Three amplifier paths to choose how much valve character you want
Astell&Kern SP3000T combines two AK4499EX DACs, two AK4191EQ modulators and a pair of Raytheon JAN6418 tubes with a selectable amplification system.
The T suffix identifies its valve stage. Listeners can use OP AMP, switch to TUBE AMP or select HYBRID AMP and adjust the tube contribution. It is therefore aimed at users who want to alter the player's sonic character directly, while retaining support for PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and native DSD512.
Key features
- 2 AK4191EQ devices and 2 AK4499EX DACs with separated digital and analogue processing.
- Two Raytheon JAN6418 vacuum tubes.
- Triple AMP System: OP AMP, TUBE AMP and HYBRID AMP.
- 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone outputs.
- Up to 6.3 Vrms from the balanced output.
- Storage provides 256 GB on board plus a microSD slot rated for cards up to 1.5 TB.
- Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core processor and 8 GB DDR4 memory.
- 5.5-inch Full HD display with graphical VU Meter.
Valve sound without giving up control
The JAN6418 tubes do not impose one fixed presentation. OP AMP keeps the signal on the solid-state stage, TUBE AMP places the valve circuit at the centre of playback, and HYBRID AMP combines the two. Adjustable tube current adds another layer of fine tuning for different headphones and listening preferences.
Where SP3000T sits in the range
Compared with SP3000M it provides a larger body, three headphone connections and the valve section. SP4000T develops the concept further with four tubes and three valve operating modes, so SP3000T remains the more compact route to switching between solid-state and valve amplification.
For high-end IEMs and headphones
The 2.5 mm and 4.4 mm balanced sockets sit alongside a conventional 3.5 mm output, making different cable terminations usable without adaptors. A maximum balanced output of 6.3 Vrms provides useful reserve for many headphones, while the selectable amplifier path makes the player equally relevant to revealing IEMs.
