Astell&Kern new flagship A&Ultima SP2000

[rlw6534]

What is the Android version number of SP2k and SP3k respectively anyone know? (seemingly the affected models)

SP2k is Android 6. SP3k is likely Android 9 (unconfirmed).

Also, SP1k and SP1km are both Android 6.

 

[JasonNYC]

Hi @JasonNYC , hope all is well! Any news from AK? Thank you!

nothing new to report yet. Sorry.

 

[crazyhank]

nothing new to report yet. Sorry.

Thank you for replying

 

[imfurunveren]

Hello. I am currently using ak se300. Someone who owns a sp2000 wants to trade my device. I don't have a chance to listen to the sp2000, we live in distant cities. Do you think the sp2000 will still be bought in 2024? Is it better than the se300? What kind of device is the sp2000? I would be very happy if knowledgeable friends could answer.

 

[Revoltair]

Enough of Astell's deception. I've had enough. Neil Young once said something similar when he resigned from cooperation with iriver.
From Iriver came Astell Kern.

Never again.

 

[Torq]

@JasonNYC ... So, any updates in the last two+ weeks?

What has been looked at/done in that time on this issue?

 

[Torq]

Well, I guess no response is as good an answer as I need.

This makes the choice of a smaller DAP to complement my N30LE very easy (N6iii at this point; rather than the SP3000M).

I've lost faith in A&K's supply chain management. Be it software or hardware. In this case I would have just written the SP2000 non-update off as "unit is no longer for sale, so no updates" had it not already been necessary to use a down-level version of the TIDAL app while it was still on sale. And the other case is the SP3000, and not being able to acquire the parts to keep it in production (does that also mean if that/those parts fail, affected units can't be repaired?).

At this point, maybe the best option is to open the SP2000 up so other's can modify its software. It's not a phone, so there's no baseband to protect. Not going to hold my breath on that either. But also not considering A&K for any future purchases absent a formal statement on updatability/maintainability for the future.

 

[rlw6534]

Well, I guess no response is as good an answer as I need.

This makes the choice of a smaller DAP to complement my N30LE very easy (N6iii at this point; rather than the SP3000M).

I've lost faith in A&K's supply chain management. Be it software or hardware. In this case I would have just written the SP2000 non-update off as "unit is no longer for sale, so no updates" had it not already been necessary to use a down-level version of the TIDAL app while it was still on sale. And the other case is the SP3000, and not being able to acquire the parts to keep it in production (does that also mean if that/those parts fail, affected units can't be repaired?).

At this point, maybe the best option is to open the SP2000 up so other's can modify its software. It's not a phone, so there's no baseband to protect. Not going to hold my breath on that either. But also not considering A&K for any future purchases absent a formal statement on updatability/maintainability for the future.

Well, they actually continued to sell the SP1K, SP1KM and the SP2K all after the Android version was becoming a problem. Maybe they were clearing out existing stock, but still... It doesn't help that information on the Android version is difficult to obtain. I remember it being said that the SR35 was Android 11, it's actually Android 9, six years behind current and yet one of their newest devices.

 

[Mickkav1967]

So I take it the tidal app is not or can't be updated. Would be nice to get a definite answer to this from astell and kern . I also had the ak300 some years back and they stopped tidal altogether. Was thinking of buying the hifi rose streamer. But for over £3000 it's a bit worrying for all long these expensive devices will continue to be supported.

 

[crazyhank]

Hi @JasonNYC please provide some new update and please push AK office. You can't imagine the negative view of Astell Kern lately. Anyone I speak to in the community they promise to never buy an AK product again. I own nearly every model...currently still SP3000, SP3000T and SP2000. Love them all, but this silence from them...only conitnues to upset and damage the brand. A brand I love and many do...I hope AK does right and corrects this communication style soon. Or they will miss out on many old and new customers.

 

[Revoltair]

Every Astell Kern DAP model was already outdated on the day of its release. Hiding the Android version, constant problems with proper functioning, hopes for improvement in the next version, problems with Tidal, Qobuz and many other problems. The only remedy from the manufacturer is to buy a new DAP, which is already outdated. All this is selling hope for normality. Enough of this.

 

[Gilles De Rais]

Every Astell Kern DAP model was already outdated on the day of its release. Hiding the Android version, constant problems with proper functioning, hopes for improvement in the next version, problems with Tidal, Qobuz and many other problems. The only remedy from the manufacturer is to buy a new DAP, which is already outdated. All this is selling hope for normality. Enough of this.

I think you mean every DAP is outdated in streaming on the day of its release....pretty much all of them use a SOC that is at least 5 years old eg Snapdragon 660/665. It is no wonder that their streaming capabilities don't last long. You'll probably find the same thing with a phone that uses that old a technology. It sort of suggests that DAP manufacturers see streaming as an ancillary rather than primary function. It is clear that not all customers see it that way.

That being said, every DAP I have - going back to my iBasso DX60 - still plays from a microSD card. Under those circumstances any DAP is not outdated but still functioning at a high level for a core function.

 

[Revoltair]

I don't think that streaming functions should be treated as secondary in DAPs these days. Implementation of Android 9 in the latest Astell Kern DAPs (sp3000,sp3000m) is a deliberate aging of the device. My old poco F1 works well with Tidal, but the much more expensive sp2000 doesn't. Sp2000 has android 6 (sic!).

 

[Torq]

If a device is advertised and sold with a function, that function should be kept up to date throughout, at a minimum, the sales-life of the device. The SP2000 (don't know about other models) was still on sale when it could no longer use the current versions of both APK (APX) installers nor the TIDAL client (maybe others).

I don't expect manufacturers to provide updates once the product is no longer for sale, though some period of post-availability support certainly wouldn't hurt. That, or open up the system so hobbyists can take it over from there.

I think I'm more annoyed that A&K won't come right out and say they're not going to do anything, than I am that I expect they won't address it.

Anyway, it no longer really affects me (directly), but it does affect my recommendations to others.

 

[Revoltair]

If a device is advertised and sold with a function, that function should be kept up to date throughout, at a minimum, the sales-life of the device. The SP2000 (don't know about other models) was still on sale when it could no longer use the current versions of both APK (APX) installers nor the TIDAL client (maybe others).

I don't expect manufacturers to provide updates once the product is no longer for sale, though some period of post-availability support certainly wouldn't hurt. That, or open up the system so hobbyists can take it over from there.

I think I'm more annoyed that A&K won't come right out and say they're not going to do anything, than I am that I expect they won't address it.

Anyway, it no longer really affects me (directly), but it does affect my recommendations to others.

Amen to that.​