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DACs Deciphered: The 4 Major Types Explained | Moon Audio

A&norma SR35 Digital Audio Player

Was: $799.00
Now: $649.00
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20 hours playback, Quad-DACs, premium detailed sound, new AMP tech, and MORE power. More details

DACs Deciphered: The 4 Major Types Explained | Moon Audio

Expected Jul 31st 2024

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The A&norma series from Astell&Kern was created with the sole purpose of delivering the brand's premium sound quality in a highly portable form factor, without compromising on performance or specifications. The series' previous model, the SR25 MKII, garnered widespread acclaim from audio enthusiasts and newcomers alike, thanks to its compact size and powerful hi-fi sound delivered through a 4.4mm balanced jack. Building upon this legacy, the A&norma SR35 inherits the strengths of its predecessor while introducing advancements in amplifier design and audio engineering, drawing from Astell&Kern's expertise in crafting premium audio products. This compact powerhouse promises to deliver the authentic sound quality that has become synonymous with the Astell&Kern name.

Despite its ultra-compact size, the SR35 boasts an impressive 20 hours of continuous playback, ensuring that you can enjoy your music without interruption, no matter where your journey takes you. Under the hood, the SR35 features Quad hi-res DACs and a two-step Gain control system, providing precise control over the audio output and ensuring optimal performance with a wide range of headphones and audio gear. Furthermore, the A&norma SR35 introduces Astell&Kern's New Generation Amp technology to the A&norma lineup for the first time. Leveraging the company's long-standing expertise in audio engineering, this innovative amplifier design delivers an even more delicate and clear hi-fi sound, even at higher output levels. It also features a snappy Quad-core CPU for stellar performance, a great soundstage, and compatibility with MAC, Android, and Apple for easy music transfer from all your favorite sources and devices. This commitment to sonic excellence ensures that every nuance and detail of your music is faithfully reproduced, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the listening experience.

Whether you're an audio enthusiast seeking a portable companion for your high-end gear or a music lover looking to upgrade your listening experience, the Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 promises to deliver an unparalleled level of performance and sonic fidelity. With its advanced technologies, meticulous engineering, and unwavering commitment to audio excellence, the SR35 is poised to redefine the expectations of what a portable audio player can achieve.

Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Astell&Kern SR35 DAP Music Player with our popular Black Dragon USB Audio Cable. The Black Dragon USB cable utilizes our single crystal UP-OCC copper construction to provide you with the best possible digital bus transmission. Our Black Dragon USB cable will bring an extraordinary amount of detail and resolution to your hi-fi system. The Black Dragon USB cable is designed to transfer digital audio from your source device (like a computer, phone, tablet, or digital audio player) to a USB-capable DAC. It is built to USB Audio specs. The Black Dragon USB Cable is meant for audio data transfer only - meaning that this cable should not be used for high-speed data transmission (via external hard drives). Because of the high-quality materials and cable geometry, Dragon USB cables greatly reduce stock USB cable issues such as packet loss and jitter.

Features:

  • Quad-DAC (Quad/Dual Switching Mode)
  • New Generation AMP Technology
  • 2-Step Gain Mode, New UI/UX - Crimson Theme
  • Dual Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5GHz)
  • 20 Hours of Continuous Playback
  • Supports Two-Way Bluetooth and High-Definition Codecs (LDAC, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD)
  • Roon Ready (First in A&norma series)

Quad-DAC Mode for True Hi-Fi Sound

For the first time in the A&norma series, the SR35 features the Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC in a Quad DAC configuration, renowned for its excellent spatial accuracy and resolution. Additionally, the SR35 incorporates a newly designed audio circuit that integrates Astell&Kern's proprietary technologies, including the Quad DAC setup and patented TERATON ALPHA technology. This combination significantly enhances the device's dynamics, spatial sense, resolution, and separation. The SR35 also includes advanced amplification circuitry, previously exclusive to flagship models, achieving an industry-leading Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 130dB.

The SR35 offers Dual/Quad DAC Switching mode, allowing users to optimize power management efficiency and extend continuous playtime, a hallmark of the A&norma series. Supporting Native DSD256 and PCM playback up to 32-bit/384kHz, the SR35 delivers true Hi-Fi sound with no distortion, ensuring an unrestricted listening experience.

The Essence of Astell&Kern Technology - Equipped with New Generation AMP

Astell&Kern's commitment to never compromising on sound quality, no matter how small the difference, has earned acclaim from media and audiophiles alike. This dedication is evident in their releases of premium audio players, which blend innovative circuits and amplifier technologies.

