Review: Astell & Kern SP3000M

Here it is again – the “M” version of a flagship! Astell&Kern never tires of bringing out new products and driving development forward. The new A&ultima SP3000M shrinks their current flagship into a pocket-sized form while delivering top-of-the-line sound in an even more portable package. Want to know what this “little one” can do and how it sounds? Find out here!

About the SP3000M

There’s not much to say about Astell & Kern that hasn’t already been said. For years, the South Koreans have been making excellent DAPs – initially under the iRiver brand as MP3 pioneers. Positioned mainly in the high-end segment, their players not only impress with their first-class sound and sophisticated range of functions, but also with their unique design, premium materials and perfect build quality.

The brand’s products are divided into different series: A&norma, A&futura, KANN and A&ultima. The Astell & Kern SP3000M belongs to the A&ultima series, which prioritizes sound performance above all else.

Anyone familiar with the brand’s lineup will recognize the “M” suffix as something special. In the past, A&K has used this designation for smaller versions of their top-tier players. For example, the SP1000M, which offered the same virtues as its larger counterpart in a smaller housing.

And now they have taken on the reigning king and packed its outstanding sound characteristics into a smaller, more compact player. While the SP3000M feels so comfortable to use – despite the brand’s signature sharp edges – don’t let its small size fool you, it has a lot to offer.

Key Features

• A successor to the SP3000, delivering the same comprehensive, first-class audio performance
• Lightweight and portable, anywhere, anytime
• TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution, the essence of AK audio technology
• Complete separation of digital and analogue signals in a HEXA structure
• Equipped with proven independent dual audio circuits
• Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 CPU
• Analogue VU meter for sensitivity

The ‘M’ in SP3000M does not stand for motorsport, but can stand for the many things this player has to offer:

Mini: Smaller dimensions than the SP3000
Mobility: Even better portability
Maximum: The best audio performance from A&K
Magical: For those who love the vibrant sounds of the SP3000
Mate: A companion that is with you anywhere, anytime
Moment: Fills everyday moments with emotion

The SP3000M from Astell&Kern uses an innovative HEXA audio circuit design that completely separates digital and analogue signals. With four AKM flagship AK4499EX DACs and two AK4191EQ chips, digital signals are processed separately. This results in audio quality with minimal noise and an impressive signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 130 dB. Silver-plated shielding protects against electromagnetic interference.

Unlike conventional players, the SP3000M utilises a dual audio circuit design that processes balanced and unbalanced outputs independently. Powered by Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA sound solution, this technology provides exceptionally clear sound reproduction, staying as close to the original as possible. If you want to call the SP3000M your own, you will have to invest €2,599.

Packaging & Contents

The packaging of the Astell & Kern SP3000M is not only small and compact, but also impresses with its high-gloss embossed print, which makes visually appealing. As a premium manufacturer, Astell & Kern ensures that the design extends beyond the product itself and integrates seamlessly into the overall presentation. While the technical features take center stage, the attractive design can make an important contribution to an all-round positive product experience – a philosophy that has been embraced in South Korea from the very beginning.

The contents of the Astell&Kern SP3000M are impressive. In addition to the player itself, A&K includes a luxurious leather case, a USB cable, screen protectors and a cleaning cloth.

Features & Tech Specs

DAC
The DAC features AKM’s flagship chips, the AK4499EX and AK4191EQ. It goes without saying that the chip is compatible with all current digital formats – including compressed and Hi-Res. For accurate balanced operation, the DAC is designed as a QUAD Dac, meaning that the signals for the left and right channels as well as for the balanced and unbalanced output are processed completely separately.

AMP
While the KANN series in particular is known for maximum power, the SP3000M holds its own. With 6.3Vrms at the balanced output, it matches the performance of its larger sibling, the SP3000, which gives it enough power to drive the majority of headphones effectively.

Connections
The 4.4mm balanced connection is now standard alongside the 3.5mm. It is worth noting that the SP3000M is the first new A&K player in the A&Ultima series to no longer have a 2.5mm connector. This might indicate that Astell & Kern is fully committed to the 4.4mm connection moving forward, and we might not see the 2.5mm connection in future models.

Wireless
As expected from a modern DAP, the Astell&Kern SP300M is fully connected. Once connected to the home network, the entire streaming world is available: Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal – everything is possible. You can also tap into your home DLNA server or Roon network. Thanks to Bluetooth, streaming from your smartphone to the device (BT-Sink) is also possible.

Operating system
A&K has thoroughly revised the underlying Android system. At first glance, you might not even notice that Google’s operating system is running beneath the surface. However, unlike many other DAPs, the SP3000M system is not completely open: Only apps approved and provided by Astell&Kern can be installed. But don’t worry— all the popular and widely used streaming services are readily available.

Storage
In addition to the card slot, which supports microSD cards with up to 1.5TB, the SP3000M has 256GB of internal storage.

AK File Drop
The AK File Drop feature simplifies and enhances file transfer. With AK File Drop, you can wirelessly transfer files from a PC, smartphone, or FTP program within the same network. Managing music files is now possible with this wireless solution, making it a great option, especially in the Apple ecosystem where Android devices cannot be natively mapped as drives. However, A&K still offers a somewhat limited solution here, as you can only access the internal storage, not the inserted memory card.

Design & workmanship

All Astell & Kern have a common denominator: each player follows a unique, innovative design language and has an individual character. No two players are the same, but a ‘common thread’ can be recognised within the model series. The Astell & Kern SP3000M draws design inspiration from the SP3000 and represents a rather understated elegance, especially for A&K standards. Nonetheless, it continues to impress with its stunning appearance.

