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Acoustic Research M2 High Resolution Audio Player – Expert Review

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Acoustic Research M2 Review – Android on Steroids

AR-M2 - hifiheadphones

Acoustic Research is one of those old names which has been connected with the world of hi-fi for some 63 years now, although it has changed hands a few times since. Responsible for quite a few innovations over the years, can this brand offer anything new to music fans in 2015? Fully equipped with Wi-Fi capability, the AR-M2 can work with streaming services such as Spotify; so now we’re not limited to the tracks we have stored on our players.

Design and appearance

The M2 is a relatively large and weighty player, with the front side almost completely composed of glass; a fair amount of which is the touchscreen (62mm x 110mm to be exact). The back of the player is bevelled and it settles in the hand well. Its angular form and dark glass screen is reminiscent of a 1980s coffee table, but only a little one.

Key Features

Given the M2 is an android-based player, there’s a fair amount of customisation possible – there’s no bloatware or anything to get in the way, but users can always add items they wish to use. Spotify was installed without a problem, for instance.

Other than the touchscreen, there are 4 buttons on the side for track control and power on/off and a volume wheel on the top. Outputs are limited to headphones and line-level output. There’s a little sliding door for micro SD cards if the internal 64Gb isn’t enough for your music collection, and of course a slot at the bottom for connecting to a computer via USB.

The player can be ‘locked’ for when it’s playing whilst in a pocket or bag; however the buttons on the side still function so there may be some issues there. The volume control wheel on the top is still sensitive when the M2 is locked so again, care is needed.

The player was taken outside on one of the brightest days we have in the UK (we do get bright days) and with the settings adjusted for maximum screen brightness, the screen was clearly legible. The only problem is the fingerprints on the vast expanse of screen which are also clear to see.

The Dac within, a Burr-Brown PCM1794A offers up to 24-bit/192kHz playback and supported formats include DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC.

Being Android-based, streaming services such as Spotify can be installed on the AR-M2 for use over local wifi networks, making this player more useful still.

Durability & build quality

As alluded to above, the M2 is solidly built and gives the impression of something which will last for a good few years. The back does have a hollow ring to it when tapped with a fingernail, but it doesn’t feel hollow or flex with pressure.

The M2 will be fine in a trouser pocket, but tight trousers might not react too well. Bend over and you might gore yourself – the design is strong and unyielding! The M2 comes with a velvety pouch for protection – ostensibly for the player itself, but it might help avoid the odd nick or scratch elsewhere too.

The buttons on the side of the unit for play controls can be operated even when the unit has gone into standby/hold mode, so fishing the AR-M2 out of a pocket may cause an unintended change of track. Also, the volume control can be operated while in this state. Although it’s firm, it’s loose enough to be operated by material brushing against it in the tight confines of a pocket or bag.

Sound Quality

There’s no question about the power available within the AR-M2; with a HiFiMAN HE-6 attached, volume gets up to a respectable level – even a little too loud for sustained listening, depending on the genre. Likewise with the Audeze LCD-3.

With IEMs such as the Dita Answer (Truth Edition), the AR-M2 is in its element with well controlled bass, excellent space and detail in the midrange, and a rich airiness which brings the best out of both the music and the earphones.

Within the supplied AR player app, EQ settings are possible with many genre-based presets but there’s a limit to the control possible with the rudimentary 5 band on there. This can always change with future updates, however the unadulterated sound of the AR-M2 is perfect.


Pros:

Fast, responsive touchscreen
Large internal memory
Can run apps such as Spotify

Cons:

Side buttons can be pressed while unit is on ‘hold’
Volume control can be accidentally operated

Summary

The Acoustic Research M2 (or AR-M2) is a fantastic sounding player which is well worthy of a position at its price point. Holding it gives the impression that it’s a serious bit of kit, despite all the fun it gives. It has enough power to drive all commonly used headphones well; even 600 ohm cans with sensitivity below 90dB. The large internal memory and the adaptability offered by the Android-based operating system make this a very nice pocketful, although a large one. It’s definitely one for a jacket pocket or bag.

Please take a look at our video review below for more details.

