[jwbrent]

My final say on the plug controversy, but A&K had to make the determination of which balanced plug to use based upon their existing customer base, many of which will upgrade from an older model. They’d potentially upset those whom already owned 2.5mm balanced cables. Not good for business.

 

[bflat]

My final say on the plug controversy, but A&K had to make the determination of which balanced plug to use based upon their existing customer base, many of which will upgrade from an older model. They’d potentially upset those whom already owned 2.5mm balanced cables. Not good for business.

Disagree. They should have been courageous like Apple.....remove the audio jack altogether!

 

[jwbrent]

Disagree. They should have been courageous like Apple.....remove the audio jack altogether!

I’m not there with you yet on wireless audio performance, but I suppose you were jesting.

 

[maira]

My final say on the plug controversy, but A&K had to make the determination of which balanced plug to use based upon their existing customer base, many of which will upgrade from an older model. They’d potentially upset those whom already owned 2.5mm balanced cables. Not good for business.

Well the DAP is $3,500. How much is a cable?

 

[jwbrent]

Well the DAP is $3,500. How much is a cable?

People spend many hundreds of dollars for specialized cables, some even four figures. One can always send a cable back for re-termination, but that costs money and time, and it becomes a reason to hold some back from upgrading. When you make it easy to do, upgrades are more likely.

 

[maira]

People spend many hundreds of dollars for specialized cables, some even four figures. One can always send a cable back for re-termination, but that costs money and time, and it becomes a reason to hold some back from upgrading. When you make it easy to do, upgrades are more likely.

Sooner or later they have to switch to 4,4mm, because it is becoming the new standard. This DAP will be outdated qickly in this regard.

 

[szore]

Could they just have provided both> 4.4, 3.5, 2.5...? Seems the DAP is big enough to accommodate...

 

[jwbrent]

Sooner or later they have to switch to 4,4mm, because it is becoming the new standard. This DAP will be outdated qickly in this regard.

Only for those who don’t own A&K daps (as well as a host of other brands). I think A&K customers are pretty loyal, especially top end buyers; I myself have owned four different models and will likely get the SP2000.

A&K is on a two year cycle for upgrading their top model. Perhaps in two years, this subject will be moot.

 

[jwbrent]

Could they just have provided both> 4.4, 3.5, 2.5...? Seems the DAP is big enough to accommodate...

It’s not just what’s seen on the outside, it’s like an iceberg; there’s a lot more hiding under the surface. All those connectors would take up a lot of internal space.

 

[Whitigir]

Current output on amplifiers is viewed by many in the field to be a superior method of amplification. If my memory is correct, there is one less conversion from voltage to current in the signal path, providing lower distortion and greater resolution. Please chime in if my memory is off.

It depends on the headphones....really . But as far as technologically differences, it means everything from 97 vs 99 would be very different in engineering perspective. It is amazingly competitive to stay at $3500 when each AK4499EQ is about $100.....and a whole new design is needed and adopted from the ground up. This is the first time I am seeing A&K seriously and fiercely competing !

 

[jwbrent]

I kind of miss the carbon fiber back (not sure if the 1000 is like this, too), but I’m sure it will look nice in person. The triangular shiny portion is for Bluetooth, I’d imagine.

I love the extra power. I won’t need a strap-on amp anymore. And the new state-of-the-art AKM DACs will lessen my impulses to use a portable DAC ... unless a really big upgrade happens with the Mojo 2, if there is one coming.

 

[jwbrent]

Oh, and yeah, I’m definitely a stainless steel kind of guy.

 

[ledzep]

2.5/3.5/4.4/6.35 old news once I get my crowd funding sorted and submit my idea to AK for the SP10,000 I'll be laughing !
Wires ? Where I'm going we don't need wires !

 

[szore]

2.5/3.5/4.4/6.35 old news once I get my crowd funding sorted and submit my idea to AK for the SP10,000 I'll be laughing !
Wires ? Where I'm going we don't need wires !

Does that have bluetooth?

 

[ledzep]

Does that have bluetooth?

Alas no but this one with the transmission holes and modelled by my assistant the stunning Olga will serve you well !