[dhc0329]

I have owned both, a few other members messaged me when I sold my dx220, and we agreed about our perceptions of the dx220. IMHO 220 stage is smaller than regular ak380, and sonically inferior in all areas particularly the upper registers, and bass quantity/quality imaging. Sp1000 is technically superior to AK380, so honestly I don’t think it’s an realistic comparison. Dx200 has nice equalization, and you can substantially boost levels high, but even so bass quality wasn’t up to 380 level, and more mid than sub bass.

In all fairness the 1000/380 cost much more, but people were saying the dx200 was better than sp1000 and I owned both at the same time as well, which I didn’t find personally to be true.

I like Ibasso and I owned a dx90 happily for 4-5 years without feeling the need to upgrade, and I’m not bashing the 220, it’s a great dap for the money for sure.

Thanks for your input. Although I ended up replacing my sp1000 with n8, but I still thought sp1000 was excellent sounding device. I just like n8's tube sound. Yeah, when people said dx220 sounds better I just couldn't take it as is..but then again not sure why so many saying it. I am sure some of them are dx pumpers but some may not.

 

[Shmuel]

Can anyone give me an idea as to how the A&K would differ from my HiBy R6, which I’m very happy with but interested in upgrading?

I love the musicality and cohesiveness of the HiBy and haven’t yet heard better.

Thanks!

 

[mmxxm]

Not that I know of. I will check with our team in Korea when they are back in the office in the morning.

Hello Jason,

Any news from the factory regarding production of the SP1000M gold?

Regards,

Malcolm

 

[JasonNYC]

Hello Jason,

Any news from the factory regarding production of the SP1000M gold?

Regards,

Malcolm

SP1000M Gold is officially out of production. There is some stock in China and Hong Kong, but not available in any other country right now.

 

[t69p]

Have you tried both sp1000 and dx220? I had sp1000ss for quite some times and thought it sounded pretty good but there are a lot of people claiming dx220 has bigger sound stage with texture bass, etc.
I never had ibaaso products so makes me want to try out to see if dx220's indeed better.

I have both and I think you can not compare them, SP1000 is much superior, greater soundstage, more details, simply more sound. The iBasso DX220 is amazing until you compare them with SP1000, I'm now waiting for AMP9, for an alternative listening expierence. I primarily use DX220 when I'm traveling, because I like the sound and the weight is more portable.

 

[KimChee]

I have basically owned all TOTL Daps except for the N8, which I’m sure due to madness I will at some point. I prefer AK380 Copper to SP1000 due to personal preference, and I think N8 might be the good in between choice for me. Agreed. IMO it’s not really that close between dc220 and sp1000.

Thanks for your input. Although I ended up replacing my sp1000 with n8, but I still thought sp1000 was excellent sounding device. I just like n8's tube sound. Yeah, when people said dx220 sounds better I just couldn't take it as is..but then again not sure why so many saying it. I am sure some of them are dx pumpers but some may not.

 

[cj3209]

I have basically owned all TOTL Daps except for the N8, which I’m sure due to madness I will at some point. I prefer AK380 Copper to SP1000 due to personal preference, and I think N8 might be the good in between choice for me. Agreed. IMO it’s not really that close between dc220 and sp1000.

I've owned the dx220, dx200Ti, and dx200, and currently use an SP1000cu. I find that these DAPs have different flavors and not that one is 'better' than the other. I found the DX200Ti to have great slam and impactful bass (which I enjoyed with techno and rock music) while the SP1000cu was smooth and refined which I enjoy with female vocals. Ultimately, I liked the refinement of the SP1000 which is why I sold my iBasso daps.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Back to the music...

 

[SP1000_WOW]

With the addition of ifi xCan (which adds bass) to my portable setup (Sp1k cu + Utopia + Nirvana cable), I think I am close to my ultimate setup for home use also. For those who have both Chord Scaler + Hugo TT2, did this Chord setup improve your hearing pleasure by more than 50% over SP1K? by how much? worth spending the $10K?

 

[SP1000_WOW]

Any news on new amp? İ wonder will it be an upgrade or just needed for hard to drive cans

Mostly i use utopia/stellia but i have a hd800 as well

I am loving the ifi XCAN that I recently purchased as it adds a nice bass boost to my Utopia. It totally changes the SQ positively....

 

[CreditingKarma]

With the addition of ifi xCan (which adds bass) to my portable setup (Sp1k cu + Utopia + Nirvana cable), I think I am close to my ultimate setup for home use also. For those who have both Chord Scaler + Hugo TT2, did this Chord setup improve your hearing pleasure by more than 50% over SP1K? by how much? worth spending the $10K?

I had an mscaler with hugo2 (ordered a tt2 but didn't want to wait almost 4 th months). I can say the mscaler is nice and did improve the hugo2 but the sound of the hugo 2 was way too close to the sp1000. I actually like the sp1000cu more than the hugo 2. I traded the hugo2 and mscaler to finance my two channel upgrade. I currently use the sp1000cu with my iems and have a metrum onyx for my two channel setup and desktop with the abyss 1265tc and other fullsize cans. I thi k that the metrum has a better sound signature than the hugo2 or sp1000 it is more evident on speakers. The sound stage is more holographic and deeper.the onyx also has a better bass presentation to me as well. I think it has to do with the fact that it is an NOS r2r dac. It also has benefitted from the development of the pavane level 3.

 

[lithiumnk]

I had an mscaler with hugo2 (ordered a tt2 but didn't want to wait almost 4 th months). I can say the mscaler is nice and did improve the hugo2 but the sound of the hugo 2 was way too close to the sp1000. I actually like the sp1000cu more than the hugo 2. I traded the hugo2 and mscaler to finance my two channel upgrade. I currently use the sp1000cu with my iems and have a metrum onyx for my two channel setup and desktop with the abyss 1265tc and other fullsize cans. I thi k that the metrum has a better sound signature than the hugo2 or sp1000 it is more evident on speakers. The sound stage is more holographic and deeper.the onyx also has a better bass presentation to me as well. I think it has to do with the fact that it is an NOS r2r dac. It also has benefitted from the development of the pavane level 3.

You are absolutely right. I sold my hugo2 after trying metrum onyx. SP1000cu is good for portable use. Pavane is a different beast altogether. But the amp should be equally potent so as to completely unleash its performance.I am just waiting for a NOS R2R DAP.

 

[Omega139]

Hey guys, hate to be that guy but I thought it might be appropriate to plug my sale here https://www.head-fi.org/threads/for-sale-a-ultima-sp1000-ss-accessories.909243/ check it out!

 

[JasonNYC]

SP2000 and SP1000 AMP will be available for demo this weekend at CanJam SoCal

 

[Stephen George]

Mm...I wanted to RWAK my first AK, the 240. I inquired whether it is possible to have an original, brand-new battery installed. I was told it was not possible
.

super necro reply, but you can replace the battery yourself for $20 bucks and a t-6 screwdriver...takes about 10 minutes

 

[Eaglet]

Why, am I the only one who's heard a deterioration in sound since the last firmware?