 

 

Astell&Kern AK240 – Expert Review

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Astell&Kern AK240 – Expert Review

Pros

  • Fashionable touchscreen operation
  • Very solid build quality
  • Large 256Gb internal memory
  • Audiophile grade sound
  • Very connectable
  • Charges by USB
  • Supplied with high quality leather case

Cons

  • Angular design looks better than it feels
  • Current maximum MicroSD accepted is 128Gb
  • Touchscreen response slower than smartphone equivalent
  • Player feels vulnerable if worn in pocket
  • Volume control feels a bit flimsy
  • Power up a bit slow

Verdict

A uniquely designed high-resolution player that is generally well made. Sound quality is is up there with the best digital audio players available and has plenty of connectivity options. Some may find the touchscreen a little old fashioned with a relatively slow response time.

Intro

Astell&Kern needs no introduction as a leading brand of high end portable players, and many fans of top-notch sound quality hold the players they produce in high esteem. So their flagship model, the AK240, has its work cut out!

Key Features

The AK240’s touchscreen encompasses a lot of possibilities and intuitive control features; for example it’s very simple to fast forward through a long track as the position marker can be dragged as fast as the user’s finger is moved. Also, changing volume can be done on the screen; but beware if you have sensitive IEM’s! Luckily there’s a dedicated volume control for those without steady hands.

Connectability is there in spades; the AK240 has a bluetooth capability so suitable wireless headphones can be used with it, any compromise with sound quality will have to be weighed up with the convenience that bluetooth headphones provide. Also Wi-Fi is featured so music can be sent streaming around the house, and files/folders can be read from and added wirelessly.

Also, the AK240 has an optical output which allows the user to send music data to an external DAC if preferred, and a balanced output for those who will accept no compromise where sound quality is concerned.

 

First Impressions

The Astell&Kern AK240 player looks like a piece of modern architecture at first glance; the screen is partly framed by two very angular bevelled edges which act like an optical illusion of some kind. This does lead to some problems gripping the AK240; care is needed when picking the player up off a flat surface as the right-hand side is relatively thin. The AK240 is supplied along with a high quality leather case, which will go some way to improving this.

Once safely in one hand, the user will likely need the other hand to operate the AK240 as the touchscreen control demands accurate direction by an attentive finger, also the touchscreen requires the user to see what is displayed in order to operate the unit. Volume can be altered by the dedicated control on the right side; this does feel a bit flimsy but offers no trouble during operation.

Once a track is playing, the cover art (if available) is displayed along with the usual artist/track information making a pleasing visual display, until of course the auto-hold feature renders the screen blank. A quick press of the power button brings the display and control capabilities back of course, and this feature can be configured as the user sees fit.

The AK240 does take a couple of minutes to read the contents of a freshly inserted Micro SD card before continuing, so if you’re chopping and changing with multiple cards don’t expect to be listening to your music immediately.

For the asking price, there are going to be some very demanding end-users with some very exacting requirements. We’re happy to say that the AK240 addresses these with aplomb. Any drawbacks mentioned are relatively minor and we mention these as we understand the stringent expectations prospective users may have at this high-end level and price point.

It would have been preferable to have a player which feels as good as it looks. Certainly the AK240 is visually striking but beauty is only skin deep. The attractive sheen may wear thin as the player is used on a day-to-day basis, due to the way it feels in the hand; there is an unyielding quality about it which may alienate some after a while.

Sound Quality

The Audiofly AF180 was used for the listening test, along with a Beyerdynamic T1 to test for available power.

Needless to say, the sound quality is stunning. But in order to gain a bit of perspective we put the AK240 up against a similar high-end player, the Lotoo PAW Gold. The general concensus is that the Astell&Kern AK240 reaches a bit lower and provides a little more ‘rumble’ in the bass department, while the Lotoo PAW Gold has a bit more up top making the tape hiss on Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ a bit more apparent.

The feeling was that the AK240 gives a little more atmosphere and space; it’s a very natural and effortless sound. Acoustic and classical tracks are very immersive, with separation which is second to none in terms of portable players. Things seem a little more reined in and controlled when dealing with dynamically compressed pop music. These differences are very subtle of course, and are only mentioned to give the reader a more meaningful explanation of the player’s capabilities rather than those of the headphones used.

Power is plentiful too – the Beyerdynamic T1 was driven very well, the only time more headroom was required was with quieter classical passages with of course no dynamic compression applied within the production.

