Astell & Kern is expanding its A&ultima line of flagship portable players with the launch of the SP4000T. It arrives alongside a new pair of in-ear monitors, the Clarus. Both are set to make their debut at this year’s Vienna High End Show (4th June to 7th June).

Astell & Kern’s new A&ultima SP4000T teases a combination of “cutting-edge digital audio” with “classic analogue technology” thanks to its harnessing of vacuum tube amplification.

The new player uses independent dual-tube structures dedicated to left and right channels, the same separated configuration normally associated with classic tube amps. Further, dual flagship AK4499EX DACs and dedicated signal processors across each channel promise a “deep, refined experience” and enhanced “clarity, depth and sonic purity”.

The SP4000T offers three distinct tube sound modes, each of which has its own unique sonic signature. ‘Triode Mode’ emphasises rich harmonics and a warmer, more immersive presentation, whereas 'Pentode Mode' focuses more on dynamic impact and a cleaner, more energetic presentation.

For a third way, ‘Ultra Linear Mode’ promises a blend of the tonal richness of ‘Triode’ with the power and control of the ‘Pentode’ setting.

Astell & Kern’s valve-sporting PMP supports PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512, as well as 256GB of internal memory which can be expanded out to 1.5TB via the included microSD port.

Bluetooth codec support is provided via aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs, while a ‘Bluetooth Sink’ mode allows the SP4000T to function as a Bluetooth DAC for external devices.

The new A&K features a 6-inch HD touchscreen display and is available in either a stainless steel or copper finish. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but considering the established SP4000 player launched at around £3999 / $4000, we doubt the tech-laden SP4000T will come particularly cheap.

Also arriving alongside the SP4000T portable music player are A&K’s latest in-ear monitors, the Clarus, which will be making their bow at this month’s High End Show in Vienna.

Acting as the latest addition to A&K’s high-end IEM series, the new in-ears are built around a 10-driver architecture, with a dynamic driver handling the low frequencies, an array of balanced armature drivers focusing on the mid-range and a host of MEMs units promising to “render the upper frequencies with exceptional precision”.

Again, no prices or official release date are currently available, but we’ll let you know as soon as we have official facts and figures.

We are heading to High End Vienna 2026 very soon, so we’ll be in the best position to give you the low down on everything being showcased, including A&K’s latest releases.

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These are the best portable music players you can buy

Astell & Kern has launched what it describes as the world's first digital audio player "to create a sound signature uniquely tailored to the user’s hearing".

The new A&K PD20 shapes its sound to fit your unique sonic preferences in pursuit of a far more individualised musical experience.

How, you ask? The PD20 features a 'Personal Sound' system, which analyses individual hearing characteristics and compensates independently for left and right ears to create a bespoke listening profile.

Dedicated earphones are included with the new player to give precise hearing measurements, with users completing a simple hearing test and then receiving a sound signature optimised exclusively for them.

To further customise the sound if necessary, the PD20 also features a 'Sound Master Wheel', offering a 160-step EQ control across bass, midrange and treble frequencies.

At its heart, the A&K PD20 houses an ESS ES9027PRO Quad DAC configuration, with four DACs operating independently to minimise interference and offer greater signal path separation for preserving sonic purity. The PD20 also supports native playback of hi-res PCM music up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512.

The new player is bolstered by Astell & Kern’s 'ESA' (Enhanced Signal Alignment) tech to reduce delay by precisely aligning frequency signals, all of which aims to minimise distortion and further improve audio clarity.

Astell & Kern’s 'Digital Audio Remaster' technology, meanwhile, which first appeared with the brand's five-star flagship SP4000 player, further strives for a more "natural and refined sound".

Astell & Kern's latest portable player grants 256GB of internal memory, expandable to up to 2TB via the provided microSD slot, as well as around 14 hours of battery life.

Bluetooth with hi-res aptX HD and LDAC codecs alongside wi-fi connectivity are supported, while physical outputs include USB-C for digital audio, charging your PD20 or using it as an outboard DAC for your laptop or computer.

The PD20 features a triple-amp architecture, allowing real-time switching between Class A, Class AB and Hybrid amplification modes, as well as a choice of spatial audio options.

Equipped with a 6-inch FHD+ display and housed in an aluminium chassis, the Astell & Kern PD20 will be available in late March, priced at £1799 / $1970.

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These are the best portable MP3 players money can buy

Chinese brand iBasso is looking to take the fight to the likes of Astell & Kern and FiiO with its latest premium portable music player.

The new DX340 is, says its maker, made “for discerning users who demand both sonic excellence and intuitive usability” teasing flagship performance and engineering in a portable, “elegant” form.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, the new player offers 256GB of internal storage, although this can be expanded to up to 2TB via the provided microSD slot.

The DX340 houses iBasso's latest audio engine featuring a 1-bit discrete DAC configuration, teasing “remarkable clarity, ultra-low distortion and exceptional timing”. The new unit also offers an impressive suite of high-resolution formats, with PCM support up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside native DSD512.

​Similar to the recently reviewed FiiO M21, iBasso’s premium portable player features a dual operating system experience, with users able to choose between audio-focused ‘Mango OS’ mode or a full Android 13 experience for more flexible streaming and easier app access.

In terms of connectivity options, the DX340 includes balanced and single-ended headphone outputs alongside a coaxial output, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 if you crave the convenience of a wireless connection.

Housed in a stainless steel chassis, the flagship player is equipped with a “vibrant and responsive” 6.0-inch AMOLED display, while physical buttons include a volume wheel alongside external power and play/pause controls.

​The iBasso DX340 is now available at £1499 / $1699 for the standard model and £1899 for a limited-edition titanium version. That puts it in direct competition with the Astell & Kern A&futura SE180 we tested at £1399 / $1499 / $AU2099.

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These are the best portable MP3 players money can buy

Why would you buy a portable music player? In this age of smartphone ultra-convenience, bolstered by access to so many streaming services and extensive hi-res Bluetooth codec support, what's the point of having a dedicated digital device when you could just listen to streaming apps on your phone instead? Isn't that like buying a four-poster bed and then choosing to sleep on the floor?

Hopefully not. If your goal is simply to enjoy music to the highest portable standard you can, a dedicated digital audio player should help you to make the most of your library of tunes, especially if you've got plenty of downloaded hi-res music files that you want given the royal treatment.

High-end examples such as the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 will leave your smartphone completely in the dust, but you'll have to fork out around £3495 / $3699 / AU$5499 to get one of those.

Instead, FiiO promises that its far more affordable M21 player will offer potent performance and portability at a far more palatable price point – for £279 / $329 / AU$529, to be precise.

Is this far cheaper alternative still worth a separate investment? To find out, I've spent two whole weeks with the FiiO M21, assessing its strengths and weaknesses to answer that all-important question: would I want to own one for myself?

Like: better sound quality

Thankfully for FiiO, we’re starting with the obvious: a good dedicated player sounds better than most run-of-the-mill smartphones.

That’s not a guaranteed truth, and it would have been a kick in the teeth for FiiO had it been beaten by a standard iPhone, but the M21’s quad Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips and hi-res support for PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512 mean it is primed and ready to give your music the proper treatment.

It’s always nice to break out those proper hi-res files and let them shine on a player that’s generally capable of doing them justice, and there’s no question that a decent source combined with good quality tracks makes for a far more rewarding sonic experience than simply a smartphone and some wireless earbuds.

Switch from your phone to a dedicated player and you’ll discern far more textural detail, clarity and spaciousness from your tunes. As we said in our review, the M21 offers a “smooth, weighty balance that still packs a punch when required”, granting meaty guitar tracks plenty of bite and texture without getting overly sloppy.

Tracks such as Alice in Chains’ Lesson Learned can easily sound like an ill-defined block of noise through lesser devices, yet the FiiO has the poise and insight to bring out the distinct textures hiding away within those crunchy power chords.

It's not entirely perfect, and you'll get a more dynamic and involving experience from more premium portable players, but as a step up from what your phone can do, the M21 makes sense as a savvy sonic investment.

Like: any excuse to bust out the best wired headphones

As much as wireless earbuds might be convenient, wired headphones will always deliver better sound quality. For me, there’s no excuse for having access to some of the best wired headphones in the business and not allowing them to stretch their legs once in a while.

Okay, while it may be overkill to hook up a pair of high-end Yamaha YH-5000SE to what is still a reasonably budget digital player, the M21 provides a powerful partner for the likes of the superb Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X (£189 / $199 / AU$399) and the ever-dependable Grado SR325x (currently £247 / $295 / AU$425).

Those happen to be two pairs of wired headphones on which I’m particularly keen. Hooking either five-star pair up to a smartphone (via an adapter) isn’t getting the best out of them, so it’s nice to give yourself an excuse to really revel in some great cans, safe in the knowledge that you’re feeding them a proper source.

My iPhone does nothing but breed laziness and complacency thanks to the convenience of Bluetooth, but when there’s a proper portable player involved, I’m far more motivated to crack out the wired Beyerdynamics and really get into my tunes.

Like: a break from my smartphone

Do you know what listening to music used to be? It used to be special. When you listened to full albums on a dedicated hi-fi system (and hopefully you still do), or on a dinky little CD player in your bedroom, or even on your first-ever iPod, you were only ever doing one thing: listening to your music.

Now, your tunes are an afterthought, just one of the many prongs on the infinitely versatile Swiss army knife that is your Samsung Galaxy S21, iPhone 16 Pro or Sony Xperia 10 VI.

It’s incredible to be able to access an infinite galaxy of songs on your favourite streaming service as you order your Ocado shopping, check your Instagram and then ping out a few emails, but it’s also in danger of relegating your music to a sort of tertiary background afterthought.

With a dedicated player, the music takes centre stage. The M21’s octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset does offer decent Android OS performance that goes beyond mere streaming (and you can even play Angry Birds if you’d like), but for the most part, you boot up your FiiO when you want to spend some quality one-to-one time with your tunes.

That’s a precious ritual, and one that should be protected at all costs.

Don't like: not another device

There is a flipside, of course, to the apparent benefit of tearing me away from the shiny umbilical cord that is my precious iPhone.

We’re so used to living in a world of multi-functionality. There was a time when you’d have to own a separate calculator, compass, spirit level, watch, music player (probably an iPod or Walkman) and camera. Now, they’re all housed in something slightly bigger – and certainly far slimmer – than a standard pack of cards.

The joy of your smartphone is that everything is all there in one place and easy to access in your hand, and while that might mean compromises in quality when compared with dedicated tools designed to do a specific job, that convenience is an unparalleled boon.

I know I just espoused the need for keeping your music separate from everything else, but when push comes to shove, resisting the urge to just pick up your phone and your best wireless earbuds is such a tough habit to break. I know that giving all my time and attention to my music is right and proper, but in practice? It's just so much easier to boot up Tidal on my phone. I'm not proud of that fact, that's just the way it is.

The problem with having another device, especially one as chunky as the FiiO M21, is that, well, you’ve got another device. That’s another thing to have to carry around if you’re planning on taking your tunes on the road; another thing to worry about getting damaged or scratched or lost; another thing that you need to keep charged and updated; another thing taking up space in your satchel.

It’s just more… stuff.

Don't like: not as slick as a smartphone

It’s easy to take your smartphone for granted. We’ve become so used to how incredibly slick, quick and precise the latest generations of devices are, it suddenly becomes jarringly apparent when a cheaper alternative just doesn’t have the same speedy functionality and usability as, say, the latest iPhone.

The M21 is still simple and effective to use, but it just doesn’t have the intuitive nature of my ever-dependable iPhone 15, nor does it have the same precision when it comes to those fiddlier controls or commands.

The responsiveness of the screen isn’t in any way bad, but it just feels so soft and slow when compared with the lightning speed of an Apple or Samsung heavyweight, and after a while, it's hard not to hanker for the familiarity of your supercharged smartphone.

A slightly unresponsive touchscreen? I might as well be back in the Middle Ages...

Don't like: I'm sold on portable players, just not this portable player...

Having spent a good deal of time with a dedicated portable music player, I can say that I’d definitely consider investing in one in order to take my wired listening to the next level. There’s just one caveat: it wouldn’t be the FiiO M21.

Much as I enjoyed my time with the wallet-friendly M21, and as much as I can patently see the advantages of a portable player over pinging Spotify or Tidal files to your smartphone via Bluetooth, it’s still slightly lacking in the key areas of musicality – namely rhythms and dynamics – to give me that proper immersion in my musical catalogue.

Whether you're spending £200 or £2000, if a product can't handle those core musical elements, it's hard to justify it as a worthwhile investment.

The M21 does so much so well, and it's a step up from a smartphone, but there’s still something rather meat and potatoes about the way it sounds – perfectly tasty and appropriately filling, but lacking a little bit of spice. I like the M21 very much, but do I love it, and does it make me love my favourite music? I'm not so sure.

Were it my own money, I’d splash the cash (and by that I mean, wait for a decent discount) on the Award-winning Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 instead. This is where you really begin to see the benefits of a dedicated hi-res player, and while I might not fork out £799 at full price, the A&K’s oft-discounted figure of £599 does make for a seriously tempting proposition. Having heard it side-by-side with the M21, there's little question which one I'd rather have hooked up to my favourite pair of wired headphones.

The thing about the SR35 isn’t just that it’s better than the FiiO, but that it’s better in the key areas that really make your music shine. Clarity, detail and cohesion are all correct and present, but the SR35’s subtle dynamic handling, its rhythmic spark and its fluid, effortless nature make for a hugely engaging listen.

Exceptional sound that makes you appreciate your music and gives you a great excuse to really get those wired cans firing? Now that’s something worth paying for.

