If money weren’t a consideration for me I would love a Cayin N8. Of course @Torq is the expert in regards experience with this Dap. It’s such a feature packed well engineered piece of tech.
3 Likes
It depends if we’re talking about “best sound quality” in objective (i.e. highest fidelity), or subjective (preference), terms.
For the former, you’d be using the solid-state outputs on either player, and it’s pretty much a wash - there’s no clear winner for me there, they’re just slightly different.
For the latter, for me (and which might well be different for someone else), I find the Cayin N8’s NuTube output to be generally the most enjoyable (there are times when it isn’t), but it doesn’t have as high a fidelity as either unit’s solid-state outputs.
But if you don’t care about streaming, don’t need the extra storage (ironically less storage is easier to deal with when you DO have streaming available) and don’t mind the less fluid/flexible UX, then having the NuTube option on the N8 is really nice.
3 Likes
Perhaps a silly question from a DAP newbie: Does the unit behave like a smartphone in that it runs the Android versions of Qobuz/Tidal/Deezer and therefore has the ability to download music for offline access? I do have a smallish number of Redbook/HiRes files I would load on it, but by far the best scenario for me would be to have the ability to store a large amount of offline music from the streaming services for commuting and travel.
1 Like
You can side-load (i.e. not via the Google Play store) various approved/validated Android steaming clients. If they support offline content, then it’ll work on the SP2000 (and various other A&K players).
Check out the FAQ for the “Open APP Service”, which is what A&K call this ability.
1 Like
@Torq In the head-fi thread of the SP2k many owners lament (some don’t) about sound changes after FW updates. Did you also find that the sound alters every time there is a new firmware installed?
Nope.
I’ve measured the before/after output pre/post firmware changes and haven’t found any differences there, either.
And for what it’s worth, comparing an SS to a CU unit only yielded differences that were a) within the range of reasonable run-to-run measurement variation and b) well beyond the audible range of frequencies anyway.
Same was true with the various versions of the AK380 too …
3 Likes
Haha, that’s funny. How our brains can trick with our perceptions. Thanks!
1 Like
Speaking of firmware changes, A&K released a new firmware v1.21 two/three days ago, I’ve updated my SP2000 immediately from v.1.19 and I didn’t notice any changes in sound but people on Headfi claim that the SP2000 sound is back to its glory. The only issue with the new firmware is that it takes a lot longer to index the music files from the SD Card. After several user reporting the issue to A&K, they pulled the firmware and will be releasing another version in the coming days. I wonder if you have updated to v1.21 and if you noticed any changes in sound.
No, I didn’t update to v1.21.
I usually give new firmware releases a week or so before I install them.
Not because I’m worried about changes in sound … just to let other people discover any issues before I install something that can’t be rolled back.
4 Likes
Wise move! I’ll start doing the same…thanks for the tip.
2 Likes
A new, pending, firmware update for the SP2000 is slated for August 18th, with the following changes:
- Added option to select video streaming or music-only streaming in V-LINK app
- Added option to save favorite tracks
- Added bookmark feature in folder view
- Added AK Connect Speaker selection on the Home screen
- Added year/name sorting capabilities in the Artist-album menu
- Added option-specific search function in search: (MQS, DSD, Album, Artist)
- Added resume function
- Added ability to change listed order of playlists
- Added option to select DAC Filter
- Operational stability improvements
Having come to use the SP2000 more and more, vs. the Cayin N8*, this is a particularly interesting feature … if only to see what filter A&K had selected for the SP2000 to date …
*Still love the N8 for it’s “tube” output … but the lack of streaming capability is proving to be an increasingly limiting factor. Wish they’d release an N8 Mk2 that could do both …
4 Likes
are you tested the latest flagship from Empire Ears odin with SP2000?
I haven’t … since Odin isn’t shipping yet.
I put a pre-order in for a set, so when those arrive it’ll definitely be a combination I try, but that’s not going to be until after September 1st (at least unless Empire Ears change the release date).
3 Likes
“when you tested the output of the SP2000 into your SR1a setup via a power amplifier”.how did you find the combination SP 2000 and SR1a?
what do you advise me?
combination SP2000 and SR1a or combination SP2000 and 64 audio TIA FOURTE or mysphere 3.1 and SP2000
It was a useful way to evaluate some aspects of the SP2000’s performance that can’t be assessed with conventional headphones. Unless the SP2000 was doing double duty as a source and transport for BOTH portable and desktop use, I’d keep a dedicated desktop/rack setup for the SR1a, since they need either a proper 100W+ speaker amplifier or a dedicated direct drive amplifier (Jotunheim R, HSA-1a/1B).
I can’t advise you without knowing your use case(s) and listening preferences.
i want to use it as a source and transport. at home and at work
i want a combination very fun and well-resolving
That really doesn’t tell me anything very useful, since I think they’re all excellent fun to listen to and all are highly resolving.
The SR1a would require a power amplifier (and interface box), Jotunheim R or RAAL HSA-1a/HSA-1b at both locations.
I prefer the MySphere 3.2 over the 3.1 … despite what the specs say … with all of my sources, amps and DAPs.
The tia Fourté have the advantage of being very easy to transport, and are the only one of the three that offer any kind of isolation - so unless you sit in an office, and can close the door, they are probably the only viable option anyway.
1 Like
After reading your review on SR1a, I am more attracted by the combination SP2000 and SR1a with jotunheim R without DAC for listening more at home.
the question i ask myself is what the SP2000 is able to bring out all qualities of the SR1a with the jotunheim R
The Jotunheim R/SR1a combination is extremely revealing. It’s more than capable of exposing any upstream weaknesses/issues. And the SP2000 is not quite going to perform at the same level as the best desktop/fullsize DACs that can be had for the same price. Something that would be quite obvious if you did a back-to-back comparison via the Jotunheim R/SR1a.
You will want to make sure you’re using a PROPER SP2000 to dual 3-pin XLR adapter/cable (you can generally tell these because they connect to BOTH the 2.5mm and 3.5mm at the same time … like this).
You do NOT want to just use a simple 2.5mm TRRS to dual 3-pin XLR cable for this. It will “work”, in most cases (some amps can be funny about it), but it is not optimal.
3 Likes
thank you very much for this precious advice, you are wonderful, I had not thought of the prosper sp2000 adapter, it is precisely the adapter I need in my audio system, because i listen music more streaming
2 Likes