 

Summary

In terms of sound and functionality, it may come as no surprise that this is perhaps the best player available. The connectivity and versatility really make the Astell&Kern AK240 special; however not everybody likes a touchscreen and this may dampen the enthusiasm of some. Operating the unit may require it to be drawn out of the pocket, and any accidental swipes may lead to some frustrating moments.
Score 9.0

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Lotoo PAW Gold Player – Expert Review

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Lotoo PAW Gold Player Review – Reference Level Audio Player

Pros

  • Quick response to button pushes
  • Solid, sturdy build
  • Navigation simple and quick
  • Huge card capacity
  • Fast power up
  • Recessed yet accessible volume control
  • Great value for money

Cons

  • Golden volume and navigation controls may be on the blingy side for some
  • No digital outputs
  • Charges via mains adapter/wall wart only – not USB
  • Screen seems small amongst those of other DAPs

Verdict

A very capable and well-built unit, the Lotoo PAW Gold Player looks and feels as good as it sounds. The array of buttons make navigation a breeze and they’re all easy to get to. The unit feels right at home in the palm of the hand, and is easy to operate – even in the pocket once the control layout is familiar. It scored a hit with everyone here who tried it, and together with its future-proof SD card capabilities it looks like it is going to be some tough competition for other high end portables out there.

Intro

Joining the ranks of companies entering the portable audio fray with a high-end audio player is a company called Lotoo (pronounced low-to) with the PAW Gold. With audio quality that matches the Astell&Kern AK240 player and a price which is a whole lot lower, you may not need to win the lotto to enjoy this player!

Key Features

The most striking thing about the PAW Gold other than the large golden Mayan-style control on the front is the obvious button-focused control method which is a contrast to the AK240’s touchscreen. And it’s horses for courses; many people love gadgets with touchscreen operation and many people prefer buttons, these offer instant feedback as the user knows that a button has been pushed, and instant access to menus such as the player’s start screen or EQ settings is certainly a bonus.

Lotoo have gone for simplicity in terms of outputs and connectivity; the PAW Gold offers both a headphone output and a 3.5mm line-out. Sound quality is described below, but it’s unlikely that any external DAC is required to be used with the PAW Gold, also this DAP packs a real punch in terms of power so external amping is unlikely to be needed if the user is on the move. Line-out is a nice extra though if connecting to full-size amp and loudspeaker system.

The PAW Gold can accept some giant capacity cards – it’s designed to work with SD cards, but can of course be used with Micro SD cards by means of an adapter. So up-to-date is the Lotoo PAW Gold, the maximum capacity card does not yet exist! This may be a window into the future as the maker has seen fit to add compatibility for 2TB (2 Terabyte) SD cards. The largest sized SD Card available as of this time is 512Gb, so there’s a clue!

The volume control is accessible but nicely recessed at the same time. No need to be nervous when donning sensitive IEMs for example. It has a nice feel to it, neither too stiff nor too loose.

 

First Impressions

The size of the PAW Gold is noticeable when we’re used to ultra-skinny items such as modern phones and media players, but it feels like a solid piece of kit, much like something from the realm of professional audio. Not surprising, as the maker is well known for manufacturing innards for other brands’ high quality audio gadgets.

It feels great in the hand (left or right) and all buttons are easy to reach with the thumb. The screen is comparatively small but this is designed to be listened to after all. On-screen information consists of file audio quality details and track/artist details, with a large stereo level meter.

A moment of confusion was when the ‘key lock’ switch had been operated; this was not immediately obvious to me when I tried to operate the unit. The display showed the ‘power down’ screen leading me to think the battery was low, but a colleague pointed out that the key lock feature had been enabled. Perhaps a future firmware update might address this.

Sound Quality

As may be expected for a player at this price point, sound quality is top notch and can only be compared to similar bits of kit to give any meaningful impression, such as the Astell&Kern AK240. The PAW Gold resolves very well, perhaps a tiny bit better than the AK240, but the AK240 gives a better sense of atmosphere. Much like the difference between valve and solid state amps, although much more subtle.

The audio was tried with the in-ear Audiofly AF180, as well as with full-size headphones such as the Beyerdynamic T1. The PAW Gold gave a vibrant and immersive presentation, and with genres such as classical music, a wonderful richness. Timbre/harmonics are brought out and separation is very realistic with an excellent soundstage.

The amp was certainly put to the test; as well as the Audiofly AF180 IEMs which were used for the critical listening tests, a pair of power-hungry Beyerdynamic T1s were plugged in. The PAW Gold has 2 levels of gain and on the louder setting the T1 was powered very nicely. Only during the quieter parts of dynamically uncompressed classical tracks was any extra headroom called for; it’s safe to say that for any headphones under 600 ohms and with sensitivity equal to or greater than the T1’s 102dB this will not be an issue.