The matte black aluminum casing is not only elegant but also impeccably crafted, offering a tactile experience that ranks among the best. Even upon close inspection, no imperfections could be detected.

The digital volume control allows for endless adjustment with a pleasing click sound, without fixed endpoints. The precisely chosen detents provide the perfect balance between ease of use and resistance – it becomes a pleasure to adjust the volume.

It goes without saying that all sockets are secure and well fitted, and the pressure point of the buttons is precise and clearly defined. A glass cover adorns the back and enhances the elegant design.

The leather case maintains the high quality standard and impresses with excellent material and manufacturing quality. Of course, it partially hides the impressive aesthetics and tactile feel of the Astell&Kern SP3000M for the sake of protection, but maintains the same luxurious experience.

Operation / User Interface

Using this small device is a real pleasure. The redesigned ‘Crimson’ user interface introduced with the SP3000 not only looks tidy, modern and fresh, it is also intuitive to use. The responsiveness of the system also leaves nothing to be desired – although loading album covers in the scroll view can take a few seconds.

General

Handling
It is a pleasure just to hold the SP3000M in your hand. In terms of feel, the surface structure and shape are typical of A&K and extremely well executed. However, one must appreciate the sharp corners and edges with the extremely small radii.

Data transfer
Android devices cannot be natively mounted on macOS, making them inaccessible to software such as synchronization tools. This complicates data transfer, as additional software (Android File Transfer) is required. Thus, you must remove the card from the DAP and insert it into the iMac’s card slot before you can synchronize with your tool of choice.

Unfortunately, AK File Drop is only half-heartedly implemented, as access to the inserted storage medium is not possible, and only the internal storage is addressed. Let’s hope for an update, though.

Operation

Navigation
The system responds quickly and is extremely responsive, while the interface and menus shine on the HD display. The combination of touch controls and mechanical elements such as play/pause buttons and the volume dial is intuitive and well thought-out. The volume wheel in particular offers a pleasant tactile experience, and the clean pressure points of the mechanical buttons are also a pleasure.

The highly customised Android is fast and smooth – I didn’t notice any delays when scrolling. Everything operates smoothly and without interruptions.

Music library
As my music collection is carefully organised, I usually prefer to navigate through the music library, and I often listen to albums in their entirety. The structure of Artist > Albums, which displays album covers, makes it significantly easier for me to find the album I want.

Folder navigation
If your music collection is not well organised and the files are not tagged correctly, folder navigation is a good option. Here you can navigate through the folder structure on the memory card like in a file explorer. This is also quick and effective, but not as visually appealing as the display in the music library.

Streaming
All the streaming services I use work seamlessly on the SP3000M. I use Apple Music, Tidal and Spotify and have not experienced any difficulties. Nevertheless, I still see the main purpose and focus of a DAP as being the playback of classically stored music files.

Sound tuning
The SP3000M features a 20-band equalizer and a parametric equalizer (PEQ) for sound customization. Adjusting the sound signature via DAC filters is also possible, along with a crossover function.

Battery life
With a manufacturer-reported battery life of around 10 hours, it is still quite sufficient, although it admittedly sounds low. I haven’t tested the battery life under laboratory conditions, but the manufacturer’s claim seems fairly accurate. This, of course, depends on the headphones used and the volume level.

Sound quality

The Astell&Kern SP3000M aims for the most neutral and uncolored playback of music – a standard usually expected from high-quality digital audio players (DAPs). And the SP3000M is, after all, a co-flagship – albeit miniaturised. So of course you can’t expect any less performance than its big brother has already demonstrated. Astell&Kern themselves claim that the little M is in no way inferior to the original, in terms of sound.

My sound impressions were made using the 64 Audio Volür, the Austrian Audio Composer and the Vision Ears VEX on the 4.4mm connection.

General

The sound here is at an absolute reference level, which also stands up to comparison with the top-of-the-range SP3000 model. Percussion instruments impress with extremely precise transients and a dynamic, engaging response. Particularly noteworthy are the clear, finely resolved highs, which ensure a brilliant, lively and very detailed presentation in the upper frequency range without sounding intrusive.

The SP3000M’s bass is controlled and present without being dominant – perfectly tuned for my taste. It remains tight, fast and delivers a solid kick and punch. Texture and details are at a first-class level.

The mids of the new Astell & Kern DAP are characterised by a remarkably natural and lively reproduction, giving vocals an impressive spatial presence. Electric guitars stand out with a powerful, voluminous sound, while acoustic instruments offer an extremely authentic and realistic timbre. Overall, the device impresses with a perfectly balanced frequency reproduction that is both pleasant and captivating and guarantees a top-notch listening experience.

The SP3000M provides a consistently superior, controlled and relaxed sound reproduction with both sensitive in-ears and large over-ear headphones. The difference from fully-fledged desktop headphone amplifiers is barely noticeable. However, the priority with the M version is clearly on mobility, which is why many customers will certainly focus on using it IEMs.

It is almost superfluous to mention that it excels in instrument separation and realistic, transparent soundstage presentation, with precise and detailed imaging.

Conclusion

With the SP3000M, Astell & Kern has cemented its status as a premier high-end brand in the realm of digital audio players. The larger SP3000 is already difficult to top, and now we have the same outstanding sound quality in a more compact – and significantly lighter – case. Naturally, it features excellent build quality and material choice. The robust and compatible software also makes Hi-Res streaming a pleasure. Even if the SP3000M is ‘only’ number two in the current A&K portfolio – for me it would be the first choice!

The Astell & Kern SP3000M is the successful evolution of the SP3000. Outstanding sound quality in a smaller housing – downsizing in its most original form.