Developing the extremely popular A&ultima SP3000 , Astell&Kern has combined the best qualities of its current flagship player with the warm sound of tube amplification. The SP3000T features Astell&Kern’s triple amplification system, first introduced in 2021 on the A&ultima SP2000T, which allows users to customize their audio profile using tube amplification, a digital op-amp, or a hybrid combination of tube and op-amp.
All three modes are available when using the 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm outputs.
Tube Amp Mode
The SP3000T features two vintage RAYTHEON JAN6418 MIL-SPEC vacuum tubes. Tube Amp Mode provides the unique warm and soothing tone typical of vintage tube amps.
Op-Amp Mode
The SP3000T uses the same op-amp configuration as the flagship SP3000. This time-tested amplification technology has been developed for many years for Astell&Kern digital audio players and has proven time and again to be the culmination of Astell&Kern’s amplifier design expertise, delivering the exceptional clarity, low noise and dynamic sound for which Astell&Kern is renowned throughout the world.
Hybrid Amp Mode
New to the SP2000T, Hybrid Amp Mode enhances the resolution and clarity of a tube amp’s sound, allowing you to capture more musical detail. Combining the benefits of retro analog sound with high-resolution output, this mode brings you the pleasure of new tonality by combining the best of vacuum tube and op amp technology.
Three-Stage Tube Current Control
In Tube Amp mode, the user can adjust the current supplied to the tubes, allowing for nuanced sound profiles.
Like the A&ultima SP3000, the SP3000T uses Asahi Kasei Microdevices’ (AKM) latest flagship DAC, the AKM AK4499EX, and features complete separation of digital and analog streams. Most digital players process digital and analog signals together in a DAC. However, in the SP3000 and SP3000T players, noise on the digital signal input is reduced using the AK4191EQ, a separate digital delta-sigma modulator, and then the AK4499EX DAC processes the analog signals separately.
The DAC configuration in the SP3000 and SP3000T models is slightly different. The SP3000 uses a four-channel AK4499EX + 2 x AK4191EQ DAC with a hexadecimal (4+2) structure. The SP3000T uses dual AK4499EX + 2 x AK4191EQ (2+2) DACs.
Thanks to a unique design in which digital and analog signal processing are physically separated, Astell&Kern claims incredible sound levels that have never been achieved before.
The A&ultima SP3000T is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 6125 processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, which is double what is typically used in DAPs. Together with Astell&Kern’s state-of-the-art 4th generation user interface, Crimson, the player is equipped with a more powerful system that has proven to be stable, easy to navigate and upgradable.
316L stainless steel with 99.9% pure silver plating gives the SP3000T a classic look that completely complements the vintage tube amp used in the player.
Price : $2999
