Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000T Digital Audio Player and NOVUS IEMs

Astell&Kern announces availability for new A&ultima SP3000T digital audio player and NOVUS IEMs








Global leader in portable high-resolution audio players, Astell&Kern, has announced UK availability for its groundbreaking SP3000T model with tube amplification for analogue warmth. 


Also shipping this month are the new NOVUS in-ear monitors in collaboration with Empire Ears, marrying A&K’s renowned audio engineering prowess with Empire Ear’s unique technologies to provide the perfect complement to the SP3000T. Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000T



Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000T








Combining the best of Astell&Kern’s industry-leading SP3000 technology and tube amplification, the new SP3000T is set to provide music aficionados with authentic, studio-quality streaming experiences. Featuring the brand’s cutting-edge Triple Amp System, the SP3000T allows users to customise sound profiles using either tube amplification, a digital op-amp or a hybrid of both. 


Catering for all headphone connections, the SP3000T features 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm auxiliary outputs. The SP3000T has been specifically designed with personal listening preferences in mind. Tube Amp Mode uses Dual RAYTHEON JAN6418 MIL-SPEC Vintage Vacuum Tubes to create a uniquely warm and soothing tone, while its Op-Amp Mode delivers dynamic extreme clarity in its low noise floor.




Encased in a beautifully crafted stainless-steel body, with 99.9% pure silver plating, the SP3000T sports a classic look that fully complements the vintage tube amp used in the player. Showcasing style with substance, the SP3000T, which recently won a coveted iF Design Award, is equipped with a Snapdragon 6125 Octa-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory – twice the amount of RAM commonly used in DAPs – and uses a Hybrid Amp Mode to further enhance resolution and clarity. Combining the advantages of classic analogue functionality and high-resolution output, the SP3000T adds a new tonality thanks to the vacuum tube and op-amp design and technology.



As with the A&ultima SP3000, the SP3000T uses Asahi Kasei Microdevices’ (AKM) latest flagship DAC, the AKM AK4499EX, and features a complete separation of digital and analogue signals. Whereas most players process digital and analogue signals together inside the DAC, the SP3000T separates the signals to produce an incredible level of sound unique to Astell&Kern. The A&ultima SP3000T is available now from astellnkern.co.uk and leading retailers including Selfridges with a UK RRP of £3,199, US MSRP of $2,999 and EURO RRP of €3,599 available.




Astell&Kern X Empire Ears NOVUS










Astell&Kern’s second collaboration with Empire Ears, the limited-edition NOVUS IEMs are uncompromising and prestigious earphones for listeners that demand to hear every detail from a song. Proving attention to detail and visionary innovation inspire magnificent audio technology and design, NOVUS builds on the huge success of A&K’s previous collaboration with Empire Ears, the Odyssey IEMs. 


NOVUS has been developed to extract the pinnacle of sound from the Astell&Kern SP3000T, combining the most delicately crafted analogue vacuum tube sound with ultra-high-resolution original sound. Every component and material has been meticulously chosen without compromise to deliver a flagship sound that has never been experienced before. 


It is completed with a design that befits the highest-grade product, encapsulating the essence of Astell&Kern X Empire Ears. Thanks to dual purpose-built W9+ dynamic drivers, the new earphones produce an unparalleled in-ear audio experience encased in beautiful 6061-T6 ‘diamond-like carbon’ aluminium shells with 24K Wet Gold-Plated faceplates and sapphire glass. 


Accompanying the rigid design is a custom-made four-wire hybrid copper, gold and silver cable reinforced with black macro-molecular fibre and 4.4mm balanced jack, ensuring every last detail has been taken care of to produce the very best sound.



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