Astell&Kern has revealed what it’ll be presenting at High End Show Vienna with a typically ambitious dual launch.
It’ll introduce the SP4000T digital audio player and the Clarus in-ear monitor, with these two flagship products doubling down on the brand’s familiar mix of engineering and audiophile precision.
Headlining the announcement is the A&ultima SP4000T, which leans heavily into a “retro meets modern” philosophy by integrating Raytheon JAN6418 MIL-Spec vacuum tubes in a quad configuration.
In practical terms, this means Astell&Kern is pushing analogue-style sound character inside a modern Android-based digital player but with more flexibility than before.
Moreover, the SP4000T introduces what the company calls Triple Tube Mode. It can offer up to 54 sound combinations through different tube and amplifier configurations. Users can switch between Triode, Ultra Linear, and Pentode modes, each shifting the sonic profile from warm and harmonic to more controlled and dynamic output.
Image Credit (Astell&Kern)
Furthermore, there’s also a hybrid mode that blends tube and op-amp amplification, effectively giving listeners multiple tuning “flavours” rather than a single fixed signature.
Beneath the surface, the player runs Android 15 with Google Play Store access. However, it retains Astell&Kern’s focus on bit-perfect playback through its ADP (Astell&Kern Direct Path) system and bypasses Android’s usual audio processing limitations in doing so.
It also introduces a dual Wi-Fi antenna design, which the company claims can deliver up to twice the 5GHz download speed of previous models.
The internal architecture is equally complex, pairing dual AK4499EX DACs with dedicated AK4191EQ processors per channel. Astell&Kern also continues its emphasis on signal purity with upgraded shielding, copper isolation, and refined PCB design; all of which is aimed at reducing noise and preserving resolution in high-end playback.
Image Credit (Astell&Kern)
Alongside the player, Astell&Kern has unveiled Clarus, a new nine-driver Tribrid IEM that combines dynamic, balanced armature, and MEMS drivers. Each driver is assigned to a specific frequency range with the goal to separate low-end weight, midrange detail, and high-frequency precision as cleanly as possible.
The Clarus will be available to demo for those attending High End in Vienna, while pricing and availability for it and the SP4000T will be announced in “due course”.
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