Astell&Kern gives its flagship portable media player a material makeover
The Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 offers high-fidelity sound in a compact, if weighty, package with features galore for the discerning audiophile
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Is this the ultimate portable music player? Certainly, if you’re thinking in terms of price-per-megabyte of storage, the newest version of Astell&Kern’s SP3000 player, the Copper edition, is the top of the tree. The SP3000 has ‘only’ 256GB of onboard memory, as well as a microSD slot that’ll take cards of up to 1TB, numbers that seem big until you look at the galaxies of music we’re used to accessing via the myriad streaming services that are now bundled into every device.
So why take your music with you? Astell&Kern’s products are all about the highest of high fidelity. The Korean audio brand offers a wide range of media players, speakers and headphones, all of which purport to offer your ears what the company calls ‘mastering quality sound’, or MQS.
There’s a never-ending debate amongst the most ardent audiophiles as to the best way of listening to digital music. Ever since the compact disc encoded audio as 0s and 1s, then used a digital-analogue converter (DAC) to transform the numbers back into sound, experts have argued that some data sources contain more information and some converters do a better job, both of which are broadly true.
Astell&Kern’s own MQS system is completely lossless, presenting audio in a much higher quality (24-bit/192kHz) than a traditional CD (16-bit/44.1kHz). As a result, you’re getting more audio information, filling out the sound with greater detail and clarity. Only, of course, if the original source was recording to the same exacting standards.
Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 Copper
That’s the theory. Most of the major streaming services supported by the player can also provide hi-res audio (such as Tidal, which comes pre-installed). However, it’s very data-heavy, meaning you’ll need a fast wi-fi connection to stream, and those chunky FLAC and WAV files also take up way more space than old-school mp3s, meaning that the SP3000’s storage doesn’t go quite as far as you think.
Audiophiles always believe they have the upper hand, and in terms of physical quality, they’re probably right. The A&ultima SP3000 is a handsome device, especially in the newly released copper finish, with a feeling of substantial quality and heft thanks to its nearly half-kilogram weight. The Li-Polymer battery provides up to ten hours of listening time, while the goatskin leather case by ALRA of France, jewel-like detailing and watch-style ‘crown’ button give off a feeling of meticulous quality (even if the SP3000 dials down the slightly forced asymmetry of Astell&Kern’s other models). The corners are still devilishly sharp, though.
The software is first rate, with a responsive touch screen and quick browsing through your library (although it’s a mystery as to why the skeuomorphic interface presents albums as if they’re CDs). As well as WAV and FLAC, the player supports WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, and MQA, and there are onboard tools to help rip CDs, as well as a car mode and many more audio-specific settings.
However, other big brands are moving away from the dedicated player. Apple’s iPod was discontinued last year, while Sony’s Walkman range is notably depleted. On the flipside, online stores are awash with cheaply assembled no-brand mp3 players; a 1GB touch screen device can be found for under £30. Is the Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 worth over 100 times as much?
Perhaps it’s more instructive to think of this sleek digital brick as a powerhouse of high-resolution audio, suitable for hooking up to the finest speakers to create a hand-held hi-fi system without equal. Although it’s too precious (and bulky) to be truly pocketable for everyday use, the SP3000 will certainly help focus your mind on the music.
Astell&Kern, A&ultima SP3000 Copper, £3,799, available at Selfridges.com and via AstellnKern.co.uk
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Common Works Architects, USA: Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023
Common Works’ White House makes the most of a skinny Oklahoma City plot
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A Clarence Dillon estates tour offers an unparalleled way to experience Bordeaux
Clarence Dillon produces some of the world's finest wine. We take a trip to their vineyards to see how
By Mary Cleary Published
-
Rome Colosseum bookshop design is based on a light, modular system
The bookshops at Rome’s Colosseum are part of Migliore+Servetto’ new concept for Italian publishing house Electa
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Music makers: from pocket synths to standalone beat machines, we’ll help you make some noise
Ten of the best-designed audio devices and experimental instruments for music makers
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Nothing Phone (2) doubles down on the brand’s minimalist, low-key aesthetic
Nothing Phone (2) is the alternative choice, a high-tech handset designed to wean you off digital distractions without compromising quality or function
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
New Motorola Razr 40 is a compact foldable that emphasises minimal screen time
Powerful yet pocketable, the Motorola Razr 40 shows how the clamshell phone is maturing, pitched at those who prefer to keep digital temptation at bay
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Taking Google’s sleek Pixel Tablet for a test run
The Google Pixel Tablet is a premium slice of media tech, complete with speaker dock that transforms it into the central hub of a smart home set-up
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Portable and pocketable travel tech: four take-away gadgets with which to stay connected
Work and play remotely with these travel tech devices: TicWatch Pro 5; a stylish new Samsung battery pack; Urbanears’ latest earbuds; and the evergreen Tula microphone
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Audio-Technica adds new hues to its classic Sound Burger record player
The Audio-Technica Sound Burger offers portable analogue audio for all, with a colour menu that nods to the bold electronics of the 1980s
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Leica Q3 full-frame digital camera brings new speed and sophistication
The new Leica Q3 camera boasts features that pitch it at both photographers and filmmakers
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
High-fidelity meets high design in eight new speaker systems
From room-filling sub-woofers to elaborate sculptural objects, speaker systems have never been so diverse. We round up eight key players in the modern audio space
By Jonathan Bell Published