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These are the best portable MP3 players you can buy

I love spatial audio, but there's one feature I can't get my head around

Astell & Kern has launched a copper-clad spin on its high-end SP4000 portable hi-res music player.

The new SP4000 Copper is teased as a "range-topping addition" to the brand's extensive arsenal of digital audio players, bringing together precision engineering and a 99.98 per cent pure copper exterior to bring the established SP4000 flagship player to a new level of audio performance.

This isn't the first time we've seen the Korean company send one of its portable players out to battle in shiny copper armour – the former AK380 flagship from around ten years ago also enjoyed a 'Copper' edition as an alternative to the duralumin-based standard model.

The new unit shares the same flagship specifications of the standard A&ultima SP4000 which we sampled at last year's High End Munich showcase. That means it's once again built around A&K's advanced quad-DAC, octa-circuit architecture and is capable of handling hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512.

The addition of copper, however, promises to take take the player's performance to "another level". A&K claims the metal displays "ideal audio properties" which directly shapes the SP4000's sonic character, with copper's natural conductivity and shielding properties helping to preserve your music's finer details.

According to Astell & Kern, the SP4000 Copper delivers "deep, authoritative bass, a rich and articulate midrange" complimented by a "treble that decays with natural ease" thanks to its unique metal cladding.

The new model shares the same feature set as the standard SP4000, including support for the high-quality aptX Adaptive and LDAC Bluetooth codecs for 24-bit audio playback, as well as around 10 hours of continuous playback from a single charge.

The limited edition A&ultima SP4000 Copper is available now, priced at £3999 / $4499 / €4699. That's a modest advance on the £3799 / $3900 / €4499 for the standard iteration of the flagship player.

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Astell & Kern is ending 2025 with a bang by launching two new products: the "small-but-mighty" HC5 USB DAC and the high-end Stella wired in-ear headphones.

Following on from 2023's HC4 model, the new Astell & Kern HC5 DAC vows to "set a new benchmark for portable audio performance", teasing "stunning" audio quality in a pocket-sized package.

The idea is to boost your laptop or smartphone's listening quality, with the DAC featuring a top-mounted USB-C connection to fit in with a variety of modern listening sources.

To do so, the new unit pairs Astell & Kern's high-end AK4499EX DAC chip with its own AK4191EQ digital processor to separate digital and analogue pathways, reducing sonic noise while preserving musical detail. The new model offers file support up to 384kHz PCM alongside DSD256, and uses 'Digital Audio Remaster' upsampling to squeeze more out of lower-quality recordings.

Taking trickle-down engineering from A&K's flagship SP4000 portable player, the HC5’s 'High Driving Mode' architecture strives for a rich, spacious sound signature complemented by "powerful dynamic expression".

The new portable DAC features a dual noise-shielded cable, blending tin-plated copper conductors with aluminium film shielding, and an additional braided shield in a bid to all but eliminate electromagnetic interference.

A 1.62-inch OLED screen offers instant access to playback and system info, while the HC5 sports the same rotary volume wheel as you'll find across A&K's range of hi-res portable music players.

A portable DAC is nothing if you haven't got anything to pair it with, of course. Astell & Kern's latest Stella in-ear headphones should fit the bill, although these new IEMs are priced at the luxury, high-end market.

The new IEMs are built around a 12-driver architecture, featuring a 9mm dynamic driver and dual balanced armatures tackling the lower frequencies, as well as three mid-ranged units tuned for "natural vocal presence, articulation and coherence".

At the upper sonic echelons, the Stella use twin planar magnetic drivers alongside four electrostatic tweeters to handle the highest of highs.

The flagship in-ears are housed in an aluminium shell with black anodising and a stainless steel faceplate. The included cable features a hybrid conductor array of copper, silver and 24-karat gold, terminated by a 4.4 mm balanced connection.

The Astell & Kern HC5 portable DAC will cost £399 / $450 / €499, while the Stella wired in-ears are a considerably more expensive £3899 / $3900 / €4400. Both will be available in January 2026.

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Guess who’s back, back again? This Astell & Kern deal, tell a friend. While you might be able to do without Eminem’s Without Me, rest assured, if you’re looking for a high-resolution portable audio player, you will not want to be without this early Black Friday deal.

The multiple Award-winning Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 is back to its lowest price of £599 at Richer Sounds. That’s a significant £200 less than its original launch price, plus this deal even comes with a free case. Despite having a name that we struggle to pronounce, we are big fans of this portable music player, and, especially at this discount price, we’re confident you will be too.

The SR35 is the entry-level model in Astell & Kern’s range of portable high-resolution music players. Such a term is relative, however: its original price of £799 is not exactly affordable; but its multiple What Hi-Fi? Award wins over the years prove that its performance-per-pound is exceptional.

Unlike its similarly five-star predecessors, the SR35 is the first to feature Astell & Kern’s New Generation AMP technology and a quad-DAC arrangement, which allows all four of its Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips to be engaged for an even more involving sound.

This move appears to have paid dividends. During testing, we noted that it “has the punch and rhythmic drive to keep you tapping along to upbeat tracks, and the insight to draw you into the details of those calmer ones.”

You may not get the full 20-hour battery life if playing hi-res music in Quad DAC mode, but the SR35 also doubles up as a performance-enhancing DAC between your wired headphones and another device, such as a laptop.

Elsewhere, it’s got 3.5mm, 4.4mm and 2.5mm headphone outputs, 64GB of built-in storage, and allows for native playback of hi-res files including MQA, DSD256 and up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM. For those with larger music libraries, you can expand upon its built-in storage thanks to a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB.

The SR35 has been around for a while, but we have yet to come across another hi-res portable player that offers such a winning combination of compact design, extensive file compatibility and superbly detailed, precise and dynamic sound.

So if you’ve been hunting for a premium hi-res portable music player that ticks all the boxes and have the budget to spend, then this SR35 deal of £599 at Richer Sounds is worth considering.

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Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best

Silly name, great product. While that's true of most of Astell & Kern's devices, it's particularly apt in the case of the A&norma SR35, which has the twin plaudits of winning a What Hi-Fi? Award and being impossible to pronounce. Which makes it the quintessential Astell & Kern product.

If you like the look of it – good news. It's still at its rock-bottom price of £599 at Richer Sounds. That's £200 cheaper than its launch price, and the same as you would have paid during Prime Day last month. Bargain.

Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 deal

The A&norma SR35 is Astell&Kern's entry-level music player, but that doesn't mean it's made on the cheap. Far from it. With its geometrically quirky aluminium casework and sleek, shiny finish, it's premium yet portable, with a 3.6-inch 720 x 1280 touchscreen for controlling playback.

Unlike some of its competition, there's no Android operating system here, and therefore no apps – but we really like that focused approach. Instead, you've got everything you need for simply playing back your high-res tracks, and plenty of them too.

You get 64GB on-board storage for around 625 (at 24-bit/96kHz), plus the option to add a micro-SD card for up to 1TB if you need.

In our Astell & Kern A&normal SR35 review we praised its "very likeable presentation", and while we noted a tonal balance that sits ever so slightly on the rich side, we said there's a "combination of power and finesse that feels very mature for a source at this level".

No matter what music you feed it, we found the SR35 handles it with top-notch dynamic expression and more detail than we've heard on any other player at its original price point. Even better, now it's £200 less.

Plus it's a source we think that almost any headphones will get on with, so there's no pairing worries to consider either.

If you're looking to buy a portable music player and have this budget to spend, you simply won't find better than the A&norma SR35, especially as it's just £599 at Richer Sounds.

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This overlooked feature turns your portable music player into the ultimate desktop hi-fi device

We've noticed a distinct lack of great budget portable music players recently. Since the demise of the iPod Touch, there have been plenty of great dedicated hi-res music players, mainly from the likes of Astell & Kern, offering exceptional performance for your personal listening pleasure.

The thing is, most of the best portable music players tend to cost some serious cash (at least over £500/$500), and that's not always ideal in these times of economic uncertainty. A&K's sub-brand Activo tried to bring exceptional quality to a more affordable price point with its Activo P1 player, but disappointing sound and a cheap-feeling build meant it was tough to recommend.

Perhaps Fiio will have better luck with its M21, a "sleek and powerful portable digital audio player" which seeks to bring together flagship hardware with retro aesthetics without costing an arm and a leg.

The new portable music player is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, teasing a quick, responsive Android performance in your pocket. The M21 offers 64 GB of internal storage, which is expandable to 2 TB via a microSD slot.

The Fiio M21 is capable of handling hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512 and full MQA decoding, while SBC, AAC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs are on the menu.

Central to the M21's performance are four Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips arranged in a matrix configuration, an architecture which minimises crosstalk and noise for a "clean and dynamic sonic profile". ​

The M21 also offers a handy 'desktop mode' so you can use it as a DAC/amplifier for your laptop-based listening. When connected via USB-C to an external supply, the Fiio bypasses its onboard battery to deliver up to 21 Vpp peak voltage and 950 mW per channel into 32 ohms.

The new player offers 15 hours of battery life for single-ended 3.5 mm headphones and 11.5 hours for balanced 4.4 mm listening, while digital coaxial and USB-C outputs are also onboard. An updated Fiio Control app is available for managing the player's settings and accessing a series of advanced filters.

​The M21 sports a 4.7-inch touchscreen, and if you're hankering for the days of the Walkman, Fiio even offers a retro cassette-tape-style protective case (sold separately) for that fully retro look.

The Fiio M21 is available now, priced at £279 / $329 / €329. That cassette case, meanwhile, will cost you around £20 / $50, although this may depend on the retailer.

We last tested the more costly Fiio M23 at £649 / $699 / AU$1199, but the brand seems to be targeting a more budget side of the market with the likes of this new M21 and the even cheaper JM21 model (£179 / $149 / €149).

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That's no moon; it's a new pair of high-end in-ear headphones.

South Korean audio brand Astell & Kern has launched its new flagship Luna wired earphones, and they come with a cosmically high price tag of £2699 / $2700 / €3049.

Astell & Kern is no stranger to high-end products, with its new flagship portable hi-res player, the A&ultima SP4000, set to cost northwards of £4000 / $4000 / AU$5500 when it goes on sale later this year.

We've long been fans of Astell & Kern's hi-res digital audio players, with both its high-end and more 'affordable' A&norma SR35 a regular fixture on our best portable music players guide.

Naturally, you'll want a suitable pair of high-end in-ear wired earphones to go with your very pricey hi-res player.

The Astell & Kern Luna are designed to "showcase the brand’s philosophy of combining technical precision and sophisticated design to deliver exceptional sound".

The new earphones feature a single micro planar magnetic driver, which has been co-developed with Japanese earphone specialist Madoo. The new 13mm driver, called Katabiki, uses a single powerful magnet and dual ring-shaped yoke for greater control.

The use of an ultra-thin and lightweight film with a printed aluminium pattern "dramatically reduces the diaphragm's weight", according to Astell & Kern. The diaphragm's housing is made of CNC-machined aluminium, too.

The Luna earphones themselves are housed in a smooth titanium casing that is designed to be both durable and comfortable to wear for long hours. Crafted in Japan, the Luna's exterior shape is "inspired by the curves of the moon", says Astell & Kern.

But it's not just for visual elegance and comfort; the brand says the curves are also "precisely engineered to optimise the acoustic flow" from the new driver.

Altogether, the high-end Luna in-ears promise to deliver "outstanding response speed, exceptional resolution" as well as the "most delicate details of music".

The Luna wired in-ears are accompanied by a cable that uses a blend of high-purity silver plating and copper, which further claims to help deliver a detailed and accurate sound.

As part of the accessories, you get a generous seven pairs of ear tips (in three different materials) to help achieve the best fit for your ears, and a soft carry case pouch.

Fancy a pair? You'll have to dig deep into your pockets, but the Astell & Kern Luna wired in-ear headphones are available now at selected retailers.

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I've tried Astell & Kern's flagship portable music player – and it's a behemoth in both size and price

Do portable Bluetooth speakers need a wired connection?

The High End Munich show isn't the sort of place to admit that you still listen to your music on a primitive iPhone. Massive horn speakers aside, it's a place where headphones are taken as seriously as hi-fi, so you won't find brands such as Sennheiser, Meze or Austrian Audio powering their best wired over-ears with nothing but an iPhone 15 and some basic Spotify files.

There's serious desktop hardware around that can help bring the best out of your favourite cans, but if you still want a portable music player with proper pedigree, there's currently one name on the market dominating the competition.

Astell & Kern is currently to PMPs what Sony is to wireless headphones, leading the charge in making on-the-go something of an art form in its own right.

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 (£3799 / $3699 / AU$5499) was the brand's former high-end flagship, but now there's a new standard bearer courtesy of the big-money A&ultima SP4000.

We use A&K's players to try out the wired headphones that are worthy of a proper source, meaning we're familiar with their healthy array of chunky champions.

A PMP is also a great thing to try to test out if you're ever scampering along the floor of a busy hi-fi show; it can be tricky to gauge the performance of even the best loudspeakers given variations in noise, room material and running-in time, but with digital players, as well as headphones, it's just you and the music in your own little oasis of sound. Almost.

We've occasionally found A&K players to be a tad unresponsive when compared to the best touchscreens and interfaces offered by the likes of Samsung and Apple, but there's less of a hint of lag or ambiguity with the SP4000.

The screen itself feels precise and responsive, and while we weren't in a position to pull out an iPhone and do a like-for-like comparison, we didn't notice that frustrating feeling of vagueness or delay that can make operation feel like a chore rather than a joy.

