Astell&Kern’s SP2000T is a £2K tube that audiophiles can take anywhere

There’s nothing like the vintage sonic warmth of a tube amp. Trouble is, it’s a little tricky to stash one in your satchel. Enter Astell&Kern’s A&ultima SP2000T: building on the operational amp setup of the SP2000 before it, the updated premium player packs a dual-triode KORG Nutube into its classy aluminium chassis. That means you can pick between high-res clarity, analogue vibes or a hybrid of the two – all in an audio device that’s compact enough to accompany you on your commute. Connectivity is dealt with by dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 (backed up by 24-bit aptX HD and LDAC support), while 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm output ports mean you shouldn’t have a problem plugging in. Add a new quad-DAC setup (two per channel), plus replay gain smarts for uniform playback volume, and the SP2000T almost does enough to justify its £1999 price tag. Almost.

Chris Rowlands Freelance contributor

About

Formerly News Editor at this fine institution, Chris now writes about tech from his tropical office. Sidetracked by sustainable stuff, he’s also keen on coffee kit, classic cars and any gear that gets better with age.

Areas of expertise

Cameras, gear and travel tech