Summary

With portable players, many factors come in to play as the unit is picked up, put down and carried around many times per day; the sound is as important as what the unit is to live with and operate on a day-to-day basis. The PAW Gold certainly passes both tests as, despite its solid chunkiness, it becomes like an old friend very quickly. Once the button layout becomes familiar, the unit can be operated (such as track skip) in the pocket without needing to take it out, and the unit just feels good in the hand.
Score 9.5

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Hidizs AP100 Review – A Sturdy Source Of Solid Sound!

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Verdict

The Hidizs AP100 is a great media player. I look forward to future firmware updates but in the meantime the UI is quite useable, and the unit gives a clean, uncluttered sound with a decent amount of power. This is an amazing first effort which begs the question; whatever next from Hidizs?

Pros

  • Built to last
  • Neat, useful carry case
  • Large clear display
  • Firmware can be updated
  • Sounds superb at this price point
  • Internal data/file storage

Cons

  • Button layout may need getting used to
  • Micro SD card could be easier to insert and remove

If you like your brand names to look like the first line of an optician’s eye chart, the Hidizs is certainly worth considering – the name might take some getting used to, but it’s plain to see that this player is getting some covetous glances! The Hidizs AP100 has some stiff competition in the low-cost DAP (Digital Audio Player) market, not least from FiiO’s ‘X’ range. The Hidizs AP100 appears to be a halfway house between the Fiio X3 and X5 in terms of size and cost.

Key Features

Inputs and outputs are well represented; both headphone and line-out sockets are present on the top and a separate 3.5mm coaxial in and coaxial out can be found at the base of the unit. Volume buttons are side by side on the front, and on the left side there are both the source/SRC and EQ buttons. Being capable of playback at up to 24bit/192KHz, the SRC button can select the bitrate the player works at. The EQ button scrolls through available presets, and the user can define their own preferred EQ settings.

The case is a really nice design; it is enough to protect the AP100 without bulking it out, and has an understated look much like the player itself. The case is made from a synthetic leather-like material which looks quite durable.

The battery lasts a good long while, and although no precise measurements were taken, there was a good amount of playing time between the ‘low battery’ warning and the player turning off – maybe an hour or two. My experience with the Fiio X3 gives little chance to enjoy music before the unit runs out of power – perhaps 20 minutes at most. Helpfully, the status of the battery is given as a percentage on the screen when charging the unit, so we can make an informed choice of whether to leave the unit charging or to take our chanced with what power is there.

First Impressions

The buttons on the Hidizs AP100 are lovely to press; there’s a great chunky feel to them and they are good solid buttons which will last. Someone said that they are reminiscent of Gameboy buttons – certainly the placement of the volume buttons on the AP100 give a flavour, but they are the kind of buttons that let you know they’ve been pressed – there’s no doubt involved as with touch screens and wheels. The only problem is that Hidizs saw fit to add separate buttons for ‘fast forward/rewind’ – usually the same buttons are used for track skip and forward/rewind, but not on the AP100. Also the ‘back’ button is on the right of the other navigation controls, which makes it feel like a forward/select button; this may lead to a few wrong turns for the uninitiated but it’s easy to get used to.

Sound Quality

Compared to the Fiio X3, the AP100 is a little more accurate and coolish but this is not to say that the AP100 is harsh. Listening to unyielding and brittle-sounding early 80s pop such as Duran Duran is fine on the AP100 but the X3 just gives it a bit more warmth and roundness to a presentation – the AP100 wins in terms of detail.

Compared to the Fiio X5, the sound is extremely similar; the X5 comes across as just a little smoother up top. Soundstage and imaging are similar, but with just a hint of edge to the sound on the AP100 which brings up harmonics a little more.

Added to that, the AP100 holds enough wherewithal to power some less than sprightly headphones such as the HifiMAN HE-400 very well, so the need for a separate amp is lessened.

Summary

An excellent player with a bulletproof design. Solid and reliable, the Hidizs AP100 gives a similarly solid sound and user experience. The sound quality and power gives amazing results, however less sensitive headphones may need a little help. The Beyerdynamic T1, at 600 ohms/102 dB gets up to a good level, but quieter recordings will be lacking in headroom. In our opinion, it bridges the gap between Fiio’s offerings and Astell and Kern’s AK100 but at a very favourable price.

