Astell&Kern PA10 - Portable Class-A headphone amplifier

Pre-order. Available from February 2023

The first portable Class-A amplifier from Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern researched and developed AMP technology to deliver the pure original sound of audio. The AK PA10 is the first AK model to introduce a Class A amplifier based on Astell&Kern's expertise in AMP circuitry.

The PA10 offers the natural and spacious analog sound of a Class A amplifier, enhanced by our proprietary TERATON ALPHA technology. Enjoy Astell&Kern's pure analog sound with the AK PA10's Current / Gain / Crossfeed options for digital audio players and source devices.

Highlights

• Class-A current control (high/medium/low)
• Gain control (high gain / low gain)
• Support for 4.4mm true balanced input/output
• Support for unbalanced 3.5mm inputs and outputs
• Hardware crossfeed support
• Unique SLOPE design by Astell&Kern
• Up to 12 hours of gameplay
• Power and battery indicator
• C type USB charger

TERATON ALPHA, the heart of A&K Audio Technologies

Great headphone amplifiers produce pristine and pure sound reproduction when not only stable output is realized, but also every single component, from power supply, noise, signal transition to circuit structures, is carefully designed and implemented.
Small enough to be portable, the AK PA10 works seamlessly with a variety of headphones and IEMs, and is enhanced by TERATON ALPHA technology, which is AK's ultimate sound solution, reproducing ultra-high quality sound without any distortion.

TERATON ALPHA is a unique Astell&Kern technology developed through years of research to deliver audio playback through effective noise reduction, efficient power management and pristine amplification, as well as a fully transformed audio output interface allow the original sound very much comes close.
AK PA10 was developed as a sound solution for TERATON ALPHA, producing pure and intense analog sounds.

Distortion-free analog sound of a class A amp

Class A amplifiers offer the best linear output performance and deliver smooth, warm and natural sounds by amplifying signals without distortion or defects. This property makes it the most sought-after amplification method by music lovers, although it is considered impossible for portable audio devices because it requires high power consumption and a design that is difficult to realize for small devices.

The AK PA10 features one Class-A amplifier based on Astell&Kern's unique circuit technology, offering distinctive analog sounds.

Thanks to Astell&Kern's unique circuit design, which reduces power consumption, increases output power while eliminating noise, the AK PA10 is specially designed to deliver the amazing sounds of a Class A amp anywhere, anytime.

AK PA10, the first portable Class A amp from Astell&Kern, is here to bring you analogue sound via your portable devices can enjoy.

Class-A current control - Intense and spatial sound of an analogue AMP

Headphone amplifiers aren't just designed to deliver the power needed to drive headphones.
The AK PA10 controls the current to adapt to different headphones and IEMs that reproduce a more intense and spacious sound

The AK PA10 offers a three-level control of the Class-A AMP current, which adjusts the characteristic of the Class-A AMP in terms of current value and produces a more intense sound.
By controlling the current value, we have also solved the problem of battery drain due to power consumption - the main reason why Class-A amps are not for portable devices

The three-stage current control allows you to produce sounds that match the characteristics of headphones and IEMs.
We hope you enjoy the textured and spacious tones that the Class A amp of the AK PA10 can produce.

Vibrant sound output with Gain Control

Sufficient AMP output is required to hear all the subtle nuances in the music when played through various headphones and IEMs.

When connected to the balanced input, the AK PA10 can at output up to 6.2Vrms with high gain.
Choose the gain level that provides the best sound from the headphone or IEM you are using to enjoy crystal clear sounds.
The AK PA10 brings out the full potential of your audio device .

4.4mm in/out true balanced circuit design

Most portable headphone amplifiers convert unbalanced 3.5mm signals to balanced 4.4mm signals or do not support a balanced 4.4mm connection at all.
Such input/output combinations hinder discourages the user from using the pure balanced output of the source device, resulting in signal loss during the switching process.

Rare for a portable Class A amplifier, the AK PA10 supports a 4.4mm true Balanced input/output for high performance and vibrant sound.
It also supports 3.5mm unbalanced input/output connectors, so you can use it with a wider range of devices.

AK analog sound anywhere, anytime

The AK PA10 has a built-in 4,200mAh rechargeable battery for 12 hours of continuous playback without the need to be plugged into a power source.
Enjoy Astell&Kern analog sound anywhere, anytime with the AK PA10 , which features great portability and top-notch playtime.

playtime

LED battery status indicator

The PA10 displays the remaining battery and charging status via its status LED.

[ Power On ] Power on (color changes depending on charging status) White (70% or more) / Yellow (69%-30%) / Red (30% or less)

[ Charging ] Blue light flashes (regardless of power on/off) → Blue light is on when charging is complete

General Specifications

• model AK PA10
• Body Color Graphite Gray
• Case Material Aluminum & Silicone
• Analog inputs Unbalanced 3.5mm / Balanced 4.4mm
• Headphone outputs Unbalanced 3.5mm / Balanced 4.4mm
• Maximum input level Unbalanced 2Vrms / Balanced 4Vrms
• Output Level [Low Gain] Unbalanced 2.1Vrms / Balanced 4.2Vrms (no load condition), [High Gain] Unbalanced 3.1Vrms / Balanced 6.2Vrms (no load condition)
• Dimensions 287"(73mm)[W] x 5.51"(140mm)[H] x 0.91"(23.3mm)[D]
• Weight approx. 325g (11.46oz)
• Charging port Type USB C
• Operating Temperature 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)