Astell&Kern KANN CUBE | Powerhouse Digital Audio Player
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Our Take
Sweet Baby Moses! You've never seen a beefy boy quite like the KANN CUBE. When we first set our eyes on this juggernaut, our mouth dropped in awe of its magnificence. If you're looking for massive power with brilliant sound quality, look no further that this. Just don't expect to fit it in your skinny jeans any time soon. |
From Astell&Kern
KANN CUBE is the second model of the KANN line, which focuses on high fidelity with powerful output and low noise. The newly designed powerful amplifier and audio circuitry have been strategically implemented to offer a very low noise floor, even with its massive power output, making it an Audio Powerhouse capable of driving the most power-hungry headphones.
- Three Audio Output Modes
- Up to 12V of PowerDual ESS ES9038PRO DACs, designed for Pro Audio Equipment
- 5-pin Mini XLR Output for Even Less Noise
- Quad-Core CPU5.0" 720x1280 HD Touchscreen
- 32bit/384kHz, Native DSD256 Support
- Open APP Support for Music Streaming
Introducing the Astell&Kern KANN CUBE, which achieves a more powerful output and lower noise than ever before.
Absolute Audio Powerhouse
KANN CUBE offers 3 different power output options of High / Mid / Low, which can drive any headphone with unprecedented power never seen before in any portable device - 12Vrms for Balanced output and 6Vrms for Unbalanced output. To provide a natural and neutral audio experience with minimal distortion, a newly designed OP Amp and Volume IC manages power optimally and efficiently.
5-pin Mini XLR Output for Even Less Noise
KANN CUBE offers a 5-pin mini XLR connector for the first time in an Astell&Kern player. Thanks to the even lower noise floor and higher audio output through the XLR connection, you can enjoy pure, clear audio playback. It offers easier connection to your home audio systems and active speakers with balanced connections.
Enhanced Audio Processing Power with Quad-core CPU
Some may think that only sound matters in Hi-Fi systems. While it does matter greatly, there are other factors that influence your immersive music experience as well. KANN CUBE is designed to remove any distracting elements, including noise, distortion and unintuitive user interface.
The Quad-core CPU gives you even more processing power for your digital music and a lot faster, natural UI experience. Get lost in your music without distractions.
Ultimate Sound Quality
The latest ESS ES9038PRO dual-DAC design and the upgraded CPU in the KANN CUBE allows for accurate playback of native 32bit/384kHz audio with no compromise on sound quality. The music is played back, bit-for-bit, just as the artist and engineer intended for it to be heard.
KANN CUBE also supports native bit-to-bit DSD playback up to 11.2MHz for the best sound possible.
32-Bit Bit-to-Bit Playback by KANN CUBE
32-Bit Playback by Other Players
Specs
- DAC
- 2 X ESS ES9038PRO SABRE 32-Bit
- Audio Resolution
- PCM: 8 ~ 384 KHz / 32-Bit
DSDNative: 2.8 MHz / 1-Bit
DSD128: 5.6 MHz / 1-Bit
DSD256: 11.2 MHz / 1-Bit
- Frequency Response
- 20 Hz To 20 KHz ±0.027 DB (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
20 Hz To 20 KHz ±0.025 DB (Balanced Headphone Out)
10 Hz To 70 KHz ±0.07 DB (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
10 Hz To 70 KHz ±0.087 DB (Balanced Headphone Out)
20 Hz To 20 KHz ±0.025 DB (Balanced XLR Out)
10 Hz To 70 KHz ±0.032 DB (Balanced XLR Out)
- Impedance
- 1.2 Ohms (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
1.6 Ohms (Balanced Headphone Out)
- Gain Settings
- High1
Normal
Low1
- Volume Control
- Analog
- THD + N
- 0.0004% At 1 KHz (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
0.0005% At 1 KHz (Balanced Headphone Out)
0.0004% At 1 KHz (Balanced XLR Out)
- Maximum Output Voltage
- 12 Vrms
- Signal To Noise Ratio
- 117 DB (Balanced Headphone Out)
117 DB (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
128 DB (Balanced XLR Out)
- Clock Jitter
- 250 Fs
- Crosstalk
- 129 DB At 1 KHz (Unbalanced Headphone Out)
136 DB At 1 KHz (Balanced Headphone Out)
146 DB At 1 KHz (Balanced XLR Out)
- Internal Storage Capacity
- 128 GB
- Flash Media Slot
- 1 X MicroSDXC
- Display
- 5" LCD (1280 X 720 Resolution)
- Operation Method
- Physical Buttons
Touchscreen
Volume Wheel
- Formats Supported
- WAV
FLAC
WMA
MP3
OGG
APE
AAC
ALAC
AIFF
DFF
DSF
And MQA (Support Scheduled)
- Wireless
- Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth AVRCP
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
- Bluetooth Codecs
- AptX HD
- Connections
- 1 X 1/8" / 3.5 Mm Stereo Headphone
1 X 2.5 Mm Balanced Headphone
1 X 5-Pin Mini XLR Output
- Battery
- 1x Built-In Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer Battery 7400 MAh
Providing Up To 9 Hours Per Charge For Audio Playback
- Charging Time
- Quick Charge: 4 Hours
Full Charge: 5.5 Hours
- System Requirements
- Windows 7, 8, 10
Mac OS X 10.7
- Water Resistance
- None
- Dimensions (W X H X D)
- 3.5 X 5.5 X 1.2" / 87.7 X 140.0 X 31.5 Mm
- Weight
- 1.08 Lb / 493 G
In the Box
- KANN CUBE
- USB Type-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
- microSD Card Slot Cover x 2
- Protective Film (Front x 2, Back x 2)