DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), DSD512(1bit, 22.4MHz) Stereo
Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported / 4.4m, only 5-pole supported)
Find your optimal sound
The newest member of the A&ultima series, the SP2000T builds on the class-leading sound of the A&ultima SP2000 and is the first player to feature an innovative Triple Amp System allowing music fans to switch between the different sonic characteristics of a normal OP-AMP (operational amp) mode, a vacuum TUBE AMP and a HYBRID AMP mode that combines the tube amp’s warm analog performance and the Op-Amp’s high-resolution clarity.
Boasting the most advanced amp technology of any portable player, SP2000T owners can toggle between three-amp modes to find the optimal sound to suit the music they are listening to. Based on the set-up from the original SP2000, the OP-AMP configuration offers ultra-clarity and a dynamic playback. Switch to the TUBE AMP mode and the uniquely warm and musical audio associated with vacuum tube amplifiers will be revealed.
The culmination of Astell&Kern’s rich amp design heritage and expertise, the new innovative HYBRID MODE brings together the distinctive sonic DNA of the detailed OP-AMP and expressive TUBE AMP modes, while providing five options with different mix ratios of each amp’s sound characteristics to best serve the music being played.
The SP2000T comes equipped with four ES9068AS DACs, with two DACs per channel dedicated for decoding. The result is a more detailed and balanced sound with great depth and spatial realism.
This latest model is also the first to feature Replay Gain functionality that automatically and uniformly adjusts volume playback from sound sources up to 24-bit/192 kHz so playlists can be enjoyed throughout without reaching for the volume.
The first player to harbour TERATON ALPHA technology that effectively removes power noise and provides efficient power consumption and amplification right through to the audio output interface stage where the digital-to-analogue signal conversion (DAC) takes place – audio technology Astell&Kern has consistently developed and perfected over the years.
"As you'd expect from a flagship DAP, the A&ultima SP2000T aims to offer everything. Sure, its 'tube' modes aren't a reason to choose this player over another, but its clean and insightful sonics are, while the Roan Ready status is a real boon for at-home users. Its excellent build quality and sophisticated design also sets the SP2000T apart from many rivals, even in this upper echelon of the head-fi market."
"I very much enjoyed my time with the SP2000T..;The ergonomics worked well, the screen is sensitive, fast reacting and produces a vibrant image. The build quality is flawless and exudes quality...Most of all, I enjoyed the vibrant, spacious musical performance, which proved non-fatiguing yet always engaging...The SP2000T is an essential audition for any audiophile seeking a DAP at this price point. "
"The amount of enjoyment the Astell&Kern offers is prodigious, as is its capacity to reveal facets of recording you might previously have imagined yourself familiar with. It manages to balance a borderline-forensic analysis of a recording with a deep understanding of the same recording's primary purpose as a piece of entertainment."
"The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP2000T portable music player boasts a distinctive look, impeccable sound, and extensive specifications…A portable pièce de resistance...It’s as good a portable audio player as you can buy. "
"Endlessly revealing, utterly musical sound…It’s immediately impressive on almost every level…. Extraordinary powers of analysis, the ability to reveal the most transient details in full (without overstating them), a soundstage that’s expansive and organised, and the sort of tonal fidelity that can make the listener quite giddy. All the stuff, in fact, that can make a muso weak at the knees."