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Astell & Kern AK240 High-resolution portable music player with Wi-Fi®

Item # 838AK240

Every time we think Astell & Kern has reached the pinnacle of portable audio performance, they keep raising the...

Every time we think Astell & Kern has reached the pinnacle of portable audio performance, they keep raising the...

4 questions - 5 answers

Item # 838AK240

Shop all Astell&Kern Portable High-res Music Players

About the Astell & Kern AK240

David Brown

Astell & Kern takes portable audio to stratospheric heights

Every time we think Astell & Kern has reached the pinnacle of portable audio performance, they keep raising the bar. First, the AK100 wowed us with its superb sound quality and user-friendly interface. Then, the AK120 took a giant leap forward with even better sound and more memory. Now, the AK240 has set a new benchmark for portable music players. This completely updated design is an eye-catcher, with a larger touchscreen display, a cool ergonomic feel, and a snappy user interface that's much improved over previous versions. Best of all, the sound is positively otherworldly.
Astell & Kern AK240 high-resolution portable music player

The AK240 features a sleek design, large touchscreen interface, and superb sound for DSD, FLAC, and other digital music files.

Astell & Kern takes portable audio to stratospheric heights

Every time we think Astell & Kern has reached the pinnacle of portable audio performance, they keep raising the bar. First, the AK100 wowed us with its superb sound quality and user-friendly interface. Then, the AK120 took a giant leap forward with even better sound and more memory. Now, the AK240 has set a new benchmark for portable music players. This completely updated design is an eye-catcher, with a larger touchscreen display, a cool ergonomic feel, and a snappy user interface that's much improved over previous versions. Best of all, the sound is positively otherworldly.

Dual DACs with native DSD conversion

Like the AK120, the AK240 employs dual digital-to-analog converters (DACs), one for each stereo channel. This results in outstanding detail and dynamic range, a dead quiet background, and a wide-open soundstage. But Astell & Kern has taken another massive leap with the AK240, choosing Cirrus Logic DACs that are capable of native conversion of Direct Stream Digital (DSD) files. While many DSD-capable DACs first convert the signal to PCM, the AK240 converts DSD and double-DSD files directly to analog, giving listeners the full sonic benefits of this exciting high-resolution format. In addition, the Cirrus Logic DACs do wonders for 24-bit/192kHz FLAC, Apple Lossless, and other high-res formats. This player will even make your CD-quality and lossless files sparkle with more detail and depth that most smartphones and portable players can offer.

Praise for the Astell & Kern AK240 music player from Sound & Vision

"...this is the best portable audio player I've enjoyed to date, with unassailable build quality, sweet aesthetics, not-half-bad ergonomics, and stupendous sound, including the special attraction of uncompromised DSD playback. ...is the AK240 a fabulous product that brings endless fun and pleasure? An emphatic yes. I loved the little thing to death."

— From Mark Fleischmann's review in Sound & Vision, July/August, 2014
Read the full review


Built-in Wi-Fi adds a new dimension

What other new features make the AK240 the latest lusted-after device from Astell & Kern? Built-in Wi-Fi opens up even more listening possibilities than what you can store on the player. Download Astell & Kern's free software to your networked computer and stream songs over your home network. You can even download those songs onto the AK240, with no need for a wired USB connection. Wi-Fi also allows for wireless firmware upgrades — an important feature given Astell & Kern's history of continually adding improvements to each of their players. One planned future improvement is the ability to purchase and download high-resolution music files directly onto the AK240. At launch, the player features support for the "groovers" music service, with plans to add more storefronts in the future.

Astell & Kern AK240 high-resolution portable music player

Built-in Wi-Fi lets you stream or download songs from your networked computer using free software.

Improved user interface offers smooth performance

If you're worried that the AK240's user interface might be a little undercooked, you can rest easy. Astell & Kern has completely revamped its original software for faster response time, more features, and even easier navigation. The new software provides a smooth, polished touchscreen experience with the large 3.3" color display. The graphic EQ has been updated from five to ten bands, with even finer control to dial in your ideal sound signature. File scanning has been sped up and a search function added so you can quickly find and play any song on the AK240.


Other cool features

What else is there to love about this incredible player? It can be used as a USB DAC to get superb sound from digital music on your computer with the included USB cable. Internal memory is a whopping 256GB, with a microSD card slot that can handle up to 128GB cards. There's a new balanced output, for even cleaner sound than the standard headphone output offers. And then there's the unique design. Astell & Kern clearly put a great deal of thought into making this player stand out, not just for its cool looks but its ergonomic feel. Encased in durable aluminum alloy with a carbon fiber back panel, the AK240 isn't so delicate that you'll be afraid to take it off the shelf. It's a legitimate portable device with the build and sound quality of an audiophile home stereo component. If you're looking for a killer combination of portability, ease of use, and unrivaled sound quality, the AK240 is it.

