SP3000T Copper - Limited Edition Coming Soon

[JasonNYC]

Astell&Kern Expands SP3000T Line With Limited Edition SP3000T Copper

​

Astell&Kern, a global leader in portable high-resolution audio players and accessories, is expanding the popular A&ultima SP3000T line with the limited edition SP3000T Copper. The SP3000T Copper will be available at authorized Astell&Kern in September 2024 for $2,999.

The SP3000T Copper edition demonstrates Astell&Kern’s philosophy of always striving to create more than just sound, focusing on excellence in sound quality by delivering exceptional sound characteristics. Copper, known for its excellent sound transmission and resonance properties, typically enhances the brightness and richness of tones in musical instruments. This quality has been repeatedly validated in Astell&Kern products using copper for its outstanding electrical conductivity and high shielding performance.

Copper, because of its material properties, oxidizes and discolors upon contact with air.

The SP3000T Copper edition utilizes over 99.98% pure copper with a special multilayer coating that enhances durability, ensuring it maintains its beautiful color and luster without requiring special maintenance.

The SP3000T Copper features Astell&Kern’s Triple Amp System, first debuted in 2021 with the A&ultima SP2000T, which allows users customize their sound profile using tube amplification, a digital op-amp, or hybrid combination of both tube and op-amps. All three modes are available when using the 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm outputs.

Tube Amp Mode

The SP3000T Copper features Dual RAYTHEON JAN6418 MIL-SPEC Vintage Vacuum Tubes. Tube Amp Mode provides a uniquely warm and soothing tone, typically seen with vintage tube amplifiers.

Op-Amp Mode

The SP3000T Copper also contains a separate op-amp. This proven op-amp technology was developed over the years for Astell&Kern’s digital audio player lines and has proven time and again to be the culmination of Astell&Kern’s expertise in amp design, delivering extreme clarity, low noise floor and dynamic sound that Astell&Kern is known for worldwide.

Hybrid Amp Mode

First debuted in the SP2000T, Hybrid Amp Mode enhances the resolution and clarity of the existing tube amp mode to express more musical detail. This mode, which combines the advantages of retro analog sensibility and high-resolution output, gives you the pleasure of a new tonality, bringing together the best of vacuum tube and op-amp design and technology.

Three-Step Tube Current Adjustment

While in tube mode, users can adjust the current flow to the tubes, allowing nuanced changes in the sound profile.

Use of AKM’s Latest Flagship DAC with Complete Separation of Digital and Analog Signals

Like the A&ultima SP3000, the SP3000T and SP3000T Copper uses Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) latest flagship DAC, the AKM AK4499EX and features a complete separation of digital and analog signals. Most digital players process digital and analog signals together inside the DAC. However, the SP3000 and SP3000T reduce the noise of the digital signal input using the AK4191EQ, a separate digital delta-sigma modulator, and then the AK4499EX DAC processes the analog signals separately.

By applying this unique design where digital and analog signal processing is physically separated, it is possible to experience an incredible level of sound that has never been experienced before.

Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core CPU

The A&ultima SP3000T Copper is equipped with a Snapdragon 6125 Octa-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, which is twice the amount of RAM commonly used in DAPs. Along with the current Astell&Kern 4th generation, Crimson user interface, the player features a more powerful system that is stable with fast and fluid movement.

The A&ultima SP3000T Copper will be available in September 2024 in limited quantities at authorized Astell&Kern dealers worldwide for $2,999.

 

[aaf evo]

$1,999? Interesting!

 

[JasonNYC]

$1,999? Interesting!

$2,999 actually. Fixed that. Same price as the stainless steel SP3000T

 

[MD Rohit]

Astell&Kern Expands SP3000T Line With Limited Edition SP3000T Copper

​

Astell&Kern, a global leader in portable high-resolution audio players and accessories, is expanding the popular A&ultima SP3000T line with the limited edition SP3000T Copper. The SP3000T Copper will be available at authorized Astell&Kern in September 2024 for $2,999.

The SP3000T Copper edition demonstrates Astell&Kern’s philosophy of always striving to create more than just sound, focusing on excellence in sound quality by delivering exceptional sound characteristics. Copper, known for its excellent sound transmission and resonance properties, typically enhances the brightness and richness of tones in musical instruments. This quality has been repeatedly validated in Astell&Kern products using copper for its outstanding electrical conductivity and high shielding performance.

