and the BEST is 2.5mm balanced, of course !
New TOL A&K DAP : the AK Ultima SP1000
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Obscene0324
New Head-Fier
Meh. All this discussion over splitting hairs on performance of a portable DAP.
Want real improvement to the SP1000? Run it with a Mass Kobo 404 with a separate 3.5mm ground
链球？
(Sorry guys, just greeting him in our mother tongue. I might know this guy)
olddude
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm old and I hear the difference between 2.5 and 3.5 with my Zeus.
WHY would a company make a newer, cheaper device and undercut the more expensive one? Anyone can say anything, but no one is going to convince me that a canny company like AK would say "hey, here's a newer cheaper version of the SP1000, it sounds better than the SP1000, you should buy it for $1K less and leave all the SP1000's to be remaindered on eBay for discount prices because, well, we really want you to save a grand." Seriously?
And to the poster who can't tell the difference between a cell phone and an AK: cool, save your money and be happy. You just saved $3500 at no loss to your ears.
WHY would a company make a newer, cheaper device and undercut the more expensive one? Anyone can say anything, but no one is going to convince me that a canny company like AK would say "hey, here's a newer cheaper version of the SP1000, it sounds better than the SP1000, you should buy it for $1K less and leave all the SP1000's to be remaindered on eBay for discount prices because, well, we really want you to save a grand." Seriously?
And to the poster who can't tell the difference between a cell phone and an AK: cool, save your money and be happy. You just saved $3500 at no loss to your ears.
AK say the M sounds better because of the layout of the components specifically the anolog line is shorter resulting in lower noise, some things being closer together and giving the sound more power.
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Can you please post a link to the official A&K statement saying that? Or did you talk to A&K rep directly who told you those exact words?
olddude
Headphoneus Supremus
Is that Mr. Astell or Mr. Kern speaking?
kerrys30
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maybe they sold more 1000 units than predicted or have a new smaller design foot print that they prefer to move forward with so not interested in keeping the larger 1000 out there or having to have the machinery to produce more.
This could line up a whole new range of models with smaller foot print. who cares about the whys and what ifs......just enjoy the ride.
This could line up a whole new range of models with smaller foot print. who cares about the whys and what ifs......just enjoy the ride.
Obscene0324
New Head-Fier
There's probably two possibilities. First that the Spkm DOES sound slightly better than the Spk because of a slightly improved amp, but because it lacks the ability to integrate an amp, it will fall inferior to a Spk+amp. Therefore, the original Spk owners would be obliged to purchase an amp, so that the sound performance of the Spk could still remain as AK's TOTL.
Or, another alternative to this problem is that, though AK probably has the ability to make a DAP by the size of Spkm that sound as equally, if not superior to the Spkm. But due to marketing and business considerations, they would intentionally make the Spkm sound inferior to that of Spk. Such as certain sonic limits hardwired to its firmware, which would bring certain subtle, yet noticeable and decisive differentiations from it and the Spk. This difference would be further enlarged by the prospective amp that would only fit Spk.
However, we would never know before the coming of rmaf canjam.
Or, another alternative to this problem is that, though AK probably has the ability to make a DAP by the size of Spkm that sound as equally, if not superior to the Spkm. But due to marketing and business considerations, they would intentionally make the Spkm sound inferior to that of Spk. Such as certain sonic limits hardwired to its firmware, which would bring certain subtle, yet noticeable and decisive differentiations from it and the Spk. This difference would be further enlarged by the prospective amp that would only fit Spk.
However, we would never know before the coming of rmaf canjam.
The salesman in the video suggests that the M sounds better than sp1k, and that is the word on the street.
IMO I dont think ak set out to make it sound better, I think it was just a consequential design feature
IMO I dont think ak set out to make it sound better, I think it was just a consequential design feature
Why are people so freaking out by sp1km being better? This happens all the time in the electronic industries.
Cheaper but better, more powerful products being released every year if not sooner. Why would there be an
exception in portable audio world...Does it always have to be more expensive to sound better? I do not
believe AK would make their product intentionally worse because of its predecessor. They also need to think
about their competitors releasing new product at this price range.
Cheaper but better, more powerful products being released every year if not sooner. Why would there be an
exception in portable audio world...Does it always have to be more expensive to sound better? I do not
believe AK would make their product intentionally worse because of its predecessor. They also need to think
about their competitors releasing new product at this price range.
I feel so funny seeing people doubting any hearing impression or comment that a lower cost dap may be of “better” than a older generation more expensive (ex-) totl product. Are we being spoilt by vendors in believing more expensive = better?
Rather than to be critical and doubtful, I suggest that we should adopt a open mind when receiving these info.
1) it’s a new product so what’s wrong with being improved and better despite of costing lesser?
2) as a consumer , isn’t it better if ak can make it better, smaller and cost lesser ?
3) forget about sounding better, even if it’s going to sound the same, to me it’s already better value
Personally I will still go for a audition and try it out to see if it’s sound signature is up to my preference.
It may be a marketing thing or just a small handful of people citing different observations , but who buy dap based on pure observations now ? I know it’s going to be generally available soon so let’s wait and go try them whenever you can spot one
Ps : i think it’s nothing wrong for a company to put out lesser cost , better product than previous but asking for a official statement that it sounds better? Eh. I don’t think so.
Rather than to be critical and doubtful, I suggest that we should adopt a open mind when receiving these info.
1) it’s a new product so what’s wrong with being improved and better despite of costing lesser?
2) as a consumer , isn’t it better if ak can make it better, smaller and cost lesser ?
3) forget about sounding better, even if it’s going to sound the same, to me it’s already better value
Personally I will still go for a audition and try it out to see if it’s sound signature is up to my preference.
It may be a marketing thing or just a small handful of people citing different observations , but who buy dap based on pure observations now ? I know it’s going to be generally available soon so let’s wait and go try them whenever you can spot one
Ps : i think it’s nothing wrong for a company to put out lesser cost , better product than previous but asking for a official statement that it sounds better? Eh. I don’t think so.
Looking for some help. I am running audirvana on my mac and can not get it to output dsd to the sp1000. It only shows that it can playback at 384 pcm. My idsd black label gets the dsd from AUDIRVANA with no problem. Is this a known issue with the sp1000?
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