Hello,
in the following I would like to describe my sound impressions of the new A&K KANN ALPHA. I hope you can read the text well, as I am not a native speaker.
Sound test
After the ASTELL&KERN KANN ALPHA was allowed to warm up in our storage room for a few days, he already inspires in the first minutes of listening to the NOBLE KHAN with a nuanced and fine-dynamic style of playing, which is almost typical for the NOBLE players from the house of iRIVER.
In the bass range the DAP reaches amazingly deep down and meticulously illuminates the frequency cellar. In addition, the bass of the KANN ALPHA has a very good structure and reproduces especially complex bass runs with excellent variation. The bass also convinces with a bone dry attack and high impulse fidelity.
In comparison to the chipsets of Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM), the DA-converters of ESS-Technology IMO mostly have a more decided bass reproduction. I had already noticed this in the sound comparison of the ASTELL&KERN SE200, whose double DAC implementation allowed a direct comparison of the two top manufacturers.
Nevertheless, the KANN ALPHA also succeeds in connecting to the fundamental range in an excellent manner. With a slightly warm timbre, the A&K still maintains a neutral line. Btw, the earthy character of the ALPHA suits the rather sober NOBLE KHAN very well.
And also in the midrange the A&K doesn't let anything burn in terms of sound. The DAP of the Koreans is recommended for a transparent and at the same time vivid presentation even in complex arranged musical passages and focuses voices and instruments precisely into the spatial context.
Only the staggering in depth does not quite reach the level of good stationary components. This applies equally to the stage design, which sometimes brings the actors a little closer together. No big deal, since the musical coherence is maintained at all times and KANN ALPHA scores points for natural-looking timbres.
In addition, the DAP also devotes itself to the small details with great dedication, thus illuminating finely dynamic shades in the music without developing analytical tendencies. Great class.
In interaction with the NOBLE KHAN, the very sensitive accentuated reproduction of sibilants in the high frequency range is also striking, which acoustically skillfully cushions occasional high frequency peaks of the IEM from Texas.
In addition, the A&K convinces with an excellent resolution and at the same time with a remarkable overtone spectrum with very authentically fading reverberation tails.
Also in combination with the CAMPFIRE SOLARIS (SE) I like the A&K KANN ALPHA very much. Background noise - nil. And although the SOLARIS does not quite have the phenomenal audibility and detail work of the NOBLE KHAN in the mid and high frequency range, the low impedance SOLARIS on the Korean player impresses with its exorbitant fine dynamics and wonderful richness of timbre.
The two IEMs, in combination with the A&K, also reveal a minimal, but still perceptible difference with regard to the musical source material - voices and instruments are IMO placed in the room with a little more point stability and also slightly more airy when the corresponding data sets are subject to fixed storage.
The ALPHA KANN
In contrast to the above IEM, the two over-ear headphones are supplied with audiophile fare during their short sonic liaison with the KANN ALPHA exclusively in the balanced mode. In addition, I select the highest possible amplifier stage (3) in the corresponding submenu of the A&K.
Thus the level display remains at my usual monitoring volume at a volume level of 80 - 90 (150 = max.) when the MEZE EMPYREAN is first tested. And the acoustic pairing with the KANN ALPHA turns out to be an almost perfect combination.
Basses are reproduced with exceptional verve without losing any noticeable contour. The midrange has great plasticity as well as first-class acoustic imaging with exact focusing of musical events.
In the high frequency range, the combination also inspires with the impeccable overtone spectrum already mentioned above, which also gives the EMPYREAN a slightly brighter note. A thoroughly welcome surprise.
Thus, the TOTL-ear loudspeaker from Romania is still recommended as the first choice for congenial operation with mobile components in the high-end segment.
To a limited extent this also applies to the T+A SOLITAIRE P in the subsequent second listening session, as the new headphones from Herford obviously demand a little more power from the Korean DAP than the MEZE ear loudspeaker.
This seems a little surprising at first, since both ear loudspeakers have a very similar efficiency on paper - the impedance of the SOLITAIRE P, however, is considerably higher at 80 ohms, which could explain the greater acoustic appetite of the German headphones.
However, as long as moderate to ambitious listening levels are picked up on the KANN ALPHA, the Korean DAP will also delight on T+A's audiophile headphones with a musically relaxed and at the same time involving style of playing.
In terms of spatiality in particular, the A&K gains in sonic interaction with the SOLITAIRE P, and IMO the combination also succeeds in layering in depth more accurately, combined with an even more precise positioning of voices and instruments.
If, however, in the heat of the sonic battle, extreme listening volumes are finally demanded from the KANN ALPHA, the DAP gradually compresses the dynamics from a certain point on and then flattens the rooms more and more.
In this respect, the SOLITAIRE P in combination with the A&K CAN ALPHA can only be recommended to those Knights of the Grail of fine tones who, even at an advanced age, would prefer to do without technical support in the form of a hearing aid. : )
Brother duel
In contrast to its younger brother, Astell&Kern KANN CUBE operates with the somewhat older ES9038 chipset from ESS-Technology, but as a superior desktop variant in the PRO-version. And just like the new ALPHA, the CUBE also has a channel-separated DAC integration, which in theory promises spectacular signal-to-noise ratios and high phase linearity.
While the ES9068AS converters, optimized for mobile use, enabled an average practice time of almost 10-12 hours in the KANN ALPHA in my review, experience shows that the KANN CUBE, despite its larger battery (7,400 mAh), stretches the sails after 6-8 hours already. Especially the ES9038PRO are known as real power guzzlers.
However, the KANN CUBE also has slight advantages over the newcomer, especially with regard to spatial imaging, due to the slightly higher quality chip assembly in the direct sound duel. The slightly wider stage presentation is accompanied by an equally generous staggering in depth.
This is surprisingly more important with the tested IEM than with the two over-ear headphones. Especially the NOBLE KHAN shows an increase of the stage base width in combination with the KANN CUBE. But also the CAMPFIRE SOLARIS subtly increases in size.
In the bass range, the KANN CUBE also has slightly more volume - the ALPHA, however, counters with a slightly more biting attack and the slightly tighter contour. The latter prefers a slightly more intimate playing style in the mids, while the big brother draws musical events with an even finer brush.
With regard to the detail work in the high frequency range, the differences are of a marginal nature. This is because both DAPs play at top level at high frequencies by mutual agreement.
The choice of the KANN of the hour therefore depends primarily on the intended use. If the Korean player is mainly used as a mobile second system and is also largely independent of power supply, the CUBE receives my explicit recommendation. For all other, especially mobile-friendly applications, the ALPHA would be IMO the first choice.
My conclusion
With the brand new ASTELL&KERN KANN ALPHA, the Korean manufacturer has, in my opinion, really made a veritable precision landing in the hotly contested DAP segment.
The digital audio player is exemplary manufactured, convinces by high functionality and inspires every knight of the grail of fine tones with high sound quality at a still manageable price. Only size and weight of the DAP are small concessions to the impressive performance.
Due to the complete absence of noise, the A&K is predestined for an adequate pairing with in-ear monitors, even in the top class. The new 4.4 PentacConn output now offers even more possibilities for individual sound experiments.
For this purpose, KANN ALPHA has sufficient power reserves to fire even high-efficiency over-ear headphones with corresponding audiophile fare. And what more could a Grail Knight of good taste ask for?
Many greetings from Ge
Yours Fidelio
