Astell&Kern PD10 - Premium DAP

Delivery time approx. 1 week

Departure from the familiar

Astell&Kern has long offered a diverse range of products tailored to the unique characteristics of each individual product. However, we recognized that moving away from conventional methods is essential to achieving true innovation.

The PD10 is our first product to go beyond the boundaries of our existing product range and take a new approach. It is designed to provide users with an even more comfortable and distinctive experience of “optimal sound,” even incorporating Astell’s iconic volume control design.&Kern has been reinterpreted in a novel way. Experience the beginning of "Breaking Away From The Normal" with the Astell&core PD10.

Highlights

• World's first use of the AK4498EX in a DAP
• HEXA audio circuit structure: Complete separation of digital and analog signal processing
• Equipped with impedance-adaptive dual amplifiers
• Automatic amplifier adjustment mode: Smart Gain
• Superior audio performance through independent dual audio circuits
• Astell&Core device to support the full Android operating system
  Advanced DAR technology
• Features a 4.5th generation user interface that combines functionality and emotional design
  
  

First application of AK4498EX in a DAP

By using AKM's latest AK4498EX DAC, we have achieved a more natural sound. By using a HEXA audio circuit structure with two AK4191EQs for processing digital signals and four of AKM's latest AK4498EX DACs, combined with Astell's TERATON ALPHA technology&core achieves sound quality at the highest level.

The PD10 uses four AK4498EX DACs integrated into an innovative HEXA audio circuit design with two separately deployed AK4191EQs for digital signal processing, resulting in the highest quality sound.

The HEXA audio circuit is designed so that the AK4191EQ, a separate digital delta-sigma modulator, reduces the noise of the digital input signal and the AK4998EX, a fully isolated analog DAC, processes only the analog signal separately.

By physically and perfectly separating digital and analog signal processing, the PD10 delivers amazing sound quality you've never experienced before.

Automatic amplifier adjustment mode: Smart Gain

Immediately after connecting your earbuds or headphones, the PD10 checks the impedance of the connected receiver and automatically selects the appropriate amplifier. Regardless of which earbuds (headphones) are connected, the player automatically distinguishes between low and high impedance, eliminating the need for complicated settings, and selects the optimal amplifier.

Headphones with an impedance of 32 ohms or less are set to "Normal Gain" and offer a maximum output of 5.5 Vrms in balanced mode, while headphones with an impedance of more than 32 ohms are set to "High Gain" and offer sufficient output of up to 8.3 Vrms in balanced mode. The customized amplifier adjustment function (Smart Gain) offers a new listening experience for audio enthusiasts who use a variety of earphones and headphones.

Equipped with impedance-adaptive dual amplifiers

To accommodate the diverse listening environments of our users, the PD10 is equipped with two different amplifiers. Different sound settings were made for each amplifier, taking into account the average impedance of the connected earphones and headphones.

The Normal Gain AMP reproduces fine details and high-purity sound quality and faithfully reproduces the original sound.

The high-gain AMP specializes in processing complex and dynamic sounds, reproducing audio signals with greater vibrancy and clarity. Enjoy a variety of sounds from a single player, tailored to your preferences and the earbuds and headphones you use.

Superior audio performance through independent dual audio circuits

To develop an innovative DAP that transcends the level of excellent DAPs, a DAP that no one has ever attempted before, we set out to push the boundaries of sound by developing independent dual audio circuits for unbalanced and balanced outputs. In most DAPs, unbalanced and balanced signals are used together in the internal DAC structure. Since the signal output from the DAC is split into unbalanced and balanced signals and transmitted to the amplifier, an audio switch is essential.

However, the audio switch has a limitation on the signal range it can receive from the DAC. Therefore, it first reduces the signal size and then transmits it to the amplifier to restore it to its original signal size, which limits the improvement in audio performance. By creating two separate, independent audio circuits, one for balanced output and a second for unbalanced output, Astell maximizes&core audio performance regardless of which output is used.

We invite you to experience the high-quality sound provided by Astell’s innovative circuit technology&core is generated.

Connections

• 3.5 mm headphone output unbalanced/Optical output
• 4.4 mm balanced headphone output
• USB-C (battery charging, data transfer)
• Bluetooth 5.3 (aptX HD, LDAC, AAC, LHDC, SBC)
• Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)

Specifications

• 4x AKM AK4498EX
• 2x AK4191EQ
• DAC filter for sound adjustment : Super Slow Roll-off, Short Delay Slow Roll-off, Slow Roll-off, Low Dispersion, Short Delay Sharp Roll-off, Sharp Roll-off

• Capacity: 5,770 mAh
• Running time: up to 15 hours
• Charging time: approx. 4 hours with Power Delivery 3.0

• PCM: 8 kHz ~ 768 kHz (8/16/24/32 bits per sample)
• DSD Native: DSD64 (1 Bit 2.8 MHz), Stereo / DSD128 (1 bit 5.6 MHz), stereo /
• DSD256 (1 bit 11.2 MHz), stereo/DSD512 (1 bit 22.4 MHz), stereo
• Audio formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA

• Internal: 256 GB (partially occupied by system)
• External: MicroSD slot (up to 1.5 TB)

• Full Android system
• Installation of apps such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Apple Music etc. directly on the device via "Services" (or manual installation of the APK file)
• AirPlay
• ROON Ready
• Qobuz Connect
• DLNA

• On/Off
• Volume +
• Volume –
• Play/Pause
• Song Forward
• Song Backwards

• Output power: Gain Normal 2.6 Vrms/Gain High 4 Vrms
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.066dB)/20 Hz – 70 kHz (±0.62dB)
• Output impedance: 1 ohm
• SNR: 125 dB @ 1 kHz
• THD+N: 0.0007% @ 1kHz

• Output power: Gain Normal 5.6 Vrms/Gain High 8.3 Vrms
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.066dB)/20 Hz – 70 kHz (±0.61dB)
• Output impedance: 1.6 ohms
• SNR: 128 dB @ 1 kHz
• THD+N: 0.0006% @ 1kHz

• Display: 6 inch touchscreen (1080x2160)
• CPU: Octa-Core
• Sound tuning: EQ, DAC filter and CrossFeed settings
• Crossfeed function: speaker effect when listening through headphones
• ReplayGain function: for consistent volume across all tracks
• AK File Drop: for wireless file transfer
• LED light around volume dial: shows the bit rate of the current song
• Case: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 75.4 x 149.5 x 17.3 mm
• Weight: 435 grams

Scope of delivery

• Astell&Kern PD10 Hi-Res Player
• brown imitation leather case
• USB cable
• Screen protector
• Quick Start Guide (German, French, English)
• User manual in PDF format stored on the player (German, French, English)