Hi-Res-Player

Astell & Kern


Astell&Kern is the ultimate Hi-Fi audio system

Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.

Today, original music performances can be captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new, advanced recording technology currently available. However, these high quality recordings are mainly listened to through inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or through streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers sacrificed sound quality for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because the MP3 format heavily compresses files for the sake of convenience, the vocals and instruments you hear are only an inferior version of the original. The soundstage and the ambience of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After pondering these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to poor sound quality for the sake of portability, and our way in reviving the original sound quality of music, MQS, for music artists, recording engineers, and professionals.

Astell&Kern's pursuit is to provide natural and original sound without distortion. It showcases the presence of the original recording with miniscule details you may not have noticed from other music systems, while playing back high-resolution music bit by bit, exactly as it was recorded. The ability to play back the exact recording of any live performance is what Astell&Kern is known for.

The power of true sound from Astell&Kern can now be experienced and has been part of many famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including the USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.
10 reasons for Astell & Kern Player

1. Astell & Kern’s parent company iRiver has been a big player in the portable player market since the 90s. Nobody has more experience. Astell & Kern was also a pioneer in the field of hi-res players and has set numerous standards.

2. Astell & Kern players are on a par with the best domestic player / streamer solutions, only much more flexible. They are perfect high-end feeders for at home and on the go.

3. AK occupies almost all top positions in international editorial offices: Would you like an example? With “Stereoplay” all seats from 1-5 (and only those!). In "What Hi-Fi" Player of the Year since this category was founded ...

4. Astell & Kern Player have their own high-end audio operating system, which is only based on Android in the core. In principle, everything that is not needed for audiophile playback has been thrown out. The logic behind this is simple: Android is made for smartphones, and the name says it all: there are countless processes running in the background that make a smartphone “smart”. These are unnecessary for hi-res players and interfere with what matters. Other manufacturers use an open Android with Google Playstore, and are such a smartphone with more or less better hardware. But that's only half the battle. Instead, AK integrates apps such as a parametric high-end studio EQ.

5. Astell’s user interface is by far the most intuitive and "beautiful" on the market (especially the new version from A & norma SR15, A & futura SE100, A & ultima SP1000M / SP2000, SA700 and Kann Cube).

6. The players are all network-compatible (DLNA, remote control via mobile phone / tablet, Bluetooth aptX HD, Roon integration planned).

7. Cloud streaming is also standard with the new generation of players (Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer etc. - also offline).

8. With the proprietary CD ripper, Astell & Kern has a unique system to digitize CDs without a single click - and by the way, a full-fledged CD player!

9. AK invented the balanced output for portable players. Headphones, active speakers and amplifiers can be optimally controlled.

10. Astell & Kern sets standards in terms of material feel and hardware. Aluminum, stainless steel or solid copper ... the latest converters ... the most expensive is good enough. Accordingly, the technical data is outstanding.