ACTIVO P1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER FROM ASTELL&KERN

Astell&Kern has announced new brand ACTIVO, with the debut of the ACTIVO P1 Digital Audio Player.

South Korean audio brand, Astell&Kern, has announced the launch of a new sub-brand, ACTIVO, focusing on promoting “an active lifestyle with music as a trusted companion on the journey”. The ACTIVO P1 Digital Audio Player made it’s debut at CanJam London 2024 and you will be able to read more about it in the second half of our coverage soon, in the meantime, here are all the facts.

ACTIVO P1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER

Ergonomically designed to sit perfectly in one hand, the compact ACTIVO P1 Digital Audio Player gives up to 20 hours of continuous entertainment. Powered by an octa-core processor, the P1 has been designed as an ideal companion for a run, walk or a workout at the gym, allowing users to experience lossless music on any adventure without sacrificing smartphone battery life.

DUAL BAND WIFI

With dual-band Wi-Fi and a pre-loaded Google Play Store, music lovers can download and install the most popular music apps to stream from their favourite platforms. Boasting 64GB of internal memory with microSD support for up to 1.5TB for both downloading from streaming services or uploading from a personal library, there’s plenty of storage space for going off grid.

DUAL MONO ESS SABRE DACS

The ACTIVO P1 features two ESS ES9219Q SABRE DACs in a dual-mono configuration, providing a dedicated DAC chip to right and left output channels.  This dual-DAC structure creates a balanced circuit.

ACTIVO P1 AMPLIFIER

Also featuring a dedicated amplifier circuit based on Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA sound solution, the circuitry of the ACTIVO P1 also has an advanced EQ and seven DAC filter options, so users have a wide range of personalisation and sound profile options. The parametric equalizer options separate frequency ranges into 20 bands, and Gain is adjustable by 0.01dB increments for precise and accurate control. Users can also control the Q value to set the precise frequency range they like.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Additional features of the ACTIVO P1 include a 4.1” HD touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.3 with support for 24-bit wireless playback using LDAC or aptX HD, PD 3.0 fast charging, full MQA decoding and Crossfeed, with Roon Ready support also soon to come pending completion.

The ACTIVO P1 features a familiar design language encased within a simple user interface (UI), the P1 consists of triangles, circles and squares to inspire a “harmonious and seamless user experience” suitable for both experienced Digital Audio Player users, and first-time users.

ACTIVO P1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER DESIGN

The body design uses a combination of aluminium and polycarbonate to create a smooth curve for a comfortable grip.  This, combined with powerful audio performance module parts are divided into blocks to maximize contrast.  The buttons on either side of the player are shaped so that users can tell the difference between each button by touch alone, allowing easy control of the P1 while in a pocket or bag.  Three keys (play/pause, next, and previous) are combined to allow users to easily control the device while focusing on the display.

ACTIVO P1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The ACTIVO P1 is available from July 2024 for £399.

HiFi PiG Says: A cool looking and accessibly priced new brand from A&K.