Astell & Kern, a well-known name in the world of high-fidelity audio, has just made a groundbreaking move. For years, the brand has been associated with the portable high fidelity players, state-of-the art designs that offer quality sound for prices that are fitting for their quality. And while the Astell & Kern has it had cheaper portable hi-fi units in the past, today the company is showing off the newest, and quite possibly, the cheapest – the P1. It may not be an iPhone 5 but this new player into the game provides very high quality sound with a price point that is much lower than an iPhone, thus making high fidelity music affordable and available to the masses.
Introduction to Astell & Kern
Through the years, Astell & Kern has been a pioneer of the portable hi-fi market in developing High quality devices. These players belong to the class of the elite players that are meant for audiophiles, who only want the best from their music players. Being that Astell & Kern provided a plethora of products that deals in updated advanced features and design, they do indeed are the epitome of portable music enthusiasm.
Why Astell & Kern is a Big Deal in Hi-Fi Audio
This company has well worked for this reputation since most of the products it offers takes the market to new levels of portable audio. Their line of digital audio players (DAPs) are recognized for having a fantastic sound quality; each song is played back just the way the composer intended it to sound like. This concentration on audio output and premium design has placed Astell & Kern in the home of any audiophile.
The Launch of the P1: What You Need to Know
In any case, the introduction of the P1 represents a very different strategy for Astell & Kern. For the first time making this model popular and affordable is a portable hi-fi player offered by the company. The starting price of $430 is much cheaper than the other models that AIMAG offers; these range from $3600 upwards. This makes the P1 an ideal choice of substance for those who want good auditory experience without spending a lot of cash.
A Closer Look at the P1’s Features
The P1 is said to be the least expensive player in Astell & Kern’s line but do not let that give you a misconception that it comes devoid of features. It comes with a modern dual ESS ES9219Q Sabre DAC, which is famous for its clarity of sound. The player also supports PCM up to 32-bit/ 384 kHz and Direct Stream Digital (DSD) 256. The concept behind the P1 is all about continuous playtime; it boasts up to 20 hours of continuous playback.
Dual ESS ES9219Q Sabre DACs
The core of the P1 consists of two ESS ES9219Q Sabre DACs built into the integrated balanced and single-ended output stage. These are the digital to analog converters that convert forms the digital audio files contained in the mp3s to analog form that can be played by headphones. This leads to a warm and clear sound with a very high level of coherence which is very impressive when speaking of such a budget.
High-Resolution Audio Support
The P1 has a compatibility of various High-Res Audio codecs such as PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256. This means that, irrespective of whether one is streaming through his preferred service or have a library of lossless tracks, he will not overwhelm the P1.
Long Battery Life
Perhaps the most edging aspect in the P1 is the battery department. Depending on the model, it is possible to have up to 20 hours play time in one single charge. This makes the P1 a good headphone for long hours or for those who do not want any disturbance while enjoying their favorite music.
Design: Simplicity Meets Functionality
As for the looks, the P1 is a long way from the flagship AK branded headphones with their angular and brushed aluminum bodies. However, the P1 is awfully designed bearing in mind that it has a number of improvements over the P2 but the design is reduced to its barest minimalism and has been made lightweight and easy to carry. The aluminum and polycarbonate body construction is however very solid and the thickness in form of width comfortably fits in hand or pocket. The device comes with a 4. 1-inch screen; the screen is very bright and clearly visible with all the icons distributed in a way that enables easy searching for a track or changing some settings.
Textured Side Buttons for Easy Control
The P1 also benefits from some very considerate design features such as rubberised side buttons for track navigation. These buttons let you to fast-forward, rewind, or pause tracks without having to remove the player from your pocket, which is convenient, if you are in a hurry or on the go.
Audio Quality: What Makes the P1 Stand Out
Despite the fact that it is cheaper than other Astell & Kern players, P1 does not put into question sound quality. The two separate DACs provide for accuracy in the output and depth in the sound delivered making for a great listening experience. If you’re using wired speakers or streaming to the wireless earphones, the P1 delivers a level of audio quality that is hard to get within this price range.
Support for Wireless Audio
The P1 comes with Bluetooth 5. 3 compatibility aptX HD and LDAC, the two codecs for enhanced Bluetooth audio quality. This means that even if you are using headphone that is wireless, you will still be able to enjoy clear sound quality of your music max but the wired headphone is the best.
The Versatility of the P1
The P1 has one of its major advantages in being a multipurpose design. It can also reproduce high fidelity audio and besides supports streaming through Google Play Store. This is why you can load applications such as Spotify, Apple Music or even Tidal on to the player and rock your favorite tunes wirelessly no phone required.
Expandable Storage
Thus, the P1 has 64GB of internal storage which will be quite suitable for a number of tracks. However, on larger models, the storage can be expanded up to 1. 5 Tb with a microSD card if required. It provides you with adequate storage for massive music database in almost all the popular formats.
External DAC/Headphone Amp Functionality
Just as with the P5, one of the most significant and unique characteristics of the P1 is the use as an external DAC/headphone amp for other devices. With the P1 portable charger, you can have enhanced sound for a variety of devices you use frequently – smartphone, laptop, or a desktop – all through the USB-C.
Price Point: Affordable High-Fidelity Audio
The P1 is the most basic and cheapest of Astell & Kern’s portable hi-fi players at $430, but the company provides value for the money. You’re getting a system that plays back beautifully, includes plenty of high-res connectivity, has all the modern features you need, and all in an attractive, portable format. It is still not cheap, but the P1’s accomplishment is to bring high-fidelity audio within reach of those who might have been priced out of it before.
How the P1 Compares to Other Hi-Fi Players
But even in comparison with other entry-level hi-fi players, such as Astell & Kern’s ACRO L100, for instance, P1 looks quite good. It has better sound quality and more options to the default than many of its analogues, FiiO, Sony, and Hidizs being its competitors. These other brands do have good players too but when it comes to desire of having a good quality sound, and quite eye appealing design plus its portability then the P1 is a perfect choice for anyone who would contemplate of buying a portable hi-fi player.
Why the P1 is a Game-Changer for Audiophiles
The P1 shows that a change has occurred in the hi-fi market. In a way, by providing an excellent-sounding, well-equipped player for a lower price, Astell & Kern democratises high-end audio. This is quite savior for all the audiophiles out there who wishes to enjoy the music on the move without having to settle for substandard quality.
Final Thoughts on the P1
The P1 by Astell & Kern is hands down a revolutionizer in the market of portable hi-fi. It has all the features one can expect from an Astell & Kern product in terms of sound quality but it sits at one of the lowest price points of devices in this lineup. Apart from being portable and fitting a large range of ear sizes and shapes, the P1 also sounds wonderful and is one of the best looking earphones I have seen in a long while.
