Astell&Kern

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The evolution of a masterpiece, AK380
Stainless
Steel
Package

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The unwavering strength of stainless steel.

At Astell&Kern, we study countless materials to remain faithful to our design philosophy: Deliver the unique beauty and pure essence of the raw material intact without needless processing.
"A strong, non-corrosive metal that does not easily bend or damage."
"A metal that can restore damage through polishing."

Another new AK380 Stainless Steel Package is introduced.

32bit 384kHz Bit to Bit Playback
Native DSD (up to 11.2 MHz) Playback
Parametric EQ with 20bands 0.01dB
200 Femto Seconds VCXO Reference Clock
Scalable Amp
DNLA based AK Connect App
Metal Touch Sensor Home Button

32-bit 384kHz
bit-to-bit Play
Native DSD
Parametric EQ
200fs VCXO
Reference Clock
AK Connect
Metal Touch Sensor
Home button
Metal Body
(Duralumin)
External AMP

32-bit 384kHz bit-to-bit Playback

All of the AK380 Stainless Steel Package’s circuit design including the digital-analog converter (DAC) are ready for 32-bit processing to handle 32-bit music natively.
Other products have traditionally used sample rate converter (SRC) method down sampling for playback. However, the AK380 Stainless Steel Package is capable of playing back 32-bit, 384 kHz original sound without any down sampling.

The result is the AK380 Stainless Steel Package plays up to 32-bit, 384 kHz, any 24-bit music files, or double layer DSD 11.2MHz natively, without conversion or compression.

32-bit bit-to-bit Playback by the AK380SS

32-bit Playback by Other Products

PEQ (Parametric EQ)

A parametric equalizer (PEQ*1) was implemented in the AK380 Stainless Steel Package to deliver detailed adjustment of the original sound, and an audio digital signal processor (DSP) was added to aid in this process.
This frees up CPU cycles previously needed forcalculating graphic equalizers (GEQ), allowing more detailed and accurate calculations via the dedicated DSP.
The audio DSP expands the existing 10-band, ±0.5 dB graphic equalizer (GEQ*2) to 20-band, ±0.01 dB to more precisely adjust the frequency and gain (dB) as well as more accurately specifying the frequency range via Q value adjustments.

* The PEQ supports up to 8 kHz - 192 kHz (8/16/24-bit) formats, but DSD and 32-bit audio are not supported.

AK380 20-band PEQ and AK240 10-band GEQ Frequency Values

What is Parametric Equalization (PEQ*1)?

Parametric equalization refers to the ability to increase or decrease the volume within the Q value range.
A Q value is a frequency range relative to a selected frequency. The frequency range decreases when the Q value increases and vice versa.

What is Graphic Equalization (GEQ*2)?

Graphic equalization divides the audible frequency register into several registers and increases or decreases the level of each register with a volume slider to adjust the respective frequency’s characteristics.
The switches of the volume slider are connected like a graph to visually determine the frequency characteristics, hence the name "graphic equalizer."

Equipped With a Femto Clock to Deliver True Original Sound

Astell&Kern implemented a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) high-precision clock with a reference jitter value of 200 femto seconds*3. Femto clocks are commonly used in high-end audio systems, and the clock is measured in high-precision femtosecond units(one quadrillionth of a second).

What is VCXO?

A VCXO, or a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator, is a type of crystal oscillation device that creates oscillation frequencies.
External environmental stimuli, which in this case mean voltage inputs, influence the frequency value. Adjustments to the voltage input tunes a precise frequency value.

/*21-09-09 수정*/

What is Jitter?

Jitter refers to the undesired deviation in time that occurs in a periodic signal. In this case, jitter is the error that occurs in the reference clock required to perform the sampling in digital audio equipment.

By utilizing a femto clock, the AK380 is able to create a more accurate frequency value and make fine jitter corrections. As a result, the AK380 faithfully reproduces analog sound closer than ever to the original source when transmitting a digital signal as an analog signal.

The AK Connect and AK Connect HD apps Download

The AK Connect and AK Connect HD apps are available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Google Play Store Apple App Store

[Phone] AK Connect

[Tablet] AK Connect HD

Pressure-sensitive Metal Capacitive Touch

The AK380 Stainless Steel Package is the first Astell&Kern product to utilize a metal capacitive touch interface. The pressure-sensitive Metal Touch home button responds to fine pressure changes so users operate the device with just a light touch on the metallic pad.

The AK380SS’s First Accessory, AMP

The primary goal of Astell&Kern has always been to deliver the original sound.