What we would say is that the SP4000 is an absolute unit. A&K players are always large affairs, and it's one of the things we've pointed to in the past that may act as a limitation on anyone seeking hi-res sound that can be taken on the train in the back of a work rucksack.

The SP4000 is a mini behemoth, and while it feels well-made and has the sheen and allure of an appropriately premium product, you might need a bigger bag, plus a yearly gym membership, if you're planning on picking one up.

Some serious firepower

The new A&ultima SP4000 is built around A&K's advanced 'Octa' circuit architecture which "distils purest essence of audio engineering" to provide a "refined yet powerful sound that is remarkably close to perfection". We like the confidence.

The SP4000 can handle hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512 and comes equipped with 256GB of internal memory for your digital library alongside support for microSD cards up to 1.5TB. There's also wi-fi and DLNA network support, and USB digital audio output and a USB-C port for data transfer and charging.

We're listening using a pair of A&K's own in-ear headphones, so we're wary that part of the sound we experience will be imparted by the Korean brand's in-ears. However much of the resultant profile comes from the IEMs or from the player, the sound that makes its way to our ears has a distinctly "hi-fi" flavour.

How does it sound?

This is an informative reproduction, one that puts you in the picture as clearly and accurately as the most steady-handed of professional photographers.

It's a sonic character that reminds us of the authoritative and detailed nature of the established five-star A&ultima SP3000, wherein tunes have the sparkling sheen and polish of a professional player with proper pedigree.

A&K has been kind enough to install a selection of test tunes onto its latest creation. We've had quite enough of Billie Eilish and Dire Straits for one hi-fi show, thank you very much, so we decide to wake ourselves up a bit with Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.

The SP4000 feels forensic in the way that it tracks instrumental textures and the ebb and flow of rhythms, bolstering its credentials as an informative and detail-heavy performer.

Guitars are replete with bite and scratch, while Kurt Cobain is hearteningly throaty in his delivery of that irrepressibly iconic chorus. If you're looking for a player that gives you half a chance of understanding what he's actually saying, the A&K appears to be a fine candidate.

Its midrange clarity does, we say tentatively, appear to be one of the A&K's more potent strengths. We switch from one much-missed grunge icon to another, swapping out Teen Spirit for Audioslave's Like A Stone and discovering with pleasure how distinct the contrasting deliveries now sound.

Chris Cornell is less scratchy and raw than Cobain here, and his heartfelt delivery comes through as sincere and downtrodden as the track plays through.

It's those more indefinable or esoteric qualities that often go on to define greatness, and we often need more time with a product than a quick hands-on assessment can afford. The Who's Baba O'Riley is full of detail, but the sense of dramatic grandeur as things build is what separates the men from the boys.

We're wary that incredibly informative and detail-heavy players can sound off-hand or removed, so we'd like more testing time to discover whether the SP4000 can make us feel truly involved in our most adrenaline-inducing tunes.

Go big or go home

From what we've heard, the A&ultima SP4000 is an Astell & Kern portable music player through and through. It has that "hi-fi in your hand" sound that has made its predecessors and stablemates so appealing, even if we would need proper testing time to assess its deeper qualities and drawbacks.

What makes the A&ultima SP4000 notable is its size. It's a big, costly unit (prices are TBC but are set to fly north of £4000 / $4000 / AU$5500), so you'll end up with a very large, very high-end piece of kit in your back pocket.

That might be off-putting for some, but the allure of outstanding sound – if the SP4000 does turn out to be a class-leading performer – could well outweigh all other considerations.

For the right buyer, of course.

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If you've checked out our list of the best portable music players right now, you'll have noticed that one brand is currently dominating the market. South Korean manufacturer Astell & Kern knows its way around a portable music player, returning again with a new flagship model which it hopes will continue a hot streak of Award-winning hi-res audio players.

The audio brand has a new flagship player, the A&ultima SP4000, which will make its global debut at next week’s High End Munich Show, arriving alongside two new pairs of in-ear monitors – the Luna and the XIO, both of which will launch fully later this year.

We don't have official figures yet, but we have tested Astell & Kern's previous SP3000 flagship, which launched at £3799 / $3699 / AU$5499, so we can expect the new flagship player to sport a similarly high-end price.

The A&ultima SP4000 has been constructed around A&K's advanced 'Octa' circuit architecture, distilling the "purest essence of audio engineering" to provide a "refined yet powerful sound that is remarkably close to perfection".

The hi-res player's new circuit architecture is designed so that digital signals are delivered more precisely to a single DAC without the need to distribute noise, enabling improved signal separation and processing.

Further features look to enhance the new player's sonic talents. A&K's 'New Advanced Digital Audio Remaster' technology aims to add refinement and naturalness to music by restoring lost harmonics and using more powerful upsampling. The SP4000 also incorporates an advanced circuit board in pursuit of minimal signal loss and enhanced audio quality.

The SP4000 is capable of handling hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512, and the new player comes equipped with 256GB of internal memory for your digital library, and support for microSD cards up to 1.5TB. There's also wi-fi and DLNA network support, and USB digital audio output and a USB-C port for data transfer and charging.

The SP4000 grants support for the high-quality aptX Adaptive and LDAC Bluetooth codecs for 24-bit audio playback. The player's clever 'BT Sink' function allows the SP4000 to connect to an external device via Bluetooth, and to function as a wireless DAC.

A&K's latest player offers around 10 hours of continuous playback from a single charge, with charging taking around four hours to get fully juiced. The SP4000 is crafted from stainless steel, with a PVD-coated ceramic back, and comes with a Perlinger leather case.

What about those new in-ear headphones? Astell&Kern has collaborated with established headphones manufacturer 64 Audio to produce the XIO, a 10-driver IEM featuring an isobaric cone-to-magnet driver configuration. Housed in a stainless steel shell with a black coating, the monitor "combines technical sophistication with a rugged, luxurious finish".

Also arriving are the Luna, a new set of IEMs developed in-house by Astell&Kern. The Luna boast a full-range single micro planar magnetic driver, as well as hi-fi grade silver-coated and copper cables and an included 4.4mm balanced plug.

The new flagship SP4000 portable music player will go on sale this summer, with pricing to be confirmed. We'll let you know as soon as we have official figures. Both pairs of IEMs will be officially unveiled in Q3 of 2025, with more information set to land next week at Munich. Once we get it, we'll update you on prices and availability.

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Astell & Kern has launched a clever twist on its tried-and-tested hi-res music player formula. The new A&K PD10 is a portable music player that you can listen to on the go, but it also comes with a docking cradle that transforms it into a music streamer for your home audio system.

The South Korean brand is no stranger to innovative products (check out the ACRO CA1000T desktop player), and the PD10's dual-purpose use is ideal for those who want high-performance audio but don't want to go down the traditional separates route.

The PD10 looks like most other Astell & Kern digital audio players (DAP), such as the Award-winning A&norma SR35 and high-end A&ultima SP3000, which are among the best portable music players we've tested.

The stainless steel and glass design features a Full HD 6-inch touchscreen display, with 256GB of internal storage that can be expanded with microSD cards up to 2TB. The customary tactile volume wheel of most A&K players has been replaced by buttons in this model, while a colour-changing LED ring around the power button signals the bitrate of the track playing.

A&K has taken plenty of care with the internal circuit of the PD10 to deliver "an astonishing level of sound". To do this, it uses the same HEXA audio circuit design first seen in the five-star flagship SP3000 player. The PD10 uses two AKM AK4191EQ chips for the digital signals and four brand-new AKM AK4498EX DAC chips for the analogue stages, thus keeping the digital and analogue signal processing stages completely separate.

Performance is optimised even further thanks to two separate audio circuits for the balanced and unbalanced outputs respectively. The PD10 also features two amplifiers with different sound tunings (Normal Gain AMP and High Gain AMP) so users can select the sonic character that suits their tastes and headphones best.

And finally, the PD10 has a smart gain mode that automatically selects the best amplifier mode match to your headphones' impedance. This is especially useful if you have multiple wired headphones of various types and impedances that you use regularly, so the PD10's ability to automatically distinguish between low and high impedances takes out a lot of manual tweaking.

The docking cradle, meanwhile, has a pair of balanced XLR outputs so you can directly connect it to a pair of active speakers or your home system's two-channel amplifier. Slot the PD10 into the cradle's USB-C connection and you'll be able to stream your digital library to your home speakers.

You can use the PD10's volume button to control output levels or set a fixed level by using the line out option. There's no display, but the cradle has a colour-coded LED that informs you of the current track's bitrate.

The PD10 can be used in conjunction with a variety of other hi-fi products and storages: it has wi-fi, supports AirPlay, is DLNA compatible and has Roon Ready certification. As a portable player, it has 15 hours of battery life.

Its USB-C port can be used for charging, file transfer and as a DAC, while Bluetooth 5.3 is on board for wireless compatibility. The PD10 supports native playback of high-resolution files up to 32-bit/784kHz PCM and DSD512, while aptX HD, LHDC and LDAC codecs are supported over Bluetooth.

Of course, you can achieve much of this set-up's features with an A&K SR35 player (£599) and a WiiM Pro Plus (£219) or Cambridge Audio MXN10 (£349) streamer, but the PD10 has a fair few more technological advances and it would be missing the point of this sleek two-in-one solution.

The Astell & Kern PD10 hi-res portable player/streamer is available from May with a rather hefty price tag of £2499 / $2499.

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We're calling it now: we’ve already found the best bargain in Amazon’s Spring Deal Days (25th-31st March 2025): the Astell&Kern CA1000T reduced from £2299 to just £999.

This high-end digital music system combines Astell&Kern's award-winning sound quality and exquisite design with a versatile feature list: just add headphones or active speakers to transform your sound, anywhere.

This sonic Swiss-army knife is a digital audio player, USB DAC and amplifier rolled into one, controlled via a pop-up display screen and a tactile volume dial. With both wireless and wired – plus digital and analogue – connectivity options, it can be the compact heart of any hi-fi set-up.

From streaming services to digital downloads to video and gaming, the CA1000T will play it all, in sublime quality. It's also Roon Ready and handles every file format you can think of (including MQA), supporting high-resolution audio playback up to native DSD512 and 32bit/768 kHz.

Better sound at home or work

The CA1000T is the ideal desktop system for all sorts of uses – plug in headphones or earphones for solo listening, or switch to active speakers when they suit the occasion. Connect your computer via USB for an instant audio upgrade (even to video calls) or wirelessly stream to or from networked devices.

Want to get more technical? The CA1000T was the world's first device to use the flagship ESS ES9039MPRO Dual-DACs and is a quad-core, triple-amp system with dual Triode KORG Nutube tubes to fine-tune your sound. The system easily drives high impedance headphones, with 4-step gain levels to maximum 15Vrms output.

And the CA1000T has another trick up its sleek metal sleeve: Lithium Polymer battery power means technically you can take it anywhere. At almost a kilo (980g) and measuring 10.5 x 4.5 x 15.6 cm, it's not going to fit in your pocket, but once you've heard what it can do, we're betting you'll find bag space for it on the next trip to your office/co-working space/hotel.

Ins and Outs

The CA1000T boasts excellent connectivity options. Its front panel houses 3.5mm, 6.35mm unbalanced, and 2.5mm 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs.

Round the back, the system has both XLR and RCA outputs, plus 4.4mm, optical and coaxial inputs. Here's where you’ll find USB-C ports for both charging and computer connectivity, and a microSD card slot that handles memory cards with a capacity of up to 2TB – enough to hold thousands of albums, even at high-resolution.

Art of the deal

At £999, the CA1000T is an absolute steal, offering high-end performance for mainstream money. This is a rare chance to own one of Astell&Kern’s most versatile audio systems: don’t miss out.

The CA1000T is available for £999 as part of the Amazon Spring Deal Days promotion, which runs from 25-31 March, while stocks last.

Astell & Kern's more lifestyle and wallet-friendly sub-brand Activo has announced the launch of its first pair of wired in-ear headphones. The new Volcano IEMs are built to provide a "powerful and refined listening experience" at an affordable price, a similar trick the brand attempted to pull with the Activo P1 portable music player – which at £399 / $430 is more reasonably priced than A&K's more premium fare.

Each Volcano earpiece houses a triple driver array consisting of a single 8mm and dual 6mm dynamic drivers, offering what Active promises is a "deep, thrilling sound that enhances every music experience". Central to the Volcano’s performance is an optimised internal port system that aims to provide a more natural, balanced sound across the frequencies, with the port’s tapered structure letting sound flow more freely in pursuit of a smooth, immersive listen.

Crafted from durable yet lightweight polycarbonate material, the Volcano's ergonomically designed housing also aims to complement the drivers' sonic performance while promoting a stable, comfortable fit.

The wired in-ears come equipped with Activo's hybrid cable which blends a silver-plated wire with an oxygen-free copper wire for "exceptional clarity and a comfortable listening experience". What's more, you get swappable 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C connectors included in the box, which means you can connect the wired in-ears to a wide range of devices and sources, regardless of the inputs available.

Activo includes three sets of silicone ear tips alongside three pairs of memory foam tips (both in small, medium and large) to help find the best fit for your ears.

The Activo Volcano in-ears are available now, priced at £99 / $80.

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What is the point of a dedicated portable music player? While your smartphone doubles up as your music player thanks to access to a multitude of streaming apps and internet radio, it has many other jobs to do as well. A dedicated music player’s job is to only play music, and free you of all the distractions that a smartphone brings, so you can enjoy your music library in peace, and in much better quality while on the move.

Dedicated portable music players have onboard storage for digital files, play CD-quality and hi-res files, support wireless and wired headphones, and have the technology dedicated to ensuring your music – even old MP3s – can sound their best.

