After the technological marvel The A&ultima SP4000 unveiled just under a year ago (see our news article Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000, the ultimate Hi-Fi portable player), the South Korean manufacturer Astell & Kern presented the new PD20 a few days ago. The Astell & Kern PD20 explores a new path for the brand: hyper-personalized audio. Designed as a true "sound laboratory" (Sound Lab Control, according to the brand), it departs from the established A&ultima range to offer a truly bespoke experience.
Astell & Kern PD20, sound à la carte££££ The major innovation of the PD20 lies in the integration of Swedish Audiodo technology. Through an integrated hearing test and dedicated earphones provided, the PD20 analyzes your hearing capacity to compensate for the weaknesses of each ear. The result? A unique sound profile that restores spectral balance where your hearing is lacking. For purists, the manufacturer goes even further with a Triple AMP architecture. Using a physical side switch, you can switch in real time between Class A sound reproduction (smoothness and texture), Class AB (dynamics and efficiency), or a Hybrid mode. Even more unusual, the amplification current is adjustable to three levels to handle both in-ear headphones and more power-hungry over-ear headphones. Astell & Kern PD20, Quad-DAC power. Under the hood, the Astell & Kern PD20 is no slouch. It features a Quad-DAC configuration based on four ESS ES9027PRO chips working independently to minimize interference. The processing is supported by proprietary ESA (Enhanced Signal Alignment) technology and the renowned second-generation DAR (Digital Audio Remaster), already seen on the flagship SP4000, for ultra-natural upsampling. In terms of ergonomics, the device stands out with its dual potentiometers on the top edge: one for volume, the other, called the Sound Master Wheel, allowing adjustment of the equalization (Bass, Midrange, Treble) across 160 steps (!) without interrupting playback. Astell & Kern PD20, main specifications: The PD20 handles PCM streams up to 768 kHz/32-bit and DSD 22.5 megahertz. It features a 6" (15.24 cm) FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) screen, 256 GB of memory (expandable to 2 TB via microSD), and comprehensive connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 Dual Band, Bluetooth 5.3 (APT-X HD, LDAC), and Roon Ready certification coming soon. As an added bonus, it supports USB PD 3.0 fast charging (3.5 hours for a full charge). The BT Link functionality is also included. As a reminder, this allows you to use the PD20 as a wireless DAC to enhance the sound from an external source (smartphone, tablet, or computer). Astell & Kern PD20: Scalable Connectivity and Dedicated Dock. The PD20's connectivity has been designed to offer great versatility, both on the go and once you're back home. at home. The player naturally features a 3.5 mm unbalanced headphone output, complemented by a 4.4 mm balanced output. But the real surprise lies in its optional modularity: the PD20 can be used with a dedicated dock (see photo below). This dock not only recharges the device, but also transforms it into a true living room source thanks to the addition of XLR outputs. These left/right analog outputs allow you to directly connect the player to a Hi-Fi amplifier or active speakers. Availability announced for the end of March. Suggested retail price: €1,900. Key features of the Astell&Kern PD20: • 192 kHz upsampling • Hi-Res certification Audio[/abc]
• ESS ES9027PRO converter
• Compatibility [abc]PCM[/abc] 768 kHz/32 bit
• Compatibility [abc]DSD[/abc] 22.5 MHz
• Network [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] 5.3 APT-X HD
• Network [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] 5 Dual Band
• Network [abc]UPnP[/abc] ([abc]DLNA[/abc])
• Codec compatibility: [abc]Wav[/abc], [abc]MP3[/abc], [abc]Ogg[/abc], [abc]Flac[/abc] ([abc]SD[/abc] and [abc]HD[/abc]), [abc]WMA[/abc], [abc]AAC[/abc], [abc]Alac[/abc], [abc]AIFF[/abc] and APE
• DSD Compatibility: 2.8/5.6/11.2/22.5 MHz
• Music Service Compatibility: Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Tidal
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 124 dB
• Inputs: 1 USB-C port
• THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): 0.0003%
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 70 kHz
• Headphone Output: 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack and 1 x 4.4 mm headphone jack, both with three-level gain control
• Storage Capacity: 256 GB (expandable to 2 TB via microSD card)
• Operating System: Dedicated Android; • Screen: 6" Full HD (2160 x 1080 pixels); • Other: 4 DACs, Optional Dock with XLR output; • Battery: 5770 mAh. Approximately 14 hours of battery life, 3.5 hours for a full charge (PD 3.0); • Dimensions (W x H x D, mm): 83 x 145 x 19 mm; • Weight: 0.345 kg