Luxury meets innovation: Astell&Kern introduces the stunning new SP3000 flagship portable music player

Featuring a reimagined user interface, the A&ultima SP3000 is the world’s first portable player with watch-grade 904L stainless steel body and the latest high-performance audio circuitry.

Luxury meets innovation in the A&ultima SP3000: the new flagship portable music player from South Korean class leader, Astell&Kern. As you’d expect from a brand with multiple awards for both design and performance, the SP3000 is an exquisite combination of form and function that redefines what’s possible from a portable player. Crafted from the same premium grade stainless steel beloved of luxury watchmakers, it’s an object of beauty that’s made to last.

A&ultima SP3000 features the latest audio technologies to deliver a sublime musical performance. It’s the world’s first digital audio player with independent Dual Audio Circuitry – this complete separation of balanced and unbalanced output allows for the purest possible sonic reproduction. It’s also the first to use the new flagship AK4499EX DAC chip from Asahi Kasei, used in innovative HEXA – Audio Circuitry structure that separates digital and analogue signal processing.

Other spec highlights including a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core processor and support for high-resolution aptX-HD and LDAC wireless streaming. The SP3000 can play just about anything, with support for all key formats (including MQA, Native DSD 512) and streaming-service connectivity; it’s Roon Ready, too. ReplayGain technology keeps your listening at the volume level of your choice, with no irritating jumps or dips in volume as you move through tracks.

A joy to use and listen to

The SP3000 is a delight to use, with its watch-style crown control joining a new 5.46in full high-definition display and a new-generation on-screen interface - making it easier than ever to find and enjoy your favourites, including on streaming services.  

And enjoy them you will: Astell&Kern is the master at taking the very best audio components and making them work in a handheld device. You’ll hear details and emotion in music you didn’t know existed – and that incredible performance is available anywhere you travel, rather than limited to your living room (though the SP3000 makes a marvellous streaming hub for a main hi-fi system, too.)

Luxury-watch grade stainless steel

The SP3000 comes in the choice of black and silver finishes, with its body made from 904L stainless steel: the first time this premium-grade, expertly made metal has been used on a portable player. Extremely durable and resistant to corrosion, lustrous 904L stainless steel is the metal of choice for luxury Swiss watch brands.

Unique technology for more authentic sound

Astell&Kern’s unique TERATON ALPHA technology has been further refined for the SP3000. Designed to produce audio playback that is as close as possible to the original sound, the tech combines effective power noise removal, efficient power management and unwavering amplification, and a fully converted audio output interface. The HEXA DAC structure and independent dual audio circuit, implemented for the first time in the SP3000, are paired together with TERATON ALPHA's sound solution to create incredibly authentic sound. 

Artisan leather case

The SP3000 comes with a premium leather case to protect and highlight the beauty of the 904L stainless steel body. The case is made by ALRAN, who have been hand-crafting leather since 1903 in Tarn, France, and supply many leading luxury brands.

The SP3000’s case is developed with ALRAN’s unique Hand-Boarding technology, which processes the leather by rubbing it in various directions using wooden planks, so you can feel the texture of the surface.