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Baladeur Numérique DAP HiFi 2x ES9068AS Bluetooth WiFi 32bit 384kHz DSD256 MQA Blue
The KANN Alpha is the third product in the KANN range of portable music players. If the aim of the Astell&Kern KANN range is to provide ultra high output power to operate any headphone or EMI, the KANN Alpha has not forgotten the essence of portable DAP, so that you can enjoy a near-perfect sound experience wherever you are.
It is thus the first DAP Astell&Kern to offer a balanced output on 4.4mm jack. It also offers complete balanced line separation to ensure noiseless output, 141dB crosstalk and first-class audio performance thanks to a complete circuit redesign, high efficiency and Bluetooth 5.0 support, all within a stylish and robust chassis.
Unlike products from other manufacturers, the KANN Alpha physically separates the Jack 2.5mm and Jack 4.4mm outputs using micro-relays. When 2.5mm and 4.4mm jack structures are connected only to the cutoff circuit, they do not prevent the sonic interference that can occur because each signal is not properly blocked. The KANN Alpha boasts a noiseless output with an independent structure that completely blocks interference from outputs that are not in use and need to be turned off.
To minimize noise at the output contacts, gold PVD plating is applied to the connector. The 4.4mm Pentaconn NDICS jack connector used benefits from excellent design quality for high durability.
The KANN Alpha offers an excellent crosstalk measurement. Channel crosstalk is the amount of signal that leaks between the left and right channels. The higher the value of this measurement, the better the separation between the channels and the deeper and wider the feeling of space. As the design of its audio circuitry shows, the KANN Alpha has a previously unseen crosstalk measurement of -141dB (high gain), which is unmatched by any other DAP in its class.
The KANN Alpha has a powerful 12Vrms output while taking advantage of optimization to remain compact and convenient. This is achieved by miniaturizing many parts such as resistors and capacitors, reorganizing various components and optimizing the circuits. As a result, more than 60 parts were modified during the development process.
Very small tantalum capacitors are also used, developed exclusively for Astell&Kern through a collaboration with Matsuo Electric in Japan to meet the need to provide a stable DAP power supply and suppress electrical noise.
In addition, this redesigned power supply circuit also makes it possible to reach an autonomy of 14.5 hours of continuous reading.
The KANN Alpha is the first Astell&Kern reader to take advantage of Bluetooth 5.0. This latest version of Bluetooth offers high sound quality with the convenience of wireless playback. Bluetooth 5.0 features a higher transmission speed and greater range compared to Bluetooth 4.2, providing a more stable wireless connection. Both LDAC and Qualcomm® aptX™ HD codecs are supported to provide audiophiles with the best possible wireless audio experience.
With the KANN Alpha, you can enjoy the pleasure of creating your own personalized sound by choosing from the different filters provided by the DAC manufacturer.
Impulse response | Filter | Description |
![]() | Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off | Most common filter with clean suppression and high rejection rate, ideal for music with high transients. Provides crisp and accurate highs. |
![]() | Minimum Phase Slow Roll-Off | Unbalanced filter designed to minimize pre-buzzing. Powerful bass with good transient attacks. |
![]() | Hybrid Fast Roll-Off | Combination of Linear Phase and Minimum Phase filters. Fast transient attack, powerful lows, sharp highs. |
The KANN Alpha features an onboard LED volume knob that displays various playback information, including the volume level and bitrate of the currently playing song.
The KANN Alpha is dressed in a sublime case, at once modern, massive and robust. This is achieved through the use of extremely precise manufacturing technology, perfected by Astell&Kern over many years.
A precision mold is manufactured separately for the ceramic top panel. Astell&Kern then uses more than seven different processes, including low-speed machining, to form the ceramic top panel and prevent it from cracking.
Unlike other manufacturers, a ring is not simply inserted into the ceramic top where each connector is located, but a PVD Gold plating is applied to minimize noise. A special coating is also applied to the ceramic surface to prevent fingerprints and stains.
The exclusive aluminum chassis design provides noise suppression for improved sound quality, while ensuring the best signal transmission to the audio circuitry.
The vibration-free machines used by Astell&Kern are the same as those used by Swiss manufacturers of luxury watches.
Specifications | |
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Product type | Digital Audio Player (DAP) |
Screen | 4.1" HD, 720 x 1280px Tactile |
Supported audio formats | WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA |
Sampling rates | PCM up to 32bit 384kHz Native DSD up to DSD256 |
Output level | High gain: Single-ended 6Vrms / Balanced 12Vrms (no load) Mid gain: Single-ended 4Vrms / Balanced 8Vrms (no load) Low gain : Single-ended 2Vrms / Balanced 4Vrms (no load) |
DAC | 2x ESS ES9068AS |
CPU | Quad-Core |
Input | USB-C |
Outputs | 1x Single-ended Jack 3.5mm / Optical 1x Balanced Jack 2.5mm 1x Balanced Jack 4.4mm |
WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz) |
Bluetooth | V4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, aptX HD, LDAC) |
Frequency response | ±0.021dB @ 20Hz~20kHz Single-ended ±0.024dB @ 20Hz~20kHz Balanced ±0.021dB @ 20Hz~70kHz Single-ended ±0.155dB @ 20Hz~70kHz Balanced |
SNR | 116dB @ 1kHz, Single-ended 117dB @ 1kHz, Balanced |
Crosstalk | -128dB @ 1kHz, Single-ended -136dB @ 1kHz, Balanced |
THD+N | 0.0003% @ 1kHz, Single-ended 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced |
IMD SMPTE | 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Single-ended 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced |
Output impedance | Single-ended Jack 3.5mm : 0.8Ω Balanced Jack 2.5mm : 2Ω Balanced Jack 4.4mm : 1.8Ω |
Clock jitter | 25ps (Typ) |
Reference clock jitter | 250fs (VCXO) |
Battery | 5600mAh 3.8V, Li-Polymer |
Playback time | About 14.5h @ standard, FLAC, 16bit 44.1kHz, volume 80, LCD OFF, Low gain |
Charge time | About 3.5h (9V 1.67A Quick charge) 5h (5V 2A) |
Internal memory | 64GB (NAND) |
External memory | 1x Micro SD (Max 1TB, not included) |
General | |
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Body material | Aluminum |
Color | Blue |
Dimensions | 68.3 x 117 x 25mm |
Weight | 316g |
Input | USB |
Output | Jack 4.4mm |
Output | Jack 2.5mm |
DAC / ADC Chip | ES9068AS |
Max sampling rate | 384kHz |
Max sampling rate | DSD256 |
Color | Blue |