Skip to main content

Hi-Fi Corner: Astell&Kern’s AK380 audio player is hi-res opulence incarnate

astellkern ak380 3500 high res portable audio player manual
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What do you do when you’ve got a shamelessly decadent high-resolution audio player, loaded with top-tier audio components, and more bells and whistles than an audiophile can shake a stick at? If you’re Astell&Kern, you build an even more lavish audio player, of course. Meet the latest and greatest flagship portable audio device from Astell&Kern, the AK380.

Supplanting the $2,500 AK240 from the top of the heap, which we referred to as the “drug of choice” for audiophiles with infinitely deep pockets, the AK380 is the new hotness — to the tune of $3,500. While Astell&Kern has a long lineup of portable hi-res players that includes the relatively affordable new AK Jr ($499), the company has never been shy about going after the top 1 percent of the music-listening public. And if you’re a part of that segment, the AK380 has plenty of sonic artillery to wine and dine you.

Related: Astell&Kern’s AK Jr makes hi-res affordable(ish)

The AK380 takes high-res up a notch, superseding the  24bit/192kHz high-resolution limitations of the mortal audiophile universe for 32bit/384kHz capability in a wide variety of audio file formats. Of course, whether you’ll be able to find anything at that resolution — or be able to hear the difference — is very much up for debate. But never mind all that, this player is all about extravagance.

But, perhaps more important here are the pristine audio components the AK380 has locked inside, including a new digital audio converter (the thing that turns 1s and 0s into sound) designed to offer a “true Dual-Mono setup” for even better channel separation, a broader stereo image, and better dynamics to up the ante once again for the AK lineup.

Other features for the player include a 4-inch TFT-LCD screen (as opposed to the AK240’s AMOLED display), 256GB of internal memory with up to 128GB of additional storage via microSD, and an uber-precise Parametric EQ system, all encased in a sleek body constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum.

Along with both balanced and unbalanced outputs (for a variety of headphones and direct home theater connection) the new device also complies with DLNA 1.0 to stream from compatible NAS storage drives, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless streaming — though streaming at the low resolution afforded by Bluetooth seems almost a crime for this device. Like the AK240, the player is also Wi-Fi compatible to download music wirelessly, and can also act as an external USB-connected DAC to sub for your PC’s unworthy sound card. Users will also be able to stream files and control the AK380 from an iOS or Android device with a forthcoming app.

There’s no doubt the AK380 is a luxe device to say the least, but for those who must have the best of everything, this is the new high-resolution portable player to beat. The AK380 will be available “soon” at an MSRP of $3,499.

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

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is an audio engineer, musician, composer, and all-around lover of all things tech, audio, and cinema. Hailing…
Laundry Sauce will make you want to ditch your old detergent forever
Laundry Sauce's luxury scented add-ins will spruce up laundry and leave your clothes smelling divine.
Laundry Sauce detergent pods for divine-scented laundry.

Most laundry detergents come in the same boring scents, the same uninspired packaging, and the same goopy, unpleasant format – seriously, what do they put in these bottles? Take a quick stroll down any detergent aisle, and you’ll see and smell a spring breeze, crisp linen, or intense fresh, whatever that means. They use a lot of the same aromas and just slap different names on the labels, too. Sure, doing laundry is a necessity, but surely there’s a way to make it more fun. There must be something better than an “intense” or “crisp” aroma.

Laundry Sauce is changing the game with its luxury-scented laundry pods. Thanks to a collaboration with world-class perfumers and scent artists – hey, that’s what they call them, not me – Laundry Sauce’s high-performance pods are infused with sophisticated scents. These ultra-concentrated pods transform any laundry day into a sensual experience with scents like Australian Sandalwood and Egyptian Rose.

Read more
Best Buy is practically giving away this 50-inch QLED 4K TV today
2023 TCL Q6 4K QLED TV.

Just in time for the sports season, Best Buy is hosting an excellent sale on TVs and entertainment devices, and boy, do we have one you're definitely going to want to see. Whether you're checking out our weekend watch list, catching up on weekly football, watching some old-school movies like E.T. or The Goonies, or streaming the latest UFC livestream, you're going to need an excellent, ultra-high-definition TV. Look no further than the TCL 50-inch Class Q5 4K QLED HDR smart TV with Google TV's smart streaming platform built-in. Why? Because normally it's $400, but Best Buy is offering it right now for just $300. That is a phenomenal deal and one you'll want to scoop up as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the TCL 50-inch Class Q5 4K QLED HDR smart Google TV
We'll go over the specifications and features, which are important, but also, you'll probably want to plan ahead and consider what you'll be watching on a gorgeous TV such as this. While watching sports, you'll be able to see the field, players, and everything happening on screen, no matter how frantic, in remarkable clarity and detail. Not just because of the 4K ultra-HD definition but also because of the Quantum Dot technology that offers exceptional sharpness and color clarity with an UltraWide color gamut -- for more accurate colors and representations.

Read more
Your weekend watch list for September 30-October 1: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Still Up & more
Looking for new movies to stream and new shows to watch? We've got you covered
Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

With every new weekend comes new opportunities to catch up on the latest streaming options across movies, TV, and sports. There's always plenty on at home, and in the midst of the end-of-summer heat, home might be the best place to be. Here are our picks for the best new shows, movies, and sports to check out over the coming weekend:

Best new shows to watch
What to watch on Netflix

Read more