Only $430? If you are not familiar with the Korean manufacturer’s extensive lineup of award-winning DAPs that have ruled the category for years, the new P1 by Astell&Kern is decidedly more affordable. But will it make sense for those who already use their existing smartphone and a Dongle DAC?
Astell&Kern is considered by many the Rolls-Royce of DAPs (Digital Audio Players) and has enjoyed a lot of success with its high-end, yet pricey product line. However, its latest DAP hopes to unlock an entirely new market — users with an active lifestyle — at a lower price point.
Tip: The P1 by Astell&Kern will be sold as the ACTIVO P1 in other countries.
P1 Features
Body Design: The P1 incorporates a combination of aluminum and polycarbonate to create a smooth curve for a comfortable grip. The aluminum body and audio module parts are divided into blocs to maximize contrast.
User Interface: The goal of the P1 is to provide optimal music playback, but if it isn’t easy to use, consumers won’t buy it. With that in mind, this DAP provides an easy user interface (UI) that includes a 4.1-inch HD touchscreen with triangles, circles, and squares.
The simplicity of the interface is your first clue that this is not aimed at the hardcore Head-Fi enthusiast, but those looking to try their first DAP with their existing pair of IEMS or headphones.
Physical Controls: To further complement the UI, buttons are provided on the sides of the player. They are shaped so that users can tell the difference between each button by touch which allows easy control of the P1 while in a pocket or bag.
Three keys (play/pause, next, and previous) are combined, allowing users to easily control the player while viewing the display.
Compact Size: In addition to attractive design and easy control, the P1 has a compact, one-handed design.
This allows users to listen to lossless music experience while working out at the gym, running, walking around the neighborhood, or commuting.
Hi-Res Audio: Tuned by the audio experts at Astell&Kern, the P1 incorporates audio playback from a wide variety of music formats, including high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256.
DAC: The P1 features two ESS ES9219Q SABRE DACs in a dual-mono configuration, providing a dedicated DAC chip to the right and left channels. The dual-DAC structure creates a balanced circuit to deliver sound that is true to the original source.
Amplification: The P1 has a dedicated AMP circuit, based on Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA. The TERATON ALPHA AMP ensures sound clarity, detail, and broad spatial resonance with its design technology.
Wireless Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi and Google Play Store support allow users to download and install the most popular music streaming apps and easily stream their favorite music. Bluetooth 5.3 adds wireless support for 24-bit wireless playback using LDAC or aptX HD, PD 3.0 is supported for fast charging,
Storage Options: With 64GB of internal memory and support for microSD cards up to 1.5TB, you have plenty of space to store music you own or download tracks from streaming services to listen to in offline mode.
USB: USB DAC mode allows the P1 to be used as a premium DAC when connected to a Mac or Windows computer. A variety of options are available in USB DAC mode including the display of sample rate information for music currently playing.
EQ and Filters: The P1’s parametric equalizer options separate frequency ranges into 20 bands, and gain is adjustable by 0.01dB increments for precise and accurate control.
Users can also control the Q value to set the precise frequency range they like. Seven DAC filter options allow listeners to further customize the sound profile.
Additional features of the P1 by Astell&Kern include:
- MQA decoding, CrossFeed, and Roon Ready support (pending completion of testing and certification by Roon Labs).
Bonus: Preloaded into internal memory are three sample tracks from NativeDSD that showcase native DSD playback on the P1.
Also included in the box is a coupon to purchase additional music from NativeDSD at a discount.
P1 vs. A&Norma SR25
The following chart is a feature/specifications comparison of the P1 with an entry-level model in Astell&Kern’s current DAP line-up, the A&Norma SR25.
