[Jimmyblues1959]

Astell&Kern Launches Its First Carriable Headphone Amp, the ACRO CA1000

The CA1000 Is the Latest Device in Astell&Kern’s Line of Desktop/Home Audio Products

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Astell&Kern, a global leader in hi-resolution audio products and accessories, expands the ACRO desktop/home audio product line with the release of their first carriable headphone amplifier, the ACRO CA1000. The CA1000 will be available in late January/early February 2022 at authorized Astell&Kern dealers worldwide.

The ACRO CA1000 is a headphone amplifier that combines the functions of a high-performance amplifier and the portability of a Digital Audio Player. The ACRO CA1000 is equipped with an 8,400mAh large-capacity battery to provide clear, distortion-free premium sound without the need for a separate power connection. Support for USB-PD 2.0 charging allows the ACRO CA1000 to charge to 50% in one hour, and fully charge in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The CA1000 can also charge and be used when plugged into AC power.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 is equipped with four ES9068AS DACs, providing perfect decoding capabilities with Astell&Kern's amplifier circuit technology. Bit-to-bit playback is possible up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD512 (22.4MHz), so even the smallest details the artist wanted to express in the music can be heard without distortion.

The ACRO CA1000 features a variety of outputs that can be used by everyone from general users to audiophiles. 3.5mm, 6.35mm Unbalanced, 2.5mm and 4.4mm Balanced output jacks are available to accommodate a variety of headphones/earphones. The ACRO CA1000 can be used as a Hi-Fi audio system by connecting devices using a variety of digital inputs/output (Optical, Coaxial, Type-C USB) and analog inputs/outputs (RCA). All Input/output settings can be easily and conveniently selected using the CA1000 touch screen.

To perfectly drive the most sophisticated headphones, a device must be able to fully deliver output that matches the characteristics of the headphone. The ACRO CA1000 supports four (4) levels of gain settings so that almost any existing headphones can be driven to an optimal state. The gain setting circuitry implemented in the CA1000 can drive even high-impedance headphones without degrading the sound quality using a max output of 15Vrms.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 will be available in late January/early February 2022 at authorized Astell&Kern dealers worldwide. Pricing and additional specs will be available soon.

Reminds me of my Apple IPOD docking station. Albeit far more luxurious and in all likelihood much better sounding.

 

[audionewbi]

I think CA1000 price is very justified considering technically it will not be outdated as it be used as a desktop dac/amp when the OS is no longer relevant. I'm hoping the amp section is top notch as I can use my high end single ended R2R dac for when I get sick of its onboard dac.

I can't wait to pair this with IER Z1R, the colour matches nicely.

 

[feverfive]

Cool looking device. I figure sometime this year I'll be in the market for something like this...but not exactly this (nor anything strictly battery powered, to be clear). I'll have interest in something transportable (for moving about different rooms/areas of my house) that can be powered by an internal battery but also has a battery bypass when connected to mains (so battery degradation is of minimal concern for longevity reasons).

 

[bflat]

I would assume this means that future AK DAPs will fit seamlessly to this dock. However, given the USB C connector does that mean any DAP that has similar size will work too?

 

[JasonNYC]

I would assume this means that future AK DAPs will fit seamlessly to this dock. However, given the USB C connector does that mean any DAP that has similar size will work too?

This is not a dock. The photo shows the display screen that adjusts from flat to 60 degrees.

 

[beardz]

Looks pretty sweet! I think it would be a much more compelling offer if it had balanced I/O instead of RCAs, though... Which has been a trend for higher-end hardware in recent years.

 

[wgkwgk]

Gosh, where does my C9 and any DAP I choose pale?

 

[Nostoi]

Gosh, where does my C9 and any DAP I choose pale?

I wouldn't worry. This A&K unit looks like a good bedside system but I highly doubt the amp stage will rival the C9.

 

[bflat]

This is not a dock. The photo shows the display screen that adjusts from flat to 60 degrees.

Ah, so a fully self contained unit like the Sony. That explains a lot LOL.

 

[riverground]

I wouldn't worry. This A&K unit looks like a good bedside system but I highly doubt the amp stage will rival the C9.

In terms of power alone it looks like it just might output way more power than the C9. But then again you’re comparing a class A/AB tube hybrid amp vs an all in one solid state dac/amp/dap.

So it’ll come down to use case and preference.

 

[vkenz]

CA1000 is definitely better than Hugo 2 imo.

remains to be seen. i guess it has to be better than the dx 300 max first before even being on the ball park of hugo 2.

 

[Lumithium]

I find it a bit unfortunate that it doesn't have an XLR port for headphones given the size of this thing with powerful connections as one of the key features. But it looks great otherwise.

 

[Sajid Amit]

Finally, a competitor to the Hugo 2. Or so I am hoping.

 

[Edric Li]

People had been saying at launch that AK products sounded better than Hugo/2 since AK380. Then slowly people realized that's true. Then RWAK380 came out, and since it's a bit better than AK380, it had to better than Hugo/2. Aaand no. Then AK380Cu came out, and no. Then AK380SS. Then SP1000. Then SP2000. Every time it's a bit better than the previous AK, and every time it's not better than Hugo/2.

I hope we are right this time.

 

[vonBaron]

It's nice that they it use ES9068AS again, because 9038Pro in Kann Cube drain battery way too fast.