Astell & Kern is one of the brands that have dominated this market, with numerous five-star reviews heaped upon their excellent music players that sound fantastic, bringing out more detail, dynamics and power than even the best-sounding smartphone is able to. A&K’s players tend to be rather pricey, however, and so the Activo sub-brand was created to cater to a younger, more ‘active’ audience whose budgets can't quite stretch to four figures.

Enter the Activo P1 portable music player. Does it do its job in replacing your smartphone as a music player?

Price

The Activo P1 costs £399 / $430, which is a considerably cheaper entry point into the world of hi-res music players compared with parent brand Astell & Kern’s repertoire. Astell & Kern’s current ‘entry-level’ portable music player, the excellent A&norma SR35, launched at £799 / $799 in mid-2023. We’ve seen prices for the SR35 dip to £599 / $649 before, and this model remains our top Award-winning recommendation if you want a great-performing dedicated hi-res player on the go.

Around the Activo P1’s price we have the Sony Walkman NW-A306, a compact and likeable if sometimes clunky player that is a smidge cheaper at £349 / $350.

Build & design

Despite the large difference in price, we mention the SR35 player for two reasons: the same team behind our favourite portable digital audio player (DAP) is behind the conception and design of this more affordable Activo P1, so we aren’t surprised to find some similarities under the hood. But the physical design is chalk and cheese. The SR35 (and indeed most of A&K’s premium players) are all sharp edges, dark metal and glass, and sleek, expensive-looking designs that justify their high price points. The Activo P1, in contrast, is light, bright and smooth.

Going for curved edges rather than the usual sharp corners of its parent brand’s designs is an immediate differentiator. The P1 is more akin to the size of a slim smartphone than the smaller, palm-sized Sony NW-306, but we’re in two minds about how it feels in the hand. We like the smooth curves, but we’re not keen on the rather cheap-feeling body that is a mix of polycarbonate on top and aluminium on bottom. It’s slippery and we can never get a firm grip on it. The thicker width at the top section also feels inelegant and odd to hold in-hand. Sony’s NW-A306 manages to create a lightweight body that feels of a higher quality, and we like its scalloped ridges at the back that help us keep a firm, secure grip on the player.

The physical volume and playback buttons at either side of the P1 also feel a touch cheap when clicked, but they are textured so you know exactly which button you’re pressing, and they are responsive in use.

The bigger issue we have with the Activo P1’s design is the screen. The 4.1in 720x1080 display screen has a dulled, grey/blue undertone to the white balance that never looks crisp or clean. It has poor contrast, too, and we find it quite uncomfortable to look at. It’s not too dissimilar to the effect a too-bright cool-toned overhead fluorescent light offers – it’s an unpleasant quality that strains our eyes, especially when looking at the screen at night. We turn the screen to full brightness and even try the warm-toned night mode, but it doesn’t help.

The touchscreen itself is fairly responsive otherwise, and the interface is simple enough to get around and use. Downloading music, finding your music files, changing the settings and playback are all perfectly logical. We just wish the design was more polished and felt of a higher quality for the price.

Features

Where we can’t fault the Activo P1 is its extensive features list. You get two headphone outputs (3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced), a USB-C port for charging and transferring music files, and you can also use it as a DAC between your laptop and headphones. Along with wired headphones, you can even connect Bluetooth wireless earbuds to the P1, and higher-quality aptX HD and LDAC codecs are supported too.

The internal storage is 64GB – which is double that of the Sony NW-A306 – and it’s mercifully not taken up by unnecessary bloatware (only 1GB is taken over by the operating system, which is hardly anything). As with most A&K players, it runs on a pared-down Android OS but you get access to the Google Play Store to download streaming service apps such as Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, and even YouTube. It doesn’t try to mimic your smartphone like the Sony Walkman does, and that’s to the P1’s credit.

This also means the P1 runs fairly quickly and smoothly in daily use. If 64GB isn’t enough to carry all your digital music files, you can expand that storage thanks to a microSD card slot that supports a maximum of 1.5TB capacity.

The 20-hour battery life is decent, but it can be power-hungry when you’re playing hi-res tracks exclusively and drains the battery noticeably quicker.

Delving into the settings and technical specifications is where things start to get familiar, as we’ve encountered many of the features and technology in A&K players before – from its DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) upsampling technology and ability to use it as a source with the line-out mode, to various settings for filters, gapless playback and Roon Ready certification. There is a 20-band parametric equaliser that you can tweak to your heart’s desire.

Internally, the Activo P1 uses Astell & Kern’s Tetraton Alpha Amp technology and ESS ES9219Q SABRE dual DACs, while an octa-core processor keeps things speedy. Dual-band wi-fi is also on board, although we had some issues connecting to our home internet at first. We never had any hiccups in streaming songs from Tidal once connected, though. The P1’s file resolution support is extensive: it natively supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, DSD256 and MQA files. The sampling rate, file format and whether you have DAR enabled or not are clearly labelled when playing a track.

Sound

We load up the Activo P1 with our usual mix of hi-res FLAC downloads, CD-quality WAV rips and a handful of MP3 files, and download Tidal too. We tried a variety of wired headphones during our testing, from the open-back Grado SR80x to the more premium Beyerdynamic Amiron, but the majority of our time was spent with the affordable Rode NTH-100 closed-back cans plugged in.

Playing tracks from Lorde, Doechii, Fleetwood Mac and Khruangbin, we hear a smooth, even tonal balance, with no undue harshness or flab at either end of the frequencies. It’s not too dissimilar from the pricier A&K SR35’s balance, and there is decent solidity, body and power underpinning each song, with a big sense of space too.

But there is a distinct lack of dynamics and rhythmic precision. Musically, it all sounds rather flat and one-dimensional, with very little energy or subtleties in the melody. Most songs rely on a sense of rhythmic drive, with a tune either going through quiet/loud/quiet moments or ratcheting up towards a crescendo or building momentum – the Activo P1 isn’t able to communicate those elements of a song with much subtlety.

It’s a rather blunt sound. Doechii’s animated, crystal clear delivery in Denial Is A River doesn’t have its zest or rhythmic drive, and while most Khruangbin songs have repetitive notes and motifs, we don’t get much of a sense of agility or instruments working in cohesion with each other. The brooding, bombastic tones of a Hans Zimmer soundtrack have a good amount of muscle and weight behind them when the orchestra starts to get dramatic, but we want the propulsive nature to grab us and keep our attention fully rapt with anticipation.

Switch to Lorde’s Royals and we also notice the sound from the P1 is a touch subdued. We never seem to get the right volume level, which further suggests an unsubtle handling of dynamics. We keep pushing the volume up higher (past the warning limit) and even then we’re still yearning for more punch and more immediacy from the song.

For curiosity, we plug the Rode headphones into an iPhone 12 with the Lightning-to-3.5mm jack adapter (which does have a DAC inside it) and while it isn’t as big-sounding, punchy or have as much body as the P1, we do hear a better sense of agility, more precise rhythms and much more nuanced and engaging dynamics. Play Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain and the bass notes sound taut and shapely, and have the feel of someone plucking at them with varying intensities and pressure, while the electric guitar has that whining sheen around the notes as Lindsey Buckingham wails a solo. Switching back to the Activo P1, and it has dulled all that shine; the bass is woolier, and the whole song loses its energy and verve. It never manages to achieve that lively spark and pizazz when listening through the admittedly leaner and less powerful iPhone.

Turning on DAR mode on MP3 files does give the music a touch more punch and muscle, while playing downloads (WAV and FLAC) sounds more solid and fleshed-out than when streaming over Tidal, but the same overall sonic presentation remains. Connection to a pair of Bluetooth earbuds such as the Technics EAH-AZ100 is easily done, with the pairing process swift, and the connection is stable throughout.

Verdict

To say we’re disappointed by the Activo P1 is an understatement. It’s rare that we come across a product these days – of any type or price – that delivers such an underwhelming performance. The player has a good concept and all the right ingredients, but it falls short of what we would expect for its asking price.

Considering the pedigree behind its conception and despite being an ‘entry-level proposition’, £399 / $430 is still a sizable chunk of money to spend on a dedicated music device and we expect and hope for a certain standard of build and performance at this level. We’ve tested much cheaper players from Cowon, iBasso, Fiio and Sony over the years that have delivered a more pleasing mix of sound and build quality overall; let’s hope the next iteration of the Activo can deliver a more satisfying experience.

First reviewed: February 2025

SCORES

• Sound 3
• Features 5
• Build 3

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Astell & Kern has announced availability for its A&ultima SP3000T hi-res music player and the new Novus in-ear monitors, two high-end products unveiled at CanJam NYC earlier this year.

The new top-of-the-range SP3000T takes all the technology from the flagship (and five-star) SP3000 digital audio player (DAP) and throws in the analogue warmth of tube amplification, allowing users to customise their sound using Astell & Kern’s Triple Amp System. 

This means a listener can choose to use the tube (or valve) amp, a digital op-amp or a hybrid of both during music playback – each with their own unique sound signatures. 

In Tube Amp mode, the SP3000T calls on Dual Raytheon JAN6418 MIL-SPEC vintage vacuum tubes to create that familiar tube warmth, while the Op-Amp mode focuses on clarity, with an extremely low noise floor. Can’t decide? Opt for Hybrid Amp Mode to get a taste of both, which promises to further enhance both resolution and clarity.

As for design, the SP3000T features a stainless-steel body with 99.9% pure silver plating, and caters to all headphone connections with a choice of 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports.

Powering the hi-res player is a Snapdragon 6125 Octa-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, which is twice the amount of RAM more commonly used in digital audio players. There’s also Asahi Kasei Microdevices' latest flagship DAC, the AKM AK4499EX, which offers complete separation of digital and analogue signals for the purest sound reproduction. Hi-res support is extensive, with playback up to 32-bit/784kHz PCM, DSD512 and MQA files supported, and aptX HD and LDAC Bluetooth codecs on board.

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000T is available to buy now for £3199 / $2999 / €3599.

Also coming soon are the Astell & Kern X Empire Ears Novus, a pair of high-end in-ear wired headphones that follow in the footsteps of the Odyssey IEMs, which was the first collaboration of these two brands back in September 2022.

The Novus in-ears have been developed without compromise, with all components and materials selected to create a flagship sound capable of extracting every last detail from your music.

The purpose-built W9+ drivers are encased in “diamond-like carbon” aluminium shells with 24K gold-plated faceplates and sapphire glass.

This rigid design is complemented by a custom-made four-wire hybrid copper, gold and silver cable reinforced with black macro-molecular fibre and a 4.4mm balanced jack.

There’s a bit more of a wait on the Novus IEMs, but you’ll be able to pick them up towards the end of May for a pretty substantial price tag of £4999 / $4999 / €5799.

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2023 really has been the year of the portable headphone amp and DAC combo. iFi led the charge with the five-star iFi Go Link, the excellent hip-dac 3 and the recently unveiled iDSD Diablo 2, while the FiiO KA13 and the Earfun UA100 only added competition to an increasingly busy market. They're everywhere right now.

Astell & Kern is getting in on the act as well this year. The South Korean audio manufacturer has unveiled its new HC4 DAC as the successor to the brand's HC3 model, featuring a new internal DAC chip and a host of connectivity options – to compete in this market, you need to bring out the big guns.

The headline grabber is certainly that bespoke internal DAC model (the AK44993S, if you're interested), with the HC4 the first product to be fitted with the new tech. According to the maker, this "class-leading technology" ensures "exquisite sound reproduction" thanks to its improved noise control. 

What about the supported formats on offer? The A&K HC4 offers support for Native DSD256 as well as PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz and is also equipped with digital audio remaster (DAR) technology, which upsamples the sample rates to push beyond the source format's original limits. That, combined with the introduction of Astell & Kern's updated internal circuitry, aims to deliver a more faithful, textured sound as a result. 

In terms of inputs, the new portable DAC comes kitted out with a USB-C input as well as 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, which should cater to most headphone models comfortably. The DAC also comes with both USB-C and Lightning cables so you can be sure you're able to connect to any device, including the new iPhone 15, without a problem. You can even hook up your portable gaming device, such as a Nintendo Switch, thanks to the HC4's UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 connections. 

Daubed in an enticingly named "Moon Silver" aluminium finish, the new Astell & Kern HC4 is available now for a price of £219 / $220 / AU$399. To put that into context with its competitors, the recently-reviewed iFi hip-dac 3 provides direct competition at £199 / $199 / AU$449. That could certainly be an exciting head-to-head...

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Astell & Kern has announced two portable products designed to spruce up your on-the-go listening: the AK HB1 DAC/amplifier and Kann Ultra music player. 

Let's start with the new HB1 which, according to the Korean manufacturer, delivers "outstanding high-resolution sound" to PCs, phones and tablets via either a wired USB-C or wireless Bluetooth connection. The DAC supports native DSD256 and 32-bit/384 kHz playback, as well as MQA playback courtesy of a renderer function.

Bluetooth codec support is pretty extensive, too. The HB1 is compatible with LDAC (Sony's high-quality codec), aptX HD, AAC and SBC. Further to connectivity, the HB1 offers both 3.5mm (unbalanced) and 4.4 mm (balanced) output connections to cater to a range of wired headphones.

Even on-the-go gamers are catered for here. Many handheld gaming devices still only offer UAC 1.0 connections, but the HB1 supports both UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 for cross-platform listening. Devices such as the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, for instance, should enjoy lower latency and better audio for what A&K promises will be "an immersive gaming experience".

