I do not know how it happened, but I have not written reviews on Astell & Kern products, although I am a happy user of AK320 for a long time. But sometimes Santa Claus comes early, so I got two presents from him. The one that is simpler - AK70 Mk II, I took for a while and will tell about it this time. A more top model from Astell and his friend Kern, which will stay with me for a long time, will still wait its turn.
A & K has long and reliably staked out the "luxury" segment of the market, releasing very successful models AK240 and AK320 (and also a slightly less successful for my taste, but no less popular model AK380), the competition for this couple can be literally read by other models manufacturers. But one "tops" will not be full, and any manufacturer should occupy the lower segments, and with this, A & K was so-so. AK Jr - clearly looked and sounded like a foster son in the family of the company, AK100 and AK120 all audits for the sound did not reach their price tag, but rather successful and warmly met by buyers AK70 - demanded an update. The developers decided to shorten the model range, removing the "hundredth" models and Jr, and concentrated on the 70-ke, adding a second DAC and reworking the amplification scheme. Along the way, A & K attempted to capture another segment of the market, releasing KANN, unlike anything else. But about him, as well as about the new top A & ultima, - at another time, this review is dedicated to 70-ke.
Despite the improvement of circuitry, the price list was decided to remain the same, you can buy the AK70 Mk II (with the name not bothering) for the same $ 700 as the first model (plus or minus taxes and fees for individual countries).
Specifications
- DAC: 2 × CS4398
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz (± 0.09 dB), 10 Hz - 70 kHz (± 0.5 dB)
- Signal to noise ratio: 119 dB
- Channel separation: 138 dB
- Total harmonic distortion + noise: 0.0005%
- Output impedance: 1.5Ω normal output, 3Ω - balanced
- Output level: 2Vrms common output, 4Vrms - balanced
- Supported formats: FLAC, WMA, WAV, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
- Maximum resolution: up to 192 kHz / 24 bit, higher resolution files are supported with downsampling)
- DSD support: converting to PCM, up to DSD128
- USB DAC function: up to 96 kHz / 24 bit
- Wireless technologies: WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX HD
- Screen: TFT, 3.3 ", 480 × 800
- Built-in Memory: 64 GB
- Memory cards : MicroSD, up to 256 GB
- Battery: 2500 mAh
- Dimensions: 63 mm × 97 mm × 15 mm
- Weight: 150g
Packing and delivery kit
Designers of the product tried to do everything to distance the junior model from the rest, even the box here is the simplest, from a black compact cardboard with a minimum of polygraphy. Inside is the player itself, a USB cable and two sets of protective films for the screen and back panel. The cover to the new "seventy" is sold separately, but, perhaps, it still costs to buy it.
Design and management
That's the look - this is what we love A & K products for. Of course, the 70 is made the simplest in the model line of the company, but the fact that for some "the most simple player", for others - an unattainable top of the design. I would say that the developers of the players are now divided into three camps: those striving for A & K, with their design and without design as such ... However, this is the subject of a separate conversation, let's return to the new 70-ke. Naturally, the player is made of aluminum, personally I'm sorry that the company refused to use the unusual mint-green color of the previous modification, but, naturally, the current black looks more versatile and stricter.
Except for the bevel on the right side, the player is made in the form of an almost perfect parallelepiped, perhaps, he could even have shot in "2001: A Space Odyssey". Controls in Astellovsky are not many. On the left side there are navigation and playback / pause buttons, immediately placed a microSD card slot. It's nice that the manufacturer did not become greedy and equipped the player with 64 GB of internal memory. The top face contains two headphone outputs, common and balanced, and a power button. The right, beveled side contains a volume control, which, as usual, is made with an encoder, and according to sensations - they did not save on quality: the rotation is smooth, the clicks are sharp, the adjustment is correct. The handle of the regulator even loosens less than the wheel in my AK320. On the underside there is a MicroUSB connector, its purpose is traditionally: charging, access to files, USB DAC and output of digital signal to external DACs. Fashionable USB-C and USB OTG function, apparently, decided to leave for future models.
