Community Insights: Astell&Kern SP3000 Review

As a proud owner of the SP3000, which I naturally purchased from headphone.shop, I thought it would be valuable to share my experiences with this high-end Digital Audio Player (DAP) for fellow audiophiles.

I previously owned several high-quality stereo systems (including Accuphase, Braun, and Marantz) paired with premium speakers like Dynaudio, as well as a series of DAPs from other manufacturers, including the Astell&Kern SP1000 and its successor, the SP2000. For years, I’ve actually never owned a turntable or a CD player.

Usability

The Astell&Kern SP3000 is portable, equipped with a good battery and solid playtime, making it perfect not only for home use but also on the go (for travel, flights, trains, etc.). It’s completely “long-haul-ready” and, when paired with suitable noise-canceling headphones, it blocks out all ambient sounds like engine noise, construction, or irritating conversations effortlessly.

Design

The SP3000 is exceptionally elegant, durable, and robust. It’s machined from a single block of stainless steel with a protective coating, available in various finishes, and comes with a finely crafted, durable leather case. Even minor drops won’t affect it!

Storage

Currently, the player’s built-in storage is just 250GB (about 223.7GB usable). A&K should definitely increase this in future models, though a microSD of up to 1TB can be added via the slot at the bottom of the device, bringing the total storage up to about 1.2TB. When it comes to storage capacity, it’s important to note that a high-quality, high-end player is really only worth it if you mainly use it with high-resolution files (24-bit or similar) that require more space.

Digital Audio Formats

Personally, I’m a huge fan of formats that go beyond the standard 16-bit, and I highly recommend checking them out – comparing the “outdated” CD standard with higher resolutions and 24-bit remastered versions opens up new sound worlds. The SP3000 handles these formats with ease, including AIFF, FLAC, DSD, PCM, MQA, WMF.

Note: You can find high-resolution and remastered recordings from providers like hdtracks.com or qobuz.com.

Pro tip: The difference becomes especially noticeable if you already heard certain albums on vinyl or CD.

Processor

For the tech-savvy readers, here are a few highlights: The SP3000 is a marked improvement over previous models and competitors, incorporating the latest advancements. The impressive channel separation, expansive soundstage, and immersive three-dimensionality are closely linked to the quality of the processor. If you’re curious, I encourage you to try it out yourself!

Sound

This review reflects my personal preferences, focusing on my experiences. Overall, I avoid extremes, whether in terms of booming bass, shrill highs, or muffled mids. The SP3000 delivers a smooth, comfortable, and mature sound. I can use it for hours without fatigue. The mids, in particular, are superb – vocals, guitars, and piano all come through beautifully in this frequency range. My extensive experience with countless HiFi devices tells me that the SP3000 ranks among the best, especially when paired with top-notch headphones, cables, and 24-bit files.

I often compare the SP3000 to a wine tasting, where each new track reveals fresh nuances and unexpected layers. It offers the intriguing opportunity to listen to individual tracks or albums in various formats and resolutions.

Example: Some downloads are available as FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, WMF (192-352.7kHz), or even DSD (64-128-256). You can experiment to your heart’s content, as the SP3000 effortlessly handles all these formats.

Listening Examples:

• Bass: School Days by Stanley Clarke
• Highs: All or Nothing at All by John Coltrane

Bass is deep and precise with warmth, while cymbals, snare drums, and hi-hats are bright, clear, and brilliant without causing ear fatigue.

Headphones/IEMs

For listening and testing, I primarily used:

a. Campfire Audio Solaris
b. Empire Ears Wraith
c. Vision Ears Aura

(Note: I prefer IEMs for their key advantages, including portability, noise isolation, and a better price-performance ratio. Large, over-ear headphones are cumbersome and cause discomfort for me).

Music

While I also enjoy classical and jazz, my two favorite genres are:

a. Guitar-driven blues-rock
b. Progressive rock with keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums

Many guitarists have distinctive signature sounds, instantly recognizable even if the track is unfamiliar. I would wager that hearing these legendary musicians on the SP3000 unlocks new levels of richness and maturity, tones from another realm:

Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Hackett, Steve Howe of YES, Steve Rothery of Marillion, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Each in a league of their own, with the SP3000 delivering them as they were meant to be heard.

For classical fans, the SP3000’s mature sound is well-suited for orchestral and chamber music, especially warm, soulful cello sonatas with stunning timbre. Its spatiality, precision, three-dimensionality and “stage presence” truly shine with operas, like Sir Georg Solti’s Ring Cycle. You can almost “see” the singers performing.

Jazz enthusiasts will also find that the SP3000 brings out the high production quality often found in jazz recordings. Especially when these recordings have been expertly remastered from analog master tapes, the SP3000 reveals its full potential.

Examples to sample:

• Miles Davis, The Complete Columbia Records Studio Recordings
• John Coltrane, The Atlantic Years

The SP3000 enhances each instrument’s localization and delivers warm, natural, and sophisticated tones. Pure enjoyment!

Conclusion

In my opinion, Astell&Kern’s SP3000 is worth acquiring if you’re ready to create a “closed system” of high-end components – including player, cables, headphones, and music files. That’s when it truly shines. Otherwise, you might be just as well off sticking to a smartphone.

At Headphone.Shop, we believe that the best insights come from real experiences. That’s why we’ve invited our community of passionate customers to share their thoughts on their favorite products and topics. These reviews and articles are written by real people, for real people – giving you honest perspectives from those who know and love the world of high-end audio. Read our blog for more Community Insights.

Many thanks to our community-author Ulrich Burkhardt .