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Astell&Kern SP3000M
Only a short while before the PAW Gold Touch 2 was delivered, I bought an Astell&Kern SP3000M. On paper it ticks all my boxes. The AK brings a few features on the table, which the Lotoo lacks.
It has native streaming support, plus support for installing the most popular streaming services. The SP3000M is also Roon Ready and has an internal memory of 256GB.
On top of the extra features, it is also far more portable than the Lotoo. The AK, however, can’t match the raw power output or sound flexibility (PEQ, ATE, hardware XRC) of the PAW Gold Touch 2.
Lotoo’s DAP also holds its battery longer. The Astell&Kern SP3000M costs 2,299 USD, which is 901 USD less than the PAW Gold Touch 2.
Both DAPs share some similarities but differ noticeably in their tuning to me. The AK has a smoother sound in general, where it doesn’t output the same level of resolution and precision as the PGT2.
Lotoo’s flagship sounds more refined and defined to me. Where the PGT2 produces a more accurate and higher resolved sound, the AK goes for a smoother tuning.
The PGT2 reaches faintly deeper into the lowest registers and does so with more impact than the SP3000M. Both DAPs produce excellent body throughout, but the Lotoo does so with a finer rendered picture.
Bass sounds denser and more accurate on the Lotoo with better grip and drive.
In the mids, the Lotoo is richer and higher resolved than the AK. Astell&Kern’s DAP has a smoother sound with softer texture. The midrange sounds a touch denser and heavier on the Lotoo as well.
The PGT2 gives musicians and instruments more space to walk around, while also placing them on a darker background. AK’s A&ultima though doesn’t have a hazy back at all, I would also describe it as black, though the Lotoo shows what’s really possible here.
The PAW Gold Touch 2 also is superior when it comes to sound stage depth and layering. It places instruments on the Z-axis with higher precision and further back than the AK to me.
In the treble, the Lotoo is richer and not as brightly tuned as the AK. The Lotoo sounds a touch more accessible in its highs than the AK to me.
Though I wouldn’t describe the AK to be brittle, sharp or bright. It just has a slightly more forward top than the Lotoo.
Conclusion
From a sound perspective alone the Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2 is sublime. It offers an extremely refined and accurate sound, that is slightly warm but especially superbly rendered in body, texture and richness.
It is very hard to pass on the PGT2 as it performs in outstanding fashion with all my ear- and headphones. Personally, I haven’t heard a DAP that could beat its realism and wow-factor.
The Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2 delivers on all aspects. Build quality, software and sound. The biggest drawbacks of it are its pocket-ability and lack of streaming services as well as no internal memory. Even if there is a work-around using the LTTP transmitter.
Still, for its incredible performance across the board and it’s unrivaled self-built operating system, the PAW Gold Touch 2 goes on our recommended DAP list, replacing Lotoo’s first gen PGT.
The PAW Gold Touch 2 is a more than worthy successor to Lotoo’s first generation.
Summary
Pros:
Sound quality
Extreme resolution
Superb body presentation
Outstanding low-end reproduction
Software
Build quality
Cons:
Size
No native streaming
No internal memory
