Astell & Kern are newcomers in the world of high-end top-of-the-line portable audio players, and there’s shooting straight for the top with their new AK240 model. Their goal is to bring you “the ultimate sound quality”, to deliver sound “exactly as the artists intended” for us to hear, and they certainly seem to be on the right track.
The AK240’s technical specs are quite impressive. It boasts a dual-core processor, native DSD (Direct Stream Digital) support, WiFi connection, as well as an impressive 256GM of data storage space (which can be increased with the addition of a micro SD card to 384GB), and is covered in gunmetal aircraft-grade Duraluminum.
Its predecessors used to run on Linux operating systems, however the AK240 runs on a brand new Android based system. Set to launch in March, it will be capable of downloading music files of up to 192kHz and 24-bit resolution straight from partner websites.
Adding an extra dimension of elegance, the AK 240 also comes with a special Minerva leather case, made from a process called “Full Vegetable Tanning”, which brings out the special characteristics of the leather while creating a natural tanning look. This 40-day process uses a variety of trees and plants, and has been used in Italy for over two centuries.
[Luxury Insider]
