Astell&Kern SP3000T Portable Audio Player (DAP)
£3,199

Features
- Dual RAYTHEON JAN6418 MIL-SPEC Vintage Vacuum Tubes
- Our TRIPLE AMP SYSTEM allows listeners to select the right tones for their music
- Three levels of voltage with Tube Current option
- Stainless steel with 99.9% pure silver plating
- Separate digital and analog signal processing (AK4191EQ x2 / AK4499EX x2)
- VU Meter
- High-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU

Specifications
General Specifications | ||
Model | SP3000T | |
Body Color | Black, Silver | |
Body Material | Stainless Steel with Pure Silver Plating | |
Display | 5.5 inch 1080 x 1920 Full HD touch screen | |
Supported Audio Formats | WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA | |
Sample rate | PCM : 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample)
DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), DSD512(1bit, 22.4MHz) Stereo |
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Output Level | Unbalanced 3.3Vrms │ Balanced 6.3Vrms (Condition No Load) | |
CPU | Octa-core | |
DAC | AKM AK4191 x2 (Dual Modulator) & AKM AK4499EX x2 (Dual DAC) | |
Vacuum Tube | RAYTHEON JAN6418 x2 | |
Decoding | Support up to 32bit / 768kHz Bit to Bit playback | |
Input | USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC) | |
Outputs | Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Optical Out(3.5mm)
Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported | 4.4m, only 5-pole supported) |
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Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) | |
Bluetooth® | V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP │ Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC, LHDC) | |
Dimensions | 3.33″ (84.7mm)[W] x 5.57″ (141.5mm)[H] x 0.70″ (18mm)[D] | |
Weight | about 17oz (483g) | |
Feature Enhancements | Firmware upgrade supported (OTA: Over-The-Air) | |
Audio Performance | ||
Frequency Response | ±0.005dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.003dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.006dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.024dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
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Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 120dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 124dB @ 1kHz, Balanced | |
Crosstalk | -136dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -145dB @ 1kHz, Balanced | |
THD+N | 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced | |
IMD SMPTE | 0.0007% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0007% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced | |
Output Impedance | Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1.5ohm) │ Balanced Out 2.5mm (1.5ohm), 4.4mm(1.4ohm) | |
Battery | ||
Capacity | 5,050mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer | |
Continuous Playback Time | about 10hours (Standard : FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Vol.50, LCD Off, LED On, OP AMP Mode) | |
Charge Time | about 3.5hours (QC3.0 Charging) | |
Storage                          | ||
Built-in Memory | 256GB[NAND] | |
External Memory | microSD (Max. 1TB) x1 |

Description
Uncompromising Audio Design and Craftsmanship
Astell&Kern’s ethos of producing immersive sound from high-resolution original music stands as a testament to the spirit of innovation and excellence embodied in the A&ultima series. Our goal was to match the impeccable design and high-resolution sound of our previous product, the SP3000, by crafting an audio player that truly captures the emotion and resonance of music.
Developed with this vision in mind, the A&ultima SP3000T channels the profound emotion and lasting essence of analogue audio. The integration of real vacuum tubes create an authentic analogue sound complemented by cutting-edge audio technology such as TERATON ALPHA for an immersive auditory experience.
Introducing the A&ultima SP3000T — a portable audio player that defies convention, offering a unique fusion of analogue and digital excellence.

True Analogue Sound with Real Vacuum Tubes
The original vacuum tube is known for its warm sound, attributed to its distinctive rich harmonics, which have cemented its status as a cherished component of Hi-Fi audio. However, its impracticality in terms of miniaturization, primarily due to power control and footprint issues, presented a formidable obstacle, rendering it unsuitable for use in portable audio players.
We refused to settle for conventional sound and design and instead worked to bridge the gap between stationary and portable audio by infusing the essence of analogue sound into our devices. These efforts eventually culminated in the pairing of the SP3000T with the RAYTHEON JAN6418 Miniature Vacuum Tube. The RAYTHEON JAN6418 is a mini vacuum tube popular among audiophiles for its distinctively warm and soft sound, leading to its integration into regular audio devices.

