New Products

Astell&Kern have just announced an expansion of their A&ultima flagship player line with the launch of the SP4000T digital audio player and Clarus in-ear monitors. Both of these new A&K products are making their global debut at High End Vienna 2026 (June 4–7, 2026) in Booth HX4, M04 in the Austria Center Vienna.

First up is the A&ultima SP4000T digital audio player (DAP), which will first be made available in stainless steel and then later a copper body option, and is said to be the culmination of approximately two years of development following the launch of the SP3000T DAP in 2024, and springboarding from the “canvas” of the SP4000.

The SP4000T is said to be the industry’s first DAP to feature the Raytheon JAN6418 MIL-Spec vintage vacuum tube in a quad configuration. With independent dual-tube structures dedicated to the left and right channels respectively, the channel-separated design, once exclusive to high-end tube amplifiers, has finally been brought to the world of DAPs.

A&K says that each of the four tubes is, quote, “precisely measured for its noise and gain characteristics before being paired, then fully isolated from noise through independent modular flexible PCBs and a multi-layered architecture.”

Triple Tube Mode in the SP4000T is also said to be an industry first for a DAP. Combined with the T Series Signature Triple AMP Mode and the Tube Current level adjustment, it offers up to 54 possible combinations, “tailored to any genre or preference.”

The Astell&Kern SP4000T offers three distinct tube sound modes. Triode Mode is purported to be ideal for vocals and acoustic instruments. Pentode Mode focuses on maximum output and a “cleaner” dynamic impact. Ultra Linear Mode is intended to balance the tonal richness of the Triode Mode with the power and control of the Pentode Mode, in order to produce a “refined yet authoritative sound suited for a wide range of music genres.”

Combining A&K’s exclusive Teraton Alpha technology with quad-configured Real Vacuum Tubes and advanced OpAmp design, the SP4000T is said to deliver both authentic analog warmth and ultra-high-resolution clarity. Users can choose between dedicated OpAmp Mode for powerful dynamics, expansive detail, and low-noise precision, or go with Tube Amp Mode for the natural soundstage characteristics unique to true vacuum tube audio. An advanced 5-stage Hybrid Amp Mode blends the strengths of both the OpAmp and Tube Amp Modes, allowing listeners to fine-tune the balance between the two match their personal listening preferences.

The SP4000T introduces an upgraded 5-stage 2nd-generation anti-microphonic architecture (up from the previous 4-stage design) to suppress microphonic noise (i.e., noise generated in vacuum tubes from even the most minor external vibrations).

The Astell&Kern SP4000T is designed for modern, streaming-focused listening, and it runs Android 15 with full Google Play Store support while maintaining A&K’s flagship analog sound quality. The unit’s proprietary ADP (a.k.a. Astell&Kern Direct Path) technology bypasses Android’s standard sample rate conversion limitations to enable true lossless, bit-perfect playback from streaming services. The SP4000T also introduces A&K’s first dual Wi-Fi antenna design, delivering “significantly faster and more stable” wireless streaming and downloads, with internal testing showing up to twice the 5GHz download speed of previous models.

The Astell&Kern SP4000T utilizes fully discrete circuit architecture to separate digital and analog signal processing by using dual flagship AK4499EX DACs and dedicated AK4191EQ processors for each channel, reducing noise and “enhancing” clarity, depth, and purity across the entire signal path.

Building on the previous-gen SP4000 platform, the SP4000T also incorporates High Driving Mode with parallel OpAmp configuration for greater dynamic range and more detailed, immersive sound reproduction. Proprietary ESA (Enhanced Signal Alignment) technology is said to minimize group delay and frequency distortion, while Advanced DAR technology looks to restore lost harmonics before applying upsampling for more natural, lifelike playback.

Additional tech refinements include Any Layer HDI PCB technology and a 99.9% pure copper shield to further minimize signal loss, noise, and electromagnetic interference.

The Astell&Kern SP4000T combines flagship-level connectivity and high-resolution playback capabilities with advanced wireless and user-focused features. It offers 256GB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 1.5TB, supports native playback up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, and features a 6in full-HD touchscreen alongside dual-band Wi-Fi, DLNA networking, USB audio output, and USB DAC functionality for Mac and Windows PCs.

Wireless performance is enhanced through support for aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs, while BT Sink mode allows the SP4000T to function as a high-quality Bluetooth DAC for external devices such as smartphones. Features like ReplayGain, AK File Drop wireless transfers, USB PD 3.0 fast charging, and customizable battery protection are also onboard.

For extended listening comfort, the SP4000T also includes advanced Crossfeed controls that recreate a more speaker-like listening experience through headphones, allowing users to fine-tune spatial presentation and reduce listening fatigue over long sessions.

The SP4000T is packaged with a premium leather Cognac-colored case crafted using Minerva leather from Badalassi Carlo, a renowned leather workshop located in the San Miniato district of Florence, Italy.

Two additional premium leather cases will be available for the SP4000T. A black color case, crafted from soft cowhide by Gruppo Mastrotto, delivers an exceptionally soft touch, with a uniform surface quality and a distinctively vibrant Italian coloration. An olive-colored case, crafted from premium vegetable-tanned leather by Badalassi CARLO, is crafted through a proprietary tanning and dyeing process. Both cases feature a standing mechanism on the back to provide greater convenience in use.

Pricing and availability for the Astell&Kern A&ultima SP4000T stainless steel and copper DAPs will be announced soon — and we will add the SRP(s) here once we have it (them) in hand.

And then comes the Astell&Kern Clarus in-ear monitors (IEM). Clarus is the fourth model in A&K’s IEM series, defined by, quote, “an unwavering pursuit of sound faithful to the original. Delivering music exactly as the artist intended — transparent and free from distortion. It is a philosophy the brand has consistently upheld, and one that Clarus carries forward.”

Constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum, Clarus is designed around a 10-driver Tribrid architecture, allowing each driver to perform “at its best” within its dedicated range. A dynamic driver delivers the natural weight and depth of the low frequencies, while a precisely arranged array of Balanced Armature (BA) drivers reproduces the detail and resolution of the mids and highs, and the latest MEMS drivers are intended to render even the most delicate upper frequencies with “exceptional precision.”

A&K concludes that, true to its product name, the Clarus IEM is “an answer to clarity. From the deepest bass to the most subtle highs, it reveals the natural detail and sense of space that lives within the music itself.”

Clarus IEMs will also be available for demo in the Astell&Kern booth at High End Vienna 2026.

Pricing, availability, and additional product details for the Astell&Kern Clarus in-ear monitors will be made available soon — and, just like with the SP4000T DAP, we will add that SRP here once we have it in hand.

For more on Astell&Kern, go here.
To find an authorized Astell&Kern dealer, go here.