Score 9.0

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DUNU DN-900 Earphone Review

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Verdict

The DUNU DN-900 is a well built, hybrid in-ear headphone. The bass is punchy without overcrowding, with spacious mids and smooth highs – these earphones perfectly combine power and detail.

Pros

  • Frequency response can be fine tuned
  • Generous range of extras/accessories
  • Very clear bass and mid-range

Cons

  • High-frequency roll-off (if you like a brighter sound)
  • Case oversized for everyday use
  • Tuning rings easily lost if not careful
  • Cable can get tangled

As with all segments of the headphone market, the £100 – £200 bracket is hotly contested with innovation pushing sales as well as gimmicks. The hybrid drivers within the DUNU DN-900 are becoming commonplace among IEMs, but the tuning rings which are supplied with the DN-900 are not so commonly found. Given that we all have our pet sound signatures and preferred frequency responses, have DUNU released a self-adjustable gem?

Key Features

Perhaps most unusual about the DN-900 is the inclusion of the tuning rings; it’s always nice to have a bit of tweakability and it’s fun to experiment. However, be sure that you are changing the eartips and rings while sat at a table, or similar. The rings can jump off the nozzles and roll out of your life for ever if you aren’t careful. It would have been better to have a more ‘trouser clip’ style ring which stays on the nozzle.

First Impressions

Naturally enough, once out of the packaging, the first thing I noticed was the professional quality Pelican-style case. It’s a lovely item if bright yellow is your thing but it won’t fit in a pocket, nor is having your IEMs packed away in a bag or case the most practical place to have them. I would be utilising another case or pouch from somewhere else, while this case might lie unused in a drawer.

Sound Quality

The sound seems very mid-centric at first, with strong yet well shaped bass response. The most noticeable thing is the higher-frequency roll-off but this takes only a minute to get used to. I tried the rings in turn..

Silver gives a good bass grunt with midrange clear and even, and the higher frequencies rolled off. Blue appears bassier in the mid-bass area with a more pronouced and open midrange, while red is bassier again with some more low-bass creeping in and mellower mids. High frequencies are not affected by any of the rings but the blue’s effect on the midrange sits next to the highs better for me.

After trying the DN-900 with the Astell&Kern K120, I was very happy with the sound. Driving bass underpinned some very fluid and involving mids, with higher frequencies just managing to show their faces enough to keep the party atmosphere going.

The following impressions were gained using the blue rings and the AK120:

Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Two Tribes (Blank and Jones reconstruction)

The bass has good texture and impact going into the sub-bass slightly, mid range works well with male vocals and backing. Soundstage is good and wide with a great sense of space. Imaging is also good. The rolled-off highs did not give any problems.

Dub Syndicate – Mafia

Bass is very full and impactful with good slam. It is quite boomy on this track but dub calls for it! Midrange is still clear and separate – the piano parts are very distinct. Highs lend a touch to harmonics but otherwise linger in the background. Soundstage is as wide as the music requires, delay is headshaking.

Summary

The DUNU DN-900 is perfect for the tracks that were tried with them. They will satisfy any basshead but will not add bass which is not there and cloud things – midrange is spacious and lively. Again, the higher frequencies may be a problem for fans of this part of the frequency spectrum; but if like some you’re a little sensitive to it, the DN-900 should fit like a glove.

Score – 9/10

FiiO X5 Portable High Resolution Digital Audio Player – Announcement

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The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce the new Digital Audio Player & DAC from FiiO, the X5 is now available to be purchased on our website.

This is not your ordinary music player. With impressive processing power the portable FiiO X5 digital audio player supports DSD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA and WAV lossless music formats up to 192kHz/24-bit. This is the most complete set of supported formats to date among Hi-Fi DAPs. With the X5, music lovers need not worry about lack of format support or format conversion.

As well as being a high resolution portable music player, FiiO X5 also doubles up as a dedicated digital-to-analogue converter with line or digital output from PC or MAC. The asynchronous USB DAC also supports 192kHz/24bit. Users can adjust the X5’s equalizer according to their preferences, tailoring the X5’s sound output to different headphones and music genres to produce their ideal sound.

Inside the casing the X5 is packing a lot of punch with four Texas Instruments opamps and Burr Brown DAC as well as dual TI Flagship DAC Chip for headphone output. The X5 comes with three output ports: headphone out, line out and coaxial digital output. Apart from connecting directly to headphones, you can also connect it to other DACs and amps. Dual TF card slots offer a storage capacity up to 128GB, with future firmware upgrades supporting up to 1024GB.

