Hard anodizing ensures excellent wear resistance

AK120 TITAN has improved its resistance to everyday wear and tear by upgrading the soft anodizing previously used on AK120 to hard anodizing. Scratches are no longer a concern, and the AK120 TITAN retains its original shape over time.

What is the Portable MQS System?

Astell&Kern is the ultimate portable high-fidelity audio system capable of studio Mastering Quality Sound (MQS)

Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) is an acronym of collective lossless & high-resolution audio source formats, typically in 24-bit/44 to 192kHz of bit/sampling rates. Because MQS delivers about 6.5 times more detail than a conventional CD format (16bit/44.1kHz), listeners can enjoy a better and a more realistic sound quality.

24-bit/44 to 192kHz is the music industry norm used in the mastering process during sound production. However, the result of high resolution music files has to be compressed down to 16bit/44.1kHz so it can be stored into a single CD due to the memory storage shortcomings (~700MB). To produce the MP3 format, the high-resolution audio is compressed even further to 128 to 320kbps for the convenience of file size. These compressions remove the enormous amount of the details of the original recording because of memory storage limitations and listeners will never be able to hear the details.

Source frequency analysis comparison

frequencies up to 16kHz. However, WAV formats sampled in 48kHz can be reproduced up to 22kHz and higher. Frequency rates When comparing the frequency of each digital audio format, data loss is even more visible. MP3 formats can only reproduce of MQS files sampled in 44 to 192kHz can be reproduced even further than the WAV format.

Noise Detected during Balanced Output

Noise Removed After Detection

Noise Removal Complete

DSD Playback support

High-Definition Digital Audio Formats and DSD Playback support with the AK120 TITAN

DSD(Direct Stream Digital) is the digital audio format found embedded into SACD(Super Audio CD) physical media.
In common digital audio recording, PCM(Pulse Code Modulation) is the Y-axis of a sine wave is divided into 65000 (16bit) to 1,670 million(24bit) and the X-axis is divided into 44,000(44.1kHz) to 192,000(192kHz) parts. When comparing a standard PCM digital recording to the DSD approach, the digital signal is transformed by Y-axis of the DSD sine waves that are measured at single bit(1bit, 0s and 1s) sequence and is divided 2.8 million(2.8MHz) to 5.6 million(5.6MHz) times into the X-axis.
In general, when comparing SACD and PCM 16bit/44.1kHz Audio CDs, SACDs are recorded in frequency ranges up to 100kHz and greatly expand the dynamic range over 120dB while maintaining clarity of sound that a traditional PCM audio signal cannot reproduce. In order to listen to SACD, a dedicated SACD player is needed, but the AK120 TITAN brings SACD audio format playback to a portable player with DSD audio support. Enjoy the sound of DSD without a separate SACD player with the AK120 TITAN. (AK120 TITAN supports the .dff and .dsf DSD formats up to 2.8MHz resolution.)

PCM

DSD

Meets the Standards of Hi-Fi Audio

THD+N (1kHz 0dB, No load)

THD + Noise (Distortion) over the THD + Noise signal rate, less distortion is heard. The AK120 achieves a 0.0008% distortion signal rate.

Crosstalk (1kHz 0dB, No load)

CROSSTALK The higher the number in the crosstalk specification, the higher the isolation in the Left/Right channels develops. The AK120 has a crosstalk specification of -128dB.

Jitter (1kHz 0dB, No load)

Jitter With smaller figures representing irregular tremors of the signal waveform, the better the device performs. The AK120 has a Jitter specification of 50ps.

Signal to Noise Ratio (1kHz 0dB, No load)

SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) As the signal-to-noise ratio increases, the clearer the sound becomes. AK120 signal-to-noise specification is 113dB.

Frequency Response (1kHz 0dB, No load)

Frequency Response The frequency response specification of +0.02 to -0.02 in the AK120 provides a clear sound from Bass to Treble.

External DAC Support

Use the AK120 TITAN as an external DAC through the USB port.

With the Astell&Kern AK120 TITAN, the Wolfson WM8740 chips can also be used as an external DAC through the USB terminal. Enjoy more lively sound from the music files stored through a variety of sources, including computers and car audio systems. The optical IN port of the AK120 TITAN can also be used as an external DAC.

A Touch Equalizer Controlled by a Single Swipe

With the Astell&Kern and a nice set of headphones, audio enthusiasts will appreciate even more various genres of music.
Use the touch interface of the built-in 5-band equalizer to delicately find the tone you desire. In addition, touch the screen to finely adjust the value of each band.

The world reknowned master of high-end speaker systems,
CEO of Metal Sound Designs: Kuk-il Yu,
re-creates a high-resolution miracle only felt from the AK120.

T2009 CES Innovations Awards [RHEA W]

2009 CES Innovations Awards [RHEA W]

Q. My first experience with Astell&Kern

“At the official launch event of the Astell&Kern, I could pick up the great sound quality of the AK100 immediately. The spaciousness, clarity, and the soundstage of the AK100 was nothing less than the music from other tens of thousands dollar worth of hi-fi audio components of premium brands. With the AK120, which adopts dual DAC technology to handle the left and right audio channels separately, I could feel even greater soundstage and more intense sound.”

Q. The history and development of Pro EQ

“In order to tell whether the sound is right, you needed to listen to various genres of music over and over. The journey of finding the Pro EQ started by listening to the variety of genres of music -- Jazz, classical, pop, hip-hop, etc. I believe I’ve listened to those tracks well over a couple of thoudsand times. I also recollected my memories of several live performances that I’ve observed from many concerts. I’ve listened to the AK120 TITAN well over hundred times per track, and even more than 500 times for a complicated piece such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, which is about 40 min long, in the hope of finding the most realistic sound setting. To me, good sound is something that sounds exactly like you are listening to it at the recording session. If the music sounds somewhat strange, then there is a high probability of some kind of distortion in place. On the contrary, when the music sounds more comfortable, and you can hear more details, it is very likely that you are experiencing true hi-fi. Another aspect of good sound is soundstage. It is hard to justify what the best aural experience should be like. However, the spaciousness and depth of the performance is another way to judge the sound quality. I’ve focused on finding the closest setting possible that creates the clearest image possible. As a piece of quartet performance is being played, the Pro EQ setting will help listeners to pinpoint the exact angle of each and every performer.”

It would be a marvelous journey of music when you are listening to the Astell&Kern with its Pro EQ setting, and we hope you can also experience Yu’s philosophy on the most realistic sound.