The AK HB1 comes with a "high-quality" microphone for clear voice calls. The DAC/amp combo comes loaded with the company's Clear Voice Capture technology which works to block out ambient noise while enhancing voice clarity.

The Astell & Kern AK HB1 is available now for £259 / $250 / AU$489.

Next up is the latest entry in the acclaimed A&K Kann line. The new Kann Ultra is Astell & Kern's most powerful portable player to date, the first to feature next-gen Octa-core processors. With new DAR technology and an upgraded internal DAC, the Kann Ultra could be set to redefine what a portable music player can do at this level.

The new portable model sports a USB-C input for charging plus 3.5mm (unbalanced and optical) and 4.4mm (balanced) outputs, and is capable of supporting up to 32-bit/768Hz file decoding. The display, meanwhile, is a 5.5-inch HD touchscreen.

What do Octa-core processors do, exactly? In essence, they aim to provide better sound with faster system speeds and a smoother, more seamless user interface. Within this newly designed player, the audio circuitry is removed from the processors themselves in order to reduce heat and noise from the processors and thus improve audio performance.

DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) technology, meanwhile, aims to deliver refined sound at higher sample rates, upsampling those rates from the source to "go beyond the limits of the format". Triple Output Mode, meanwhile, strives to boost the detail and performance of the more demanding headphones out here. 

That's not the end of A&K's engineering lesson, either. The Korean brand's Teraton Alpha tech is also on board, this time with the task of reducing unwanted noise at high power. This unique in-house technology is devised to deliver audio playback that is as close to the original sound as possible through more efficient power management, unwavering amplification and the reduction of unwanted noise. 

The Astell & Kern Kann Ultra, available in aluminium Astro Grey, is available for £1599 / $1540 / AU$2980. 

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And these are our Award-wining DACs for 2023

Read our review of the Award-winning Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII

Astell & Kern has revealed its new AK UW100MKII premium wireless earbuds, designed to bring high-quality audio and distinct styling to a very crowded, popular category that includes five-star rivals from Apple, Bose and Sony. 

The new buds are the successor to the original UW100 model and, according to the manufacturer, go one step further to set "a new standard in true wireless sound". 

The upgraded model has been refined to offer a more detailed, precise wireless sound thanks to a redesigned acoustic chamber, a new balanced armature driver, an onboard 32-bit DAC and support for aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec.

Additionally, the new earbuds feature a more advanced circuit design, which the South Korean manufacturer promises will ensure a more stable connection and reduce sound distortion and unwanted noise.

Instead of active noise cancellation (ANC), however, the AK UW100MKII are equipped with PNI (Passive Noise Isolation). Unlike standard ANC which focuses on cancelling low-frequency noise, PNI instead removes ambient noise in the mid and high ranges. It'll be interesting to see how that fares next to the fully ANC-equipped class-leaders.

The power system for the AK UW100MKII has been reconfigured as well, increasing battery life to 9.5 hours for the buds and 29 hours in total with the charging case. If you're heading out and need a boost, the charging cradle will offer an hour of playtime from a quick ten-minute charge.

The new premium buds include Qualcomm’s cVc Generation 8.0 (Clear Voice Capture) technology to deliver clearer call audio. It's designed to keep background noise to a minimum, boosting the human voice to produce better-quality audio during calls.

The touch controls offer plenty of functions. Tap to switch between playing music, answering calls, activating ambient mode, adjusting the volume and more. The UW100MK II also feature Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity, which lets you switch between listening to two connected devices seamlessly.

Those on-ear controls can be tweaked and customised through the Astell & Kern app. From here, you can also personalise the 10-band EQ to your liking, check the buds' battery life or change the Ambient Mode's four different levels as you see fit.   

That signature starburst-style design returns, with five ridges convening into a single point to give a pointed star profile from which the company partially takes its name. According to the brand, the unique shape "symbolises the brand’s core identity of representing the centre of music while its contrasting surfaces reflected the light to embody the twinkling and scattering of starlight." Obviously!

The Astell & Kern AK UW100MKII will be available to buy from early October 2023 for £269 / $280 / AU$499. Astell & Kern is clearly targeting the premium end of the true wireless market. At this premium price, the UW100MKII will face stiff competition from the Award-winning Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the new five-star Sony WF-1000XM5 – both of which offer ANC and class-leading sound quality.

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“It’s déjà vu all over again,” one of the famous malapropisms by late Yankees legend Yogi Berra, feels like a fitting reaction to unboxing the Astell & Kern A&norma SR35. We get the overwhelming sense that we have been here before. And again before that. It’s understandable really, as the new SR35 is the fourth iteration of this portable music player we have reviewed in as many years, and the model’s appearance has varied little more than Mickey Mouse’s over their careers.

Either the South Korean portable audio specialist is needlessly determined to compete with the annual smartphone launch cycle, or it keeps finding ways to improve upon its entry-level player and cannot resist sharing it with the world. Let’s go with the latter.

Price

Compared to its predecessor, the A&norma SR25 MKII, the SR35 has indeed evolved both the features offering and performance, though it should be said that it hasn’t done so without hoisting up the launch price by £100 / $50 / AU$200.

The SR35 might test the definition of ‘entry level’, and is a rung or two up the ladder from the budget Sony Walkman and most affordable Cowon and FiiO hi-res players, but it is still considerably more affordable than Astell & Kern’s next-model-up Kann Max (£1199 / $1300 / AU$1899).

Features

The new SR35 is the first model in the A&norma line to feature the company's in-house-designed New Generation AMP technology and a quad-DAC arrangement which allows the owner to engage all four of its Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips for a more engaging sound. (Alternatively, Dual mode can be selected for times when power consumption might be more of a priority than outright sound quality.) 

Found on its more premium players too, these technologies are part of Astell & Kern’s “ultimate sound” Teraton Alpha platform to reduce noise and maximise performance.

Furthermore, Dual Band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz) is now supported to deliver bolstered network stability when the player is making use of its brand-new Roon Ready support or streaming from Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Apple Music or any of the other services downloadable from the player’s menu. Two-way Bluetooth now supports the 5.0 standard, alongside the aptX HD and LDAC codecs, and a new user interface has been implemented.

Aside from these functionality upgrades and promised performance enhancement, the SR35 boasts many of the features that made its five-star, What Hi-Fi? Award-winning predecessor so successful – including three headphone outputs (3.5mm, 4.4mm and 2.5mm), native playback of MQA, DSD256 and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz files, 64GB of built-in storage (expandable by up to 1TB via a microSD card), and the neat ability to use the player as a performance-enhancing DAC device between your wired headphones and, say, laptop.

The 20-hour battery life remains, though that claim is supposedly based on the continuous playback of CD-quality music at middling volume in Dual DAC mode, so expect a more modest endurance if you’re going bananas playing a hi-res library loudly in Quad DAC mode.

All in all, the SR35 is a very well-specced player – and not too well-specced either. We have seen portable music players frequently adopt a full Android operating system and all the apps and phone-like density that goes with it, and most of the time it feels overwhelming and unnecessary for such an audio device. We like the SR35’s stripped-back functionality, which begins at the necessary device settings and ends with integrated streaming service support. It should be noted that the interfaces of the integrated streaming services can differ slightly from their Android and iOS versions, though are still familiar and easy to navigate.

Design

To labour the point, reviewing Astell & Kern’s entry-level portable music players over the best part of a decade has been somewhat akin to showing up to every Wes Anderson movie at the cinema in that same period – visually, we’ve known what we’re going to get. Much like Anderson movies, though, that’s no bad thing. We have always liked the player’s geometrically quirky aluminium casework and sleek, shiny finish, not to mention that nicely tactile volume dial which has found our favour with each generation. We are big believers in the ‘if it ain’t broke’ mantra.

Its compact dimensions (108 x 64 x 16mm) make it perfectly pocketable and easy to hold and operate in one hand – much more so than, say, the FiiO M11S – though what with the player’s increased asking price, it doesn’t do anything for its perceived value. Does the SR35 look like a £799 / $799 / AU$1299 device? In our minds, no it does not.

Another consequence to that physicality is a relatively small screen (3.6 inches) and, with it, relatively small areas on which to point your thumb or finger at the touchscreen keys. This is generally fine for playback operation and menu navigation, though precision is required when the keyboard pops up to type in our Tidal login credentials.

While there would be little to ring in a spot-the-difference of the SR35 and outgoing SR25 MKII’s casework, the new model does introduce a crimson red and black music player interface that is, we think, nicer to look at than the previous grey. Astell & Kern says the colour combo “lowers visual fatigue” too.

Sound

Sonic fatigue won’t be an issue either, unless your listening session includes playing the whole of The Cure's Disintegration album at the volume level it deserves (and demands in the liner notes!) That’s because the SR35 has the punch and rhythmic drive to keep you tapping along to upbeat tracks, and the insight to draw you into the details of those calmer ones. This is the kind of musical machine we have come to expect from Astell & Kern, and while the company has done well to differentiate its models of varying prices with regard to resolution and overall transparency, it has remained consistently loyal to a full-bodied, entertaining character across them.

It’s a very likeable presentation, with a tonal balance slightly on the rich side and a combination of power and finesse that feels very mature for a source at this level and that most headphones will get along just fine with. Thankfully, that same sonic signature also shines through our favoured Grado RS1x headphones when the SR35 handily steps in as a budget-level DAC between them and a Macbook Pro. Think somewhere between AudioQuest DragonFly Red and Cobalt DAC levels.

The SR35 effortlessly flows with all music it is handed, conveying a very decent amount of dynamic expression and ultimately more detail than we’ve been previously presented by a player at this price point. Playing Peter Broderick’s Eyes Closed And Travelling, the player captures the undulating dynamic subtleties of his spirited piano-playing to a level that’s unique until you reach further up Astell & Kern’s lineup. Over to The Tallest Man On Earth’s I Love You. It’s A Fever Dream and the SR35 offers a pleasantly wide window into not only the acoustic textures of his guitar and raw vocal but also the space he’s recording in.

There’s plenty in the way of verve when we chuck it Elvis Costello’s Lipstick Vogue and Drake’s What Next, but also the organisation and control to ensure nothing feels rushed or messy. The SR35’s soundstage isn’t as wide-open or big-sounding as the admittedly cheaper FiiO M11S’s, but nor does it feel small or congested – and the player reveals its superiority (and justifies its premium price) over the FiiO through greater clarity, subtlety and rhythmic cohesion anyway. As the SR35’s price demands, this is a more sophisticated, next-level performance than the few budget players still around are capable of.

There are noticeable losses when you gear down to Dual DAC operation – most notably in clarity, dynamism and subtlety – so we would only select that mode when battery life forces your hand. For the record, we prefer the player’s performance in Quad DAC and Normal AMP modes, with the ‘Low Latency Fast’ DAC filter activated – though the differences between the four available are small and only apply to 24-bit/192kHz PCM files or less. The balanced connection is also a route worth going down if you own a decent set of balanced headphones. As we found plugging the Sony MDR-Z1R into the SR35’s 4.4mm jack, the delivery is that bit clearer, bolder and more precisely drawn compared to through the 3.5mm output.

Verdict

It’s a pity Astell & Kern no longer appeases the budget (sub-£500 / $500 / AU$1000) music player market. Maybe there isn’t much of one, perhaps the company’s ambitions are just too high. But at this mid-range music player level, where you would be looking to build a serious four-figure personal listening set-up (that perhaps your hi-fi system might also benefit from), the company certainly comes to your aid. The A&norma SR35 may not exactly be dressed for its not-insignificant price, but there’s no uncertainty over whether it performs to it.

Review published: June 2023. Review updated: November 2024.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 4
• Build 5

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Read our review of the FiiO M11S

Also consider the Astell & Kern Alpha Max

Best portable MP3 players: budget to hi-res music players

Astell & Kern has announced a new A&futura SE300 portable music player, as well as the Aura wired in-ear headphones.

Astell & Kern has made a name for itself with its high-fidelity portable music players, with the A&norma SR25 MKII and A&future SE180 both claiming 2022 What Hi-Fi? Awards trophies. The new A&futura SE300 is priced higher than both these models, and comes equipped with an R-2R DAC, also known as a Ladder DAC thanks to the arrangement of its resistors. The South Korean brand promises that this will deliver “a natural hi-fi sound with unrivalled dynamism”. 

The SE300 uses technology known as “Teraton Alpha”, Astell & Kern's own system that uses noise removal, efficient power management and unwavering amplification for a more faithful sonic reproduction. 

As is usual for A&K, hi-res file support is extensive (up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256) and the player supports Tidal, Spotify, Amazon and Qobuz streaming services (amongst others). Bluetooth aptX HD and LDAC codecs are supported alongside wi-fi, too. There are balanced (2.5mm, 4.4mm) and unbalanced (3.5mm) outputs to cater to a wide variety of headphones.

On the outside, the A&futura SE300 is made from a blend of stainless steel and aluminium, boasting streamlined surfaces which “create a firm yet flexible image to reflect the flow of music”. There’s also an external wheel for controlling volume, while the bottom of the device curves outward for a more ergonomic design when handled.

The SE300 also comes with a redesigned user interface. The new layout promises an easy album art search function so that listeners can seamlessly browse categories while viewing and interacting with album art.

What about those in-ear headphones? A&K has collaborated with German company Vision Ears to produce the high-end Aura wired in-ears. Made in Cologne, the Aura are equipped with two 8mm low dynamic drivers and eight armature drivers, as well as a five-way crossover for better high frequencies.

There’s also a “unique isobaric configuration” so that the drivers face each other in order to deliver what Astell & Kern promises will be double the output volume.

