Astell&Kern / A&ultima SP3000M

The Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000M is a truly portable Hi-Fi audio player that achieves a compact and lightweight design while maintaining the same overwhelming audio performance as the SP3000, thanks to its unique HEXA audio circuit structure, independent dual audio circuits, and aluminum housing.

■【Compact Size, Limitless Sound】SP3000 Sound with Small Size and Lightweight
The A&ultima flagship line series continues to set the standard for advanced, innovative technology and overwhelming sound performance. The SP3000M renews our commitment to this goal, delving deeper into the concept of true portability with unrivaled performance and unparalleled sound performance. But it was an extremely difficult road.In order to compact the size of the device while maintaining the same sound performance as the flagship SP3000, numerous endless challenges must be overcome. However, Astell&Kern overcame the difficulties and, after dozens of circuit changes, finally completed the SP3000M. The innovative HEXA audio circuit structure that completely separates digital and analog signal processing, the independent dual audio circuit, and the aluminum housing have made it possible to achieve a compact and lightweight design while maintaining the same overwhelming audio performance as the SP3000.The SP3000M is a truly portable Hi-Fi audio player that combines unparalleled audio performance and sophisticated design in a compact and lightweight package.

■HEXA audio circuit structure that completely separates digital and analog signal processing
The SP3000M is equipped with the innovative "HEXA audio circuit structure" that was first adopted in the SP3000, which completely separates digital and analog signal processing by using two premium digital data converters "AK4191EQ" and four AKM flagship DACs "AK4499EX".Typically, audio players process digital and analog signals together within a single DAC, but the SP3000M's advanced HEXA audio circuit structure separates and reduces noise from the input digital signal using the AK4191EQ digital ΔΣ modulator, and then uses AKM's flagship DAC, the AK4499EX, to separate and process the analog signal.This unique design physically separates the digital and analog signal processing, making the SP3000M smaller while still achieving the same overwhelming S/N ratio as the SP3000. In addition, a shielding can coated with highly conductive high-purity silver is used to prevent various noises and electromagnetic waves from affecting the audio block. By physically separating the digital and analog signals and taking thorough noise countermeasures, we have achieved extremely excellent audio performance and excellent noise shielding.

■Switchless dual audio circuit that completely separates unbalanced and balanced
Previous audio players used the same built-in DAC chip for both the unbalanced and balanced output sides. The signal from the DAC is split into the unbalanced and balanced output sides before being sent to the amplifier, making an audio switch essential. However, when using a switch, there is a limit to the range that can receive the signal sent from the DAC, so in many cases the signal size must first be reduced and then returned to its original size when it is sent back to the amplifier. This has limited the improvement of audio performance.To overcome this limitation, Astell&Kern designed a HEXA audio circuit structure using two AK4191EQ digital data converters and four AK4499EX DACs, realizing an innovative "dual audio circuit" with completely independent unbalanced and balanced outputs. By designing and developing a HEXA audio circuit structure with independent unbalanced and balanced outputs, a true dual DAC structure was realized. As a result, the SP3000M, like the SP3000, achieves a 130dB S/N ratio, the highest ever for an AK player, allowing you to feel the delicacy of unparalleled clean and pure sound.


- Color: Black
- Body material: Aluminum
- Display: 4.1-inch HD (720 x 1280) touch screen
- Size (W x H x D): 69.1mm x 119.6mm x 18.8mm
- Weight: Approximately 237g
- Firmware update: OTA
- Operating temperature: 0℃ ~ +40℃
- Supported OS: Windows 10 (32/64bit) 11 (64bit) / MAC OS X 10.7
- Built-in memory: 256GB [NAND] *Including system area
- External memory support: 1 microSD slot (up to 2TB)
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
- Bluetooth: V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP / SBC, AAC, QualcommR aptX? HD, LDAC, LHDC)
・Supported file formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
・CPU: Octa-core (QualcommR Snapdragon 6125)
・DAC: AKM AK4191EQ×2 + AK4499EX×4 (Dual-DAC×2)
・Supported sampling rate: PCM maximum: 768KHz (16/24/32bit)
・DSD maximum: DSD512 (22.4MHz/1bit) stereo
・Input: USB Type-C (charging & data transfer)
・Output: 3.5mm 3-pole unbalanced output / 4.4mm 5-pole balanced output (5-pole GND wiring)
・Output level: Unbalanced 3.3Vrms / Balanced 6.3Vrms (no load)
・Output impedance: unbalanced 3.5mm (0.6Ω) / balanced 4.4mm (1.2Ω)
・Frequency response: ±0.020dB (20Hz~20kHz) unbalanced / ±0.025dB (20Hz~20kHz) balanced, ±0.032dB (20Hz~70kHz) unbalanced / ±0.025dB (20Hz~70kHz) balanced
・S/N ratio: 126dB @ 1kHz, unbalanced / 130dB @ 1kHz, balanced
・Crosstalk: -140dB @ 1kHz, unbalanced / -144dB @ 1kHz, balanced
・THD+N: 0.0005% @ 1kHz, unbalanced / 0.0003% @ 1kHz, balanced
・IMD: 0.0004% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) unbalanced / 0.0004% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) balanced
・Clock jitter: 25ps (Typ)
・Reference clock jitter: 200fs
・Battery: 4,200mAh 3.8V lithium polymer
・Charging time: Approximately 3.5 hours (QC 3.0 charging)
・Playback time: Approximately 10 hours (FLAC, 44.1KHz/16bit, Vol.80, LCD off, unbalanced output)
・Accessories: SP3000M dedicated leather case, USB Type-C to Type-C cable, screen protector, microSD card slot cover
・Country of manufacture: Korea
・Manufacturer's warranty: 1 year for main unit / 90 days for accessories