# Astell&Kern A&Ultima SP3000 Digital Audio Player - Official Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** DACs and Digital\ **Tags:** astellkern\ **Created:** [September 13, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721 "2022-09-13T13:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![taronlissimore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/taronlissimore/32/59_2.png) [@taronlissimore](https://forum.headphones.com/u/taronlissimore)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/1 "2022-09-13T13:29:07Z")
This is the thread to discuss the newly announced Astell&Kern flagship DAP, the [Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000](https://headphones.com/products/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000). ![Astell&Kern SP3000 life 5 1024x1024](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/3/6/369d7f4daab888edf7e8fb8748b7fede6f13eeb8.jpeg) It’s been 3 years since the SP2000 was released and from the sounds of it, the SP3000 has the snappiest UI yet from A&K. ![Astell&Kern SP3000 life 2 1024x1024](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/0/0/000aca87d303864cc5c938217331611d6a2a6193.jpeg) **From Astell&Kern** - World’s first use of Stainless Steel 904L for DAP body material - World’s first DAP with complete separation of digital and analog signal processing (Using latest Flagship DAC chip AK4499EX from Asahi Kasei) - Stunning Audio Performance with Independent Dual Audio Circuitry - Equipped with High-Performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core CPU - New Experience in the Graphic User Interface - Support for aptX™-HD and LDAC ---
**Author:** ![kojiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9bd4f/32.png) [@kojiro](https://forum.headphones.com/u/kojiro)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/2 "2022-09-16T16:59:13Z")
Written Reviews > **[Astell & Kern A&K SP3000](https://twister6.com/2022/09/12/astell-kern-ak-sp3000/)** > > Review of Astell & Kern SP3000 hi-res flagship DAP. > **[Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 review: Can money buy happiness?](https://www.techhive.com/article/1065694/astellkern-aultima-sp3000-review-can-money-buy-happiness.html)** > > Astell&Kern’s pricey, but incredibly versatile flagship digital audio player delivers mind-blowing audio performances. > **[Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 DAP: Review](https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000/)** > > Does the new Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 DAP reclaim the Iron Throne? We can think of 3,699 reasons why that is true. > **[Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 Flagship Digital Audio Player](https://headphones.com/products/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000)** > > Get Astell&Kern's newest flagship DAP, the A&ultima SP3000 from Headphones.com. Brand new AKM DAC chip. 365-day returns and free overnight shipping. > **[Astell & Kern Announce SP3000](https://majorhifi.com/astell-kern-announce-sp3000/)** > > Astell & Kern Announce SP3000 ---
**Author:** ![MRHifiReviews](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrhifireviews/32/13974_2.png) [@MRHifiReviews](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MRHifiReviews)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/3 "2022-09-17T20:42:46Z")
Going live around 2 pm PST from CanJam 2022 with Owen from Astell & Kern! [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/0/0/0076748bc1d66cc5292a4b6f735f56bfc205325b.jpeg "Astell & Kern Owen Kwon SP3000 Live From CanJam SoCal 2022") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNMdpUY1eA) ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/4 "2022-09-18T19:47:30Z")
I might be alone in this … but I find this even more disappointing, and further off the mark, than the Cayin N8ii vs. their original N8. No doubt it’s an excellent unit … but as an upgrade from an SP2000? Bleh. ---
**Author:** ![arftech](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/arftech/32/10214_2.png) [@arftech](https://forum.headphones.com/u/arftech)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/5 "2022-09-22T00:26:33Z")
I preordered the silver version today. ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/6 "2022-10-05T16:17:24Z")
I’ve had a lot of questions (not just from here), about my thoughts, or more specifically my attitude towards, the SP3000 … which of course I have NOT heard … I felt I should clarify … Taken on its own, it looks like a **very** strong offering. The A&K stuff has been as much “luxury product” as it has “music player” pretty much since the AK120ii. The SP3000 steps that up a notch. I have absolutely no doubts that it sounds fantastic. If I didn’t have a high-end DAP already, and was after one, this would be at the top of a very short list. The Cayin N8ii is too big, too ugly, and feels like a step back on the build/quality front vs. the N8. AND in balanced tube output, loses 80% of what made the original N8 so compelling (for me). So … why bother? The other realistic competitors (Lotoo and Luxury and Precision) are not streaming-capable. But, coming from my current SP2000Cu, it’s a lot less interesting: - I have **no** interest in something larger, nor heavier. - 904L steel is lovely, many of my watches use it, but other than for aesthetics, it’s irrelevant here as the screen will be toast long before I’m worrying about the state of the case. - The reduction in storage vs. the SP2000 is just daft. I doubt anyone shopping for a near $4,000 DAP is going to balk at another $250, or even $500 to get MORE storage. If it’s that big a deal, add an extra SKU, stuff it with 2TB of storage, and charge another grand for it. - For _mobile_ listening, the new DAC arrangement is somewhat meaningless. The differences, outside DSD (which, for all intents and purposes, is irrelevant to _me_), are below the theoretical limit of audibility. - I’m sure the increased responsiveness/UX is nice. It’s a bonus, though, not something I’d specifically upgrade for. I choose an album or a playlist, hit play, and don’t touch the thing again for an hour or three. Notwithstanding that I don’t see how such simple user interfaces aren’t super-fast in the first-place … even with much less RAM and a basic SoC. And then … despite all the behind-the-scenes work you’ve done on Android to get proper, bit-perfect, replay … you STILL require using MTP to get music on the bloody thing. I think A&K are unique in that. It’s a shitty protocol, and requires either paid commercial software or the extra-shitty Android File Transfer app on a Mac. Apple don’t, and won’t, support MTP. And no other DAP requires it; they all mount as standard USB storage. Give it up already and just support class-mode storage. Everything else? Yeah, looks nice. ---
**Author:** ![Simonfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@Simonfish](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Simonfish)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/7 "2022-10-05T22:53:06Z")
Your description of flying … 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![arftech](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/arftech/32/10214_2.png) [@arftech](https://forum.headphones.com/u/arftech)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/8 "2022-10-19T00:00:08Z")
Roon ARC comes to the SP3000 as it was included in the new FW update last evening. ---
**Author:** ![tmarshl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/tmarshl/32/13119_2.png) [@tmarshl](https://forum.headphones.com/u/tmarshl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp3000-digital-audio-player-official-discussion-thread/18721/9 "2023-09-20T03:30:06Z")
I had been looking for a portable streaming-cable DAP to drive my MySphere 3.2s. I asked Heinz Renner of LB Acoustics for a recommendation, and he suggested the SP3000. I have now had an SP3000 for a couple of weeks. The use-case is seated, streaming critical listening from a battery-powered device. My first impressions of the SP3000 are: very versatile; heavy (it is a brick); slow boot-up (22 seconds can seem like a long time); needs break-in play (recommend 150 hours); drives the MySphere 3.2 (need to turn up the volume to 120 out of 150); black, black background. At first the SP3000 sounded a bit flat and dull, so serious break-in time is in order. Now, after 2 weeks, it is opening up nicely. I am very pleased and thank Heinz for his recommendation.