Astell&Kern
South Korean maker of high-resolution portable players, launched in 2012 as a specialist arm of iriver. Astell & Kern effectively created the modern premium DAP category and still set the reference for it.
About Astell&Kern
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The company that made the high-end portable player a category
When Astell & Kern launched the AK100 in 2012, portable high-resolution audio barely existed as a product category. Phones were replacing dedicated players, and the idea of spending serious money on something that only played music looked like a step backwards. The company making that bet was iriver, the Korean firm whose MP3 players had been among the few genuine rivals to the iPod before smartphones took that market away. Rather than compete with phones, iriver went where phones could not follow and launched Astell & Kern as a separate brand in Seoul. The category they opened is now well established and Astell & Kern still define its upper end.
What separates them from a phone is not just the DAC. It is the analogue stage after it, the isolation between the digital and analogue sections, and a power supply designed for audio rather than for a screen and a modem. Astell & Kern group this work under the name Teraton Alpha, their own audio platform covering power delivery, noise removal and amplification. It is difficult to do in a device that fits in a pocket, and it is the reason the price ladder goes as high as it does.
The industrial design is deliberately unusual, with angled cases and volume wheels that have become the brand's signature. Not to everyone's taste, and the company has never pretended otherwise.
Astell & Kern also make earphones, portable amplifiers and USB dongle DACs, so the line covers everything from a phone accessory to a reference player.
Browse by Range
Astell & Kern name their player families by prefix. A&norma is the accessible line, A&futura the middle, A&ultima the reference. KANN is the high-power line for demanding headphones, and ACRO covers the desktop units.
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£665.83Ex. VATThe Ultrasone Virtuoso AKE09 offers audiophiles a powerful blend of clarity, depth, and musical expression. Evolved from the Signature MASTER MKII, it delivers precise, emotionally rich audio designed for serious listening.
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£2,249.17Ex. VAT
Experience immersive, high-fidelity audio with Astell&Kern's LUNA IEMs. Featuring a 13mm planar driver and titanium housing, LUNA delivers stunning detail, wide soundstage, and long-lasting comfort which is perfect for audiophiles looking for true sonic precision.
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From£3,499.17Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern SP4000 redefines portable hi-res audio with its advanced 1:1 DAC structure, true Quad DAC design, and ESA technology for pristine clarity. Featuring twice the OPAMPs of its predecessor, High Driving Mode for powerful output, and a Low Dropout Regulator reducing noise by 97%, it delivers exceptional sound detail, depth, and purity it's perfect for the most discerning audiophiles.
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£2,499.17Ex. VATThe XIO by Astell&Kern and 64Audio blends advanced engineering with bold design for a high-end in-ear monitor that delivers breathtaking sound. Ten premium drivers, including the tia® high-frequency system and TRUE ISOBARIC bass technology, create a spacious, detailed, and powerful listening experience. From airy highs to dense, impactful lows, XIO turns music into a vivid, lifelike performance that sets a new standard in personal audio. -
SALE£1,665.83 £2,082.50Ex. VAT ✓ Save £416.67The Astell&Kern PD10 introduces next-gen audio innovation with AKM’s new AK4498EX DAC, dual impedance-adaptive amps, and HEXA-Audio Circuitry for pure, immersive sound. Featuring a 6" Full HD display, smart gain matching, fast charging, and a cradle for home audio use, the PD10 blends convenience with performance. An eco-certified Synt3 case offers durable, sustainable protection with refined style. -
SALE£1,583.32 £1,915.83Ex. VAT ✓ Save £332.51The Astell&Kern SP3000M Digital Audio Player offers exceptional sound quality in a compact design. Featuring HEXA audio circuitry, four AK4499EX DACs, and TERATON ALPHA technology, it provides lag-free, crystal-clear audio with 130dB SNR. Powered by a Snapdragon 6125 Octa-core processor and 8GB memory, the SP3000M ensures fast performance. Designed with a premium leather case and VU Meter GUI, it’s the ultimate portable Hi-Fi audio player for audiophiles on the go.
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Astell&Kern
Astell&Kern A&ultima SP4000 Copper Digital Audio Player - Limited EditionSKU: AKP Copper
£3,665.83Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern A&ultima SP4000 Copper Limited Edition is a flagship digital audio player machined from 99.98% pure copper, featuring quad DAC architecture, advanced noise suppression, and full Android support for reference-quality portable listening. -
£332.50Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern AK HC5 Portable USB DAC delivers flagship-grade sound in a compact form, featuring AKM’s AK4499EX DAC, High Driving Mode, advanced noise suppression, and balanced output for high-resolution listening on phones, tablets, computers, and consoles. -
£3,249.17Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern STELLA flagship in-ear monitors feature a 12-driver quadbrid design with electrostatic, planar, balanced armature and dynamic drivers, delivering reference-level clarity, precision, and full-range immersion. -
£190.83Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern Collector’s Atelier Premium Case is a luxury leather DAP case made from Perlinger Shrunken calf leather, designed to protect and showcase your player with timeless craftsmanship and durability. -
£1,665.83Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern PD20 Digital Audio Player features a Quad ES9027PRO DAC architecture, personalised hearing-based sound tuning, and selectable Class A, AB, and Hybrid amplification for exceptional portable hi-res audio performance.
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From£2,999.17Ex. VATThe Astell&Kern A&ultima SP4000T is a flagship tube DAP with quad Raytheon vacuum tubes, dual AK4499EX DACs and Triple AMP modes for rich analog hi-res sound. Its Triple Tube and Triple AMP modes shape the tone across dozens of combinations, while native DSD512 and 32-bit/768kHz playback, Roon Ready and Qobuz Connect handle the finest hi-res files and streaming. Balanced 4.4mm output, 256GB storage and a 6-inch screen complete a reference-class player.
