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Other devices — Astell&Kern PD5
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Astell&Kern PD5
Image source - (c) Astell&Kern
The PD5 is a portable digital audio player from South Korean company Astell&Kern. It succeeds the A&norma SR35 and was shown at the Hong Kong AV Show. Its central feature is an eight-DAC architecture that can run either four or eight converters, trading performance against battery life.
Key specs that matter
Eight Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs handle conversion, with support for PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256. Outputs are 3.5 mm unbalanced and 4.4 mm balanced, the latter five-pole only. In Quad-DAC mode battery life reaches 28 hours, and PD 3.0 fast charging takes about two and a half hours. In Octa-DAC mode the balanced output rises from 6 Vrms to 8 Vrms, while battery life falls to about 15 hours. For wireless use there is dual-band Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC, SBC and AAC. The player is Roon Ready and certified for Qobuz Connect. Internal storage is 64 GB, expandable with microSD cards of up to 1.5 TB. An octa-core processor runs the system, and the curved 4.1 in screen has a resolution of 720 x 1280. The chassis measures 69.7 x 119.7 x 16.1 mm and weighs 198 g.
Engineering and use context
Dual Drive Mode lets the user choose between Quad-DAC mode, which runs four chips for efficiency and longer playing time, and Octa-DAC mode, which uses all eight for wider dynamic range and channel separation. In Quad-DAC mode the PD5 runs eight hours longer than the SR35. EnviroTune analyses ambient noise and adapts playback to the surroundings rather than simply raising the volume. ESA, Enhanced Signal Alignment, minimises group delay. TERATON ALPHA is the Astell&Kern technology for removing power noise, managing consumption and stabilising amplification. Digital Audio Remaster upsamples PCM to 384 kHz and DSD to DSD128.
Four DAC filters are selectable. Crossfeed simulates the spatial impression of loudspeakers on headphones, and ReplayGain normalises level from track to track. Working as a Bluetooth receiver, the PD5 can take audio from a phone, and over USB-C it works as a computer DAC. Firmware updates arrive over the air. Volume is set with a physical wheel on the side, and the aluminium chassis is shaped to fit in one hand.
Pairing
The balanced output drives demanding full-size headphones as well as in-ear monitors. Roon and Qobuz Connect support let the PD5 join a home streaming setup.
Alternatives
The Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 is the four-DAC predecessor of the PD5.
Key specs that matter
Eight Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs handle conversion, with support for PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256. Outputs are 3.5 mm unbalanced and 4.4 mm balanced, the latter five-pole only. In Quad-DAC mode battery life reaches 28 hours, and PD 3.0 fast charging takes about two and a half hours. In Octa-DAC mode the balanced output rises from 6 Vrms to 8 Vrms, while battery life falls to about 15 hours. For wireless use there is dual-band Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC, SBC and AAC. The player is Roon Ready and certified for Qobuz Connect. Internal storage is 64 GB, expandable with microSD cards of up to 1.5 TB. An octa-core processor runs the system, and the curved 4.1 in screen has a resolution of 720 x 1280. The chassis measures 69.7 x 119.7 x 16.1 mm and weighs 198 g.
Engineering and use context
Dual Drive Mode lets the user choose between Quad-DAC mode, which runs four chips for efficiency and longer playing time, and Octa-DAC mode, which uses all eight for wider dynamic range and channel separation. In Quad-DAC mode the PD5 runs eight hours longer than the SR35. EnviroTune analyses ambient noise and adapts playback to the surroundings rather than simply raising the volume. ESA, Enhanced Signal Alignment, minimises group delay. TERATON ALPHA is the Astell&Kern technology for removing power noise, managing consumption and stabilising amplification. Digital Audio Remaster upsamples PCM to 384 kHz and DSD to DSD128.
Four DAC filters are selectable. Crossfeed simulates the spatial impression of loudspeakers on headphones, and ReplayGain normalises level from track to track. Working as a Bluetooth receiver, the PD5 can take audio from a phone, and over USB-C it works as a computer DAC. Firmware updates arrive over the air. Volume is set with a physical wheel on the side, and the aluminium chassis is shaped to fit in one hand.
Pairing
The balanced output drives demanding full-size headphones as well as in-ear monitors. Roon and Qobuz Connect support let the PD5 join a home streaming setup.
Alternatives
The Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 is the four-DAC predecessor of the PD5.
Specifications
Model name
PD5
Highlights
Cirrus Logic CS43198, up to 32 bit / 384 kHz, DSD256, up to 28 hours
Dimensions (mm)
N/A
Weight (g)
N/A
Official link