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Introducing the A&ultima SP3000, the luxurious new flagship portable music player from Astell&Kern that’s exclusively crafted from the same premium-grade stainless steel used by high-end watchmakers.

The company describes the DAP as the world’s first with independent Dual Audio Circuitry – a complete separation of balanced and unbalanced output, “allowing for the purest possible sonic reproduction”. A&K additionally claims it’s the first to use the new flagship AK4499EX DAC chip from Asahi Kasei, already used in innovative HEXA – Audio Circuitry structure that separates digital and analogue signal processing. Additional features include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core processor and support for high-resolution aptX HD and LDAC wireless streaming. The SP3000 has support for all key formats (including MQA, Native DSD 512) and streaming-service connectivity. It’s Roon Ready and ReplayGain technology keeps the user listening at the volume level of their choice, with no jumps or dips as they move through tracks.

The SP3000 boasts a watch-style crown control, a new 5.46in full high-definition display, onscreen interface and comes in a choice of black and silver finishes, with its body made from 904L stainless steel. It comes bundled with a premium leather case made by French company ALRAN and is priced at £3,800. You can find out more about it here .

A&K is also launching the Odyssey – a high-performance in-ear monitor with a multi-lamination design and a 10-driver Quadbrid system composed of twin W9+ subwoofers, five balanced armatures, dual electrostatics and a W10 Bone Conductor. With a seven-way synX crossover network and EIVEC MKII engine that harmonises all 10 drivers of the Quadbrid System, A&K claims that: “perfect coherence and timing is maintained throughout its remarkable 5Hz-100kHz frequency response range.” The Odyssey is priced at £3,500. and you can find out more about it here .