{"product_id":"astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player","title":"Astell\u0026Kern A\u0026ultima SP3000 Digital Audio Player","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Astell\u0026amp;Kern A\u0026amp;ultima SP3000 is Astell\u0026amp;Kern’s flagship music player, the essence of more than ten years of its digital music engineering. It was the first player with a body of 904L stainless steel, the steel of luxury watches, and the first with digital and analogue processing completely separated: its HEXA-Audio circuit pairs two AKM AK4191EQ modulators with four AK4499EX DACs, the first use of AKM’s flagship DAC, and gives the balanced and unbalanced outputs their own independent audio circuits. Astell\u0026amp;Kern quotes a signal-to-noise ratio of 130dB, which it says is the best of any digital audio player.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/AKSP3000_1000x646_4748bf38-0972-4f3f-9642-015b0e1b1c65.jpg?v=1767175007\" alt=\"Astell\u0026amp;Kern A\u0026amp;ultima SP3000 in silver and black\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e904L stainless steel\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe A\u0026amp;ultima series aims to offer value no one can imitate, through innovative, uncompromising design and craftsmanship. 904L stainless steel had never been used for a portable player: it is harder and far more time-consuming to machine than ordinary stainless steel, but its durability and corrosion resistance keep it looking beautiful, which is why luxury watchmakers use it. In the SP3000 it turns a digital device into a luxury object.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDigital and analogue, completely separate\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAstell\u0026amp;Kern worked with AKM from the start of development on the DAC and circuit. In most players, the DAC processes digital and analogue signals together. In the SP3000, two AK4191EQ chips, separate digital delta-sigma modulators, take the digital signal and reduce its noise, and four AK4499EX DACs then handle only the analogue side. This physical separation, a first in a portable player, maximises the signal-to-noise ratio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA shield can keeps noise and electromagnetic interference away from the audio block. The SP3000’s is plated with highly conductive, high-purity silver, and the digital and analogue signals are kept physically apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIndependent dual audio circuit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost every player, including earlier Astell\u0026amp;Kerns, feeds both the balanced and unbalanced outputs from the same DACs, so an audio switch is needed between DAC and amplifier. A switch can only accept a limited signal range, so the signal is first reduced and then restored before the amplifier, which limits performance. The SP3000’s HEXA-Audio structure, with two AK4191EQs and four AK4499EXs, instead gives the unbalanced and balanced outputs fully independent circuits, with no switch, for a clean, pure and delicate sound and 130dB SNR (balanced).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-typical-dual-dac.jpg?v=1791402999\" alt=\"Typical dual DAC circuit with an audio switch\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-hexa-circuit.jpg?v=1791403003\" alt=\"Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000 HEXA-Audio circuit with independent balanced and unbalanced paths\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTERATON ALPHA\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAstell\u0026amp;Kern’s TERATON ALPHA sound solution, refined for the SP3000, combines effective power-noise removal, efficient power management, unwavering amplification and a fully converted audio output interface, for playback close to the original sound. With the HEXA-Audio structure and the independent dual circuit, it completes the SP3000’s sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-teraton-alpha.jpg?v=1791403006\" alt=\"TERATON ALPHA elements in the Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSnapdragon octa-core and a new interface\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 octa-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, twice the usual amount, give fast system response and smooth, stable operation. The CPU, memory and wireless parts are combined in one module, with the digital circuitry grouped in the same area, which leaves more room for audio-only circuits and reduces heat and digital noise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new interface is built around listening: browse music categories with simple gestures, search, and see album art like a digital display of your CD covers, with a focus on rediscovering forgotten songs. The Crimson theme echoes the look of the SP3000 itself. Three ideas, Edge, Simple and Dark Mode, shape the graphics, and the black and red colours reduce eye fatigue, save battery and reduce heat. The 5.46-inch Full HD screen makes it all comfortable to use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-ui.jpg?v=1791403009\" alt=\"Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000 user interface\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShape the sound\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDAC filters.\u003c\/strong\u003e Choose from six filters provided by AKM to create your own sound style:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSuper Slow Roll-off\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNatural tone: no echo, natural sound\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eShort Delay Slow Roll-off\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcoustic tone: minimal echo, original sound\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSlow Roll-off\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTraditional tone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLow dispersion\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHarmonic sound\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eShort Delay Sharp Roll-off\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcoustic sound: post-echo enhances bass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSharp Roll-off\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTraditional sound: pre- and post-echoes for a powerful sound\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital Audio Remaster (DAR)\u003c\/strong\u003e upsamples what you are playing beyond the limits of its