Copper, because of its material properties, oxidizes and discolors upon contact with air.

The SP3000T Copper edition utilizes over 99.98% pure copper with a special multilayer coating that enhances durability, ensuring it maintains its beautiful color and luster without requiring special maintenance.



The SP3000T Copper features Astell&Kern’s Triple Amp System, first debuted in 2021 with the A&ultima SP2000T, which allows users customize their sound profile using tube amplification, a digital op-amp, or hybrid combination of both tube and op-amps. All three modes are available when using the 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm outputs.

Tube Amp Mode

The SP3000T Copper features Dual RAYTHEON JAN6418 MIL-SPEC Vintage Vacuum Tubes. Tube Amp Mode provides a uniquely warm and soothing tone, typically seen with vintage tube amplifiers.

Op-Amp Mode

The SP3000T Copper also contains a separate op-amp. This proven op-amp technology was developed over the years for Astell&Kern’s digital audio player lines and has proven time and again to be the culmination of Astell&Kern’s expertise in amp design, delivering extreme clarity, low noise floor and dynamic sound that Astell&Kern is known for worldwide.

Hybrid Amp Mode

First debuted in the SP2000T, Hybrid Amp Mode enhances the resolution and clarity of the existing tube amp mode to express more musical detail. This mode, which combines the advantages of retro analog sensibility and high-resolution output, gives you the pleasure of a new tonality, bringing together the best of vacuum tube and op-amp design and technology.

Three-Step Tube Current Adjustment

While in tube mode, users can adjust the current flow to the tubes, allowing nuanced changes in the sound profile.

Use of AKM’s Latest Flagship DAC with Complete Separation of Digital and Analog Signals

Like the A&ultima SP3000, the SP3000T and SP3000T Copper uses Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) latest flagship DAC, the AKM AK4499EX and features a complete separation of digital and analog signals. Most digital players process digital and analog signals together inside the DAC. However, the SP3000 and SP3000T reduce the noise of the digital signal input using the AK4191EQ, a separate digital delta-sigma modulator, and then the AK4499EX DAC processes the analog signals separately.

By applying this unique design where digital and analog signal processing is physically separated, it is possible to experience an incredible level of sound that has never been experienced before.

Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core CPU

The A&ultima SP3000T Copper is equipped with a Snapdragon 6125 Octa-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, which is twice the amount of RAM commonly used in DAPs. Along with the current Astell&Kern 4th generation, Crimson user interface, the player features a more powerful system that is stable with fast and fluid movement.

The A&ultima SP3000T Copper will be available in September 2024 in limited quantities at authorized Astell&Kern dealers worldwide for $2,999.

One of the best looking dap

 

[timeslip]

@JasonNYC,

Given the sp3000t being quite warm already, how does the sound change with this version? I found myself only using level 3 of tube strength in hybrid mode as any more felt too warm and thick.

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC,

Given the sp3000t being quite warm already, how does the sound change with this version? I found myself only using level 3 of tube strength in hybrid mode as any more felt too warm and thick.

Usually, most people would agree that the copper versions of AK players do indeed sound warmer. I have yet to hear the SP3000T Copper and most likely won't get a chance, I very rarely get to try out a limited edition unless I am working a show here in the US and we are demoing it.

Based on previous copper vs stainless steel, you probably can expect to find a warmer sound signature, especially using the op-amp mode. Unfortunately, I cannot say for sure what the tone will be in full tube mode.

 

[SabreToothBunny]

I've had my SP3000T Copper for a couple of weeks now.
Updated to the latest firmware V1.130 @JasonNYC; There is a bug where if the volume limiter is set in settings (which I believe is meant to limit the volume to 80), when playing, the volume can still be increased beyond 80 even though the OSD display will stay at 80. In the background, in the top left, the volume can be seen to continue increasing as if there is no limit.
If the player is then restarted, it will restart at that same, above 80, volume.

