[sonickarma]

New Astell products - AK500N Network audio player - AK500A Speaker Power Amp - AK500P - Power supply
 
Google translate
 
http://www.iriver.jp/information/entry_778.php
 
http://www.iriver.jp/products/product_104.php
 

Will be announced the

same brand's first home audio products was born by advanced digital audio technology of Astell & Kern.​

 ​

Network audio player Astell & Kern AK500N​

Orders scheduled to start in January 2015​

​

Ayuto (President Shinichi Watanabe, Head Office: Tokyo) Co., Ltd., announced by high-resolution portable audio brand "Astell & Kern (Astell and Cologne)", at the same brand's first home audio products, the network audio player "AK500N" We will.

This product will be ordering product, but we are planning to January 2015 the orders start, the official release date, you will be again Guidance If you have decided prices.

Ayuto also to listen actively to the user's voice future, in the Japanese market, "Astell & Kern" brand of market share gains, and for the audio market activation, you strive to strategic product introductions.

Major features

The CD ripping function by the engine that was originally developed based on cdparanoia boasts the highest quality

Isolation noise from the AC power by adopting the battery yet stationary

Adoption of no SSD storage of favorable vibration noise in sound quality

DLNA1.0 compliant, can interact with the PC or NAS that is connected to the LAN or WiFi in smartphones and tablets

AK240, AK120II, streaming playback possible through collaboration with AK100II

Abundant input and output terminals

A true dual mono dual DAC configuration CS4398 L / R independent adoption

DSD128 (5.6MHz / 1bit) / DSD64 Ne~iteibu playback compatible (2.8MHz / 1bit)

Real-time playback converted to DSD64 without degrading the DXD maximum 384kHz 32bit (Integer / float)
 

Main Specifications

Product name	AK500N
Display size	7-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) capacitive touch display
DAC	Cirrus Logic CS4398 x2 (Dual DAC configuration)
Storage	SSD MLC 1TB / 2TB / 4TB (RAID 0,5
Digital input	AES / EBU x1, BNC x1, Coaxial x1, Optical x1
Digital output	AES / EBU x1, BNC x1, Coaxial x1, Optical x1
Analog output	Balanced (L / R) x2, RCA (L / R) x2
Fixed output level	3V (RCA, Balanced)
Variable output level	7.5V (RCA) / 10V (Balanced)
Crosstalk	> 135dB / 1kHz
Frequency characteristic	± 0.02dB / 20Hz ~ 20kHz, ± 0.4dB / 10Hz ~ 70kHz
Total harmonic distortion factor	<0.0008% / 1kHz / 10V, <0.001% / 10Hz ~ 20kHz / 10V
S / N ratio	118dB / 1kHz / 10V
Support Format	WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
Sampling rate	8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16 / 24bits per sample) DSD Native: DSD64 (1bit / 2.8MHz) / DSD128 (1bit / 5.6MHz)
USB input	Type A (Host) x2, Type B (Device) x1
USB DAC function	UAC (USB Audio Class) 2.0 / DSD64, DSD128, PCM
Network Support	Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n (2.4GHz) & Ethernet 10/100/1000, DLNA (DMS, DMC, DMR)
CD ripping file format	WAV, FLAC
Power: Battery	Capacity: 10,400mAh / Voltage: 7.4 (normally) / Type: Li-Ion
Size / weight	214 [W] x 243 [H] x 238 [D] (mm) / 11.4kg

 
 
http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20141211_679897.html
 

 

 


 

 
 
Get saving!

 

[R_burke]

1,600,000 yen = ~ $13,382.00 - seems a bit steep to me

 

[Ustas]

Ugly as hell... For the price it should come with these ugly JBL speakers as well. 

 
http://www.sounddistributors.com/images/180%20-%20150P%20Theater%20System%20(400%20x%20400).jpg

 

[Fizz]

  1,600,000 yen = ~ $13,382.00 - seems a bit steep to me

Seems pretty affordable for Astel & Kern

 

[bmichels]

- Will the AK500N offer HD streaming capability from TIDAL or QOBUZ (like AK240) ?   

- Is the Headphone amp as good (or better) than the one inside the AK240 ? 
 
thanks

 

[bmichels]

Also... why still using the "cheap" 2,5mm jack for the balanced Headphone out ??

 
On a desktop device, balanced headphone out MUST be XLR, not the fragile and toy like 2,5 mm jack !!
 
imagine an ABYSS headphone with a 2,5 mm jack 　 !!
 

 

[bmichels]

Trying to kept this thread alive....

 
 
 I got the following answer from AK on their facebook:
 
My QUESTION: interested in AK500N. But... can I stream HiFi quality from online services like QOBUZ or TIDAL without a PC ? (like with AK240 ? ). Will I also later be able to download files from those services without a PC ?
 
Their ANSWER :  With the AK240 and generation II players, you are able to use Qobuz to listen and purchase high definition tracks. Collaboration with other services like Tidal are still not yet determined. If so, we will announce it here on our Facebook page.
 
 
...so, does this mean that the AK500N can stream from QOBUZ ?  Not very clear IMO.

 

[sonickarma]

Just about portable but not for the Gym - IMO

 

 

[sathyam]

This music server became available on the A&K site for measly price of $12000! Damn!

 

[Ustas]

LOL!

 
Looks like they use Astell branded straps on a portable rig... must be $250 each for a strap!

 

[bmichels]

Testing right now HUGO against AK500n with my EC445 tube.

The 4 time more expensive AK500 is NOT a clear winner ! 


 

 

[bmichels]

No tests or feedback yet from "real users" here ? aren't there some Head-Fiers who bought / tested the AK500n since now it is available ?

( for some reason i trust more real users than "professionnels writers" who always " never heard a better sound in my whole Life"

 

[seeteeyou]

  Just about portable but not for the Gym - IMO

 

 

 

 

---

 

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 
A better angle
 

 

 

 

[VisceriousZERO]

I like the 500N... Set it up finally and its been hooked up to a MASS-Kobo 393 Jaben Edition...

 

[bmichels]

  I like the 500N... Set it up finally and its been hooked up to a MASS-Kobo 393 Jaben Edition...

 
I am also tempted by this AK500, so your advices is veery welcome.   I tried it already and found the amp part is no more powerful than an AK240, so an external amplifier is indeed needed.
 
But then, with an external amplifier, do you really like the sound so much ?  Is it at the level of a 10.000 € device ?   isn't the DAC inside also using the same chip than the AK240 ?