NEW MEDIA PLAYER AND IEMS FROM KOREAN HIFI BRAND ASTELL&KERN

The Korean HiFi brand has revealed the Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 media player and the new Astell&Kern AK ZERO2 Earphones.

ASTELL&KERN A&NORMA SR35 PLAYER

With 20 hours of continuous playtime, the SR35 deploys the first Dual/Quad DAC switching mode in the A&norma series, enabling users to easily adjust the sound and power output while improving power efficiency. The brand’s patented TERATON ALPHA technology is designed to ensure balanced dynamics and resolution throughout listening sessions.

Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 Player

NEW GENERATION AMP TECHNOLOGY

The new SR35 is the first in the A&norma series to be equipped with New Generation AMP technology from Astell&Kern. Featured in the latest high-end A&ultima and A&futura range, the in-house amplifier has been designed to effectively eliminate noise at a high-power output.

Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 Player is packed with new A&K tech

The new amplifier technology built into the SR35 also features a two-step gain mode. New gain settings generate a high current output to produce a powerful sound with excellent driver control when using of sensitive IEMs and hard-to-drive headphones.

NEW USER INTERFACE

The SR35 comes with a reimagined, crimson-themed, intuitive user interface featuring a new album artwork search function. A new AK File Drop function in the SR35 makes wireless transfers more convenient than ever. Using the tool, files can be freely transferred through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network.

A&norma SR35

ASTELL&KERN A&NORMA SR35 PLAYER WI-FI AND BLUETOOTH

Equipped with Dual Band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz) to provide strengthened network performance, music in the highest possible quality can be enjoyed through a wide range of streaming and Roon Ready services. The Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 Player also brings your other devices up to its level. Music from an external device, such as a smartphone, can now be played back in high quality on the SR35 through a new BT Sink function.

Small but powerful

ROON READY AND MQA SUPPORT

Further new functionality comes with Roon Ready status, plus full MQA 8x decoder support enabling the SR35 to natively play and stream HiFi MQA tracks.

ASTELL&KERN DESIGN

Embodying the design principles of the A&norma range, the SR35 is powerful yet portable in its stature. The bold line at the side of the device that widens at the bottom symbolises, A&K tells us, a warrior’s sword of battle, while the concave surface of the refined volume crown represents a shield. These shapes combine in the design of the SR35 to indicate “the strength and consistency of the audio performance”.

ASTELL&KERN A&NORMA SR35 PLAYER PRICE

The SR35 is currently available t for £799/€899/US$800/AU$1299

ASTELL&KERN AK ZERO2 EARPHONES

These second-generation IEMs combine different driver technologies and are crafted in Japan.

MICRO RECTANGULAR PLANAR DYNAMIC DRIVER

The AK ZERO2’s micro rectangular Planar Dynamic Driver has been specifically developed to deliver high frequencies, using advanced technology to optimise the planar design for in-ear use.

Astell&Kern AK ZERO2 Earphones feature multi driver tech

COIL PARAMETER DUAL CUSTOM BA DRIVERS

The IEMs also feature two pairs of Coil Parameter Dual Custom BA Drivers to reproduce both full range and mid-to-low range frequencies.

PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER

The final piece of the picture is a 10mm Dynamic Driver with Piezoelectric Transducer technology. In the AK ZERO2, this design takes on both super-tweeter and bass extension duties.

Astell&Kern AK ZERO2 Earphones

Each driver is placed optimally in an acoustic chamber that is created through refined 3D printing technology. This design eliminates any unnecessary movement and resonance of the drivers for stable performance.

ASTELL&KERN AK ZERO2 PRICE

£1099/€1199/US$1050/AU$1849

ASTELL&KERN A&NORMA SR35 PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS

Model SR35

Body Colour Charcoal Gray

Body Material Aluminium

Display 3.6inch HD 720 x 1280 touch screen

Supported Audio Formats WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF

Sample rate PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo

Output Level [Normal] Unbalanced 2.1Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load) [High] Unbalanced 3.1Vrms │ Balanced 6Vrms (Condition No Load)

CPU Quad-core

DAC Ciruss Logic CS43198 x4 (Quad-DAC)

Decoding Support up to 32bit / 384kHz Bit to Bit playback

Input USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC)

Outputs Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported | 4.4m, only 5-pole supported)

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4&5GHz)

Bluetooth V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC)

Dimensions 2.51” (64mm)[W] x 4.26” (108.3mm)[H] x 0.63” (16.1mm)[D]

Weight about 6.49oz (184g)

Feature Enhancements Firmware upgrade supported (OTA)

Operating Temperature 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)

Audio Specification

Frequency Response ±0.012dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.011dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced ±0.125dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.126dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced

S/N 127dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 130dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

Crosstalk -133dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -145dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

THD+N 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced

IMD SMPTE  0.0002% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0002% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced

Output Impedance Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1.1ohm) │ Balanced Out 2.5mm, 4.4mm (2.7ohm)

Clock Source : Clock Jitter 25pS (Typ) Reference Clock Jitter 70ps

Storage Capacity: Built-in Memory 64GB [NAND] External Memory Micro SD x1 (Max. 1TB)

Battery: Capacity 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Charge Timeabout 2.5hours (5V 2A General Charging) Playback Time about 20hours (Standard : FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Normal Gain, Unbalanced, Vol.50, LCD Off, Dual DAC Mode)

Supported OS: Windows 10, 11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7

ASTELL&KERN AK ZERO2 SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers: Quad-brid Drivers

Special Micro Rectangular Planar Dynamic Driver x1

Custom Balanced Armature Drivers x4

10mm Micro Dynamic Driver x1 with Piezoelectric Transducer

Connector: MMCX

Housing Material: Aluminium

Frequency Response: 20Hz–30KHz*

SPL: 105dB@1KHz(1mW)*

Impedance: 5Ω@1KHz*

Total Harmonic Distortion: 1%@1KHz

Included in the box:

AK ZERO2 Earbud L/R

3.5mm cable x1

4.4mm cable x1

5 pairs of silicone ear tips

1pairs of foam tips

Carrying Case x1

HiFi Pig Says: A&K offers a whole host of portable audio products for different budgets and they pack a lot of tech into those tiny and distinctly designed packages.