The SR35 incorporates the New Generation AMP technology from the A&ultima line, allowing A&norma users to experience the superior sound quality typical of A&ultima products. This unique amplifier design from Astell&Kern enhances noise reduction at high power output. With this advanced technology, the SR35 features the same amplifier architecture found in the latest A&ultima and A&futura models, from OP-AMP selection to component placement and circuit design, elevating it to premium audio standards. Furthermore, to ensure reliable performance across different impedance outputs, the SR35 increases the current handling capacity at the output end, maximizing the performance of various devices with a single SR35.

2-Step Gain Mode for the Perfect Hi-Fi Experience

To ensure seamless use with both sensitive IEMs and hard-to-drive headphones, a device must provide suitable output based on the specifications of the connected equipment.

The SR35 supports a 2-Step Gain Level mode, allowing it to perfectly match a wide range of headphones and IEMs while maintaining optimal sound output. This mode includes "Normal Gain" and "High Gain" settings, which can generate a high current output for powerful sound and excellent driver control. With up to 6Vrms available from the balanced connections, driving high-impedance headphones becomes effortless.

TERATON ALPHA, The Essence of A&K Audio Technologies

TERATON ALPHA, AK's pinnacle sound solution, enables high output and Quad DAC support for a wide range of earphones and headphones, while ensuring extended playtime with minimal noise. We've elevated the A&norma series with cutting-edge audio technologies derived from acclaimed Astell&Kern products, alongside TERATON ALPHA, honed over years of rigorous research and development.

TERATON ALPHA represents Astell&Kern's proprietary technology, meticulously crafted to deliver audio playback that faithfully reproduces the original sound. It achieves this through effective power noise reduction, efficient power management, steadfast amplification, and a fully optimized audio output interface.

All-Day Music - Amazing Playtime

The SR35 delivers premium-class audio specifications and authentic Hi-Fi sound from Astell&Kern. It embodies the core values of the A&norma series, aiming to provide limitless Hi-Fi audio wherever and whenever you desire, coupled with unparalleled portability in the digital audio player market.

Compact in size, the SR35 easily fits into your pocket and weighs just 184g, ensuring effortless carrying convenience. With up to 20 hours of continuous playtime, you can enjoy uninterrupted music throughout the day without needing to recharge. Whether on long-haul flights, during workdays, or on vacations, the SR35 is your ideal companion, ensuring Hi-Fi sound quality at all times and in any place.

New Experience, New User Interface

The SR35 comes with a redesigned Crimson-themed UI/UX transforming into a "true music player" for users to deeply connect with their music listening experience. The new UI/UX is designed so that users can quickly browse music categories and re-discover songs within their music library. We also added an easy album art search function so that users can re-discover the joy of viewing and interacting with music album art whilst listening to their music.

The crimson theme focuses on edge, simplicity, and dark mode keywords. The color theme of black and red highlights lowers visual fatigue and offers intuitive user experiences, and many other improvements were made to the device's user-friendliness of app service, artist view, album sorting, and the album art search function. Immerse yourself in music with the new UI/UX.

Sound Design by DAC Filters

With the SR35, you can pick and choose from four DAC filters to create your own sound style. Design your own sound with 4 different DAC filters.

Roon Ready and MQA Support for Hi-Fi Fans

Roon Ready is tailored for Hi-Fi enthusiasts seeking uncompromised audio quality across diverse devices within networked systems. Now, integrated into the A&norma series for the first time, Roon Ready enhances the SR35 with a controlled network audio setup, ensuring premium sound fidelity. Moreover, it supports full MQA 8X decoding, enabling the SR35 to natively play and stream Hi-Fi MQA sound. This aligns perfectly with the A&norma philosophy of faithfully reproducing original audio wherever and whenever you listen.

Other Features:

  • SR35 enhances your audio experience with Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz), ensuring robust network performance for enjoying Hi-Fi music through various streaming and Roon Ready services.
  • ReplayGain is integrated to automatically and uniformly adjust playback volume, ensuring seamless transitions across playlists on the SR35. It supports sound sources up to 24bit/192kHz, maintaining high fidelity throughout.
  • Utilize the BT Sink function to wirelessly connect the SR35 to external devices like smartphones, enabling playback of high-quality music akin to connecting a smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker.
  • With support for Native DSD256 and up to 32bit/384kHz, the SR35 leverages Astell&Kern's advanced audio technology, ensuring you can fully immerse yourself in your favorite music with unparalleled clarity and detail.
  • The new AK File Drop function in the SR35 makes files transfers easier and more convenient. Using AK File Drop, you can freely transfer files wirelessly through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network. Music file management is now possible with a cableless, wireless solution.
  • MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information. Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording.
  • Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries.
  • LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Learn More.
  • Roon Ready network players from partners have Roon’s high-resolution streaming technology built right in. They combine simple setup, daily reliability, and support for the highest level of digital audio performance in the industry. Every Roon Ready player is certified by Roon to guarantee the same stellar experience, regardless of its manufacturer, its price, or its features.