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Product highlights:

  • digital music player — plays MP3, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AIFF, APE, WMA, DFF, DSF
    • native DSD playback for DSD64 (2.8MHz) and DSD128 (5.6MHz) files
  • dual Cirrus Logic CS4398 digital-to-analog converters for bit-perfect playback of high-resolution audio files (up to 24-bit/192Khz for PCM and 5.8MHz for DSD)
  • 256GB internal flash memory
  • microSD card slot for cards up to 128GB (up to 384GB total memory)
  • built-in Wi-Fi for streaming and downloading music from a networked computer (requires free MQS Streaming Server software — download from Astell & Kern's website)
    • allows wireless firmware upgrades
    • future support for direct purchasing of digital music via online stores
  • functions as a USB DAC when connected to a computer via the USB input
  • 3.31" color touchscreen OLED display
  • recessed analog volume knob provides fine level adjustments
  • 3 side-panel control buttons (Play/Pause, Next/FF, Previous/Rewind)
  • supports gapless playback
  • 3.5mm unbalanced headphone/optical output for connection to headphones, receiver/amp, or an external DAC
  • 2.5mm balanced output
  • Bluetooth 4.0-compatible (A2DP, not recommended for files with sampling rates greater than 48kHz)
  • 10-band EQ with 0.5dB-step adjustments and user-created presets
  • high-speed USB Micro-B interface (cable included) for drag-and-drop file transfer and battery charging
  • built-in rechargeable battery
  • durable aluminum alloy casing with carbon fiber rear-panel plates
  • custom leather case and protective screen film included
  • output impedance: 2 ohms (3.5mm headphone output), 1 ohm (2.5mm balanced output)
  • total harmonic distortion: 0.0007% (1kHz, unbalanced output)
  • signal-to-noise ratio: 116 dB
  • 2-5/8"W x 4-1/4"H x 11/16"D
  • weight: 6.5 oz.
  • warranty: 1 year
  • MFR # AK240

What's in the box:

  • AK240 digital music player
  • Leather Case
  • Protective Film
  • Micro-USB cable
  • micro SD card slot cover
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Warranty Card

Customer reviews for Astell & Kern AK240

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More details on the Astell & Kern AK240

Mark G.

Product Research

Features

Overview: The Astell&Kern AK240 from iRiver is a portable high-resolution music player which comes closer to the original sound than its predecessors, the AK100 and AK120. The AK240 takes the dual DACs (digital-to-audio converters) of the AK120, and adds a balanced output and native DSD (direct stream digital) playback for better sound quality. It has a huge internal memory so you'll be able to store thousands of high-resolution music files. The AK240 has a 3.31" AMOLED touchscreen display, plus built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Note: Direct Stream Digital (DSD) is the digital audio file format originally developed for SACD (Super Audio CDs). DSD features 1-bit / 2.8MHz-5.6MHz resolution, with wide frequency responses up to 100kHz and dynamic range beyond 120dB.

Construction: The AK240 is only 2.59"W x 4.21"H x 0.68"D, and weighs 6.5 ounces. It is made from gun metal-colored aircraft-grade duralumin, and comes with a fine leather case to protect it from scratches. Analog controls include a rotary volume knob on the right side, and Play/pause, Previous/rewind, and Next/fast forward buttons along the left side.

Digital Storage: The AK240 has a built-in 256 GB internal memory. You can also insert a 128 GB microSD card in the memory card slot on the side of the device to bring the total memory capacity of 384 GB. That's enough storage for approximately 3,750 four-minute songs, recorded at 24-bit/96kHz resolution.

Dual DACs: The AK240 is equipped with two Cirrus Logic CS4398 DACs that support up to 24-bit/192 kHz bit-to-bit decoding. An exclusive XMOS chip was added to allow Native DSD support. One DAC is used for the left channel, and one for the right channel. Each DAC delivers outstanding performance with the following specifications:

  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (@1kHz): 116dB unbalanced, 117dB balanced
  • Crosstalk (@1kHz): 130dB unbalanced, 135dB balanced
  • THD+N (@1kHz): 0.0007% unbalanced, 0.0005% balanced
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (±0.023dB); 10Hz-70kHz (±0.3dB)

USB DAC: You can use the AK240 as an external USB DAC which supports Native DSD playback. With the Dual DACs and the exclusive DSD chip, the AK240 delivers much better sounding audio than your computer's built-in sound card. Connect the unit via USB from your computer and listen to your stored digital music with headphones, powered speakers, or home stereo. The USB DAC is compatible with Windows XP (32-bit), Windows 7 (32- & 64-bit), Windows 8/8.1 (32- & 64-bit), and Mac OS X 10.7 and up; Sampling Rates: 44.1kHz - 192kHz; Bit Rates: 16-bit / 24-bit; DSD Support: DSD64 (1-bit 2.8MHz), DSD128 (1-bit 5.6MHz).

Balanced/Unbalanced Outputs: The Astell&Kern AK240 offers both balanced (L+/L-/R+/R-) and unbalanced outputs (L+/R+/GND). Balanced outputs have an additional "cold" signal to compliment the hot signal, which reduces external noise and increases output. The balanced output is a 4-conductor 2.5mm port (1 ohm) on the side of the device, and can be used with earphones or headphones that support balanced audio connections. You can also connect an external audio device to the AK240 by connecting to both the earphones port (ground) and the balanced port (LR).

