A Respected Audiophile Brand Just Went Big on Affordable Hi-Fi

In July 2024, Astell&Kern launched the sub-brand Activo, which sells hi-fi gear that’s still audiophile-grade but substantially more affordable than A&K’s offerings.

To date, Activo has introduced the P1, a portable hi-fi player costing $429 (most of Astell&Kern’s catalog is priced well over $1,000), as well as two in-ear monitors, the $399 Q1 and $120 Volcano.

Now the company is introducing another affordable pair of IEMs, designed for aspiring audiophiles who want to take their first real leap into hi-fi without breaking the bank.

Activo Scoop

Activo

Wired, flexibility

The Activo Scoop is an affordable pair of IEMs that come with detachable cables and adapters for USB-C, 3.5mm and 4.4mm (balanced), so you can use them with your smartphone, laptop, portable games console and dedicated hi-fi player.

And they cost £99 (roughly $120). According to the brand, they promise a combination of flexibility and performance rarely seen at this price point.

Activo

Activo

Inside, each Scoop earphone packs a hybrid five-driver array, comprised of three dynamic drivers (1 × 8mm, 2 × 6mm) and two balanced armature drivers.

Activo claims they deliver “a natural sound signature that spans from a rich, full-bodied low end to crisp and articulate highs.” 

Activo

Shaped for comfort

The earphones have been designed, according to the brand, to “represent the gentle, polished form of a pebble shaped by flowing water.”

It’s a pretty extravagant way to put, but basically means that they’ve designed to fit like most other earphones, and thus be very comfortable. Activo ships them with two sets of ear tips, silicone and memory foam, in three different sizes (small, medium and large).

Activo

Activo

Each pair of earphones comes with a tightly braided, seven-core cable that features silver-plated copper and oxygen-free copper wiring. The detachable cable connects to the earphones via a terminal circuit to ensure “a clean, stable signal.”

The Activo Scoop will come in one white finish. The black models that appear in this article are Activo’s more affordable Volcano IEMs.

Activo

Availability and pricing

The Activo Scoop is initially being released in the UK with a £99 price tag. When released in the US, they will cost around $120.

Activo

Activo Scoop

The Activo Scoop is an affordable pair of IEMs that come with detachable cables and adapters for USB-C, 3.5mm and 4.4mm (balanced), so you can use them with your smartphone, laptop, portable games console and dedicated hi-fi player. According to the brand, they promise a combination of flexibility and performance rarely seen at this price point.

• $99 at Activo

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