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Product Description

Astell&Kern Kann Ultra

Ultra-powerful portable sound

Introducing KANN ULTRA - The 5th player in the brand’s award-winning KANN series and its most powerful digital audio player to date. Featuring Octa-core processors, the KANN ULTRA reaches new sonic heights with DAR technology, an upgraded DAC and Triple Output while delivering the most seamless user experience possible.

  • Next-Generation Octa-Core processor brings significant performance improvements allowing you to enjoy incredible sound quality with faster system speeds and a smooth flowing 4th generation UI/UX.
  • Featuring the latest flagship DAC from ESS, the ES9039MPRO, delivers a richer, more expansive sound with advanced modulation for reduced power consumption, noise, and distortions, enhancing audio performance
  • Triple Output Mode to deliver natural, detailed sound when connected to demanding headphones, highly detailed IEMs and external devices.
  • Separate amplifier/sound design for the Headphone Out, Line Out and Pre-Out ports to provide the optimal sound for each
  • Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) technology, developed to deliver fine sound at higher sample rates. DAR technology upsamples the sample rate of the sound source being played to go beyond the limits of the source format.
  • A dedicated Pre-Out delivers sound through a specially designed Pre-Out amplifier, instead of the high-powered Headphone out amp, for optimal sound control
  • Exclusive Line Out mode outputs the sound directly from the DAC bypassing the amplifier, resulting in the lowest noise level, and making it ideal for connecting to external audio devices

Fueling Your Sound
The multi-award-winning global audio component pioneer from South Korea, has launched its most powerful digital audio player to date - the KANN ULTRA. The first player in the brand’s award-winning KANN series of players to feature Octa-core processors, the KANN Ultra reaches new sonic heights with DAR technology, an upgraded DAC and Triple Output while delivering the most seamless user experience possible.

Next-Generation Octa-Core Performance
The Astell&Kern KANN ULTRA is the first DAP in the renowned KANN series to feature Octa-Core processors, levelling up from Quad-Core in previous models. The Octa-Core element brings significant performance improvements allowing the listener to enjoy incredible sound quality with faster system speeds and a smooth flowing 4th generation UI/UX.
With the new internal design, the audio circuitry is separated from the processors – which include CPU, memory and wireless connection components – and is equipped with a dedicated shield to minimise heat and noise from the processor.

Upgraded Sound with Triple Output
Featuring a Triple Output Mode to deliver natural, detailed sound when connected to demanding headphones, highly detailed IEMs and external devices. Instead of simply separating the output ports, Astell&Kern's TERATON ALPHA technology allows for separate amplifier/sound design for the Headphone Out, Line Out and Pre-Out ports to provide the optimal sound for each.

Digital Audio Remaster (DAR)
KANN ULTRA is equipped with Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) technology, which was developed to deliver fine sound at higher sample rates. DAR technology is developed to upsample the sample rate of the sound source being played to go beyond the limits of the source format.

Flaship DAC
The KANN ULTRA is also designed with the newest flagship DAC from ESS to deliver a richer and more expansive sound than before. The ES9039MPRO has even more advanced modulation to reduce power consumption, noise and distortions for enhanced audio performance.

Technical Specifcications

Model KANN ULTRA
Body Colour Astro Grey
Body Material Aluminium
Display 5.5inch HD 1080 x 1920 touch screen
Supported Audio Formats WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
Sample rate PCM : 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo / DSD512(1bit 22.4MHz), Stereo
Output Level HEADPHONE OUT [Low Gain] Unbalanced 2Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No [Mid Gain]Unbalanced 4Vrms │ Balanced 8Vrms (Condition No [High Gain]Unbalanced 6Vrms │ Balanced 12Vrms (Condition No [Super Gain]Unbalanced 8Vrms │ Balanced 16Vrms (Condition No PRE · LINE OUT Unbalanced 2Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load)
CPU Octa-core
DAC ES9039MPRO x2
Decoding Support up to 32bit/768kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback
Input USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC)
Outputs HEADPHONE OUT 3.5mm(Unbalanced Out, Optical Out), 4.4mm (Balanced Out, only 5 5-pole supported) PRE · LINE OUT 3.5mm(Unbalanced Out), 4.4mm (Balanced Out, only 5 5-pole supported)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4&5GHz)
Bluetooth V4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™-HD, LDAC)
Dimensions 3.24” (82.4mm)[W] x 5.55” (141.1mm)[H] x 0.96” (24.4mm)[D]
Weight About 13.75oz (390g)
Firmware upgrade supported (OTA)
Operating Temperature 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)
Frequency Response HEADPHONE OUT
±0.012dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │
±0.011dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced

±0.125dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │
±0.126dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced

PRE OUT
±0.022dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │
0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced

±0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │
0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced

LINE OUT
±0.002dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │
0.002dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced

±0.007dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │
0.006dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
S/N HEADPHONE OUT
115dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 119dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

PRE OUT
110dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 126dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

LINE OUT
110dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
Crosstalk HEADPHONE OUT
134dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 140dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

PRE OUT
128dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 128dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

LINE OUT
129dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 121dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N HEADPHONE OUT
0.0004% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced
PRE OUT
0.0012% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
LINE OUT
0.0013% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
IMD SMPTE HEADPHONE OUT
0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
PRE OUT
0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
LINE OUT
0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
Output Impedance HEADPHONE OUT
Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (1.3ohm)
PRE OUT
Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (3.5ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (5.7ohm)
LINE OUT
Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (6.5ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (10.7ohm)
Clock Jitter 25pS (Typ)
Reference Clock Jitter 200 Femto Seconds
Built-in Memory 128GB [NAND]
External Memory microSD x1 (Max. 1TB)
Battery Capacity 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer
Charge Time about 4.5hours (9V 1.67A) / about 6.5hours (5V 2A)
Playback Time about 11.5 hours (Standard: FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD Off, Low Gain)
Supported OS Windows 10, 11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7

Specifications

MPN
A&K-KANNULTRA
Product Type
Hi-Res Portable Player
Brand
Astell&Kern
Product Code
A&K-KANNULTRA

Delivery Information

Delivery is free for all orders over £250.

'In Stock' items ordered before 1pm will be dispatched the same day.

We use DPD Local 'Next Day Service' for most UK deliveries. Orders sent via 'DPD Local - Next Day Service' will be fully tracked with a 1-hour delivery timeslot on the day of delivery. Standard delivery is Monday to Friday.

Saturday delivery can be selected at checkout for £19.95.

Small items and LP's may be sent using Royal Mail.

Large/heavy items may be sent using TNT Express.

For all other countries please visit the 'Delivery Information' link in the footer.

Occasionally, due to stock demand, we can sell out. If this occurs when you make a purchase, we will inform you quickly. Most out of stock items are available for dispatch within 3 working days. If your purchase is urgent, please contact us to check availability.

Customer Reviews

Astell&Kern KANN Ultra Digital Portable Player

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Product Code A&K-KANNULTRA

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