the Musicteck table from the Dallas CanJam show, but unfortunately, that unit went back to A&K so I can't compare it with the 3kM I have in my hands now. I do agree that the 3k soundstage is bigger and gets more holographic with DAR enabled, while the 3kM soundstage expansion is no slouch to begin with, though gets a bit narrower with DAR enabled (that part is confusing, and I mentioned this to Jason who is checking with A&K about it). And 3kM mids are a bit smoother while 3k has more transparency which could affect the pair-up synergy with IEMs of different sound sig. But I didn't hear a lack of sub-bass going from 3k to 3kM.

 

[twister6]

hmm, also just found this, with a reference to SW DAR in SP3000M. So, DAR filter implementation is different in SP3000M, and if I assume it is under SW's control, perhaps they can take this feedback and optimize the SW to align it better with SP3000 implementation.

 

[makbrown]

they can take this feedback and optimize the SW

The main thing is that they don’t “optimize” for the worse, for an artificial positional gap with 3k..

 

[mikaik]

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that DAR is done at hardware level on 3K, but software level on 3KM? Maybe I misunderstood. This would probably mean a bigger toll on battery with 3KM, I guess.

 

[voltmeter]

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that DAR is done at hardware level on 3K, but software level on 3KM? Maybe I misunderstood. This would probably mean a bigger toll on battery with 3KM, I guess.

Exactly. Yes, based on the 3k and 3kM units I have in my hands, there is some audible difference, especially when DAR is enabled, but the small form factor of 3kM (and its streaming ability relative to other pocket-friendly gems like P6 Pro and LPGT) is a pleasure to handle. Btw, running the battery test now between 3k and 3kM. Will share the results by the end of the day.

Also, I was curious and concerned about Bobby's and Alvin's impressions of the SP3000M unit at the Musicteck table from the Dallas CanJam show, but unfortunately, that unit went back to A&K so I can't compare it with the 3kM I have in my hands now. I do agree that the 3k soundstage is bigger and gets more holographic with DAR enabled, while the 3kM soundstage expansion is no slouch to begin with, though gets a bit narrower with DAR enabled (that part is confusing, and I mentioned this to Jason who is checking with A&K about it). And 3kM mids are a bit smoother while 3k has more transparency which could affect the pair-up synergy with IEMs of different sound sig. But I didn't hear a lack of sub-bass going from 3k to 3kM.

I think in some instances the 3km sound stage expands with DAR, and others it gets a bat narrower. It doesn’t seem like it’s a one size fits all like with the 3k.

 

[OneEyedHito]

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that DAR is done at hardware level on 3K, but software level on 3KM? Maybe I misunderstood. This would probably mean a bigger toll on battery with 3KM, I guess.

Yes this is accurate on both accounts.

 

[voltmeter]

I accidentally stopped the test by clicking on an album and it stopped after the album was done.

It was looking like 15% an hour though. It seems like DAR might be using more power than I gave it credit for. I was 3:25 in with 36% left. I’m thinking it was paused for 15 minutes before I noticed. I’ll give it another try tomorrow.

I accidentally stopped the test by clicking on an album and it stopped after the album was done.

It was looking like 15% an hour though. It seems like DAR might be using more power than I gave it credit for. I was 3:25 in with 36% left. I’m thinking it was paused for 15 minutes before I noticed. I’ll give it another try tomorrow.

I ended up with 5 hours today, 24/96 FLAC from drive,no DAR, no wifi, screen off, volume 60 with sp3000m

 

[OneEyedHito]

I’m running the Astrolith at 45 for the highest volume, my issue is in standby mode I find the battery to drain too much. I’ll have to see if there is an auto sleep feature I haven’t found. I’m not super impressed with battery life so far but the sound is very impressive for the size.

 

[twister6]

OK, here are my battery test results for SP3000 vs SP3000M. This is a best-case scenario, both started fully charged at 100%, wifi/BT off, DAR off, display mostly off just turning it on to check the battery status, playing FLAC in a loop from 4.4mm BAL at vol 60, down to full discharge (with just a few % left): SP3000 (5,050 mAh battery) lasted 11hrs, SP3000M (4,200 mAh battery) lasted 9.5hrs.

 

[twister6]

I think in some instances the 3km sound stage expands with DAR, and others it gets a bat narrower. It doesn’t seem like it’s a one size fits all like with the 3k.

What IEMs are you using for testing to hear the variation in soundstage expansion? Also, are you switching between DAR PCM and DAR DSD?

... hmm, just tried Astrolith mentioned above, and I noticed that with DAR enabled the soundstage width didn't change, instead, the imaging (sound placement) actually expanded a bit. I guess you are right, it will depend on the pair-up.

 

[voltmeter]

What IEMs are you using for testing to hear the variation in soundstage expansion? Also, are you switching between DAR PCM and DAR DSD?

... hmm, just tried Astrolith mentioned above, and I noticed that with DAR enabled the soundstage width didn't change, instead, the imaging (sound placement) actually expanded a bit. I guess you are right, it will depend on the pair-up.

I’m using fa19 & variations. It looks like that extra 18% battery life with a full charge makes a pretty big difference.