DESIGN /
DIGITAL
April 16, 2015
The Pinnacle of Hi-Res Portable Players Achieves Even Higher Sound Quality | Astell & Kern
Astell & Kern
The pinnacle of high-resolution portable players is now even more refined.
Introducing the "AK240SS" with a stainless steel body.
Astell & Kern, a high-resolution portable audio brand, has unveiled the "AK240 256GB Stainless Steel (AK240SS)," an evolution of its flagship model.
Text by HAMADA Masaru (OPENERS)
Further noise reduction and clearer sound quality than the previous model.
Astell & Kern is a brand of portable audio players dedicated to reproducing all sound sources in their original, faithful state. The AK series, in particular, is widely recognized as the representative product that ignited the popularity of high-resolution compatible players. The product design is also meticulously crafted, with participation from designers who have worked on products for camera manufacturer Leica. The new "AK240SS" is a further refinement of its flagship model, the "AK240."
The body material, which affects sound quality, has been changed from duralumin to stainless steel. This increases the weight by 90g to 275g, but its high rigidity and specific gravity suppress resonance, leading to improved sound quality. Electrically, the noise floor has been reduced by providing a wider ground point than before, allowing for even clearer, high-quality sound.
A key feature of the AK240 series, despite being a portable player, is its ability to natively play DSD audio without PCM conversion. It can also natively play "DSD128 (5.6MHz/1bit)," a high-resolution format generating buzz as it surpasses the SACD standard DSD64 (2.8MHz/1bit), without down-conversion. To ensure smooth operation when handling large data files such as high-resolution audio, it is equipped with a dual-core CPU, offering high performance as a machine.
It features a 3.31-inch organic EL display with a resolution of 480x800 dots, a capacitive touch panel, 256GB of internal memory, and a microSDXC card slot. With support for exFAT-compatible microSDXC cards up to 128GB, the storage capacity can be expanded to approximately 384GB. In addition to its use as a portable player, it can also function as a USB DAC for PCs. Equipped with Wi-Fi, it allows for streaming playback of music stored on computers with the dedicated software installed.
The price is open. The price on the direct sales website is 384,000 yen.
Astell&Kern "AK240 256GB Stainless Steel"
Color | Silver
Internal Memory | 256GB (NAND Flash) *Includes system area
External Memory | 1 x exFAT compatible microSD card slot (Official support up to 128GB)
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 up to 192kHz/24bit), DSD up to 5.6MHz/1bit (Native)
Output Terminals | Earphone (Unbalanced) Output / Optical Digital Output (3.5mm), Balanced Output (2.5mm/4-pole)
Input Terminals | USB microB Terminal (Charging, Data Transfer, USB DAC)
USB-DAC Function | 44.1kHz-192kHz/16bit, 24bit, DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz
Wi-Fi | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
Bluetooth | 4.0 (A2DP, AVRCP)
Continuous Playback Time | Approx. 10 hours (FLAC/44.1kHz/16bit, Volume 37, EQ Off, Screen Off)
Dimensions | W66 x H107 x D17.5 mm
Weight | Approx. 275g
Price | 384,000 yen
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