Astell&Kern Kann Ultra
Astell&Kern Kann Ultra audiophile portable player with dual ES9039MPRO DAC, designed for Hi-Res listening and powering demanding headphones.
Description
The Kann Ultra is an audiophile portable player from Astell&Kern, fifth generation of the KANN range, dedicated to the playback and decoding of Hi-Res music. It succeeds the KANN MAX and is aimed at listeners seeking a portable source capable of faithfully reproducing high-resolution files, while also being able to directly power headphones and earphones without an external amplifier.
The player features a dual ES9039MPRO DAC enabling bit-perfect playback of PCM streams up to 32-bit / 768 kHz as well as native DSD decoding up to DSD512. This conversion is paired with a dual amplification section, one dedicated to the balanced 4.4 mm jack output, the other to the unbalanced 3.5 mm jack output, with outputs isolated from one another to limit interference. The output power reaches 16 Vrms balanced and 8 Vrms unbalanced, enough to power the majority of headphones and earphones on the market without an additional amplifier. Teraton Alpha technology also reduces noise generated by the power supply and internal components. The Kann Ultra can also serve as a source for a hi-fi system thanks to its outputs configurable as line level or pre-out.
- 5.5" touchscreen (1080 x 1920 pixels)
- 128 GB internal memory, expandable via microSD up to 1 TB
- WiFi and Bluetooth compatible, streaming services (Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify, etc.)
- Compatible formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
- Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX HD and LDAC
This player is aimed at portable audiophiles wanting a high-end source capable of directly driving demanding headphones or integrating into a hi-fi system via its line outputs. Its 11-hour battery life in FLAC 16-bit with low gain, combined with a 3.5-hour charge time, makes it a suitable companion for extended listening on the move.
Technical specifications
| DAC | Dual ES9039MPRO |
| PCM resolution | 32-bit / 768 kHz |
| DSD resolution | DSD512 |
| Balanced output power (4.4 mm) | 16 Vrms |
| Unbalanced output power (3.5 mm) | 8 Vrms |
| Screen | 5.5" touchscreen, 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Internal memory | 128 GB |
| MicroSD slot | Compatible up to 1 TB |
| Compatible formats | WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery | Lithium-ion |
| Battery life | Up to 11 hours (FLAC 16-bit, low gain) |
| Charging time | 3.5 hours |
| Connections | 1x unbalanced 3.5 mm mini-jack headphone output, 1x balanced 4.4 mm headphone output, 1x balanced 4.4 mm line/pre-out output, 1x unbalanced 3.5 mm mini-jack line/pre-out output, 1x USB-C port |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 82 x 141 x 24.4 mm |
| Weight | 390 g |
What to check before buying used
The lithium-ion battery is the priority element to check on a used Kann Ultra: a battery life noticeably lower than the stated 11 hours in FLAC 16-bit indicates a worn cell. Also check that the 5.5" touchscreen works properly, as well as the condition of the USB-C port, which is used both for charging and file transfer. Testing all four outputs (balanced headphone, unbalanced headphone, balanced line and unbalanced line) confirms that none is crackling or cutting out.
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