Our favorite high-end music player brand just unveiled a successor to its 5-star entry-level DAP — though its definition of 'entry-level' might differ to yours
The Astell & Kern PD5 is the brand's latest 'entry-level' digital audio player, and A&K have announced... that they're announcing it.
Astell & Kern has introduced its successor to the highly-rated SR35 digital audio player, dubbing it the PD5. While no official pricing has been disclosed, the new device is positioned as an entry-level audio player, though Astell & Kern's perception of "entry-level" may differ from others.
Key features of the PD5 include the ability to utilize eight DACs simultaneously, offering both 4-DAC and 8-DAC playback modes. This setup allows users to extend listening time (28 hours with the 4-DAC option) or enjoy superior sound quality (8-DAC mode). Astell & Kern describes this as "class-defining performance."
Another noteworthy feature is EnviroTune, which continuously monitors the ambient noise environment and adjusts the audio output accordingly. This functionality is similar to active noise cancellation (ANC) technology.
The PD5 supports playback in high-resolution formats like 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, and it boasts support for dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, and a wide range of audio codecs. The device is constructed from aluminum, but Astell & Kern has not released specific dimensions, making it difficult to compare its size to the previous SR35 model.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
