[vikinguy]

Exact the same on the paper, but the implementation and hardware quality is different. A&K still do their good job in positioning ( expect the Tube variation ).
The M is the mobile version, like SP1000M, it lie in your hand perfectly when moving, on train, or bus, it is the KPS.
The SOUND QUALITY has ben compensated for that.

Compromised?

 

[IgeNeLL]

Compromised?

100% confident. Let's see.

 

[nioh]

True. Unfortunately I don't have the SP3000...

I know what you mean. For eg. Kann Ultra got zero updates since its release a year ago, not even security updates.

 

[jjazzy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this make people who bought the SP3000 for about $1,000 more going to be a tad upset that a cheaper model with the same hardware is being sold for so much less and now all of a sudden the value of their SP3000 drops significantly?

I mean is there at least a next level/superior replacement to the SP3000 coming in the near future so that owners of the SP3000 can purchase to set themselves apart from the rest?

IDK, maybe I'm over reacting, but I just bought my new SP3000 about a month ago for around $3,300 on "sale". Now I find out there is a cheaper more mobile version with the exact same hardware and audio quality as mine.

I think more mobile is relative… they will just as the sp3000 transportable. So unless it is as light as a mojo2 and fits light in my pocket, making it smaller is only a gimmick….

Just enjoy your sp3000, don’t own it but heared it a few times, it sounds amazing!!

 

[LFC_SL]

I don't know if you remember a time where company's used to release statements product, show casing their cutting edge R&D. They sold it at a higher premium simply because there was no easy way to produce them.
Years later, they released new products based on that statement product, at a cheaper price.

What you are arguing for is promotion of deliberate hindering a new product release, simply because 3 years ago, we had to buy the same spec products at a higher price.

Idea with tech product is to be better, faster and cheaper. This headfi trend where tech product keeps getting more expensive is not normal. We shouldn't support it.

That member only joined in the summer and has on multiple occasions blind purchased a TOTL model without reading community news on the forum or just waited out for the next show when exhibitors are open about there being new toys

And in defence of A&K, Jason openly posted last month that SP2k and SP3k are no longer supported because the Android version can no longer be updated and there would be an M release. That is why I asked my first post on this thread what about this model (and this in no way is asking Jason to answer, I can draw an inference from silence).

 

[NYanakiev]

Quite conflicted about this new release. I love the form factor of this new unit but cannot help but wonder if it will sound good enough as I felt that big brother ie SP3000 was not at the level of top DAPs from L&P and Cayin (probably due to a far less powerful amp section);

I started on my DAP journey with a SP2000, followed by 2 SP3K units. I have been a Roon lover for a few years now and A&K’s Roon endpoint and Roon Arc smarts meant that it was the only option for me at the time. However, my Cayin N30LE was head and shoulders above the SP3000, albeit in a much bigger (and heavier) package. L&P’s DAPs sound incredible but have IMO really poor software and only offer SD card playback.

The question is if I should I give up on native Roon support at the cost of a (IMO) gimped OS (with terribly slow app updates) or should I opt for a more modern platform but accept a handicapped version of Roon?

Decisions, decisions.

 

[DAPpower]

Quite conflicted about this new release. I love the form factor of this new unit but cannot help but wonder if it will sound good enough as I felt that big brother ie SP3000 was not at the level of top DAPs from L&P and Cayin (probably due to a far less powerful amp section);

I started on my DAP journey with a SP2000, followed by 2 SP3K units. I have been a Roon lover for a few years now and A&K’s Roon endpoint and Roon Arc smarts meant that it was the only option for me at the time. However, my Cayin N30LE was head and shoulders above the SP3000, albeit in a much bigger (and heavier) package. L&P’s DAPs sound incredible but have IMO really poor software and only offer SD card playback.

The question is if I should I give up on native Roon support at the cost of a (IMO) gimped OS (with terribly slow app updates) or should I opt for a more modern platform but accept a handicapped version of Roon?

Decisions, decisions.

Good thing for me that I kinda gave up on headphones and now exclusively use IEMs for listening on DAPs so driving power usually isn't gonna be a problem for me. Were you using the SP3000 with headphones?

 

[NYanakiev]

Good thing for me that I kinda gave up on headphones and now exclusively use IEMs for listening on DAPs so driving power usually isn't gonna be a problem for me. Were you using the SP3000 with headphones?

Nope- IEMs only. Traillii Ti sounded very good on the SP3000 and beyond incredible on the Cayin N30LE and L&P LP6 and E7.

 

[nioh]

After having purchased more DAPs than I can carry in 2 hands I realized the fact - DAPs are overrated !!
Best is to have a super portable DAP like the Activo P1 or a good dongle for on-the-go and use a desktop DAC/AMP at home connected to any source you have (I use my PC).

Stop wasting money on DAPs people

 

[JasonNYC]

Jason openly posted last month that SP2k and SP3k are no longer supported

I never posted anything about the SP3000 no longer being supported. We just pushed out a new firmware update a few weeks ago with new features added to the player.

 

[JasonNYC]

For those attending CanJam Dallas, we will not be exhibiting, but Bloom Audio and MusicTeck, our authorized dealers, will both have the SP3000M available for demos.

 

[MRT-Man]

Quite conflicted about this new release. I love the form factor of this new unit but cannot help but wonder if it will sound good enough as I felt that big brother ie SP3000 was not at the level of top DAPs from L&P and Cayin (probably due to a far less powerful amp section);

I started on my DAP journey with a SP2000, followed by 2 SP3K units. I have been a Roon lover for a few years now and A&K’s Roon endpoint and Roon Arc smarts meant that it was the only option for me at the time. However, my Cayin N30LE was head and shoulders above the SP3000, albeit in a much bigger (and heavier) package. L&P’s DAPs sound incredible but have IMO really poor software and only offer SD card playback.

The question is if I should I give up on native Roon support at the cost of a (IMO) gimped OS (with terribly slow app updates) or should I opt for a more modern platform but accept a handicapped version of Roon?

Decisions, decisions.

I think it’s partly a function of the IEM. With power-hungry IEMs I can tell the SP3K’s amp section is lacking vs. some other DAPs. But with a more sensitive IEM like the Chronicle, the SP3K does great.

 

[123peter]

I never posted anything about the SP3000 no longer being supported. We just pushed out a new firmware update a few weeks ago with new features added to the player.

SP3000 - within 2 years, that's 14 firmware
Kann Ultra - within 1 year of release, only 2 firmware
(patches and improvements promised in January forgotten)

The life of new Astell & Kern DAPs is very short, until the first reviews by well-known testers in the media.
I perceive such a policy as meaning that improvements and current errors will be fixed in ....... the next DAP model that we are to buy, not the one you currently have.
That's not how you create a bond with a customer for the future.
Sad

 

[muscle7]

I never posted anything about the SP3000 no longer being supported. We just pushed out a new firmware update a few weeks ago with new features added to the player.

i think maybe people misunderstood as discontinued(manufacturing) as no longer being supported.

 

[el-jorge]

Nice, I wonder if this would be an upgrade or a side grade from a SE300. I'm looking for something more portable. I thought the SE300 would do that, but I think that is still to big and heavy for poartable use.