New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000

[Whitigir]

Congrats, I would be very interested in any further comments you have re the sound of the 1z vs the sp1000 both on balanced. I am about to pull the trigger on one of them. Thanks.

I too am interested in comparing the sp1000. My Wm1z with new internal cables just sound much better, and surprised me. It will be an interesting battle between the titans. Now, my question remain. Does A&K still use "ribbon cables" internally for SP1000 Balanced just similar to AK320-380 ?

 

[Samuel777]

Looking for someone help me fix the protection film on the screen of my brand new SP1000. Will pay the taxi to my place if needed.
Why don't AK fixe that film directely on the sceeen ? While you get this kind of engine in hands you should only care about enjoying the music, to forget what you spent and nothing else

 

[jmills8]

Looking for someone help me fix the protection film on the screen of my brand new SP1000. Will pay the taxi to my place if needed.
Why don't AK fixe that film directely on the sceeen ? While you get this kind of engine in hands you should only care about enjoying the music, to forget what you spent and nothing else

 

[blackwolf1006]

I have an Idea that I hope the guys at AK listens to. Based on the current specs of the SP1000 it’s safe to say they can make add-on similar to the AK300 amp with a storage upgrade.. The MSATA hard Drives are a little bigger than a standard SD card. Given the size of the mSATA card it might even be possible to add a battery expansion to it.

link to mSATA card picture comparison
http://www.fmcc.se/ItemInfo?itemId=...r+Protector;BLSHOP-1440183972762=qx796dfb74n1

 

[Malevolent]

Looking for someone help me fix the protection film on the screen of my brand new SP1000. Will pay the taxi to my place if needed.
Why don't AK fixe that film directely on the sceeen ? While you get this kind of engine in hands you should only care about enjoying the music, to forget what you spent and nothing else

For the price A&K are charging for the SP1000, you'd think they'd supply a better screen protector. I tried pasting mine, and both attempts pretty much failed. The 2nd attempt was better than the first, which was an unmitigated disaster, but I'm still left with scratch marks and a small bend/dent (?) on the lower part of the plastic sheet.

Off to eBay I went to hunt for a better screen protector.

 

[Samuel777]

If I felt to fix these films I will write to ak to officially request for other films.
Sûre.
Sam

 

[Malevolent]

If I felt to fix these films I will write to ak to officially request for other films.
Sûre.
Sam

Unless A&K provides a different type of screen protector, I'd pass on that. Most screen protectors come with 2 protective films on either side of the actual sheet. One should be removed prior to application (this film conceals the sticky side), and the other is removed once the screen protector has been pasted. With the SP1000, you only get 1 protective film on each individual sheet, so the actual protector's surface is exposed. Mine already came with loads of scratches.

 

[Samuel777]

I will check mine very carefully when I got home.
Could you please send me link of the one you ordered from eBay. I will get a look on it.
Thanks.
Sam

 

[Malevolent]

I'm not sure about adding different non-AK amps to your AK DAP.

I've had my AK380SS AMP in authorised repair service for a month (that's how long it takes them to get to work in Germany...).

I've had an original black 380 AMP borrowed from my dealer for the time of repair and... it wasn't tuned to the 380SS version. I mean, they somehow sounded BAD together. I can't say what exactly it was; but surely I prefered a "naked" 380SS without an amp.

Also AK380SS sounds nice with both Oppo HA2-SE and Aune B1. But still, it sounds best with the original amp, even if the sound is smaller than with the both said amps, especially Aune B1. Somehow it's sound is most coherent and integral, if I may say so. Maybe that's also thanks to the 4pin balanced out versus unbalanced mini-jack out, dunno.

I've used a variety of amps with my AK players over the years, and they've all sounded great. For example, I've used my Rx Mk3-B+, Rx (2015) and The National with a variety of AK players, including the AK240 and the AK380. With the 380, I very much preferred using the big Rx to the PAF11.

 

[bmichels]

I have an Idea that I hope the guys at AK listens to. Based on the current specs of the SP1000 it’s safe to say they can make add-on similar to the AK300 amp with a storage upgrade.. The MSATA hard Drives are a little bigger than a standard SD card. Given the size of the mSATA card it might even be possible to add a battery expansion to it.

link to mSATA card picture comparison
http://www.fmcc.se/ItemInfo?itemId=...r+Protector;BLSHOP-1440183972762=qx796dfb74n1

+ 1000 For an add-0n storage module (with it's own battery) that will "click" under the DAP

In the mean time here is my 1 Tb "add on", but unfortunattly it needs a cable and uses the SP1000's battery.

 

[frfrtx]

+ 1000 For an add-0n storage module (with it's own battery) that will "click" under the DAP

In the mean time here is my 1 Tb "add on", but unfortunattly it needs a cable and uses the SP1000's battery.

Have you had an opportunity to measure how much your 1TB "add on" is affecting battery life and playback time?
Thanks

 

[bmichels]

Have you had an opportunity to measure how much your 1TB "add on" is affecting battery life and playback time?
Thanks

I will mesure this tomorrow if I have time.

 

[frfrtx]

I will mesure this tomorrow if I have time.

I should also say that I hope you don't have any sound differences, database issues or system/software issues.

 

[bmichels]

I should also say that I hope you don't have any sound differences, database issues or system/software issues.

Good idea...I will try to carefully compare sound for the same track played internaly or from the external SSD...

 

[Piotr Michalak]

I'm also sceptical about an external amp module for Ultima since it's already a very long device. With an AMP, how long will it get? It's already less pocketable than AK380. I though they are rather planning accessories like dock, recorder maybe, etc.