The weight of my unit I make to be 515g, which is not listed on the A&K site (it lists both standard and copper as being 483g);
Astell&Kern SP3000T Site Listing

Early impressions, as I'm at around 50 hours burn in. Still some way to go;
The pure solid state amplification is better than comments about the standard SP3000T led me to believe. It is not intimate but quite large in terms of soundstage with very good layering capabilities. In terms of technicalities, dynamics and imaging, I find the solid state amp to be only slightly behind the N30le Amber Pearl, DX320Max Ti and L&P P6 Pro Ti99. It is at a similar level to my Wm1z, Hifiman HM1000 Gold and modded R2R2000 Black.
Even without tube amplification the presentation is rich and organic but a warm presentation which can lean towards 'thick' sounding when paired with IEMs which are too warm or unresolving.
Tube mode sounds like 'real' tube amplification. The warmth in tonality does not change so much however there is a noticeable increase in dynamics, soundstage width and richness. Subbass rumble is increased, slightly increased midbass and a very nice richness added to vocals and string instruments.

In terms of presentation this unit 100% leans well into the warm end of the spectrum and I therefore do not particular like its pairing with warm IEMs, though bassheads would be extremely content with the pairing with things like the Oriolus Szalayi due to the immense bass presentation and power of the SP3000T. My favourite pairings have been with the Final A8000, Final Lab II, and Mentor Multiverse due to them being resolving, detailed, fast and big sounding. Bone conducting IEMs and IEMs which exhibit strong low frequency presentations show their strengths with the SP3000T, provided they are not over warm and/or have small presentations.
Thicker IEM presentations like Audeze Euclid, MMR Thummim and Final Lab I sounded too thick for my liking.
I did not care for the Amber Pearl with SP3000T however the Amber Pearl comes bundled with a DAP specifically tuned for it and I cannot detach myself from any bias I have for that pairing above all others.

Compared to a couple of other DAPs around this price point;
- Cayin N30le Amber Pearl; N30le is heavier and much more unweidly to hold. SP3000T is smaller and thinner but still rather heavy at half a kilo (a pound). SP3000T is less resolving, smaller soundstage and slightly less air while maintaining a similar level of dynamics. Presentation is warmer and less reference. Definitely a more musical pairing with the brighter IEMs mentioned above while also being less versatile due to the thickness in its presentation. The tube mode of the N30le adds a tube like flavour to a musically reference presentation. The tube mode of the SP3000T goes for a real, harmonically rich tube presentation which increases in dynamics and soundstage (but still slightly behind N30le) and leans firmly into the musical.
- L&P P6 Pro Ti99 - the P6Pro is 300g and much smaller. No comparison in terms of portability. P6Pro is more resolving, faster and more natural sounding. The timbre of this DAP is benchmark for me. The SP3000T is thicker sounding and has a slightly smaller soundstage. Presentation has similar punchy dynamics but a noticeable colouration in the lows and mids. The treble presentation is also softer on the SP3000T. The P6 Pro is a firmly natural reference presentation. The SP3000T sounds considerably more dynamic, thicker and 'heavier' sound but also slightly less natural and much less neutral
- Sony WM1Z - Although an older player I include this here because the tonality and presentation are closer between these two than the above when using Solid State amplification on the SP3000T. The WM1Z was, in its day, considered to have a large holographic presentation with a big analogue sound. The SP3000T has similar tonality with a little more extension into the treble and a more dynamic, punchier presentation. The amplifier outout of the WM1Z is also significantly less powerful than the SP3000T. The WM1Z paired with the Oriolus BA300S tube amplifier has a closer presentation to SP3000T in tube mode than the above DAPs

I purchased the SP3000T specifically to pair with a set of Penon Rival IEMs, due to the versatility of the tuning options of the Rival combined with the hybrid amp modes of the SP3000T. Unfortunately my Rivals arrived with one unit having issue where I cannot change the filters in the left housing. They have therefore had to be returned. The default tuning is too 'safe' for my personal preferences so I will need to wait until I can finally get this setup finished however the mid and treble presentation aside (given I could not adjust them), in terms of technicalities, soundstage, dynamics and detail retrieval and just being able to adjust the bass pots on the Rival IEM; SP3000T+Penon Rival is an extremely strong pairing with enough versatility to replace a significant portion of someone's IEM collection up to and including flagship level setups, IMO.

I'll post a proper impression when I get the replacement Penon Rival and have burned in both DAP and IEMs.