Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture

Astell & Kern unveils gorgeous hi-res player for the cheap(er) seats

By

astell kern ak70 ak t8ie 2 ce week featured
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Last month, Astell & Kern introduced its AK300 high-resolution audio player at the High End show in Munich, Germany. It seems the company enjoys debuting products at events, as this week it is introducing two new products at CE Week in New York.

While the AK300 was introduced as a more affordable little brother to the AK320 and AK380 high-res players, now Astell & Kern has unveiled an even more affordable model in the AK70 entry-level, high-resolution audio player. As if to make sure no one would forget that Astell & Kern is a luxury brand, it also introduced a new generation of its fairly pricey AK T8iE in-ear monitors.

Recommended Videos

Related: Let Shure’s SHA900 hi-res portable amp take you to church

The AK70 isn’t just a watered-down version of the company’s other players — it also happens to be the first player from Astell & Kern to feature both USB connectivity and an optical line-out. The USB port allows the AK70 to be connected to a PC or Mac to bypass the internal sound card and allow the computer to output high-resolution audio, while the optical out allows users to opt for their own preferred DAC should they wish.

The single-DAC AK70 uses a Cirrus Logic CS438 DAC chipset, offering support for high-res playback of up to 192kHz/24-bit or DSD 5.6MHz (converted to PCM). The player offers 64GB internal memory, expandable with up to 200GB extra storage via the included MicroSD slot. The player is Wi-Fi compatible, allowing over-the-air firmware updates and playback from DLNA 1.0 servers.

earbuds-shaded
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The T8iE in-ears aren’t cheap, but they are built to last, with an Aramid coating on the cable for added durability. Astell & Kern says the earbud itself is made from a proprietary composite, and contains copper and chrome. Two cables are included: one with a balanced four-pole 2.5mm jack for use with Astell & Kern’s high-res players, and another standard 3.5mm cable for use with mobile devices or other portable players. Five different varieties of silicon tips are included, as well as three different memory foam tips, so it should be fairly easy to find a decent fit.

Both the AK70 player and AK T8iE in-ears will be available beginning in July, with the AK70 retailing for $600 and the T8iE priced at $1,000. For more information on the AK300, see the Astell & Kern website.

A version of this post first appeared on our “brother site” Digital Trends.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
The 10 best comedy movies on Netflix
From Netflix Originals to much older comedy classics, these are the best you can stream on Netflix
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

 

Finding a great movie on Netflix is hard enough, but it can sometimes feel like finding the best comedy movies on Netflix is nearly impossible. While Netflix certainly makes plenty of comedies of all stripes to choose from, they're often less than excellent. We're not here to judge, of course, but if you're looking for a comedy that has actual production value and some decent jokes, you may need to get just a little bit choosier. Thankfully, we're around to help you find the best comedy movies that Netflix has to offer.

Read more
Hugh Jackman on playing Wolverine again: ‘It literally doesn’t matter how I answer this’
Hugh Jackman isn't sure whether he'll be back as Wolverine
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine's arrival in theaters is imminent, and with it, the return of Hugh Jackman's Logan. Jackman has been playing some version of Wolverine since all the way back in 2000. In 2017, it seemed like he had hung up his claws for good with the critically acclaimed Logan, which sees the character meet what seems to be a permanent end.

Seven years later, though, he was drawn right back into the fray. In a recent interview with Collider, Jackman was asked whether he would be playing Wolverine again, and he seemed to understand that fans could no longer take him at his word.

Read more
Steven Spielberg is to blame for the lack of kissing in ‘Twisters’
Steven Spielberg wanted to keep things professional for the Twisters leads
The cast of Twisters.

Fans of disaster movies are relishing in the news that Twisters made more than $80 million in its opening weekend. The decades-later sequel to Twister had an opening weekend that wildly exceeded expectations, and left many wondering whether we may eventually get another sequel.

For all of the movie's critical and commercial success, though, some notice that this disaster romance was lacking something that the first Twister was sure to include. Namely, the movie ends without Glen Powell's Tyler and Daisy Edgar Jones's Kate sealing their new relationship with a kiss. Some people naturally wondered why there was no kiss in the film, and it turns out that legendary director Steve Spielberg is the one to blame.

Read more