format, for more refined, delicate and analogue-like playback with richer nuance. In PCM mode, 44.1kHz-family files play at 352.8kHz and 48kHz-family files at 384kHz (DSD is not converted). In DSD mode, PCM below 96kHz plays as DSD128, PCM above 96kHz as DSD256, and DSD below DSD256 as DSD256. DAR can be switched on or off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrossfeed\u003c\/strong\u003e eases the fatigue of long listening on headphones, where left and right are completely separate. It sends part of each channel to the other with a small time delay to centre the image, like speakers, with adjustable Shelf Cutoff, Shelf Gain and Mixer Level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEveryday features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative DSD512 and 32-bit\/768kHz\u003c\/strong\u003e bit-to-bit playback, plus MQA files and streams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLED volume wheel\u003c\/strong\u003e shows the volume and the bit depth of the track, and can be switched off.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAK File Drop\u003c\/strong\u003e transfers music wirelessly from a PC, phone or FTP program on the same network.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReplayGain\u003c\/strong\u003e evens out volume across tracks (up to 24-bit\/192kHz).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBT Sink\u003c\/strong\u003e plays music from a phone through the SP3000 over Bluetooth, and Bluetooth 5.0 sends to headphones with LDAC and aptX HD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQC 3.0 fast charging\u003c\/strong\u003e: a full charge in about 3.5 hours.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-wheel.jpg?v=1791403013\" alt=\"Volume wheel of the Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDesign and goatskin case\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere the SP1000 and SP2000 showed light spreading and scattering, the SP3000 is “wrapped in light”: light gathers and wraps around the wheel, symbolising everything Astell\u0026amp;Kern has learned. The polished steel body, shimmering LED and sharply machined ceramic panel complete the look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA French goatskin leather case is included, made by ALRAN, a tannery in Tarn in the south of France founded in 1903 and one of the world’s leading goatskin makers. It uses ALRAN’s hand-boarding technique, rubbing the leather in different directions with wooden boards, so you can feel the texture of the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-photo-silver.jpg?v=1791403017\" alt=\"Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000 in silver\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/AKSP3000_750x530_1c833aec-b329-49c4-99a8-623238ecbf83.jpg?v=1767175015\" alt=\"Volume wheel and outputs of the Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDAC\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 × AKM AK4191 (dual modulator) + 4 × AK4499EX (dual + dual DAC) · Snapdragon 6125 octa-core, 8GB DDR4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFormats\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA · PCM 8kHz–768kHz (up to 32-bit) · native DSD64–DSD512\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOutputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.5mm unbalanced and optical · 2.5mm balanced (4-pole) · 4.4mm balanced (5-pole)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOutput level\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.3Vrms unbalanced · 6.3Vrms balanced (no load)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFrequency response\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e±0.017dB unbalanced · ±0.021dB balanced (20Hz–20kHz)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eS\/N · crosstalk\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e126dB · −136dB unbalanced; 130dB · −145dB balanced (1kHz)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTHD+N · IMD\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.0006% unbalanced · 0.0004% balanced · IMD SMPTE 0.0007%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOutput impedance\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.7Ω (3.5mm) · 1.7Ω (2.5mm) · 1.6Ω (4.4mm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eClock jitter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25ps typical · reference clock 200 femtoseconds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWireless\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWi-Fi 802.11 a\/b\/g\/n\/ac (2.4\/5GHz) · Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, aptX HD, LDAC)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eScreen and storage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.46-inch Full HD 1080 × 1920 touch · 256GB · microSD up to 1TB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBattery\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5,050mAh · about 10 hours · charge about 3.5 hours (QC 3.0)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize and weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e82.4 × 139.4 × 18.3mm (W × H × D) · about 493g · 904L stainless steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSB-C charges the player and connects it to a Windows 10\/11 or Mac computer. Firmware updates over the air.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColours: black or silver.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis is an order-on-demand item and may take longer than our usual 2–4 working days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the box: SP3000, olive-green goatskin leather case, USB-C cable, six protective films (front, back and top, two of each), two microSD slot covers, suede cloth and quick start guide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/AKSP3000_750x529_259e6b40-5a92-488c-b347-7aa18d9d6e2c.jpg?v=1767175018\" alt=\"Astell\u0026amp;Kern SP3000 with in-ear monitors\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Astell \u0026 Kern","offers":[{"title":"BLACK","offer_id":57116008776067,"sku":"AKSP3000-BLACK","price":3799.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"SILVER","offer_id":57116008808835,"sku":"AKSP3000-SILVER","price":3799.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/img_proxy_e78cece4-a611-45b4-a4db-18624782172f.jpg?v=1767175036","url":"https:\/\/www.advancedmp3players.co.uk\/products\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player","provider":"amp3","version":"1.0","type":"link"}