The Astell&Kern DAP built around headphone driving power
Astell&Kern KANN ULTRA is the player in the range dedicated to difficult headphones, with four gain settings and up to 16 Vrms from its balanced output.
Its priorities differ from the A&ultima models. The focus here is substantial reserve without adding an external headphone amplifier, using two ESS ES9039MPRO DACs and separate circuits for Headphone Out, Pre-Out and Line Out. It can therefore serve as a DAP, fixed-level source or volume-controlled preamplifier.
Key features
- Dual ESS ES9039MPRO DACs.
- Four gain settings: Low, Mid, High and Super.
- Up to 8 Vrms unbalanced and 16 Vrms balanced from Headphone Out.
- Three output modes: Headphone Out, Pre-Out and Line Out.
- High-resolution playback reaches 32-bit/768 kHz PCM and native DSD512.
- 5.5-inch Full HD display and Octa-Core processor.
- 128 GB internal storage and microSD expansion up to 1 TB.
- 8,400 mAh battery with up to 11 hours stated playback.
Four gain levels for IEMs and high-impedance headphones
Low Gain starts at 2 Vrms unbalanced and 4 Vrms balanced; at the Super setting those figures rise to 8 and 16 Vrms respectively. This progression lets the same player work with more sensitive earphones and voltage-hungry headphones, selecting the reserve that best matches the connected load.
Three output paths rather than duplicated sockets
Headphone Out uses the high-power amplifier, Pre-Out provides variable level for an external amplifier, and Line Out delivers a fixed level for a Hi-Fi chain. The circuits are configured separately, allowing KANN ULTRA to move from personal listening to source duties without treating one headphone output as a makeshift line connection.
When to choose it over A&ultima
SP3000M and SP4000 place more emphasis on their conversion platforms and circuit refinement; KANN ULTRA is the stronger fit when the first question is how much headphone the player can drive on its own. It particularly suits planar or high-impedance designs and users wanting one portable device that can also feed a power amplifier or active speakers.
