New arrival: Astell&Kern unveils the advanced A&ultima SP4000 digital music player
Rewritten Article:
Step up your audio game with Astell&Kern's latest offering, the flagship SP4000 digital audio player. This bad boy is the result of three years of relentless research and innovation, boasting an Octa circuit architecture and a High Driving Mode, all neatly encased in 904L stainless steel – the same material luxury watch manufacturers like Rolex use.
The SP4000 is not your average digital audio player. It's the first from Astell&Kern to run full Android OS, letting you download and run your favorite streaming apps without Android's usual limitations thanks to Astell&Kern's Direct Path technology. It's got a PVD-coated ceramic back, and it comes with a Perlinger calf-leather case - crafted from the delicate hide of calves under one year old, processed using a chrome tanning method, and colored with proprietary pigments for a deep and vibrant look.
Now, let's talk sound. Most digital players process digital and analog signals together inside their DAC. But not the SP4000. It reduces digital signal noise by using a separate digital delta-sigma modulator (AK4191EQ) and an AK4499EX DAC to process analog signals separately. Plus, it has two OPAMPs arranged in parallel for a richer and more detailed sound, resulting in a wider dynamic range and enhanced sound detail. High Driving Mode provides a powerful and stable output, allowing you to appreciate the subtlest sonic details in clear, immersive audio.
But that's not all. Using proprietary ESA technology, the SP4000 significantly improves group delay, minimizing frequency distortion and enhancing sound clarity and purity. A newly implemented Low Dropout Regulator is used in the SP4000's power supply, reducing noise by up to 97% compared to previous models. This results in cleaner, purer sound that's sure to please even the pickiest audiophiles.
With the SP4000, Astell&Kern has jumped aboard the streaming-based music consumption train, integrating full Android OS support, including the ability to install any app via the Google Play Store. To overcome Android OS's sampling limitation, they've incorporated their ADP proprietary customization technology, providing bit-perfect, lossless playback even in streaming environments.
The upgraded UI in the SP4000 is a feast for the eyes, displayed on the player's 6-inch touch screen with immersive animations. It retains Astell&Kern's signature Crimson Theme for usability and intuitiveness. The SP4000 also supports aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs, giving audiophiles multiple options for 24-bit audio playback over Bluetooth. It has 256GB of internal memory with support for microSD cards up to 1.5TB capacities, dual-band 2.4/5GHz a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, DLNA networking, USB digital audio output, and USB-C for data transfer and charging.
Qualcomm QC 3.0 fast charging enables the SP4000 to be charged faster and more efficiently, reaching a full charge in about 4 hours, providing a continuous playback time of around 10 hours. The SP4000 will add Roon Ready support pending completion of testing and final certification by Roon Labs.
Ready to Take Your Audio Experience to the Next Level?
The Astell&Kern SP4000 digital audio player is a high-end device designed for serious audiophiles. Its key features include:
- Android OS support for seamless access to streaming apps and services.
- Advanced Octa audio circuitry architecture and a High Driving Mode for impressive sound quality.
- Proprietary Enhanced Signal Alignment Technology and Ultra Low Noise LDO Regulator for noise reduction and signal purity.
- Advanced Digital Audio Remaster Technology for audio restoration and upsampling.
- Support for 24-bit wireless streaming via aptX Adaptive and LDAC, along with versatile wired connectivity options.
- High-quality, luxury-watch grade stainless steel and calf-leather design.
Get ready to immerse yourself in an auditory adventure like never before with the Astell&Kern SP4000 digital audio player.
Pricing & Availability:
The new Astell & Kern SP4000 DAP will hit the market this summer. Pricing details will be announced soon.
- This audiophile portable listening device, the Astell&Kern SP4000, poses a significant challenge to other digital audio players, upholding an unbeatable sound quality.
- The SP4000 retains the Crimson Theme UI for usability, while incorporating the Google Play Store to retain and install various gadgets and apps such as smartphone streaming apps.
- The SP4000 boasts smartphone-like features such as aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs for 24-bit audio playback over Bluetooth, and a 6-inch touch screen with immersive animations.
- With its advanced technology, including Android OS support, Astell&Kern's SP4000 is designed not merely to play digital audio, but to elevate your portable listening experience to the level of unforgettable.