The back panel of the player is covered with plastic with an interesting dark blue pattern, not carbon, of course, but still looks impressive. Most of the front panel is a touch screen, it is very good in all respects: color rendition, viewing angles, resolution and even margin in brightness allows the display not to completely get blind in the sun. Under the screen, as usual with A & K, there is a touch button to return back.
The player is very tight and well knocked off, comfortably lies in the hand and is easily controlled. Due to the compact size and weight, it fits well in your pockets without pulling them away. Of course, in a compact package you can not put a large battery, but A & K increased the built-in battery capacity to 2500 mA / h, however, all this gain was eaten by the amplifier and the second DAC. The Mark II operating time in my standard test (FLAC 44.1 / 16, MeeAudio P1 as load, volume at a comfortable level, unbalanced output) is 6 hours and 50 minutes. The indicator, of course, is not a record, but for a small player - expected, no one has canceled the physics yet.
Firmware
"Soft" AK70 Mk II, of course, is based on the developments of older models. For Ultima, by the way, a completely different firmware was developed, but it has not reached a more accessible segment yet.
After downloading we are greeted by a media library screen, there are traditional viewing options for folders, genres, artists and albums. There are also items with playlists and a complete list of all tracks. The menu item responsible for online services in the localization turned into "Save" (an interpreter who decided to translate "Store" so, it is necessary to drive a carnation into the head). These services are traditionally two: TIDAL and Groovers +. Scanning files is very fast, the player is good friends with non-Latin, not capricious in the choice of formats - in general, behaves the way it should be a noble device.
Settings are few, and almost all of them are switched from the drop-down "shutter": wireless interfaces, I / O functions, brightness and so on. Immediately there is a button that opens the advanced settings, which, however, not much more. The player along with older brothers got WiFi 802.11n with the support of AK Connect, Bluetooth with aptX HD codec, the possibility of wireless updates and even support for external "ripping" of disks, which A & K sell for 300, that is, dollars. Not that this was a useful feature (aptX HD is much more useful), but it's always better to have a feature than not to have.
The playback screen is also quite thought-out, there is all the necessary information, including detailed information about the track and the ability to output the text of the song sewn into the tags.
In general, the firmware is exactly the same as the top manufacturer should have, the stability of convenience is poured by the balm to the souls of users, exhausted by Chinese programmers.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, Meze 99 Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
Perhaps no other developer is so clearly defined by the proprietary sound of their devices, like A & K. I do not know how they achieve their "iridescent middle", but this is the main reason to buy their players. The main thing is that in the next device with this do not overdo, as it was, for example, in the AK380. Conversely, they did not deprive the player of this effect, as, for example, in AK Jr. Fortunately, the AK70 Mk II is fine with that. The company's engineers were able to solve the main problems of the first generation of the device - increased sensitivity to recording quality and insufficient power for tight headphones. The hero of today's review is an obvious representative of the company's sound, albeit slightly inferior to older models.
The resolution of the files is "cut" to 192 kHz / 24 bit, the tracks with higher resolution undergo downsampling, the DSD is reproduced through conversion to PCM, but I would not call it a problem, because I still do not see much sense in super high resolutions in portable players .
The player has a noticeable difference between the outputs, the balanced one is closer to neutrality, and the "normal" has a bit more low frequencies, but I recommend the 2.5 mm output and the description of the sound below is made for him. I think the headphone manufacturers will increasingly support this connector as the winner in the "war of formats".
The bass player has a slightly increased massiveness, this, naturally, is achieved without the help of lifting on the frequency response, just the player emphasizes the "weight" of the low frequency a little. The bass here is not super-floppy and not dry, but when necessary - it wins back elastically and fairly dynamically. The resolution is very good, the textures are transmitted very effectively with decent resolution.
The MF range, of course, is not made for fans to listen to microns, the player does not differ monitor feed, because of the above-described coloration, characteristic for all devices of the company, the sound of AK70 Mk II is very "involving", with emotions and character of instruments. The player builds an imaginary scene well, it is slightly larger than the average in width and depth, and with a balanced output, the volume of sound is even slightly higher. The separation of plans is not abrupt, but it fits the general manner of the player's supply, the distance between the instruments and their own dimensions are transmitted reliably.
