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

By Kris Wouk June 26, 2016

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.

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 is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

Culture

The Night Agent season 2: Everything we know so far

We'll get you ready for The Night Agent season 2!

Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent may not be everyone's choice to be among the best shows on Netflix, but it's in the top ten for us! The Shield creator Shawn Ryan adapted Matthew Quirk's spy action thriller, The Night Agent, for Netflix in 2023, and it proved to be a hit out of the gate. By Netflix's internal metrics, it's the sixth-highest viewed series in the history of the platform.

Those kind of numbers mean that a second season was inevitable, and Netflix made it official just over a week after The Night Agent premiered. Since the series is back in production, the details about what's coming up on the show have started to trickle out. To help you stay on top of this series, here's everything we know about The Night Agent season 2.
What is The Night Agent about?

Culture

The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

Culture

The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Best Connecticut cigars up close and personal

Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut