- Astell & Kern PD20 is here
- Offers a listening test and triple amp design
- On sale at the end of March for $1,970 / £1,799 (around AU$3,000)
I can’t say I’m the main target audience for the best digital audio player – I don’t have thousands (or even hundreds) to spend on a kit like this, so it’s the ultra cheap options like the Majority MP3 that I end up focusing on. But a new release from Astell & Kern is really catching my attention.
Just days after its new copper DAP became one of the gadgets I played with at a high-end audio show, A&K has revealed a new device. Check out the Astell & Kern PD20, which is expected to go on sale in mid-March for $1,970 / £1,799 (around AU$3,000).
The main feature of this new digital audio player (often abbreviated to DAP by people in the know) is that it comes with a “Personal Sound” system, as A&K calls it. This uses the included in-ear headphones – yes, no need to worry about buying separate IEMs – to analyze your hearing and create a tailor-made listening profile just for you. The idea is that this can compensate for any defects or deficiencies in your own hearing; after all, our ears are all unique. For example, if you have trouble hearing the bass, this might boost it a bit.
This feature was designed with Audiodo, another testament to its usefulness: this company also designed the listening test built into headphones like Nothing Ear (3), CMF Headphone Pro and Noble FoKus Amadeus. We congratulated all three, so expectations are high.
It appears that the listening test requires dedicated headphones, so make sure you don’t lose them: this could affect resale value and cut you off from key functionality.
I love listening tests, and while a growing number of wireless earbuds come with their own proprietary solutions, they’re pretty hit-and-miss. I imagine a respected company like Astell & Kern will be successful, especially when working with a reputable audio design brand.
Sounds good PD
Beyond its listening test, the A&K PD20 has a few other advantages. It uses a three-amp design, with one slider allowing you to easily switch between three listening modes and a second slider allowing you to adjust the amp’s current to gain even more control over your sound.
There are four onboard DACs and the device uses the Digital Audio Remaster technology also found in the fantastic SP4000. This creates a more natural sound by putting the audio signal through multiple processing steps to restore lost sound.
You can use the PD20 as a USB connected DAC for computers (Windows and Mac), which is an added benefit. It offers 2-channel stereo sound and EQ control that doesn’t interrupt your playback. There is a sound wheel,
The PD20 has 256GB of memory and you can expand that capacity up to 2TB with microSD cards, and it supports aptX HD, LDAC, and BT Sink wirelessly to act as a Bluetooth DAC as well.
The device itself has a 6-inch FHD+ display and, according to A&K, lasts for around 14 hours of playback if you’re not listening to high-end codecs. It has 3.5mm and 4.4mm output jacks and a USB-C port for charging or connecting to a computer.
This all sounds pretty cool, but we’ll have to let our dedicated audio reviewers get their hands (and ears) on it, to see how well it works. Watch this space…
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