[White Hat Bob]

230$ for 3.5mm only dongle DAC? KA3 is less than 80$, 3.5mm & 4.4mm with implemented 9038Q2M ...

Exactly, and the ~$80 USD FiiO KA3 sounds excellent, has 4.4 mm balanced, and no detectable noise floor in low gain (perfect for high sensitivity IEMs). Any manufacturer who releases a product in 2023 that only has SE 3.5mm and no balanced 4.4 mm is clearly on the way out. I WANT to spend more money and love the A&K distributor who is local to me, but A&K just keeps falling further and further behind.

 

[arftech]

Exactly, and the ~$80 USD FiiO KA3 sounds excellent, has 4.4 mm balanced, and no detectable noise floor in low gain (perfect for high sensitivity IEMs). Any manufacturer who releases a product in 2023 that only has SE 3.5mm and no balanced 4.4 mm is clearly on the way out. I WANT to spend more money and love the A&K distributor who is local to me, but A&K just keeps falling further and further behind.

Okay.

 

[Tex Irie]

The CA1000 is a fabulous unit. I’m using it as a streamer in my office 2-channel system, w/ an older Rotel RA-932 & KEF Q150’s. It is a wonderful unit. The CA1000T should be incredible.

I imagine the user experience would be similar to the SP2000T. Definitely keeping tabs on this thread for more details.

 

[AnalogEuphoria]

What’s the point in 32bit audio? Does anyone record in this format? Is it even readily available?

marketing

 

[552609]

Neat, one of these days I'd like to try A&K products that aren't a DAP.

 

[DAPpower]

Neat, one of these days I'd like to try A&K products that aren't a DAP.

I heard their wireless earbuds have some praise in the SQ. I was tempted to get them.

 

[earmonger]

Does A&K understand that pockets and hands and carry bags don't like pointed corners, even if CAD designers think they are easy? I don't think so.

 

[TheNameIsGerald]

@JasonNYC , the CA1000T will eventually be Roon Ready, which is great - but only if on the same WiFi as the Roon Core. For streaming from a Roon Core to off-site locations (such as the office) many now use Roon ARC: will it be possible to run the Roon ARC app on the CA1000T with bit-perfect signal path?

Anyone know what the "4.4mm IN" is for at the back of the CA1000T? Is that for connecting using a different DAC device source?

I don't have any additional information than what was in the announcement, but I agree that logically the 4.4 mm IN surely is to receive analog input from an external source such as a DAC, bypassing the CA1000T's internal DAC and thereby using it as a pure headphone amp.

 

[dennisgerrard]

wonder if I need a CA1000T when I already get a SP3000

 

[DAPpower]

wonder if I need a CA1000T when I already get a SP3000

For iem use the SP3000 would probably be more than enough but with full sized cans, the CA1000 will have more juice to drive them properly. This is why it is quite versatile.

 

[Andricop]

Does the dongle have a volume control built in?

No, it doesn't

 

[Andricop]

Exactly, and the ~$80 USD FiiO KA3 sounds excellent, has 4.4 mm balanced, and no detectable noise floor in low gain (perfect for high sensitivity IEMs). Any manufacturer who releases a product in 2023 that only has SE 3.5mm and no balanced 4.4 mm is clearly on the way out. I WANT to spend more money and love the A&K distributor who is local to me, but A&K just keeps falling further and further behind.

Just buy the HC-2 which is 4.4 mm

https://us.astellnkern.com/collections/accessories/products/ak-hc2

 

[Andricop]

Does A&K understand that pockets and hands and carry bags don't like pointed corners, even if CAD designers think they are easy? I don't think so.

Strange that they went back to the PEE51 design instead of keeping the more conventional HC-2 design

 

[audionewbi]

@JasonNYC I'm incredibly excited about the new AK-PA10 and CA1000T. Are you able to share some light on CA1000T amplification circuit?
A friend of mine tried the PA10 in the Japan POTAFEST, and he had high praises for that amp, especially paired with HC3.
Is it safe to assume PA10 class A circuit is used in CA1000T, or is it running on a different circuit?
Is the crossfeed in CA1000T done in an analog domain (like PA10), or is it digital?

 

[White Hat Bob]

Just buy the HC-2 which is 4.4 mm

https://us.astellnkern.com/collections/accessories/products/ak-hc2

Thanks for the heads up; it's always helpful to have the full product line in mind when commenting on new products. HC2 is more expensive than the new HC3 and has a very different DAC chip; you don't happen to know how they (New HC3 vs HC2) would compare sonically? FiiO does an excellent job on the DAC chip execution but on the amp side, not so much. FiiOsTHX amp approach seems to cater to the more (technical/dry/less warm/) taste, which is so popular in Asia, their main market, so I keep hoping A&K will hit the Goldielocks zone (e.g. ESS Pro DAC Saber Pro amp) sooner or later! Thanks again.