Astell&Kern PD10 Announced

News today from Astell&Kern on their new Astell&Kern PD10, a portable digital audio player designed for both home and on-the-go use.  It features a docking cradle in the package in a break from the existing lineup.

The Astell&Kern PD10 has the same HEXA-Audio circuitry (internal separation of digital and analogue signals) as the Flagship SP3000 and SP3000M. The ‘Outstanding’ SP3000M was recently reviewed here at HF&MS.  The PD10 features four AKM AK4498EX DACs and two separate AK4191EQ chips that handle digital signals..  Additionally, Astell&Kern has introduced a dedicated switch for the unbalanced and balanced signals to the DAC chip.  The PD10 features two distinct amplifiers that automatically account for the average impedance of connected earphones and headphones, allowing the user to seamlessly switch between different preferred headphones, whilst the PD10 optimises the gain.

The PD10 has 256GB of internal memory and can support microSD cards up to 2TB.  The display is a 6-inch Full HD (1080×2160) touch screen that provides a high-resolution display. Furthermore, an LED ring around the power button displays the bitrate of the currently playing track.

For the first time in an Astell&Kern DAP, the volume wheel has been replaced with buttons, creating a clean and minimalist look while using distinct material contrast to draw the user’s attention to the control buttons

The Astell&Kern PD10 features a desktop cradle, allowing it to be used as a home source.  The XLR balanced outputs on the back of the cradle allow for connection to a two-channel home audio system or direct connection to powered speakers.  There is a fixed line output mode if needed and an LED on the front of the cradle displays colour-coded bit-rate information of the track currently playing.

The PD10, with included docking cradle, will be available from May 2025 at Astell&Kern dealers worldwide, including Amazon, with a suggested retail price of £2499/$2499

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is a premium audio brand of portable and non-portable audio systems that play hi-res audio files without compromise. Astell means “star” in Greek, and Kern means “core” in German. Together, it refers to our aim to continuously reach for the core of music – the “original sound.”

Since our first product was launched in 2013, the brand philosophy—refusing to overlook even the smallest differences in sound quality—has led to a diverse array of audio products and outstanding and well renowned technology honed through continuous R&D, enriching music lovers’ lives.

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