Astell&Kern AK320 Gunmetal Music Player
Audio Heritage
Astell&Kern's main goal has always been to provide original sound, and we believe the AK380 has delivered it. We wanted more people to experience the AK320 and its ability to deliver the original sound as intended.
24bit192kHz bit-to-bit Playback
AK320 is capable of bit-to-bit playback up to 24bit/192kHz
With the use of 32bit audio sampling-rate converter, it is downsampled. Plays by converting DSD 64/128 to PCM.
For playback, 32bit/384kHz is downscaled to 24bit/192kHz and 32bit/352kHz downscaled to 24bit/176kHz.
For playback, DSD 64/128 is converted to a 24bit/176kHz PCM signal via DSD to PCM conversion.
PEQ(Parametric Equalizer)
A parametric equalizer has been implemented in the AK380 to further adjust the original sound, and a digital audio signal processor (DSP) has been added to assist with this application.
This allowed the processing power required for graphical equalizer calculations to be relaxed and more detailed and precise calculations to be made thanks to the DSP working specifically for this job.
With this Audio DSP, the pre-existing 10-band ±0.5 dB graphic equalizer (GEQ) has been expanded to a 20-band, ±0.01 dB parametric equalizer, allowing for more precise tuning of frequencies and gains (dB), as well as more frequency due to Q value adjustments. values were achieved more accurately.
What is Parametric Balancing (PEQ)?
Parametric balancing refers to increasing or decreasing the sound intensity within the Q value range. A Q value is the frequency width associated with the selected frequency. As the Q value increases, the frequency width decreases, and vice versa.
What is Graphics Balancing (GEQ)?
Graphical balancing divides the frequency inputs in the entire sensory field into several inputs and increases or decreases the intensity of these inputs according to the characteristic of that frequency with the help of the volume slider. The keys of these volume sliders are linked together like a graph to visually determine the frequency characteristic, hence the name graphic equalizer.
Equipped with Femto Synchronizer to Deliver True Original Sound
High-precision synchronizer with an Astell&Kern reference vibration value of 200 femtoseconds; voltage-controlled crystaloscillator (VCXO) has been implemented. Femto synchronizers are commonly used in high-end audio systems, and synchronization is calculated in high-precision femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second).
What is VCXO?
A VCXO or voltage-controlled crystal oscillator is a type of crystal oscillator that generates oscillating frequencies. Extrinsic stimuli, in this case mean voltage inputs, affect frequency values. Adjustments in the voltage input create a sharp frequency value.
What is Jitter?
Flickering is the name given to unwanted timing deviations that occur in a periodic signal. In this case, jitter is errors that occur in the reference synchronization required for sampling in a digital audio device.
By using the femto synchronizer, the AK320 is capable of producing sharper frequency values and providing better jitter corrections. As a result, the AK320 transmits the digital signal like an analog signal, producing an analog sound closer to the original source than ever before.
USB DAC
AK320 supports USB DAC function.
AK320 can be connected to PC or MAC device via USB and used as a USB DAC supporting PCM and DSD.
When playing music stored on a PC or MAC device, the Single-DAC offers resolution far beyond the limits of the integrated sound card and rich sound brought by the magnificent scene.
When using the AK320 as a USB DAC, the AK320's PEQ settings are disabled and output resolutions up to 24bit/96kHz are supported.
DSD64/128 is played by converting from DSD to PCM.
AK Connect App
Astell&Kern has further enhanced its DLNA functionality with the AK Connect app.
Wireless networking DLNA (version 1.0) connects to NAS or PC and is easily controlled by smartphone or tablet via AK Connect.
Source files on a PC or NAS device are transferred and streamed without the hassle of turning on the computer and physically connecting it by cable.
Music files on PC and NAS are played via DLNA if connected to a network via the same access point.
Pressure Sensitive Metal Capacitive Touch
The AK320 has the same metal touch interface found in the AK380.
Metal Touch functions as the main menu and communicates with the device with pressure sensitive touches.
More Expansion Options
The AK320 can be expanded with devices via the micro-USB and balanced audio output ports on the bottom of the device.
By connecting to AK320 AMP device, it can give more power to high impedance headphones and can also be connected via USB for data transfer and charging. AK320 can be connected to CD-RIPPER for ripping audio CDs as well as Cradle for balanced audio function.