HF is a little lack of resolution, but this is compensated by a good deal of attacks and damping, which allows the "tops" to sound impressive. The upper frequencies do not cut the rumor, they do not "puff up" and do not strain at all, although they are not lost on the "general background".
Of course, we need to make comparisons, but this time I will confine myself to just a couple of models, since I can not hold infinite sessions of comparing different players, unfortunately.
FiiO X7 Mk II. A similar model from FiiO offers a more neutral feed with a better resolution (especially on the HF), but at the same time devoid of the "characteristic" charm of asters. I think FiiO has already started to think about "its" sound, the same X5-3 on this clearly hints. You can not also write off the difference in size and usability, especially firmware stability. It is software - one of the strengths of A & K, then, for which you can and slightly overpay.
iBasso DX200. The difference in price between these players is also small, but the iBasso device offers a more technical sound with the best micro- and macro-contrast. However, the main problem for the 200th for me is its size, still it's never a pocket player, so I would not compare it to small devices at all, they have too different applications.
Astell & Kern AK320. Served me for a very long time by faith and truth "the best of AK" now, however, sent into retirement (the ruthless logic of upgrades). AK320, it seems, is out of production and in some cases is sold at a discount, so if you have a chance to "zanedorogo" grab it - I recommend doing it. By sound it's still worthy of the flagship title of the player, offering a natural, natural and very musical presentation in combination with brand design and usability. The new 70 on its background sounds simpler, the difference is particularly noticeable on the separation of low-end plans and high-frequency resolution. I think that soon the company will introduce the second generation of this player, although the price tag will certainly return to the "around $ 2,000" area.
Compatibility
Even the first-generation AK70 was ample in power for most portable headphones, and the Mk II's balanced output nearly doubled in voltage, which, if recompled to a 2.5 mm plug, would help to rock even fairly tight models (naturally, without fanaticism). With sensitive headphones, the seventy also behaves decently enough, in the most "gentle" models the noise can be heard, but there are not many such headphones.
Stylistically, the player is universal, although the company's MF pitch is especially effective with the live voices of the characteristic performers and instrumental things in a good record. To the quality of recording, the player is moderately tolerant, somewhere in 6 on a 10-point scale.
By tradition, several tracks in the role of examples.
Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train. I do not know who it is, but the voice of the "King of Metal" feeds me a little, especially on old records and sources with a monitor-neutral feed. Fortunately, popular albums are often remastered (by reference it's a remaster), and for everything else there is Astell & Kern. Branded midrange player slightly brightens the squeak of the voice of the vocalist, while neatly emphasizing emotions and excellent guitar solos, allowing you to enjoy the "best aspects" of the unconditional hit.
Nemanja Radulović - Csárdás. Of course, czardas is Hungarian music, but in the boiling cauldron of the 20th century nations and peoples have changed so often that the genius Serbian violinist Nemahu Radulović can also be considered "his" for this music. Moreover, he performed this number with truly Balkan fervor and energy. If you add to this a good player in the face of AK70 Mk II, effectively serving the nuances of live music (listen, for example, the last seconds of this track), it will be hard to sit still. By the way, in general I can recommend the whole album "Journey East", from which I took this record - a perfect example of boring violin music.
Stacey Kent - To Say Goodbye. In general, the year 2017 was very rich in wonderful jazz releases, sometimes falling into my collections, but winter and the coming holidays bring a certain mood, so I chose this track. Warm, lost in time (as if it came from the 60's), the lyrical melody in the performance of AK70 gets an additional bonus in efficiency and, like a glass of mulled wine, warms from the inside.
conclusions
If you take into account only the sound, then AK70 Mk II, although it is among the leaders, but is not an unequivocal winner. If we add dimensions, firmware and usability to this, then I do not know "by the sum of the components" of analogs of the seventy. This player is for those who appreciate design and convenience and are ready to pay a little for it, but at the same time the sound does not strike the face in the dirt. And personally, I'm glad that at last the time has come when I quite can recommend the players of Astell & Kern.
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