Astell&Kern SP3000T review by Bloomaudio

Astell&Kern entered the scene in 2021 with the SP2000T, which featured Korg Nutubes and allowed users to mix tube and solid-state output. Now, the SP3000T offers several upgrades, including the latest platform introduced by the SP3000, enhancing sound, design, and user interface performance. Could the SP3000T be the flagship tube DAP we've all been anticipating?

Micro tubes have been popular in portable audio for a while, but Astell&Kern entered the scene in 2021 with the SP2000T, which featured Korg Nutubes and allowed users to mix tube and solid-state output. Now, the SP3000T offers several upgrades, including the latest platform introduced by the SP3000, enhancing sound, design, and user interface performance. Could the SP3000T be the flagship tube DAP we've all been anticipating?

The SP3000T shares the same platform and interface as the SP3000, prioritizing your downloaded music while allowing easy access to streaming apps. It retains solid user experience improvements from the SP3000 and includes features like Crossfeed, Digital Audio Remaster upscaling, AK File Drop, and AK Connect. This hybrid tube DAP offers modes for solid state, tube, and hybrid amps, with adjustable gain and a "high current" mode for planar magnetic headphones.

Key Specs:

CPU: Octa-Core⁠

DAC: AKM AK4191 x2 (Dual Modulator) & AKM AK4499EX x2 (Dual DAC)⁠⁠

Vacuum Tube: RAYTHEON JAN6418 x2⁠⁠

Sample rates: 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

For full details, Click here to read the full review by BloomAudio