The new headphones are cased in an aluminium, corrosion-resistant shell with a grey finish, with a dark bronze faceplate at the front of the buds. Furthermore, the Aura in-ears are sold with a selection of leather carry cases, earphone pockets and cable clips.

The SE300 music player will be available at astellnkern.co.uk and other trusted retailers for a recommended retail price of £1899 / €2199 / $1900 / AU$3099, whereas the Aura earphones will cost a whopping great £4199 / €4799 / $4200 / AU$6899 at the same trusted outlets.

Both products will be on show at this year’s High End Munich Show, which takes place next week from 18th to 21st May. You can find them at Astell & Kern’s stand, Booth H1, E03.

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Read our review of the Award-winning Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII

Check out our Astell & Kern A&futura SE180, also an Award-winner 

South Korean audio brand Astelll & Kern has announced a new limited edition version of the award-winning A&norma SR25 MKII hi-res player featuring double the storage capacity of the original and a brand new colour scheme. 

The limited edition version of SR25 MKII boasts a hefty 128GB of internal storage, twice the original’s rather limited 64GB. It’s not just what’s on the inside that counts, though, with the new limited-edition model getting a new lick of paint in an attractive hue that A&K has dubbed “Deep Blue”. 

We were huge fans of the original A&norma SR25 MKII, giving it the best portable MP3 player of the year Award for 2022 for players under £1000. It looks great and has enough features to satisfy most users, but it was the level of high-quality audio that really blew us away when we tested it last year. With dynamic insight, scalpel-like precision and a superb sense of rhythmic drive, the SR25 MKII truly earned its accolades at last year’s Awards.  

Our only frustration with the SR25 MKII, aside from some worryingly sharp corners and limited choice of colours, was the player’s rather miserly 64GB of internal space. It’s clear that A&K has listened to such concerns regarding limited capacity, making this new version a very tempting proposition indeed for those with larger digital music libraries. There’s the scope to expand this even further via the memory card slot, of course.

The Astell & Kern SR25 MKII Deep Blue limited edition player is now available to buy either direct via astellnkern.co.uk or at selected retailers. While we tested the original model at £699 back in the second half of 2022, this Deep Blue edition with extra storage currently retails at £729 in the UK, with other territories getting this version in due course.

MORE: 

Check out our original A&norma SR25 MKI review 

These are the best portable MP3 players around

Got even more to spend? The Astell & Kern A&futura SE180 is another award-winner 

For the best audio performance when listening to digital music on headphones, you'll need a separate DAC and/or a dedicated headphone amplifier. Astell & Kern's latest product combines both these elements with an adjustable screen display to create a unique desktop system for headphones-based listening. And it's portable, too.

Astell & Kern's ACRO CA1000T is not only the world's first portable device with ESS's latest flagship Dual DAC and Dual Tube Triple Amp System technologies, but it also has plenty of connections giving you lots of options in how you listen.

The ACRO CA1000T is "designed for audio connoisseurs", and it has the ports to prove it. XLR and RCA outputs are present and correct, along with wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technologies, letting you hook up all manner of speakers and external audio devices.

The ESS DAC inside the system is the ES9039MPRO, which claims to provide a clear, three-dimensional sound with improved modulation to improve power efficiency and reduce noise. It also has a new circuit design that promises a full, detailed sound across the frequency range.

Dual Twin Triode KORG Nutube tubes are also onboard, as is a complete balanced circuit that separates left and right channels with two vacuum tubes to create more natural, softer sounds. The Triple Amp System lets you choose either Tube Amp or OP Amp mode, or both at the same time.

Like the Astell & Kern ACRO CA1000 before it – which launched almost a year ago to the day – the CA1000T has the South Korean firm's Teraton Alpha tech, which aims to eliminate distortion at even the highest volumes. And it supports a four-stage Gain Level setting of up to 15Vrms for more advanced headphones and in-ear monitors.

In terms of looks, it's very much an Astell & Kern piece, with the firm's usual industrial design language and screen inspired by its portable music players. The screen tilts up to 60 degrees, too.

File playback compatibility is extensive – it supports up to native DSD512 and 32bit/768kHz PCM, MQA full decoding, and aptX HD and LDAC codecs for top-notch sound quality when streaming. It's Roon Ready, too.

On top of all this, the ACRO CA1000T is also portable, with over 10 hours of playback. The Battery Protection Mode keeps the power pack in rude health when plugged into the mains, by charging it up to a maximum of 85 per cent and returning it to that level when it drops to 80 per cent. This should negate any negative effects from staying connected to the mains over long periods. 

The ACRO CA1000T is available now for £2299 / $2300 / AUD$3699.

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The best hi-res music players on the market

FiiO has a brand new hi-res portable music player, the FiiO M11S. The new player boasts extensive audio file compatibility, dual DAC configuration and a new amplification circuit – all for a rather sensible price for a hi-res player.

Following in the footsteps of the widely popular M11 and excellent premium M11 Pro players, the M11S aims to extend the Chinese brand's success.

The M11S features two high-quality ES9038Q2M DAC chips – one for the left channel and one for the right channel. There's support for high-resolution audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256 and it can decode MQA tracks from Tidal. 

The M11S is also equipped with a new "innovative" headphone amplifier circuit and FiiO claims to achieve "one of the lowest noise floors" found in portable music players, measuring just 1.9uV. It should be powerful too – the balanced power output measures a claimed 670mW at 32 ohms. There is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, and a dedicated line-out.

Additionally, the M11S can be used as a USB DAC for your laptop – similar to the five-star M11 Pro we tested in 2020 – and as a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver for your smartphone and similar devices.

Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 660 chip (the same is used in FiiO's flagship M17 model), the new M11S runs on Android 10 OS. 

There are plenty of wireless options offered by the FiiO M11S: along with DLNA and AirPlay streaming, the player supports the LDAC, aptX HD and LHDC Bluetooth codecs for higher-quality streams between compatible devices. You can also install music streaming apps such as Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music and enjoy their hi-res lossless library in bit-perfect quality.

The M11S sports a 5-inch HD touchscreen display, lasts for 14 hours on battery, and has an onboard storage of 32GB – this can be extended using the micro SD card slot that supports up to 2TB cards. Ideal if you want to carry a significant, hi-res audio library with you at all times.

The FiiO M11S is available now for £489 / $499 (around AU$862). That's a fair bit cheaper than our current 2022 Award-winning Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII player, which offers up similar file compatibility, built-in streaming apps, exquisite design and advanced audio tech for a hefty £699 / $749 / AU$1099. Whether the new FiiO M11S can match A&K's proficiency for impressive sound quality (or indeed match its own M11 Pro) remains to be seen, but we're keen to find out.

MORE:

Read our FiiO M11 Pro review

And the Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII review

Our pick of the best portable music players

Astell & Kern is best known for its high-end portable music players, but now it's announced its first portable headphone amplifier. The PA10 uses the South Korean firm's Teraton Alpha tech as well as Class A amplification to drive your headphones.

A&K's PMPs have generally scored very well in our reviews (like the recent Award-winning A&norma SR25 MkII), so we're excited to see what its first portable headphone amp can do. The company makes some bold claims – it says the PA10 "generates natural, spacious and distortion-free analogue sound" and that it delivers a "warm, detailed and refined sound".

It also says that it has used its expertise in amplifier circuit design to reduce the PA10's power consumption while increasing its output and eliminating distortions and defects.

Teraton Alpha has been years in the making. It uses power noise removal, efficient power management and unwavering amplification to produce a sound quality that's as close as possible to the original recording.

The PA10 also controls the current to suit different pairs of headphones and in-ear monitors. Astell & Kern claims this makes for a more intensive, spatial sound.

It supports 4.4mm True Balanced input/output, and its crossfeed function uses exclusively hardware circuit design, not digital software. This is supposed to offer a more seamless crossfeed effect without degrading the audio.

Visually, the PA10 shares a lot in common with Astell & Kern's PMPs – muscular, is how we would describe its design language, with its octagonal pillar-shaped body made from aluminium.

Interested? The PA10 is available now for £549 / $550 / AU$899.

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The brand has a new DAC too, and it's not too expensive

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These are the best portable music players

Despite their mastery of multi-tasking, smartphones are not necessarily the best option if your focus is purely on playing music. While listening to your favourite music streaming service via your smartphone is incredibly convenient, dedicated portable music players, which are also called digital audio players (DAPs), are a great alternative if you have lots of hi-res music files and don't want any distractions while listening to them.

Unlike phones, portable music players do not have to juggle multiple tasks: their focus is on storing music files and playing it back at the highest possible quality. Portable music players tend to support full-fat high-resolution music files (at least up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD), and the very best examples perform well enough that they can justifiably feed high-end headphones or even a hi-fi system. They're also equipped with enough storage to hold vast music libraries containing nothing but albums recorded in the highest resolution.

Nowadays, most have built-in wi-fi and provide access to music streaming services such as Tidal and Spotify, too.

Our in-house expert reviewers have over 150 years of collective experience and have been testing portable music players since the heydays of the Walkman, iPod Classic and pill-shaped MP3 player. While the choice available today might not be the same as it was back then, owing to the widespread popularity of smartphone-based listening, there are still great hi-res players available from the likes of Sony, Astell & Kern and FiiO, all which are able to stunning audiophile-level sound quality.

We've picked the three best portable music players to suit all needs and budgets here, one of which is a current What Hi-Fi? Award winner, although all of them offer a superb sonic performance at their respective price point. They're all well-equipped in terms of features, too.

Any verdicts we reach are agreed upon as a team to eliminate any bias and to make sure we give the best advice for most people. We also pride ourselves in the honesty of our opinions.

To find out more on our testing process, check out the how we test section at the bottom of this page.

The quick list

Best portable MP3 players: compared

Here's how the best portable MP3 players fare against each other.

Best portable music player overall

The A&norma SR35 is Astell & Kern's budget offering, and while it stretches the definition of ‘entry-level’, being significantly pricier than the affordable Sony NW-A306 (below) and even the previous SR25 MKII model it replaces, there's no arguing with the astonishing level of performance it delivers. It's a current, multiple What Hi-Fi? Award winner, the best-value performer on this list and, to those who can afford it, our number one recommendation.

The excellent SR35 boasts many of the features that made its also-Award-winning predecessor so successful – including three headphone outputs (3.5mm, 4.4mm and 2.5mm); native playback of MQA, DSD256 and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz files; 64GB of built-in storage (expandable by up to 1TB via a microSD card); and the neat ability to use the versatile player as a performance-enhancing DAC between your wired headphones and, say, laptop.

It supports the Roon platform and has built-in access to streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music and Apple Music, while two-way Bluetooth (aptX HD and LDAC codecs are supported) allows you to stream music to wireless headphones or speakers, and send music to the player from another source.

There's no chance the SR35 will miss a beat with the music you send its way. As our expert reviewers note in our A&norma SR35 review, "the SR35 has the punch and rhythmic drive to keep you tapping along to upbeat tracks, and the insight to draw you into the details of those calmer ones".

The presentation is indeed hugely likeable overall, with a tonal balance slightly on the rich side, and a combination of power and finesse that feels very mature for a source at this level that most headphones will get along just fine with.

"As the SR35’s price demands, this is a more sophisticated, next-level performance than the few budget players still around are capable of," we concluded.

Read the full Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review

Best budget portable music player

If you want portable and pocketable without spending a fortune, the NW-A306 is the perfect-sized player for your needs. It's compact enough to fit in our palms and pockets comfortably, and we love the scalloped textured back that gives us a good grip without sacrificing style.

The NW-A306's connections are minimal, but that's no bad thing: the USB-C cable lets you charge, transfer files and use the Walkman as a DAC, while the 3.5mm headphone jack can be used with a variety of wired headphones. The available onboard storage is rather disappointing compared to other players – only half of its 32GB capacity is actually usable, with the other half taken up by the Android smart system – but it is possible to expand the storage thanks to the microSD slot.

Internally, NW-A306 is packed to the gills with features: the hi-res file support is extensive and excellent at this affordable price, the full Android OS means it effectively operates similarly to a smartphone (for better or worse) and lets you download your favourite music streaming service app. It even supports the higher-quality LDAC and aptX Bluetooth codecs.

As our in-house experts noted in our Sony NW-A306 review, the Walkman is "adept enough to turn its hand to various genres and even discern the differences in file qualities... It’s easy to follow each instrument’s path and interplay with each other, and the lack of any hardness means it’s comfortable to listen to over long periods of time."

Ultimately, it's a pleasingly detailed and clean performance. In fact, there’s a familial throughline from Sony's high-end NW-WM1ZM2 player to the A306 in terms of how mature and evenly balanced it sounds. It can also play at loud volumes without ever sounding harsh or confused. It isn't perfect: we'd like more dynamic punch and drive to songs that need it.

Nevertheless, this is a capable and great-value hi-res player that is worth considering if your budget doesn’t stretch to the more premium Astell & Kern SR35 player above.

Read the full Sony NW-A306 review

Best premium portable music player

The superb A&ultima SP3000 certainly isn't for the casual listener, with a four-figure price tag that puts it out of the reach of many.

If you really do value quality on the go, though (and have the funds to spare), this high-end Astell & Kern simply must make your shortlist. That said, it actually now has a successor, the A&Ultima SP4000, which is due to arrive in the coming months for a yet-to-be-announced RRP. We look forward to testing it then, but in the meantime the 'old' SP3000 is available at a discount.

We have had that in our test rooms, and it's packed with useful features and built to the highest standards, even if it is a bit chunkier than your standard portable device.