P1 A&Norma SR25 Price $430 $699 Body Color Whisper White Moon Silver, Onyx Black Body Material Aluminum, Polycarbonate Aluminum Display 4.1-inch WVGA
(720 x 1280)
Touch Screen3.6-inch WVGA
(720 x 1280)
TFT LCDSupported Audio Formats WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA PCM 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32 bits per Sample) DSD Native DSD64 (1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo
DSD128 (1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo
DSD256 (1bit 11.2MHz), StereoDSD64 (1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo
DSD128 (1bit 5.6MHz)
DSD256 (1bit 11.2MHz), StereoOutput Level Unbalanced 2.0Vrms
Balanced 4.2Vrms
(Condition No Load)Unbalance 2.0Vrms
Balance 4.0Vrms
(Condition No Load)CPU Octa-Core Quad-Core DAC 2 x ESS ES9219Q 2 x Cirrus Logic CS43198 Audio Decoding Support up to 32-bit / 384kHz Bit to Bit playback Support up to 32-bit / 384kHz Bit to Bit playback Wired Input USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC data transfer) USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC data transfer) Outputs Unbalanced Out (3.5mm)
Balanced Out (4.4mm, only 5-pole supported)Unbalanced Out (3.5mm)
Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported)Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz) Bluetooth Ver 5.3 with A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm aptx HD, LDAC, LHDC, AAC, SBC Ver 4.2 with A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm aptX HD, LDAC Frequency Response ±0.013dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz)
Unbalanced
±0.013dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.024dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced
±0.022dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced±0.014dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced
±0.011dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.10dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced
±0.12dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) BalancedS/N 120dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
121dB @ 1kHz, Balanced122dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
123dB @ 1kHz, BalancedCrosstalk -139dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
-140dB @ 1kHz, Balanced-138dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
-144dB @ 1kHz, BalancedTHD+N 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
0.0007% @ 1kHz, Balanced0.0007% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced
0.0008% @ 1kHz, BalancedIMD SMPTE 0.0002% Unbalanced
0.0003% Balanced
800Hz 10kHz (4:1)0.0004% Unbalanced
0.0003% Balanced
800Hz 10kHz (4:1)Output Impedance 3.5mm (1 ohm)
4.4mm (2 ohm)3.5mm (1.8 ohm)
2.5mm (1.6 ohm)Clock Jitter (typical) 25ps 25ps Built-in Memory 64GB [NAND] 64GB [NAND] External Memory microSD x1
(Max. 1.5TB)microSD x1
(Max. 1TB)Battery Capacity 2,700mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery Charge Time About 1.5 hours (PD3.0 Charging) About 2.5 hours (Standard – 5V/2A Charging) Playback Time About 20 hours
(Standard: FLAC, 16-bit/44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD Off)About 21 hours
(Standard:: FLAC, 16-bit/44.1kHz, Unbalance, Volume 50, EQ OFF, LCD OFF)Supported OS Windows 8,10,11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7 and up Windows 7,8,10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and up Dimensions (WHD) 2.44” x 4.69” x 0.67”
(62 x 119.2 x 17.2 mm)2.5” x 4.26” x 0.63”
(63.5 x 108.3 x 16.1 mm)Weight 5.46 oz
(155 g)6.27 oz
(178 g)
Initial Impressions
There is no question that the P1 by Astell&Kern offers a lot of capabilities and performance potential at its asking price. If the sonic performance matches anything in the same price range from FiiO or Cayin — this might be a very competitive DAP at the bottom of the market.
In addition to its new design, the P1 offers a lot of great features found on previous models but at a much lower price than A&K’s next lowest priced DAP, the SR25.
On the negative side, as an active lifestyle product, there is no mention of an IP rating that would inform consumers how the P1 would hold up against the outdoor elements.
But we have to ask the most pressing question — is the person shopping for a $430 DAP likely to carry this around all day, in addition to the smartphone in their pocket that might be connected to a Dongle DAC?
Based on our extensive experience with Astell&Kern’s DAPs over the past decade, we suspect that the P1 offers superior sonic performance with the types of IEMs and headphones that a prospective buyer might own — but we wonder how it will hold up with larger dynamic and planar designs.
Does it make sense to stick with your existing smartphone and add a $200 to $300 Dongle DAC instead?
Not using your smartphone to stream will certainly save battery life and there is the added benefit of balanced outputs and digital inputs for those who may want to use more demanding headphones and/or connect the DAP to your laptop or desktop computer and use it as a hi-resolution DAC.
Price & Availability
The P1 by Astell&Kern will be available for $430 at Amazon beginning sometime in August 2024.
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ORT
August 4, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Hmmmmmmmm…I don’t know that I would call having “MQA” and being (nearly) RomperRoonReady® advantages, but…Nah. Those are not advantages. Verily, they are, wait for it…sAdvantages®!
I am quite ancient and as such qualify to be called an ORT of little brain. I would give serious consideration to a DAP that could take all my “Mystery Music” and actually label said errors on my part with the correct Arteest, Title and Album Art. WTI®?! fArtificial® Intelligence can’t do that yet?! Again, I cry with bitten thumb, WTI®?!
Roon couldna’ do it and I gave it two months before deleting it and setting out on a ORTwellian Hejira of sorts to make spur of Roonatics®. JRiver couldna’ do it. MusicBee couldna’ do it. I don’t want to do it. Talk about tedious tasks! fApple® (that portmanteau simply cracks me up!) Music couldna’ do it.
Mayhap FiiO will (French HOCKEY reference ALERT!) turn the “Tromper du Chapeau” and deliver the goods in an affordable DAP that can doooooo it!
Help him! He spoke FRENCH!! 😉
Wouldn’t THAT be loverly? Yes, Liza. It would.
ORTson Welles