AK File Drop to Enjoy Wireless Transfers

The new AK File Drop function in the SR35 makes files transfers easier and more convenient. Using AK File Drop, you can freely transfer files wirelessly through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network. Music file management is now possible with a cableless, wireless solution.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information. Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. Learn More.The MQA logo is a trademark of MQA Limited. © MQA Limited 2018

Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries. Learn More.

LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Learn More.

Roon Ready network players from our partners have Roon’s high-resolution streaming technology built right in.

They combine simple setup, daily reliability, and support for the highest level of digital audio performance in the industry.

Every Roon Ready player is certified by Roon to guarantee the same stellar experience, regardless of its manufacturer, its price, or its features. Learn More.

What's in the Box?

  • SR35 DAP Music Player
  • USB-C Charging Cable
  • Manual and Warranty

FAQ

What audio formats does the SR35 support?

The Astell&Kern SR35 supports a wide range of audio formats including MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DSD (up to DSD256), and MQA.

Does the SR35 have built-in storage?

Yes, the SR35 comes with internal storage capacity. It typically offers options ranging from 64GB to 128GB, depending on the model variant.

Can I expand the storage on the SR35?

Yes, the SR35 supports microSD cards for expandable storage. It can accommodate microSD cards up to a certain capacity (often 1TB or more, depending on the model).

Does the SR35 support streaming services like Spotify or Tidal?

Yes, the SR35 supports streaming services through apps like Spotify and Tidal via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. It may also support streaming via Roon Ready integration.

What is the battery life of the SR35?

The SR35 offers up to 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, making it suitable for all-day listening sessions without needing to recharge frequently.

Can the SR35 connect wirelessly to other devices?

Yes, the SR35 supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing it to connect wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or as a BT Sink to stream music from external devices like smartphones.

What is ReplayGain and how does it work on the SR35?

ReplayGain is a feature on the SR35 that normalizes playback volume across tracks with varying loudness levels, ensuring consistent volume levels without sudden jumps or drops.

Does the SR35 have a touchscreen?

Yes, the SR35 features a touchscreen interface for easy navigation and control of music playback, settings, and other functions.

General Specifications

Model SR35
Body Color Charcoal Gray
Body Material Aluminum
Display 3.6 inch HD (720 x 1,280) TFT LCD
Supported Audio Formats WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DIFF, DSF, MQA
Sample rate PCM: 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) / DSD Native: DSD64 (1bit 2.8mHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo
Output Level

Unbalanced 2.1Vrms / Balanced 4Vrms (Normal)

Unbalanced 3.1Vrms / Balanced 6Vrms (High Gain)

CPU Quad-Core
DAC Cirrus Logic CS43198 x 4 (Quad-DAC)
Decoding Support up to 32bit / 384kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback and Native DSD256
Input USB Type-C input (for charging PC & MAC)
Outputs Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported | 4.4m, only 5-pole supported)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4&5GHz)
Bluetooth V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC)
Dimensions 2.51" (64mm) [W] x 4.26" (108.3mm) [H] x 0.63" (16.1mm) [D]
Weight about 6.49 oz (about 184 g)
Opeating Temperature 0*C ~ + 40*C (32* ~ 104*F)

Audio Performance

Fequency Response ± 0.012dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.011dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced ±0.125dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unabalanced / ±0.126dB (Condition 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
Signal to Noise Ratio 127dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 130dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
Crosstalk -133dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -145dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced
IMD SMPTE 0.0002% 800Hz 10kHz(4.1) Unbalanced / 0.0002% 800Hz 10kHz(4.1) Balanced
Output Impedance Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1.1ohm) / Balanced out 2.5mm, 4.4mm (2.7ohm)

Clock Source

Clock Jitter 25ps(Typ)
Reference Clock Jitter 70ps

Battery

Capacity 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
Continuous Storage Time about 20 hours (Standard: FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Vol. 50, EQ Off, LCD Off)
Charge Time about 2.5 hours (5V 2A General Charging)

Memory

Built-in Memory 64GB [NAND]
External Memory microSD (Max. 1TB) x1

OS

Supported OS Windows 8,10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and up

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