There's certainly no issue with file compatibility. The SP3000 can handle high-resolution files up to 32-bit/768kHz, PCM and DSD512, as well as MQA, all of which is thanks to the use of Asahi Kasei’s new flagship DAC chip, the AK4499EX. And Bluetooth is on the menu too, so you can use wireless headphones without a problem, and given the no-compromise nature of this design it comes as no surprise to find aptX HD and LDAC codecs on the spec list.

Elsewhere, A&K's engineers have worked to reduce internal noise via separate analogue to optimise the player's sonic performance – and it's paid off.

That all brings us to the SP3000's raison d'etre, and this is where the premium player truly shines. Across the board the A&K player has so much to recommend it, bringing together a tangible sense of musical insight as it coveys dynamic contrasts and rhythmic patterns with skill and intuition.

"The organisation of information is excellent," we said in our A&ultima SP3000 review, "with the player sounding as cohesive and balanced as they come... tonally things are nicely judged and it is a pleasant surprise to find out just how authoritative and muscular the SP3000 sounds."

If you've got the money and you're passionate about sound quality (and have equally impressive audiophile headphones or hi-fi system components to partner it with), we would wholeheartedly recommend the A&ultima SP3000. Or wait for the SP4000.

Read the full Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 review

Also consider

• FiiO M23: FiiO's latest mid-range player is almost the perfect player, with the most features in the market at this level, a great design and a big, spacious and detailed sound. It just isn't as musical-sounding as the Astell & Kern SR35 on this list.
• FiiO M11S: If you prioritise sound that is big, open and smooth, FiiO's middle-sitting M11S is a great cheaper alternative to the A&K SR35 on this list. It's wonderfully featured and looks and feels the part too.
• Astell & Kern A&futura SE180: Sitting between the two Astell & Kern models in this list is the SE180, which is quirky in that it has an interchangeable DAC module design allowing you to change the sound flavour, but also sounds excellent.
• Sony NW-WM1ZM2: An immensely capable and beautifully made performer that verges on excellent, even considering the high-end price. But you need to be careful about partnering equipment as it has a relatively limited power output.

How to choose the best portable music player for you

Whatever your budget, you will be surprised at what you can get for your money these days. Every player here supports the low-quality 'vanilla' MP3 and AAC files, of course, but we can all do better than that in 2024. All of the models above also support high-resolution audio files, such as 24-bit FLAC and WAV files, DSD and even sometimes MQA. We would recommend checking each player's specifications to make sure it can play the file types you already own.

Have an extensive digital music collection? No matter how large their built-in storage bank, all digital audio players have microSD memory slots, so your assembled throng of tracks, albums and artists need never stop growing. Expandable memory also means you can store all of your music in the highest quality possible, without worrying about those large WAV/DSD file sizes taking up all of the internal storage space.

You should always check the actual onboard storage of the player (sometimes the operating software takes up more space than what's advertised) to see if you'll need to invest in an additional memory card. For instance, 32GB of internal storage will be eaten up very quickly by large hi-res files, so make sure the expandable memory can accommodate 1TB or more so you can carry more albums around with you.

There are even MP3 players here that can double up as a DAC to enhance the sound between your smartphone/laptop and headphones/speakers. Most have built-in access to music streaming services, too, while others have even more functionality that mirrors a smartphone's (for better or worse). You can turn off additional features you don't need so that you can just concentrate on the music, though – it's your choice.

Many players also offer more than one choice of headphone socket. The standard 3.5mm headphone jack is always there for the bulk of wired headphones (thankfully, since it is long gone from phones) but you might also see a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, which is compatible with certain headphones. For more convenience (albeit less sound quality), players will often have Bluetooth for connecting to wireless headphones.

Most importantly, these MP3 or hi-res players should deliver excellent sound quality – far beyond that of your smartphone. Naturally the best players higher up the price rung deliver more audiophile-level sonic qualities – greater transparency, greater resolution, greater dynamics, and not to mention more advanced DAC features and digital filters. Such high-end models also come in more luxurious designs made from premium materials, meaning they are often considerably heavy, too – perhaps better suited to a place on your desktop or in a bag as opposed to a coat pocket.

But the budget and mid-priced models recommended above still deliver enjoyable sound for their asking prices. And remember, no matter how good it looks, portable players should ideally be easy to carry and comfortable to hold in your hand.

How we test portable music players

At What Hi-Fi?, we test portable music players exactly as we would use them if we bought them ourselves. We load the player up with a variety of music files – CD-ripped WAV, hi-res FLAC downloads, DSD tracks and even some MP3s – and download the streaming services we subscribe to.

After ensuring the music player is run in for a length of time, we plug in a pair of our favourite pairs of wired headphones and listen to the player over the course of weeks, out and about so we can gauge how portable and easy to use on the fly they really are, and also in our dedicated listening rooms, where we try them as the source in a price-suitable hi-fi system too.

Aside from testing sound quality, we also see how easy the player's menus and functions are to use, how responsive the touchscreen display is (if it has one), and how long the battery life lasts. We listen to the player with different genres of music (and music file formats) and listen for how faithfully it reproduces the audio quality of the downloaded (or streamed) track. If the player has additional features – such as built-in streaming services, Bluetooth and DAC-performing abilities – we always test those too.

Most important in our reviewing process is that each product is compared with the best in its price and class. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we keep our favourite five-star and Award-winning digital audio players nearby so we can benchmark the performance accordingly. Unless a product doesn't have a natural, price-comparable rival, it is always compared to at least one other class-leading competitor.

As with all What Hi-Fi? reviews, the final verdict and star rating are agreed upon by the review team, to eliminate individual bias and ensure our advice is thorough and consistent. We are proud to have delivered honest, independent reviews for over 45 years, with no input from brands, PRs or commercial teams, so you can trust our advice and buying advice.

You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.

FAQ

Recent updates

• January 2026: We updated the intro and the Astell & Kern SR35 entry to reflect its What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 win.
• March 2025: No recommendation changes this time. We had high hopes for the newly reviewed Activo P1, but our testing team was left disappointed by its performance.
• January 2025: Our three-strong list kicks off 2025 the way it left 2024, although FiiO did just announce an interesting new JM21 budget player at CES 2025, so that could well appear in this list providing it proves itself a worthy performer.
• October 2024: Our number-one pick is now labelled as a What Hi-Fi? Award 2024 winner, having kept its crown from last year. We have also added context around our high-end pick getting an all-new successor.
• September 2024: The newly reviewed FiiO M23 just misses out on this list with a performance that doesn't quite reach the heights of the Astell & Kern SR35 below, but if you want a feature-rich player for your desktop, it is still worth considering.
• July 2024: Nothing has shaken up the PMP market since our last update in May, although we currently have the superbly well-equipped FiiO M23 in our test rooms, so watch this space...
• May 2024: No new entries this time, with nothing arriving to trouble the Sonys and Astell & Kerns on this list. We have, however, added an Also Consider section to offer greater choice if our three picks don't suit your taste.
• March 2024: Updated testing process and added FAQ section to answer frequent questions and give advice on music players.
• November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
• October 2023: Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 entry added following five-star review.

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Get clued up, stat: MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC: all the audio file formats explained

Does it matter that the iPod is dead if this is what we get instead? Astell & Kern's Kann Max is a portable hi-res music player that looks like being a big upgrade on the five-star Kann Alpha. The Max packs more power (15V RMS) from a smaller, lighter body than its predecessor. 

That means it is compatible with a greater variety of headphones – including those with high impedance – without needing a separate amp. It also has headphone connections for 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.

The Max is the first Kann player with four ES9038Q2M DACs built in. Allocating a DAC to each of the four individual amplification channels, it is claimed, gives the audio more depth and realism, and should, combined with A&K's amplifier circuit technology, provide ultra-low distortion. 

The Kann Max supports files up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD512. And each of the three headphone output jacks is coated in gold PVD to minimise contact noise, which A&K says should make the sound better still. 

Also on board is Replay Gain functionality. This automatically and uniformly adjusts volume playback from sound sources up to 24-bit/192 kHz, so you are not constantly riding the volume controls while listening to a playlist.

Astell & Kern's patented Teraton Alpha Sound Solution also comes as standard. This removes power noise and provides efficient power consumption and amplification, with the intention of delivering audio playback at a quality close to the original.

You can connect the Max to your smartphone using the BT Sink function, so you can play tracks at the highest quality. Bluetooth 5.0 is also on board, with support for 24-bit aptX HD and LDAC codecs. There is wi-fi for connecting straight to the internet, and AK File Drop makes it easier to transfer files wirelessly – ideal for sharing tracks between devices. 

The 13-hour battery life is a little less than the 14.5 offered by the Alpha, but still fairly impressive given the new device's smaller size. The 64GB onboard memory can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card.

The Kann Max will cost £1199 / $1300 / AU$1899 and will be available from mid-June.

It's not the only new Astell & Kern device...

Astell & Kern and Campfire Audio Pathfinder

Astell & Kern has teamed up with US headphone maker Campfire Audio to create Pathfinder, a pair of in-ear monitors with Dual-Chamber Balanced Armature (BA) Driver technology. The two companies previously collaborated on the Solaris X headphones.

Because they have a single-coil operating two individual diaphragms, the Pathfinder headphones are, it is claimed, more powerful than an equivalent model with a single, larger diaphragm; and that extra power, says A&K, results in a warmer, more natural midrange. Taking care of the higher frequencies is Campfire Audio’s patented Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber (T.A.E.C.) technology, which is said to optimise performance by adjusting the volume of space available in front of the driver. It provides a direct passage from the driver to your ear, which is said to extend high frequencies without sibilance or fatigue.

On bass duties are dual-custom dynamic 10mm drivers. This is an all-new design by Campfire Audio, with hybrid diaphragms housed in a Radial Venting 3D printed acoustic chamber. Campfire claims this makes for a faster and more powerful low-frequency response without unnecessary pressure or bass bloat. Each driver is vented through a specially designed opening at its face, creating, we are told, a larger soundstage.

Three cables come as standard to cover 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone connections. Jewel in the cable crown is the all-new Silver-Plated Copper Litz Cable, whose four conductors arranged side by side provide "the most transparent and extended sounds possible", according to A&K. 

The price? £1899 / $1900 / AU$2899. Pathfinder will go on sale from mid-July.

Astell & Kern AK HC2 Dual DAC Cable

Last but not least is the Astell & Kern AK HC2 Dual DAC Cable. This promises to bring a touch of hi-fi magic to iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows and Apple computers, so you can enjoy higher-quality music streams in all their glory.

Just plug it into your device's USB-C port (or Lightning port using the supplied adapter), plug in your headphones and you're away.

It's the successor to the AK HC1, and brings a 4.4mm headphone connection to the party. 

Inside are two Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHiFi DACs. These are the same DACs that feature in Astell & Kern's Award-winning A&norma range of digital audio players, and support hi-res files up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. 

They are joined by an analogue amplifier, and bespoke capacitors that are claimed to optimise the audio circuit, suppress power fluctuations and minimise power consumption.

It also processes the digital signal at a later stage than most DACs, says Astell & Kern; this, it claims, reduces distortion. Also to reduce noise, the woven cable is wrapped in an aluminium film, while the copper-core wire is coated in tin to prevent corrosion and enhance strength and durability.

The HC2 is Roon tested, and the volume can be controlled from the dedicated Android app.

It also features the same 'light and shadow' design language as Astell & Kern's other new products.

It will cost £169 / $170 / AU$239 and will be available from mid-June.

MORE:

Read our guide to the best portable music players

Read our Astell & Kern Kann Cube review

Read our FiiO M15 review

South Korean audio specialist Astell & Kern may be best-known for its extensive lineup of premium portable music players, but it also produces a wide variety of consumer hi-fi products that, as of today, now includes true wireless earbuds. Astell & Kern has just unveiled its inaugural pair of wireless earbuds, the AK UW100. 

As you might expect from a company that has built its reputation on consistently excellent hi-res portable players, the AK UW100’s sonic credentials include an AK4332 32-bit DAC, Bluetooth 5.2 with support for the latest aptX Adaptive codec, and "ultra-detailed" Knowles balanced armature drivers that, the company says, are typically reserved for premium in-ear monitors.

In terms of battery stamina, the claim is six hours of playback from the earbuds and 18 from the case (which supports both wireless and fast charging), making up a total of 24 hours.

You're also getting on-device touch controls, a proprietary iOS and Android app for customisation functions, and a lightweight earbud design that was supposedly developed through "countless simulations".

Astell & Kern claims that the UW100's passive noise isolation (PNI) is very effective, stating that, unlike generic Active Noise Cancellation which concentrates on blocking out low-frequency noise, PNI promises to efficiently minimise unwanted ambient noise in the mid and high range. If the user wants to hear outside sounds, a single tap of the left earbud will activate ambient mode, and they can easily switch between four different levels using the earbud’s touch controls or via the app.

A dual mic set-up utilises technology from voice application specialist Alango in a bid to deliver crystal-clear call quality, too.

Sporting an angular, almost Deco motif with a pentagon shape to fit snugly in the ear (comfort is aided by five sizes of silicone ear tips), the AK UW100 look every millimetre an Astell & Kern signature product. And at this stage, we can only hope they sound like one too.

The Astell & Kern AK UW100 are priced £249 ($260, AU$399) and will be available from next month.

MORE: 

Want the best of the best? These are the best audiophile headphones money can buy 

See our pick of the best wireless earbuds around

Or peruse our roundup of the best AirPods alternatives 2022

Not one to shy away from innovation, Astell & Kern has kicked off 2022 with one of the most unique desktop propositions we've seen. The Acro CA1000 is a headphone amplifier and digital music player combined, offering a complete all-in-one desktop or portable system for wired headphones.

