Astell&Kern Fields Players, Amp & In-Ear Monitor in Munich

By Nancy Klosek

Astell&Kern is showcasing its latest product introductions at this week’s High End 2019 exhibition in Munich, which are targeted at high-end audio/headphone enthusiasts. They include two portable high-resolution audio players, an amplifier and in-ear monitors, and feature improved performance compared to existing models.

The flagship SP2000 portable player (July availability; $3,500) is in the Astell&Kern A&ultima line. It integrates the latest flagship Asahi Kasei AKM AK4499EQ digital-to-analog converters (DACs). It features two AK4499EQ DACs, arranged in a dual-mono configuration to provide a wider soundstage and better stereo separation and is said by the company to be the first Astell&Kern player to use separate, independent audio channels between the Unbalanced and Balanced outputs, with 6Vrms for Balanced output and 3Vrms for Unbalanced output.

To continue reading, tell us a little about yourself.

Don't worry! As long as you use the same browser and don't delete your cookies for the next six months, you won’t need to fill it out again.