Sound Craftsmanship for the Ultimate Vacuum Tube Sound
Due to inherent differences in noise and amplification among original vacuum tubes, Astell&Kern adopted a meticulous selection process to adhere to our philosophy of addressing even the minutest differences in sound quality.
Astell&Kern carefully measures and pairs each JAN6418, a difficult process demanding both time and precision. This thorough selection method minimizes output deviation between the left and right channels, resulting in more natural sound reproduction.
Every shielding operation on the vacuum tube is carefully executed by hand to minimize potential noise interference.

Minimising Microphonic Noise
The integration of vacuum tubes into compact, portable devices presents a formidable technical hurdle – maintaining low noise levels while delivering unparalleled resolution and robust output. With the SP3000T, we’ve tackled this challenge head-on with a custom-made solution designed to minimize microphonic noise. Our team devoted extensive time to refining the structural integrity of the vacuum tubes, ensuring minimal noise even in the event of minor shocks or vibrations.
- Independent modular, flexible PCB design engineered separately from the main PCB
- Silicone module case designed to absorb primary shocks from the vacuum tube
- Silicone tubing perfectly tailored to the vacuum tube leads to reduced shock transmission along the leads
- Silicone dampers around the vacuum tube suspend the tube in the air from both ends

99.9% Pure Silver Plating
While crafting the SP3000T, we spent a long time searching for a material that seamlessly blends high-resolution digital sound with the rich analogue warmth of a vacuum tube.
After rigorous research, Astell&Kern proudly emerged as a pioneer in selecting and applying material featuring 99.9% pure silver plating. Silver boasts superior electrical conductivity compared to copper and gold, making it a popular choice for premium semiconductors and high-end audio components.
The body of the SP3000T is coated in 99.9% pure silver plating atop 316L stainless steel, which is renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance. Since silver can tarnish over time due to exposure to air, we’ve taken extra steps to increase its longevity, such as adding a special multi-layer coating to prevent sulfurization, enhance durability and prevent exposure to air.

High-End Shrunken Calfskin Case
The SP3000T comes with a deluxe case crafted from shrunken calf leather sourced from Prelinger in Germany and Alcantara in Italy, ensuring a level of style and quality that matches the quality of the device. The shrunken method used to craft the leather results in natural wrinkles, creating an irregular, yet distinctive texture that enhances its luxurious appearance. Unlike regular embossing techniques, this process preserves the leather’s natural texture and minimizes discoloration, ensuring the color remains vibrant even after pro- longed use.
The case of the SP3000T is fashioned from exquisite leather crafted by the Per- linger tannery in Germany. With a heritage spanning five generations since its inception in 1864, Perlinger stands as the last bastion of calf leather manufacturing in Germany. Renowned for its unparalleled quality, Perlinger’s shrunken calf is regarded as the finest in the industry, making it highly sought after by prestigious luxury brands.

Additional information
Colour | Black |
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Warranty
Backed with a 1-year Astell&Kern warranty
Delivery Info
Delivery Information
As a company our primary goal is to provide a seamless service that results in customer satisfaction. We aim to deliver within 3 working days. Unfortunately, there may be occasions where this time frame may not be met due to unforeseen circumstances; in this instance, we deliver product/s as soon as we can. All delivery charges are included within the prices quoted, unless otherwise specified.
All small items are usually delivered between 9am and 6pm, on a Monday to Friday, unless a Saturday delivery is requested. Follow My Parcel is an industry-changing innovation from DPD Local, which will give your customers unparalleled levels of information and peace of mind.Not only will your customers receive a one hour delivery timeslot, but they’ll now also be able to track the progress of their parcels on a map as our drivers make their way to the delivery addresses. Follow My Parcel will: