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DACs Deciphered: The 4 Major Types Explained | Moon Audio
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
The most powerful DAP on the market. Quality AK sound, design, and materials. More details
DACs Deciphered: The 4 Major Types Explained | Moon Audio
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
Kann Ultra Music Player DAP
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The KANN Ultra is Astell&Kern's most powerful music player to date, capable of driving virtually every headphone on the market, including high-demand models like the Dan Clark AEON Noire, Stealth, and Expanse. Its true discrete separate pathway for line-out makes it an ideal source for your two-channel home system or a portable amp like the Cayin C9, which can bypass its preamp stage. This means the KANN Ultra can serve as an affordable alternative to high-end Cayin DAPs, acting as a dedicated preamp/source for top-tier amplifiers like the C9.
Designed for those who need power on the go, the KANN Ultra excels at driving full-size audiophile-grade headphones, making it perfect for planar magnetics where increased power output translates to enhanced sound quality and fidelity. The flagship-level DAC chips deliver stunning audio, and with four levels of gain and substantial power, your music will have everything it needs to shine.
What sets the KANN Ultra apart is not just its increased output but also the addition of pre and line-outs. This provides a plethora of options for integrating the player into your system, whether it's a portable setup, a small-form desktop configuration, or a full-blown desktop setup as a standalone music source. Astell&Kern has consistently excelled in offering versatility, allowing you to enjoy your music how and where you want, without being limited to just a headphone setup on the go.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Astell&Kern KANN Ultra DAP 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.
The KANN series is beloved by audiophiles worldwide for its ultra-high output and crystal-clear sound. The KANN ULTRA, the fifth product in this acclaimed series, builds on this legacy with the highest output of any Astell&Kern player, featuring Triple Output Sound and an optimized processor and UI/UX for an enhanced listening experience. With four gain modes delivering up to 16Vrms of desktop Hi-Fi level output and powered by ES9039MPRO Dual DAC chips, the KANN ULTRA effortlessly drives today's high-resolution headphones. Additionally, its separate Pre/Line Out functionality allows users to connect and enjoy a variety of different audio devices.
The KANN ULTRA features a Triple Output Mode, enabling you to experience Astell&Kern's meticulously crafted sound with demanding headphones, highly detailed IEMs, and external devices. Instead of merely separating the output ports, Astell&Kern's Teraton Alpha technology provides distinct amplifier and sound designs for the Headphone Out and Line/Pre-Out ports, ensuring optimal sound quality for each connection. With the KANN ULTRA's Triple Output, you can complete your powerful Head-Fi system even on portable devices.
*Headphone Out 3.5mm Port: S/PDIF Out Supports
1. Headphone Out: The port features 4 preset gain settings and ultra-high output of up to 16Vrms. The headphone port is designed to perfectly run demanding headphones with high impedance using only the player with no external AMP.
2. Pre-Out: Select Pre-Out mode on the Pre/Line Out port to output sound to an external amplifier or audio device. This mode delivers sound through a specially designed Pre-Out amplifier, instead of the high-powered Headphone Out amp. Pre-Out functions like a Pre-AMP and you can control the volume with the volume wheel.
*No Gain or Voltage settings, maximum output 2Vrms/4Vrms
3. Line Out: Select Line Out mode on the Pre/Line Out port to output sound that is optimized when connected to external devices. This mode outputs the sound from the DAC directly without going through an amplifier, resulting in the lowest noise level and making it ideal for connecting to external audio devices. Line Out has a fixed voltage output (4 levels) and no volume control.
To power the most sophisticated IEMs and headphones, a DAP needs to deliver output that matches the receiver's characteristics. The KANN ULTRA excels in this with its four preset gain settings, offering up to 16Vrms—the highest output of any Astell&Kern player—ensuring optimal performance for today's diverse IEMs and headphones. The output port's current-handling capability has been enhanced to reliably power devices with varying impedances at any gain level. Additionally, the AMPs are separated into Balanced and Unbalanced, optimizing currents and reducing noise for superior sound quality. Beyond its powerful output, the KANN ULTRA boasts a larger 5.5-inch screen and an improved grip compared to the popular KANN CUBE. Despite its capabilities, the KANN ULTRA is lighter, weighing in at just 390 grams.
Astell&Kern's TERATON ALPHA technology is the key to the ultra-high output and intricate amplifier design with minimal noise in the compact KANN ULTRA portable audio player. This advanced technology enables the player to power even the most delicate headphones while supporting the Triple Output design.
Drawing on expertise in noise reduction at ultra-high power from previous models like the KANN MAX and the CA1000 series, Astell&Kern has further refined TERATON ALPHA. This proprietary technology is engineered through continuous research to deliver audio playback as close to the original sound as possible. It achieves this through effective power noise removal, efficient power management, unwavering amplification, and a fully converted audio output interface.
The KANN ULTRA is equipped with dual ES9039MPRO DACs, the latest flagship DACs from ESS, providing a richer and more expansive sound that surpasses expectations. The ES9039MPRO, an updated version of the ES9039PRO, features a built-in stereo hardware MQA renderer and advanced modulation to reduce power consumption, noise, and distortions, enhancing audio performance.
Astell&Kern has meticulously redesigned the AMP BLOCK to ensure that the ES9039MPRO's clear, high-resolution sound is accurately expressed through every port of the Triple Output. Each output showcases its unique, advanced performance characteristics, delivering exceptional audio quality across the board.
The KANN ULTRA is the first to feature next-gen Octa-Core processors, delivering significant performance improvements for faster system speeds and a smoother, more responsive 4th generation UI/UX. This ensures you can fully enjoy the incredible sound performance of the KANN ULTRA.
To maintain optimal audio quality, the audio circuit area is physically separated from the processor area, which includes the CPU, memory, and wireless communication components. Additionally, a dedicated shield can is equipped to minimize heat and noise generated by the processor, ensuring the purest sound experience.
The KANN ULTRA debuts a Crimson-themed UI/UX, making it a standout "Player for Music" that enhances the entire listening experience. The Crimson UI/UX allows users to effortlessly browse music categories and rediscover songs within their library. An easy album art search function adds to the joy of viewing and interacting with album art while listening to music.
The crimson theme emphasizes simplicity and edge, featuring a dark mode with black and red highlights to reduce visual fatigue and provide an intuitive user experience. It also includes numerous improvements to the device’s user-friendliness, such as better streaming app integration, enhanced artist view, refined album sorting, and an improved album art search function. Immerse yourself in music with the Crimson UI/UX.
With the KANN ULTRA, you can pick and choose from seven DAC filters to create your own sound style. Design your own sound with the seven DAC filters.
The KANN ULTRA is equipped with Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) technology, designed to deliver refined sound at higher sample rates. DAR technology upscales the sample rate of the audio source beyond its original format, allowing for more detailed playback and an analog-like sound quality. This enhances the richness and subtle nuances of the music, providing a fuller, more immersive listening experience.
*The DAR function can be toggled on or off to suit the source audio and your personal preferences. *It supports a maximum PCM rate of 384kHz and DSD256 conversion, with files being converted and played at sample rates that best match the source sound.
In a headphone setup where left and right channels are distinctly separated, prolonged listening can lead to ear fatigue. By activating Crossfeed, a balanced and comfortable sound experience ensues. Crossfeed blends segments of the original signal from one channel and routes it to the opposite channel with a slight time difference, centering the sound image. With customizable settings like Shelf Cutoff, Shelf Gain, and Mixer Level, users can adjust the crossfeed intensity to suit their personal listening preferences.
Astell&Kern is a renowned brand at the forefront of the high-resolution audio industry, specializing in premium music players, DACs, and amplifiers. With a diverse lineup including the flagship A&ultima SP3000 and the versatile Kann Alpha, Astell&Kern offers cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship to audiophiles worldwide. Featuring dual DACs, Quad DACs, MQS support, and Bluetooth connectivity, their devices deliver unparalleled sound quality and versatility. The a&futura series, such as the Acro CA1000T, showcases Astell&Kern's commitment to innovation, while accessories like leather cases and high-resolution LCD screens complement their all-in-one audio systems. Whether it's portable music players like the Kann Ultra or in-ear monitors, Astell&Kern products redefine the boundaries of audio technology excellence, blending stainless steel durability with Wi-Fi connectivity and microSD expansion for a truly immersive listening experience.
What are the key features of the Astell&Kern KANN Ultra DAP Music Player?
The Astell&Kern KANN Ultra boasts a plethora of features, including dual DACs, MQS support, Bluetooth connectivity, a high-resolution LCD screen, and stainless steel construction.
What is the battery life like on the KANN Ultra?
The KANN Ultra offers impressive battery life, providing up to 14 hours of continuous playback for uninterrupted music enjoyment on the go.
Does the KANN Ultra support high-resolution audio formats?
Yes, the KANN Ultra supports a wide range of high-resolution audio formats, ensuring pristine sound quality for audiophiles.
Can I expand the storage on the KANN Ultra?
Absolutely, the KANN Ultra features a microSD card slot for expandable storage, allowing you to carry your entire music library with you wherever you go.
What accessories are available for the KANN Ultra?
Astell&Kern offers a variety of accessories for the KANN Ultra, including leather cases and screen protectors to enhance both the aesthetics and protection of your device.
Is the KANN Ultra compatible with in-ear monitors (IEMs)?
Yes, the KANN Ultra is compatible with a wide range of in-ear monitors, providing exceptional audio quality and clarity for your listening pleasure.
Can I connect the KANN Ultra to my Wi-Fi network?
Absolutely, the KANN Ultra features Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stream music, download firmware updates, and access online music services with ease.
Does the KANN Ultra have a built-in DAC and amplifier?
Yes, the KANN Ultra features both a built-in DAC and amplifier, ensuring superior audio performance and driving power for even the most demanding headphones.
Is the KANN Ultra Roon Ready?
Yes, the KANN Ultra is Roon Ready, providing seamless integration with the Roon music playback and management platform for a premium listening experience.
How does the KANN Ultra compare to other Astell&Kern music players?
The KANN Ultra stands out with its robust build quality, extensive features, and exceptional audio performance, making it a top choice for audiophiles seeking the ultimate portable music player.
