Astell&Kern new flagship A&Ultima SP2000

[Lemondante]

Would be better to use a 4.4mm female to 2.5mm 3.5mm male adapter (PW Audio, DDHifi, Effect Audio) with a 4.4mm-4.4mm cable. These use the 3.5mm connector for ground, not available via 2.5mm otherwise.

Yeah I though about that too. But in this case, if the balanced circuit doesn't sound much different than a single-ended circuit, I think 3.5 might be a better solution. Better to connect directly than to an adapter.

 

[Lemondante]

Yeah I though about that too. But in this case, if the balanced circuit doesn't sound much different than a single-ended circuit, I think 3.5 might be a better solution. Better to connect directly than to an adapter.

So I think the real question here is wether the balanced line-out sound better than the single-ended one

 

[toomasg]

So I think the real question here is wether the balanced line-out sound better than the single-ended one

purely specswise there is a difference -
Freq Response ±0.015dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.010dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.050dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.030dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
Signal to Noise Ratio 124dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
Crosstalk -138dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -144dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced

I'm myself quite surprised by such great crosstalk figure for unbalanced output. Other than that, only you can tell if the difference matters to you.
IF you intend to use balanced output on PA10 (which is noticeably better than unbalanced), then I'd keep the whole chain balanced.

 

[Lemondante]

purely specswise there is a difference -
Freq Response ±0.015dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.010dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.050dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.030dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
Signal to Noise Ratio 124dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
Crosstalk -138dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -144dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced

I'm myself quite surprised by such great crosstalk figure for unbalanced output. Other than that, only you can tell if the difference matters to you.
IF you intend to use balanced output on PA10 (which is noticeably better than unbalanced), then I'd keep the whole chain balanced.

That’s interesting, though I honestly don't know what effect these specs have on the actual sound. I do wanna use balanced outputs on the PA10, so I guess the only way to find out is to get both the 4.4 and 3.5 cables, as well as the adapter, and do the comparison. If I get the results, I'll post it here for anyone interested.

 

[Gilles De Rais]

No probs with 2.5 to 4.4 from dap to PA10. I’ve tried on an SA700 and an SP2000. In some ways it is a more elegant solution to the 4.4 at each end. The current ifi cable is larger by several factors. In the pic below left to right next to the PA10- Ifi 4.4mm to 4.4 mm, Custom 2.5mm to 4.4mm, A&K 3.5mm to 3.5mm. My point is clear...

 

[Lemondante]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new-tol-a-k-dap-the-ak-ultima-sp1000.850061/post-17856737 Ok so I found that @RIGATIO wrote about how PA10 pair with SP1K using 4.4 adapter and it looks pretty decent

 

[Mickkav1967]

Hi,could anyone tell me why if tidal as done away with mqa as of the 24 of june it is still showing on the pre installed tidal app on the sp2000 when playing music.

 

[rlw6534]

Hi,could anyone tell me why if tidal as done away with mqa as of the 24 of june it is still showing on the pre installed tidal app on the sp2000 when playing music.

It's supposed to happen on July 24 based on the email I received. Not sure how that will affect the A&K Tidal app which hasn't even been updated for Tidal Max.

@JasonNYC

Comments?

 

[Mickkav1967]

Yes July not june my mistake.

 

[JasonNYC]

Hi,could anyone tell me why if tidal as done away with mqa as of the 24 of june it is still showing on the pre installed tidal app on the sp2000 when playing music.

As already mentioned, Tidal will support MQA through July 24, so until then, MQA tracks will be available in the Tidal app.

 

[twiceboss]

Hello ak users,

Im planning to get sp2000ss.

Can I control Tidal using Computer while listening through the DAP?

 

[lil BANE]

Hello ak users,

Im planning to get sp2000ss.

Can I control Tidal using Computer while listening through the DAP?

Yes - there is an option in settings to put the SP2000 into USB mode. Just connect it to you computer and select the SP2000 as the output device.

 

[twiceboss]

Yes - there is an option in settings to put the SP2000 into USB mode. Just connect it to you computer and select the SP2000 as the output device.

Oh now it became a dac/amp?

Understood.

How i wish Tidal connect is as good as Spotify connect!

 

[bukumurah]

Hi Astell & Kern / @JasonNYC ,

My name is Jack from Indonesia. I am an owner of an SP2000Cu which I bought in Japan a long time ago.

I think I may have caught the 'unable to charge' issue that some people here have experienced in 2021. According to the local audiophile forum, the charging IC hardware on the board may have died due to age.

I wanted to ask what could be done regarding an AK unit that needs servicing but is already out of warranty and is now in a different country.

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[JasonNYC]

Hi Astell & Kern / @JasonNYC ,

My name is Jack from Indonesia. I am an owner of an SP2000Cu which I bought in Japan a long time ago.

I think I may have caught the 'unable to charge' issue that some people here have experienced in 2021. According to the local audiophile forum, the charging IC hardware on the board may have died due to age.

I wanted to ask what could be done regarding an AK unit that needs servicing but is already out of warranty and is now in a different country.

Thanks so much in advance.

I would recommend contacting our global support team at astellnkern@astellnkern.com and they can advise on where to send the player for service and also provide an estimated out of warranty repair cost.