astell-kern
A&ultima SP4000T and Clarus
Astell&Kern introduces SP4000T DAP and Clarus IEM
The new portable pairing gives Astell&Kern a fresh flagship source and matching in-ear monitor for wired listening. Both products are due for public demonstration at High End Vienna 2026, where portable audio remains part of the show floor mix.
Georg S. Kuklick
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Astell&Kern has introduced the A&ultima SP4000T, a new flagship digital audio player built around a selectable tube and solid-state amplification platform. The company is also bringing the Clarus in-ear monitor to High End Vienna 2026, positioning the two products as a new portable wired-listening pairing.
The SP4000T extends Astell&Kern’s tube-equipped DAP line with user-selectable tube behaviour, hybrid amplification and an open Android platform. Its design gives listeners control over the player’s output character without adding external amplification or relying on software EQ.
Clarus is described in the submitted article as the fourth model in Astell&Kern’s IEM series. It uses a multi-driver tribrid architecture and aluminium shells, with the earphone due for its first public showing alongside the player in Vienna.
Key specifications
Product type | Portable digital audio player and in-ear monitor |
|---|---|
Tube stage | Quad Raytheon JAN6418 MIL-Spec vintage vacuum tubes |
Tube modes | Triode, Ultra Linear and Pentode |
Amplification | Triple AMP System with OP AMP, TUBE AMP and HYBRID AMP operation |
Tube adjustment | Three-step Tube Current adjustment |
DAC platform | Dual AK4191EQ and dual AK4499EX |
Platform | Full Open Android with Android 15 |
Processor | Octa-core CPU |
Additional processing | High Driving Mode, ESA and Advanced DAR |
Clarus driver system | 9-driver tribrid design using dynamic, balanced armature and MEMS drivers |
The A&ultima SP4000T and Clarus are scheduled to make their global debut at High End Vienna 2026, which opens June 4 at the Austria Center Vienna. The submitted article lists booth HX4, M04 for the demonstration and says pricing and availability for the SP4000T and Clarus will be confirmed later.
Sources
- ecoustics.com - Astell&Kern SP4000T Tube DAP and Clarus IEMs Head to High End Vienna 2026 as Wired Audio Fights Back
Key specifications
Sources
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