Digital Audio Files: The AK240 is capable of playing high resolution digital music up to 24-bit, 192kHz, the same as used in the music mastering process. This Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) includes all of the high resolution formats, including WAV, AIFF, FLAC, and ALAC. These lossless files provide approximately 6-1/2 times more detail than a CD (16-bit, 44kHz), and can be played at sample rates of 8kHz-192kHz and 8/16/24-bits per sample. In addition, the unit can play MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, and APE compressed audio files.

User Interface: The AK240 features a high-quality user interface to make it easy to find and select your music files, change the volume, and adjust the sound:

  • 3.31" LCD Touchscreen: The full-color LCD touchscreen has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The screen displays the title and artist of the currently playing song, along with elapsed and remaining time, with the album art in the background. On the touchscreen, you can touch the Play/Pause, Previous/Rewind, or Next/Fast Forward icons to control playback. You can make adjustments to the EQ, set the repeat and random modes, and add the song to a playlist, all using the touchscreen interface.
  • Rotary Volume Knob: The AK240 has a side-mounted analog-style rotary volume knob. The volume control range is 00.0 to 75.0 with detents at every 0.5. As you adjust the volume, the volume range is shown numerically on the display.
  • Hardware Control Buttons: There are four physical buttons on the unit: a top-mounted power button, along with side-mounted Play/Pause, Previous/Rewind, and Next/Fast Forward buttons.

Drawing Equalizer: The AK240 has a 10-band Equalizer that lets you set the EQ levels by "drawing" the curve on the touchscreen. You can set the levels of each band from -10dB to +10dB at 32kHz, 62Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz and 16kHz. Each band can be set one at a time by touching the desired level on the screen, or set them all at once by a single swipe of the finger across the screen in the shape you desire.

Micro-B USB: The AK240 has a Micro-B USB port on the bottom of the unit for connecting the unit to your computer for downloading music files and for charging the battery. The AK240 is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8/8.1, as well as Mac OS X 10.7 and up.

Wi-Fi Capability: The AK240 features built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n--2.4GHz), allowing you to connect the device and your computer to the same network for streaming and downloading music. With the MQS Streaming Server software installed on your PC or Mac, you can use the AK240 to access music files stored on your computer's hard drive or a connected HDD. In addition, the Wi-Fi connection allows you to receive notifications of new available firmware updates (OTA Upgrades), allowing you to download them on the spot.

Bluetooth: The AK240 also has built-in Bluetooth V4.0 for connecting a Bluetooth device to listen to music wirelessly. DSD playback is not available via Bluetooth, and performance may be limited for high-res playback; 48 kHz or lower resolution is recommended). You must maintain a distance within 8" of the paired Bluetooth device for best audio quality and connection quality. Car audio Bluetooth connections are not supported.

Power Requirements: The AK240 is equipped with a 3250 mAh 3.7V Lithium-Polymer battery. The battery charges via USB in about 4.5 hours. A fully charged battery can provide up to approximately 10 hours of continuous playback time.

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Customer Q&A

4 questions already asked

Q
Does it support Tidal or Spotify?
edwin  Feb 26, 2017
1 answer
A
The AK240 does not support online music streaming services like Spotify or Tidal. With the MQS Streaming Server software installed on your PC or Mac, you can use the AK240 to wirelessly access music files stored on your computer's hard drive or a connected HDD. I hope that helps. My Bio: https://www.crutchfield.com/Support/Bio.aspx?bio=5
ryan  Mar 11, 2017 (Staff)
Q
How do I use the AK240 as a source to my home stereo? I have an integrated amp. I see an optical output. Would that bypass the DAC? What about a 3.5mm output to RCA inputs? The manual suggests a combo balanced plug and 3.5 mm plug. Never heard of that.
lee  Jun 24, 2016
1 answer
A
Hey Lee, All of those will work but I found it too much trouble. I use my AK240 with the aux port in my car. I bought a Sony HAP-S1 and use it as a home deck. You can move your downloaded tunes via your home network or easily convert your CDs to FLAC. It controls from a smart phone and is always ready.
stephen r.  Jun 25, 2016
Q
Does the AK240 play DSD DFF or DSD DSF or both ?
rob  Jan 05, 2015
2 answers
A
Thanks Ned.
rob  Jan 07, 2015
A
The answer to your question is both. Supported Audio Formats for the AK240 are: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE (Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF Supported Sample Rates are: 8 to 384 kHz (8/16/24 bits); DSD64 (1bit 2.8MHz) and DSD128 (1bit 5.6MHz) stereo
ned  Jan 06, 2015
Q
Which dad files does it play, is it dos or diff or both ?
rob  Jan 05, 2015
1 answer
A
Correction... Does the AK240 play DSD DSL or DSD DFF or both
rob  Jan 05, 2015

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