We're proud to introduce the AK380 AMP SS, an amplifier that supports high-impedance headphones and high-gain output while remaining faithful to the original sound.

Expansion-type amplifier with design unity.
3,400 mAh large-capacity battery.
8.1 VRMS high-gain balanced output.
4.1 VRMS unbalanced output.

Introducing AK380 AMP SS,
the first accessory to complement the AK380 Stainless Steel Package.

The AK380 AMP SS supports 8.1 VRMS output when connected via high-gain balanced output.

Low Gain

High Gain

Output Level Unbalance 2.1 Vrms / Balance 2.1 Vrms
(Condition No Load) Unbalance 4.1 Vrms / Balance 8.1 Vrms
(Condition No Load)

High-gain output is four times greater than low-gain output and supports high-impedance headphones.
To protect earphones/headphones during high output, the volume is automatically adjusted when the amp is powered on or the earphones/headphones are disconnected.
Furthermore, the gain can be easily adjusted via the AK380 Stainless Steel Package's settings.

- When the AK380 AMP SS is connected, USB DAC and optical out functionalities through the amplifier are disabled.

Amp powered on

Earphones / headphones disconnected

Gain changed

Y Y Y

Physically independent drives can be combined into single drive through RAID 0 which configuration supports up to 4TB.

AUDIO BLOCK

3,400 mAh Large-capacity Battery

An amplifier, which increases audio output, consumes a great amount of energy.
Thus, the AK380 AMP SS features a 3,400 mAh large-capacity battery - identical to the one in the AK380 Stainless Steel Package itself - to support up to nine hours of continuous unbalanced-output playback.

AK380 AMP SS vs. Other AMP

The AK380 AMP SS boasts convenient portability.
The many points of discomfort in conventional amplifiers have been addressed by adopting an integrated design for greater convenience.

AK380 AMP SS

Other AMP

Charging AK380SS + AK380 AMP SS simultaneous charging. Separate charging of device and amp.
Connections Separate cable not required due to integrated design.
Easy connection using a Screw Cap. Separate cable for connecting device and amp.
Device and amp connection via separate band.
Volume Control Integrated volume control using the AK380SS. Separate volume controls for device and amp.

Integrated Design

The AK380 AMP SS was designed as an extension of the light and shadow theme of the AK380 Stainless Steel Package.

Continuing this design concept, the AK380 AMP SS retains the subtle changes and details in the emitted brilliance as light flows across its surface. The diamond pattern engraved into the volume wheel of AK380 Stainless Steel Package is repeated on the amplifier's rear light for design continuity.

The area of the amplifier in contact with the AK380 Stainless Steel Package's volume wheel reproduces the design's angle of reflection for comfortable wheel operation. The amplifier's light shining delicately through the gaps in the reflected surface visually accentuate the music’s mystique.

Unlike conventional amplifiers, the AK380 AMP SS was designed divom the ground up as a single entity when combined with the AK380 Stainless Steel Package. The wheel on the rear of the amplifier that connects the two devices is a representation of the volume wheel seen throughout Astell&Kern products and expresses our unique design identity.

More Expandable Options

The AK380 Stainless Steel Package offers great expandable options through its micro USB connection and balanced out ports on the bottom of the unit.

The AK380 Stainless Steel Package's functionality is expandable by connecting to a variety of devices. You can increase the output and connect to a greater variety of high-impedance professional headphones through the upcoming AK380 Amp SS. The AK380 Cradle features balanced output in addition to USB data transfer and charging capabilities, and the AK380 Stainless Steel Package CD-ROM drive rips audio CDs directly to the AK380 Stainless Steel Package.

The AK380's First Accessory

AMP

The AK380's Bedrock

Cradle

Perfect Extractor

CD-RIPPER

DESIGN

Stainless Steel
Main frame, which is the body of AK380SS, consisting of only one part goes through several production procedures.
In process 1, a hole is made to stainless steel raw material which has been cut according to AK380’s shape. The purpose of this hole is to prevent staggering of the raw material during processing.
In process 2, after fixing the hole that was made in process 1, the front side of the AK380 is processed. At this time, the side that is going through the 5-axis processing machine along with the front and the sides passes through the 4-sided processing procedure.
In process 3, the part processed in process 2 is turned over and fixed. Afterwards, the process of peeling and cleaning of inner sides takes place.
In process 4, the process of applying hairline patterns to the completed frame is carried out.
In process 5, when stainless steel has gone through all processes, exterior coating process takes place.
The unwavering strength, AK380 Stainless Steel Package