Astell&Kern is no stranger to the audiophile-on-the-go scene; indeed, it has made pocket players offering DSD, as well as headphone amplifiers and other accessories for years. Now, the company has released the third player in the A&ultima series, the SP2000.
These players are offered in either stainless steel or copper, so as to deliver the best possible acoustics; even their finishes are designed with sonic fidelity in mind. The SP2000 boasts a dual AK4499EQ DAC from AKM, and is capable of playing audio at a whopping 32-Bit/768 kHz PCM and DSD512 without any compression or data loss. Dual-band Wi-Fi support is built into player, allowing you to stream audio wirelessly at home.
With twice the amount of internal storage and a more powerful audio output stage, the SP2000 offers newly designed audio circuitry, with completely discrete audio channels employed for unbalanced and balanced output stages. Look at the circuit diagram on the Astell&Kern website, and you’ll note there’s more: the unbalanced and balanced outputs are serviced by separate DAC channels. All of this ensures a no-compromise sound, whichever path you select. You’ll also note a lower THD+N level on the balanced output when compared to previous models. Such attention to detail is what makes the SP2000 Astell&Kern’s new flagship product.
Lovers of the SP1000 will be interested in new amplifier modules intended for use with that product. Available in copper, onyx black, and stainless-steel finishes, these modules are designed to drive full-sized, high-impedance headphones, adding more power to the SP1000 for balanced and unbalanced headphones alike. As a 3700 mAh battery is built into the amp, you’ll get nine hours of continuous playback with unbalanced headphones between charges. This module affixes easily to your SP1000, ensuring stability and portability.
Finally, fans of the KANN CUBE will be delighted by new leather cases in new colors—black and oliva. If any of these pique your fancy, don’t hesitate to visit them online, or swing by our SuperStore.
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