Astell & Kern AK240

The Astell & Kern AK240 is a brilliant portable player for the true music aficionados. It can handle the maximum 24-bit/192 kHz sampling, reproducing up to 6.5x more detail than a regular CD. Currently it is the highest standard available, serving as the baseline during mastering process. The player also includes DSD support, used in high-end SACD media, where it helps to achieve top-notch audio quality.

The heart of the AK240 is a pair of Cirrus Logic CS4398 chips, one for each of its two channels.  The separate channels produce breathtaking soundscape, unrivalled in its quality. The player has a fully balanced 2.5 mm output and a classic 3.5 mm jack, which also serves as an optical output. The device also supports the MQS streaming server, which allows you to wirelessly stream your music from your computer, making annoying connecting cables a thing of the past. A huge 3250 mAh battery won’t let you down even with frequent use.

The Astell & Kern AK240 comes with 256 GB of built-in flash memory, easily expandable with a Micro Secure Digital memory card slot. The total storage capacity can be raised to a wonderful 384 GB. The 3.3” AMOLED touchscreen has a 480 × 800 resolution and displays all the key information about the current playback or playlist, but also allows you to intuitively optimise EQ settings depending on the genre or headphone type. All hardware components are built to last and are stored in a sturdy aluminium case.

Specifications:

Display:
Type: AMOLED touchscreen
Screen size: 3.31"
Resolution: 480 × 800 pixels (WVGA)

Audio characteristics:
Frequency range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz (±0.023 db)/10 Hz ~ 70 kHz (±0.3 dB)
Signal/noise ratio: 116 db @ 1kHz, unbalanced/117 db @ 1kHz, symmetric
Crosstalk: 130 db @ 1kHz, unbalanced/135 db @ 1kHz, symmetric
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD + N): 0.0007% @ 1kHz, unbalanced/0.0005% @ 1kHz, symmetric
Output impedance: 2.5 mm balanced output (1 ohm) / headphone 3.5 mm (2 ohms)
Jitter: 50 ps

Playback:
Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE (Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
Sampling frequency: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC: 8 kHz ~ 192 kHz (8/16/24 bits per sample), DSD Native - DSD64 (1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo/DSD128 (1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo
Output level: 2 × 1.5 VRMS (no load)
DAC: 2 × 24-bit Wolfson WM8740
Decoding: up to 24 bit/192 kHz

Memory:
Built-in 256 GB (NAND)
1 x slot for microSD cards (max. 128 GB)

Interface:
USB micro-B
Headphones (3.5mm) / optical output (3.5mm)
Balanced output (2.5 mm, only 4-pole version supported)

Battery:
Capacity: 3250 mAh
Type: Li-Polymer
USB micro-B charging

Supported OS:
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 (32/64bit)
MAC OS X 10.7 or later

Design:
Colour: black
Dimensions: 66 × 107 × 17.5 mm
Weight: 185 g