Astell&Kern AK320 Gunmetal Music Player
Audio Heritage
Astell&Kern's main goal has always been to provide original sound, and we believe the AK380 has delivered it. We wanted more people to experience the AK320 and its ability to deliver the original sound as intended.
24bit192kHz bit-to-bit Playback
AK320 is capable of bit-to-bit playback up to 24bit/192kHz
With the use of 32bit audio sampling-rate converter, it is downsampled. Plays by converting DSD 64/128 to PCM.
For playback, 32bit/384kHz is downscaled to 24bit/192kHz and 32bit/352kHz downscaled to 24bit/176kHz.
For playback, DSD 64/128 is converted to a 24bit/176kHz PCM signal via DSD to PCM conversion.
PEQ(Parametric Equalizer)
A parametric equalizer has been implemented in the AK380 to further adjust the original sound, and a digital audio signal processor (DSP) has been added to assist with this application.
This allowed the processing power required for graphical equalizer calculations to be relaxed and more detailed and precise calculations to be made thanks to the DSP working specifically for this job.
With this Audio DSP, the pre-existing 10-band ±0.5 dB graphic equalizer (GEQ) has been expanded to a 20-band, ±0.01 dB parametric equalizer, allowing for more precise tuning of frequencies and gains (dB), as well as more frequency due to Q value adjustments. values were achieved more accurately.
What is Parametric Balancing (PEQ)?
Parametric balancing refers to increasing or decreasing the sound intensity within the Q value range. A Q value is the frequency width associated with the selected frequency. As the Q value increases, the frequency width decreases, and vice versa.
What is Graphics Balancing (GEQ)?
Graphical balancing divides the frequency inputs in the entire sensory field into several inputs and increases or decreases the intensity of these inputs according to the characteristic of that frequency with the help of the volume slider. The keys of these volume sliders are linked together like a graph to visually determine the frequency characteristic, hence the name graphic equalizer.
Equipped with Femto Synchronizer to Deliver True Original Sound
High-precision synchronizer with an Astell&Kern reference vibration value of 200 femtoseconds; voltage-controlled crystaloscillator (VCXO) has been implemented. Femto synchronizers are commonly used in high-end audio systems, and synchronization is calculated in high-precision femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second).
What is VCXO?
A VCXO or voltage-controlled crystal oscillator is a type of crystal oscillator that generates oscillating frequencies. Extrinsic stimuli, in this case mean voltage inputs, affect frequency values. Adjustments in the voltage input create a sharp frequency value.
What is Jitter?
Flickering is the name given to unwanted timing deviations that occur in a periodic signal. In this case, jitter is errors that occur in the reference synchronization required for sampling in a digital audio device.
By using the femto synchronizer, the AK320 is capable of producing sharper frequency values and providing better jitter corrections. As a result, the AK320 transmits the digital signal like an analog signal, producing an analog sound closer to the original source than ever before.
USB DAC
AK320 supports USB DAC function.
AK320 can be connected to PC or MAC device via USB and used as a USB DAC supporting PCM and DSD.
When playing music stored on a PC or MAC device, the Single-DAC offers resolution far beyond the limits of the integrated sound card and rich sound brought by the magnificent scene.
When using the AK320 as a USB DAC, the AK320's PEQ settings are disabled and output resolutions up to 24bit/96kHz are supported.
DSD64/128 is played by converting from DSD to PCM.
AK Connect App
Astell&Kern has further enhanced its DLNA functionality with the AK Connect app.
Wireless networking DLNA (version 1.0) connects to NAS or PC and is easily controlled by smartphone or tablet via AK Connect.
Source files on a PC or NAS device are transferred and streamed without the hassle of turning on the computer and physically connecting it by cable.
Music files on PC and NAS are played via DLNA if connected to a network via the same access point.
Pressure Sensitive Metal Capacitive Touch
The AK320 has the same metal touch interface found in the AK380.
Metal Touch functions as the main menu and communicates with the device with pressure sensitive touches.
More Expansion Options
The AK320 can be expanded with devices via the micro-USB and balanced audio output ports on the bottom of the device.
By connecting to AK320 AMP device, it can give more power to high impedance headphones and can also be connected via USB for data transfer and charging. AK320 can be connected to CD-RIPPER for ripping audio CDs as well as Cradle for balanced audio function.