[Dmtrvx]

Decided to go all black.

 

[PaKiwiAl]

I am going to have to find a place that I can demo these.
It would be nice to compare them with the SE100.
Going to see what I can find on reviews and comparisons.

 

[argentinafa]

Astell&Kern SA700 — detailed text review by Porta.Fi​

English: https://porta.fi/astellkern-sa700-player-review-unexpected-but-good/
Russian: https://porta.fi/ru/obzor-pleera-astellkern-sa700-vnezapno-no-horosho/

Nice review there from the site.

Here in SG, seldom will have people who will spend S$1999 on mid end A&K player. With that money, most will go for FiiO M15 which is priced exactly the same. Or Sony WM1A at $1599 as it has a stronger battery playback time.

For me I chosen SA700 because of the aesthetics. And it matches the sound signature of my Roxanne and Layla the best.

Will wait for SP3000 to be released, as SP2000 battery life playback is worse than SP1000.

 

[cleg]

Will wait for SP3000 to be released, as SP2000 battery life playback is worse than SP1000

AK4499 consumes about 2 times more power then AK4497. FiiO "fixed" that putting a huge battery inside M15. A&K probably didn't have such an option due to SP2000 design.
Other question is that using 4499 is more of marketing feature than a real necessity

 

[RONJA MESCO]

I owned the 1000m blue, and the se100 twice. (My current dap). I agree with the above. When I upgraded to the 1000m I was a little disappointed. I ended up coming back to the se100.

OK, this is what I wanted to hear... So you think the 1000m is not worth upgrading to over the se100? Wow...

 

[szore]

OK, this is what I wanted to hear... So you think the 1000m is not worth upgrading to over the se100? Wow...

Well....what I'm saying is the se100 is the sweet spot. Also the battery is better if that matters to you. Also you can get a. 1000m for like $1700 now I think

 

[Martin J]

Sa700 = Past meets present
+
Hifi M8 = Past meets past meets present

Played around with the External DAC mode Centrance Hifi M8 still my best portable gear that drives the aeon flow. Even my old Kann couldnt drive it with authority.

 

[Dmtrvx]

Sa700 = Past meets present
+
Hifi M8 = Past meets past meets present

Played around with the External DAC mode Centrance Hifi M8 still my best portable gear that drives the aeon flow. Even my old Kann couldnt drive it with authority.

Hi, external DAC mode through USB output? Thanks

 

[argentinafa]

JH Audio Layla with my SA700.

 

[Demo3]

I was all set to get the new FIIO M15, then I started seeing talk about the SA700. Now I can not decide between the SA700 and stepping up a little for the SE100. I tend to prefer more neutral, mid and detail. I will be doing a lot of streaming with Tidal so I know both A&K can handle that, and I do a lot of ripping cds. I took a listed to the SE100 at RMAF this year and liked it but did not spend a lot of time with it and of course not tried the SA700. So it will end up being which one has more detail... opinions please.

 

[argentinafa]

I was all set to get the new FIIO M15, then I started seeing talk about the SA700. Now I can not decide between the SA700 and stepping up a little for the SE100. I tend to prefer more neutral, mid and detail. I will be doing a lot of streaming with Tidal so I know both A&K can handle that, and I do a lot of ripping cds. I took a listed to the SE100 at RMAF this year and liked it but did not spend a lot of time with it and of course not tried the SA700. So it will end up being which one has more detail... opinions please.

Actually, I would say your ciem plays a bigger part than how your dap alters the signature of the sound that you perceive and want.

For e.g., my Roxanne sounds very bassy with my SA700. Whereas my Layla sounds just right with subtle bass and with mids, especially upper mids for female vocals to be sweet, crisp and clear and yet not too over powering. An example would be to hear Whitney Houston - Didn’t We Almost Have It All. Can really hear her powerful vocals and dragging of “have it alllllll.....” without the background bass masking or drowning her pronunciation of the lyrics. 4th order crossover of the Layla plays a big part too.

If I’m to pair with FiiO M15, then perhaps I can’t set the bass tuner at 2 o’clock.

I’ve tried SE100, SP1000, SP2000. My fav is SP2000 but at S$5k, I don’t wish to spend so much on a dap that battery life ain’t lasting.

Aesthetics wise IMHO SA700 wins them all. S$1999 well spent. And I don’t find the 4 cores cpu sluggish at all as compared to 8 cores that the higher ends A&K dap are using.

 

[Demo3]

Actually, I would say your ciem plays a bigger part than how your dap alters the signature of the sound that you perceive and want.
For e.g., my Roxanne sounds very bassy with my SA700. Whereas my Layla sounds just right with subtle bass and with mids, especially upper mids for female vocals to be sweet, crisp and clear and yet not too over powering. An example would be to hear Whitney Houston - Didn’t We Almost Have It All. Can really hear her powerful vocals and dragging of “have it alllllll.....” without the background bass masking or drowning her pronunciation of the lyrics. 4th order crossover of the Layla plays a big part too.
If I’m to pair with FiiO M15, then perhaps I can’t set the bass tuner at 2 o’clock.
I’ve tried SE100, SP1000, SP2000. My fav is SP2000 but at S$5k, I don’t wish to spend so much on a dap that battery life ain’t lasting.
Aesthetics wise IMHO SA700 wins them all. S$1999 well spent. And I don’t find the 4 cores cpu sluggish at all as compared to 8 cores that the higher ends A&K dap are using.

Thanks muchly... My most used headphone is Mr. Speaker, Ether C (now DCA) and Atomic Floyd SuperDarts. I tried both out with the SE100 at RMAF just to see if there were any problems driving those and of course there was not. I actually use the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 with my computer most of the time because I am a MQA fan and may start ripping MQA cds when they become more available. My current DAP, FiiO X5 3rd gen. does not let the Ether C shine like I know it can.

 

[Martin J]

Thanks muchly... My most used headphone is Mr. Speaker, Ether C (now DCA) and Atomic Floyd SuperDarts. I tried both out with the SE100 at RMAF just to see if there were any problems driving those and of course there was not. I actually use the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 with my computer most of the time because I am a MQA fan and may start ripping MQA cds when they become more available. My current DAP, FiiO X5 3rd gen. does not let the Ether C shine like I know it can.

in my experience, it couldnt drive my aeon flows well enough, the bass goes out of whack.....today was able to get hold of an ALO CV5. Gave it enough juice.

 

[Focux]

Nice review there from the site.

Here in SG, seldom will have people who will spend S$1999 on mid end A&K player. With that money, most will go for FiiO M15 which is priced exactly the same. Or Sony WM1A at $1599 as it has a stronger battery playback time.

For me I chosen SA700 because of the aesthetics. And it matches the sound signature of my Roxanne and Layla the best.

Will wait for SP3000 to be released, as SP2000 battery life playback is worse than SP1000.

so you're selling the SA700 for the upcoming SP3000?

 

[argentinafa]

so you're selling the SA700 for the upcoming SP3000?

Still on the equilibrium on whether to sell or not SA700. I may change my mind and delete my listing on carousell soon. SA700 is what I want in terms of sound signature. Only WM1Z impressed me similarly/slightly more, as it’s still under S$4K, as compared to SP1000 & SP2000’s price range. Can’t imagine SP3000 starting price!

One thing good about WM1Z is the monstrous battery life.