Astell&Kern’s Affordable Hi-Fi Player Is a Modern-Day iPod for Audiophiles

One of the biggest names in portable hi-fi is introducing a new entry-level player.

Close-up of a black digital audio player with a textured metal volume knob and a red geometric display screen.

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Astell&Kern is one of the biggest names in portable hi-fi players today, offering a wide range of models that blend audiophile-grade sound with beautiful premium builds.

To date, these portable hi-fi players have ranged from $799 (for the entry-level A&norma SR35) to $4,500 (for a special edition of its flagship A&ultima SP4000).

Now, roughly three years after its release, Astell&Kern is introducing the successor to its entry-level A&norma SR35, which will soon take the title of the brand’s most affordable portable hi-fi player.

Astell&Kern PD5

Two sleek, rectangular digital music players in dark gray, one showing a touchscreen with music controls and the other showing a metallic back with a volume knob. — The Astell&Kern PD5 is the successor to the brand’s entry-level portable hi-fi player, the 2023-released A&norma SR35.

The Astell&Kern PD5 is a compact portable hi-fi player that can be best described as a high-end, modern-day iPod. It has an all-metal build and a large touchscreen display.

And it packs an octa-core processor and runs on an Android-based operating system, giving you quick access to your favorite streaming services like Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, Amazon Music and Apple Music.

Silver digital music player with a color touchscreen displaying a red geometric album cover and a volume knob on the side. — The PD5 sports 3.5mm (single-ended) and 4.4mm (balanced) headphone jacks. It also supports Bluetooth, so it can stream audio to your wireless headphones.

Silver rectangular Astell&Kern audio device with a volume knob and two headphone jacks on top. — The biggest improvement is the PD5 sports eight Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs, which is twice as many as its predecessor.

Double the DACs

Naturally, Astell&Kern has made key improvements to the PD5 over the A&norma SR35. Most notably, the PD5 has twice as many DACs, eight compared to four, giving the listener more ways to customize their sound.

Using this eight-DAC audio architecture unlocks the PD5’s full sonic potential, claims the brand. It supports bit-perfect playback up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256.

According to the brand, the PD5 is “a player that reaches well beyond the physical limits of its compact aluminum body.”

Astell&Kern

Slim silver rectangular device with a circular dial on one side against a white background. — The PD5 provides up to 28 hours of continuous playback in Quad-DAC mode. Support for PD 3.0 charging reduces charge time to approximately 2.5 hours.

However, the PD5 lets the listener switch to a Quad-DAC to prioritize battery life. This gives the player up to 28 hours of continuous playback, which is eight extra hours than the A&norma SR35. (The company hasn’t specified the battery life when the PD5 is being used in Octa-DAC mode.)

Additionally, Astell&Kern is introducing a new feature called EnviroTune with the PD5. This analyzes your listening environment and automatically adjusts the sound accordingly. The brand claims this feature is designed to “help listeners get the best possible sound experience whether they are commuting, working or listening in a quieter space.”

Silver Astell&Kern portable music player with touchscreen displaying a red album cover and playback controls. — The Astell&Kern PD5 is a high-resolution digital audio player that combines an eight-DAC audio architecture with a compact design and long battery life.

Availability and pricing

Admittedly, there’s still a lot unknown about the PD5. Astell&Kern hasn’t released its complete features or specs. And it hasn’t announced pricing or availability information. According to the brand, all those details will be revealed “soon.”

Speculating about price, the PD5 is positioned as the successor to the A&norma SR35, which initially cost $799 (but now sells for $729). We’re guessing the PD5 will cost somewhere just north of that.

Silver digital music player with touchscreen displaying a song titled "Difference In Sound Quality" by Astell&Kern.

Astell&Kern PD5

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About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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