As you can see from the image above, the headphone amp sports balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm and unbalanced 3.5mm and 6.35mm outputs on its front, with that range of sockets and a four-step Gain Level setting catering for a wide variety of headphone types and impedances.

The digital music player, which cannot be detached from the unit, has a 4.1-inch touchscreen that can tilt upwards (up to 60-degrees), allowing users to easily control playback and settings through its Android OS, or alternatively lie flat within the aluminium chassis.

Its 256GB of onboard storage (expandable by up to 1TB via a microSD card) is plenty large enough to accommodate an ample library of hi-res files – the Quad ES9068AS DAC supports native DSD512 and 32bit/384 kHz playback.

The player can also receive music over Bluetooth from a connected phone (via the BT Sink function) and send playback wirelessly to a pair of wireless headphones thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, aptX HD and LDAC support. Wi-fi is on the menu too. Want to connect an external source? Inputs spanning optical, coaxial, USB-C and RCA are all at your service.

The system is portable, too, with an 8400mAh battery offering up to 10.5 hours playback for use away from a plug socket. 

And last but not least, the Acro CA1000 utilises Astell & Kern's Teraton Alpha technology (as introduced in the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning A&futura SE180 player), promising optimal audio output through efficient power management and the removal of amplification distortion and power noise.

And there you have it: a distinctive digital desktop solution that may well transform your headphone listening. The Astell & Kern ACRO CA1000 will cost £1999 / $2100 / AU$3099 when it goes on sale in February.

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Astell & Kern, a firm more readily associated with its premium hi-res audio players, has just released a Bluetooth wireless speaker called the Acro BE100. 

Promising room-filling, hi-fi calibre stereo sound that belies it compact profile, the Acro BE100 sports a dedicated 32-bit DAC and boasts Bluetooth 5.0 support for the latest 24-bit hi-res quality wireless streaming codecs, including aptX HD (48kHz) and LDAC (96kHz).

The brutalist, angular aesthetic on the metal-grille mesh is carried over from the likes of the Astell & Kern Kann Alpha and A&norma SR25 MKII, and the main unit is finished in faux-leather. Under the bonnet, a custom 4-in Kevlar woofer and two 1.5-in silk dome tweeters are powered by A&K's specially-developed class D amplifier to boast 55W total power. A rear port is installed to extend the speaker’s bass response, too.

On the top-right of the unit, in another fun nod to the company's high-end portable music players, sits an aluminium-hewn knurling-patterned knob for accurate fine tuning of the volume. And at 3.2kg, it's a far more substantial beast though – you certainly won't be slipping this A&K product into your pocket. 

The area below the volume control illuminates to act as an indicator, flashing different colours for each mode or volume level.

In addition, dynamic range control (DRC) is used to protect the speaker unit as it hits maximum output power. To minimise jitter – the undesired deviation in time from the transmitted signal – the Bluetooth chipset is equipped with a 50ps clock to promise supremely accurate sound.

Elsewhere, music fans can tweak the sound with the onboard five-level treble and bass settings, while a 3.5mm AUX input allows the physical connection of Astell & Kern’s portable digital audio players and similar devices.

A version of the Acro BE100 featuring FM radio is also available in selected countries, although we're unsure of the exact details on this.

The Astell & Kern Acro BE100 is priced £449 / $380 / AU$549 and will be available from December at Astell & Kern and select independent dealers.

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Astell & Kern's SP2000T hi-res music player was teased a couple of weeks ago, but now it's officially broken cover. Here are all the details.

As teased, it's the firm's first hi-res music player with a quad DAC and triple amp system. The OP-amp (operational amp) takes care of all the duties of a regular amp, while the tube amp gives tracks the warmth associated with an analogue amp. And if you want to combine warmth with hi-res clarity, opt for the hybrid amp, which gives you the best of both worlds.

Vacuum tubes usually generate internal microphonic vibrations that can impact sound quality, but Astell & Kern has sought to overcome this with a specially designed modular structure that is physically separate from the PCB (Printed Circuit Board). Flexible silicone covers fix the vacuum tubes in place, minimising mechanical vibrations, while A&K claims that the amp 'floats' in the air using magnetic forces to reduce internal noise.

Unlike last year's SE200, which gave listeners a choice of DACs from different manufacturers, the SP2000T has four of the same ESS ES9068AS DAC chips to convert digital file data into analogue. The chips have built-in MQA 8x rendering, supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, 96k SPDIF and DSD1024 files.

There are three different-sized headphone ports to choose from (2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm), while the Replay Gain feature lets the player automatically adjust the volume between tracks to keep it consistent.

Following the firm's A&futura SE180 player, the SP2000T is the second model to use A&K's Teraton Alpha sound tech, which is designed to make audio playback sound as close to the original recording as possible. It does this by removing power noise and providing efficient power consumption and amplification throughout the audio output stage where the digital-to-analogue signal conversion takes place.

And it's all capped off with a 5-inch Full HD display, dual-band wi-fi support and AK File Drop for easier wireless file transfers. You can connect it wirelessly to a smartphone via Bluetooth using the new BT Sink function and play music back on the SP2000T. Bluetooth 5.0 comes as standard, and it supports 24-bit aptX HD Blueooth and LDAC codecs.

The 256GB of storage can be increased up to 1TB with a microSD card.

Price? The SP2000T will cost £1999 / $2399 / AU$3599 / €2299 when it launches in October. Look out for a full review soon.

MORE:

Read all of our Astell & Kern reviews

Best portable MP3 players 2021: from budget to hi-res music players

Best audiophile headphones 2021: ultimate high-end headphones

Great headphones exist for every budget – you just have to know where to look. Not got much to spend? Our best budget headphones guide is for you. More money at your disposal? The best audiophile headphones will give you lots to consider. And if even that's not luxurious enough for you? You've come to the right place, my friend...

The headphones on this page feature marble chassis, diamond-encrusted earcups, and a lot of clever processing besides. They are the most expensive cans in the world, after all. Interested in a pair? You might have to sell an organ first.

• Best headphones: all styles, all budgets

Focal Utopia by Tournaire – $120,000 (approx. £98,000)

Unveiled in Tournaire's Paris boutique in 2016 (and at CES in Las Vegas soon after) the $120,000 Focal Utopia by Tournaire can still lay claim to being the world's most expensive headphones. Made by master jewellers Tournaire, the design features 18-carat gold mounted with a trilogy of diamonds on the headband totalling 6.5 carats, handcrafted entirely in Tournaire's workshops.

If you're still feeling flush after buying a pair, why not shell out for the stand too? It's only another $12,000.

• Focal Utopia by Tournaire are the world's most expensive headphones

Onkyo H900M with 20-carat diamonds – $100,000 (approx. £82,000)

The Focals aren't the only luxury headphones to have lit up Sin City during CES; Onkyo took its H900M cans and added 20-carat diamonds to its earcups before heading for the bright lights of Vegas. The stunning result can be seen above.

And that's not all. Onkyo also embedded these diamonds onto aluminium plates surrounded by a ring of highly polished stainless steel. Wondering which is the right earcup? It's the one with an extra ring of rubies. Well, spelling out L and R in blood-red gemstones would've been a tad over the top...

• Onkyo adds 20-carat diamonds to its H900M headphones

Sennheiser Orpheus/HE 1 – £51,000

Formerly called Orpheus, the flagship Sennheiser HE-1 headphones come with their own valve amplification. Once commissioned by the customer, Sennheiser says each pair can be customised to become "as individual as its future owner".

The chassis is made of Carrara marble, the same type Michaelangelo used for his sculptures – so it's no exaggeration to say they're a work of art. Not only does the marble look amazing (and we love the effect of the eight valves and control dials emerging from the slab of stone), it's also great for damping. Win-win.

The electrostatic headphones themselves are made from beautifully sculpted aluminium, leather and fine microfibre cloth. Thanks to Sennheiser's know-how, they even perform as well as they look.

• Read our Sennheiser Orpheus hands-on review

Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One – £4995

If you’re willing to drop five grand on a pair of headphones, it suggests a serious (and potentially worrying) obsession for personal listening.

While we can't suggest a cure for this particular ailment, we can prescribe a good long listen to the Sonoma One package from Warwick Acoustics – easily one of the best-sounding options we’ve heard.

Pay that hefty sum and not only do you get a pair of open-backed electrostatic headphones, but also a dedicated energizer amplifier (electrostatic drivers require high voltages, so these headphones won't work with conventional amplification).

The headphones don't feel particularly high-end – the headband (made of tough Nylon 12 polymer) on our set creaked a little when twisted and the clamping pressure was a tad too firm – but this headphone system sounds so stunningly clear and informative that we can’t help but get involved with the music.

• Read our Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One review

Yamaha YH-5000SE – £4799

These cans feature no marble, no jewel-encrusted earcups and absolutely no rubies. Instead, they boast an orthodynamic driver (what we would now call a planar magnetic), which has lower distortion and greater responsiveness than a traditional moving coil driver.

Design-wise. they're more functional than eye-catching, but we have no problem with that. And they're open-backed, so are strictly for home listening (unless you want some funny looks on the bus).

They are "exceptional performers" we wrote in our review. "There is still plenty of muscularity here when the music demands, with the YH-5000SE rendering bass with impeccable clarity and articulation. We get a real sense of power where required, but also class-leading finesse where it isn’t." In other words, worth every penny.

• Read our Yamaha YH-5000SE review

Astell & Kern Layla AION – $3299 (approx. £2700)

Of course, pricey headphones don't all have to be over-ear models. These in-ears from Astell & Kern will set you back a cool $3299 (£2700). There are 12 drivers per earpiece: quad low, quad mid and quad high proprietary balanced armatures. Housing each 12-driver configuration is a 3D printed chamber, which implements 'freqphase' (patented A&K tech which aims to ensure the correct phase and time alignment of all frequencies) and allows for a smaller shell design. And just look at the designs on those shells...

The first Layla launched as a custom earphone in 2014. Since then, there have been two limited-edition releases of universal fit Layla: "Carbon Fiber Edition" and "Full Metal Jacket." The former was the first Carbon Fibre earphone, the latter was the first full Titanium earphone. The newest third-generation release is this Layla AION – a sure-fire hit with gamers and music-lovers who aren't short of a few bob.

Audeze LCD-4z – $3995 (approx. £3263)

Audeze doesn't make one-off high-end headphones for fun; the company has the track record (and loyal customer base) to prove it. So why take the step up from the company's LCD-3 and LCD-4 headphones to the more recent LCD-4z (pictured)?

How about a ridiculously thin nano-grade diaphragm, double Fluxor magnetic arrays boasting excellent efficiency and a cast-magnesium housing that yields a lighter-weight design than the 'standard' LCD-4 ($3995)? And the LCD-4z doesn't need an amplifier, so it can be driven straight from the aux port of your favourite listening device. See, they practically pay for themselves.

Final Audio Design Sonorous X – £3499

Final Audio is another brand with plenty of premium headphone experience. Here, it's a combination of machined aluminium and stainless steel that makes these headphones look the business. We thought the sound lacked a little drive and nuance, and they're a bit heavy, but you can't deny they have the wow factor. They even come in a fur-lined wooden box that you may want to keep away from your cat.

• Final Audio Design Sonorous X review

Stax SR-009S – £3895

Stax has taken its regular SR-009 electrostatic earspeakers ($3600) and added gold plate to the design. But don't think the engineers are just being showy; on its website, Stax states, "If a technology is not suitable for music, you should not adopt it, even if it is high-tech." And just in case we didn't get the message, it adds, "Every technology should contribute to music reproduction." Preaching to the converted, perhaps, but that's us told.

Well-known for its high-end electrostatic headphones, Stax also pins the high price here on a super-thin diaphragm and a silver-coated, high-purity copper wire in the cable. You also get right and left channel indication on the cable: a golden solid line on the left and a dotted line on the right cable. The proof can only be in the sound quality...

HiFiMan HE1000 V2 – £2599

Planar magnetic headphones always attract attention and these headphones sport a 0.001mm thin driver, which is certainly an impressive feat of engineering. Elsewhere there's an advanced asymmetrical magnetic circuit, a three-core cable, polyester earcups and an ergonomic design that should mean they're comfy enough to wear for hours. Which, if you're spending over £2500 on them, surely you will.

Focal Stellia – £2795

At a mere £2795, these can are a relative bargain, compared to the Focal Utopia by Tournaire listed above. But almost three grand for a set of cans is hardly small-fry, and happily these headphones are aspirational both in terms of price and sound quality – they are simply the best closed-back headphones we've ever heard.

Where the original Utopia from Focal positively shines at home, in a quiet room, given a good enough system, their open-back design means that outside of these conditions, there’s too much compromise involved – and so if you simply must have a closed design, that’s where the Focal Stellias come in.

• Read our Focal Stellia review

Shure KSE1500 – £2549

These are some of the finest in-ears we've ever heard, which puts them right up with the best headphones money can buy. They are among the first in-ears to use electrostatic drivers, which means a more detailed and accurate sound. Sure, it means you have to use the (supplied) dedicated headphone amplifier. But once you try them, you'll be sold.

• Read our Shure KSE1500 review

Grado PS1000e – £1595

"The finest headphone Grado has ever produced" is some claim, considering the impressive reviews and Awards that Grado has collected over the years. The PS1000e is part of the Grado Professional Series, which the company updated (along with a host of other models) as part of the 'e' Series, taking attention to detail to a whole new level. Every single component was selected with care, right down to the glue. Tone-wood clad with metal alloy gives them their distinctive design and aims to reduce ringing and distortion. And how many other headphones feature hand-crafted mahogany?

• Read our Grado PS1000e review

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