TI Flagship DAC Chip
High resolution music playback
WAV, APE, AAC, WMA, ALAC, FLAC lossless music format supported
DSD playback (DSD playback function will be added and optimised in pending firmware upgrade)
USB OTG support (OTG support will be added and optimised in pending firmware upgrade)
Dual TF card slots (up to 1024GB storage capacity with future firmware upgrades)
Asynchronous DAC
Aviation aluminium CNC unibody technology
Headphone out, Line out, coaxial output socket
Japan original imported high resolution IPS screen
3700mAh lithium polymer battery with 12 hours playtime

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy FiiO X5 Portable High Resolution Digital Audio Player

Astell and Kern AK100 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC from Astell and Kern, the AK100 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Uncompromising high-fidelity music playback at your fingertips: the Astell and Kern AK100 is the pinnacle of modern portable audio playback. Capable of Studio Mastering Quality sound, this portable player offers high-definition lossless music playback well beyond the realms of standard CD quality.

With the Astell&Kern AK100 listeners can enjoy music as it was intended to be heard with all it’s details and subtleties. Equipped with high-quality Wolfson DAC chip, the AK100 offers the highest levels of signal-to-noise ratio and lowest level of harmonic distortion for a highly detailed and realistic sound experience. The Astell&Kern AK100 can also be used as an external DAC via the Optical In/Out function.

The Astell&Kern AK100 is capable of playing all lossless music files offering high-definition music playback. Lossless music files are larger than standard music files and require more storage space. Astell&Kern AK100 carries an on-board memory of 32GB with additional dual micro SD card slots, making the internal memory expandable to 96GB.

An intuitive and responsive touch screen interface combined with traditional control buttons makes using the AK100 fast and easy. The user interface of the Astell&Kern focuses on quickly searching for and listening to songs. Housed in a robust case of black-anodized aluminium with a hairline finish, the AK100 represents a deep and defined craftsmanship

Features

Portable high-fidelity audio system with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) playback
Up to 24bit/192kHz playback of high resolution audio files
Lossless playback for  WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, APE, MP3, AAC, WMA and OGG music formats
Meets 100% of Hi-Fi audio specifications
Equipped with high-performance WOLFSON DAC chip
Optical DAC function for PC and MAC
Dual Micro SD card slot supports up to 96GB of total memory
User Interface with intuitive touch screen and control buttons
Digital volume control wheel with traditional analogue feel
Solid machined aluminium casing

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Astell&Kern AK100 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC

Astell and Kern AK120 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC from Astell and Kern, the AK120 is now available to be purchased on our website.

The Astell and Kern AK120 plays any music format with high-fidelity Mastering Quality Sound (MQS). Lossless music files no longer need to be confined to big set-ups with this portable audio system. Feel the phenomenal realism of high-definition lossless music through 24bit/192kHz sound processing that cannot be heard through a standard CD.

The incorporated Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analogue converter chip is the world’s best performing high resolution DAC chip. Equipped with two DAC chips the AK120 independently separates the left and right channels and offer true dual-monaural audio with wide soundstage and full-bodied audio. Astell&Kern AK120 can also be used as an external DAC via USB or Optical In function.

To playback 24bit/192kHz files, it is essential for the Astell&Kern to have high-capacity memory. Astell&Kern AK120 carries an on-board memory of 64GB with additional dual micro SD card slots supporting up to 64GB of memory in each slot , making the internal memory expandable to 192GB.

Intuitive and responsive, the touch screen interface combined with integrated hardware control buttons makes using the AK120 fast and easy. The user interface of the Astell&Kern focuses on quickly searching for and listening to songs. The curved design of the volume wheel guard provides additional protection to the volume wheel.

Features

  • Portable high-fidelity audio system with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) playback
  • Up to 24bit/192kHz playback of high resolution audio files
  • Lossless playback for WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, APE, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG and DSD music formats
  • Meets 100% of Hi-Fi audio specifications
  • Equipped two high-performance Wolfson WM8740 24bit 192kHz DACs in a dual-mono configuration
  • USB / Optical DAC function for PC and MAC
  • Dual Micro SD card slot supports up to 192GB of total memory
  • User Interface with intuitive touch screen and control buttons
  • Digital volume control wheel with traditional analogue feel
  • Volume wheel guard provides protection
  • Elegant design and sturdy build, housed in a brushed aluminium case

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Astell&Kern AK120 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC