What is High-Resolution Audio?

Lately, "high-resolution audio" has become a buzzword among digital audio enthusiasts. It's short for "high-resolution audio," referring to music data with a resolution exceeding CD quality (16bit/44.1–48kHz). But what difference does this higher resolution actually make?

Digital audio formats like CD-DA (PCM), MP3, and AAC are typically compressed versions of the original studio recordings (24bit/96kHz~). High-resolution audio, on the other hand, is emerging as a format that reproduces the quality of master recordings directly from the studio, using uncompressed audio.

Digital recording involves sampling and quantizing sound waves. High-resolution audio, with its higher sampling rates (kHz) and bit depths (bit) compared to CD audio, can therefore reproduce the original sound more faithfully.

Sound, Design, and Versatility—A Player That Encompasses It All

The newly released AK100II supports PCM audio up to 384kHz/32bit (native output up to 192kHz/24bit) and DSD128 (5.6MHz/1bit) audio (converted to 176.4kHz/24bit PCM).

The DAC, crucial for sound quality, uses a single CS4398 DAC chip from Cirrus Logic, renowned for its high-end performance. Combined with Astell & Kern's discrete amplifier, it achieves high signal-to-noise ratio and low distortion.

It features a 3.5mm unbalanced output that doubles as a digital optical output, Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP/AVRCP), and a 2.5mm 4-pole balanced output. With its USB DAC functionality, the diverse output options allow for a versatile monitoring environment.

In addition to 64GB of internal memory, storage can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSDXC card. The display is a 3.31-inch high-definition AMOLED touchscreen. Built-in Wi-Fi enables streaming and data transfer. Partnerships with music distribution sites are planned, allowing direct purchase and download of high-resolution tracks from the AK100II in the near future.

Astell&Kern "AK100II"
Color | Smoky Blue
Material | Aluminum Body + Coating
Internal Memory | 64GB (NAND Flash) *Includes system area
External Memory | 1 x microSDXC card slot (supports exFAT, up to 128GB officially)
Display | 3.31-inch (480x800 dots) AMOLED (Capacitive Touch Panel)
Supported File Formats | WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
Playback Support Rate | PCM up to 384kHz/32bit (native output 192kHz/24bit), DSD up to 5.6MHz/1bit (converted to 176.4kHz/24bit PCM)
Output Terminals | Earphone (Unbalanced)/Digital Optical Output (3.5mm), Balanced Output (2.5mm/4-pole)
Input Terminals | USB microB (Charging, Data Transfer, USB DAC)
USB DAC Function | 44.1kHz–96kHz/16bit・24bit, DSD (PCM conversion)
Wi-Fi | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz) Bluetooth V4.0 (A2DP/AVRCP)
Bluetooth | 4.0 (A2DP, AVRCP)
Continuous Playback Time | Approx. 11 hours (FLAC/44.1kHz/16bit, Volume 37, EQ Off, Screen Off)
Dimensions | W55 x H111 x D14.9 mm
Price | ¥109,800

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