Astell&Kern KANN Ultra – Maximum Power for Uncompromising High-End Sound

The most powerful Digital Audio Player in the KANN series

With the Astell&Kern KANN Ultra, Astell&Kern presents the most powerful High-End Digital Audio Player (DAP) in the successful KANN series to date. Developed for discerning audiophiles, the KANN Ultra combines enormous output power, state-of-the-art DAC technology, and intelligent amplifier architecture with the legendary sound quality of Astell&Kern. Whether using sensitive in-ear monitors or high-impedance reference headphones, the KANN Ultra consistently delivers optimal performance and an impressive listening experience.

Up to 16 Vrms – Maximum power for every headphone

With up to 16 Vrms of output voltage, the KANN Ultra offers the highest output power of any Astell&Kern player. Four individually selectable gain levels allow for a perfect match with a wide variety of headphones and in-ear monitors.

Even power-hungry high-end headphones can be driven directly without the need for an additional headphone amplifier. At the same time, sensitive in-ear systems benefit from exceptionally low-noise operation and maximum sound purity.

Triple Output – Three outputs for maximum flexibility

The Astell&Kern KANN Ultra features an innovative Triple-Output system that provides optimal signal processing for every application.

Headphone Output

With up to 16 Vrms output power and four gain levels, the headphone output is suitable even for the most demanding high-impedance headphones.

Pre-Out

In Pre-Out mode, the KANN Ultra functions as a high-quality preamplifier. The volume is controlled directly via the volume wheel, making it ideal for connecting external power amplifiers or active speakers.

Line-Out

In Line-Out mode, the audio signal is output directly from the DAC without additional amplification. This ensures an extremely low noise floor and optimal signal quality when connected to external Hi-Fi components.

TERATON ALPHA – The audio technology by Astell&Kern

At the heart of the KANN Ultra is the exclusive TERATON ALPHA technology.

It combines intelligent power management, efficient signal processing, precise amplification, and effective noise cancellation to produce exceptionally natural music reproduction. Even at maximum output power, the soundstage remains detailed, dynamic, and perfectly controlled.

Dual ESS ES9039MPRO DAC

For digital signal conversion, Astell&Kern utilizes two ESS ES9039MPRO reference DACs.

The current flagship generation from ESS Technology impresses with further improved signal processing, featuring reduced noise, lower distortion, and higher dynamic range. The result is exceptionally precise, transparent, and spatial music reproduction.

Optimized amplifier architecture

The entire amplifier section has been specially tuned to the characteristics of the new ESS DACs.

Separate circuits for balanced and unbalanced outputs reduce interference and ensure the best possible sound quality at all times, regardless of the connection used.

Digital Audio Remaster (DAR)

With integrated Digital Audio Remaster technology, the KANN Ultra improves the playback of digital music files.

The music signal is intelligently upsampled, gaining audible detail, naturalness, and spaciousness. Even lower-quality recordings benefit from a significantly more authentic playback experience.

Powerful Octa-Core processor

A modern latest-generation octa-core processor ensures particularly smooth operation and fast response times.

The audio section and processor unit are physically separated, which reduces electrical interference and further enhances sound quality.

Crimson user interface

The KANN Ultra uses Astell&Kern's modern Crimson User Interface.

The clear interface allows for quick navigation through music collections, streaming services, and album art. The elegant black design with red accents ensures a pleasant and intuitive user experience.

Crossfeed for more natural listening

The integrated Crossfeed function simulates the spatial reproduction of traditional loudspeakers when listening via headphones.

This makes channel separation feel more natural and significantly reduces listening fatigue. Extensive settings allow for individual adjustments to personal listening preferences.

LED indicator with real-time information

The illuminated volume wheel provides real-time information about various operating states.

Depending on the setting, the volume, gain mode, or the bit rate of the currently playing music file are indicated via colored LEDs.

High power with high mobility

Despite its enormous output power, the KANN Ultra remains conveniently portable.

The spacious 5.5-inch display, high-quality aluminum housing, and a reduced weight of 390 grams make it the ideal companion for audiophile music lovers.

The integrated 8,400 mAh battery provides up to 11 hours of music playback, ensuring long-lasting enjoyment on the go.

Highlights of the Astell&Kern KANN Ultra

• High-end digital audio player with extremely high output power

• Up to 16 Vrms output voltage

• Four selectable gain levels

• Triple output with headphone, pre-out, and line-out modes

• Dual ESS ES9039MPRO reference DACs

• Exclusive TERATON ALPHA technology

• Digital Audio Remaster (DAR)

• Powerful octa-core processor

• Crimson user interface

• Crossfeed for natural headphone listening

• LED volume wheel with real-time display

• Playback up to 32-bit / 768 kHz PCM and DSD512

• 8,400 mAh battery with up to 11 hours of runtime

• High-quality aluminum housing with 5.5-inch touch display

Conclusion

The Astell&Kern KANN Ultra combines enormous output power, state-of-the-art audio technology, and supreme sound quality into one powerful high-end digital audio player. Thanks to its triple-output system, ESS reference DACs, TERATON ALPHA technology, and up to 16 Vrms output voltage, the KANN Ultra is equally suitable for sensitive in-ears, demanding over-ear headphones, and high-quality Hi-Fi systems. For audiophiles seeking maximum performance without compromise, the KANN Ultra is among the most capable mobile music players in its class.

Technical Specifications

General:

· Model KANN Ultra
· Body Color Astro Gray
· Body Material: Aluminum
· 5.5-inch HD Touchscreen (1080 x 1920 pixels)
· Supported Audio Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
· PCM Sample Rate: 8 kHz ~ 768 kHz (8/16/24/32 bits per sample)
Native DSD: DSD64 (1 bit 2.8 MHz), Stereo / DSD128 (1 bit 5.6 MHz), Stereo /
DSD256 (1 bit 11.2 MHz), Stereo / DSD512 (1 bit 22.4 MHz), Stereo
· Output Level
HEADPHONE OUT
[Low Gain] Unbalanced 2 Vrms │ Balanced 4 Vrms (Condition: No Load)
[Mid Gain] Unbalanced 4 Vrms │ Balanced 8 Vrms (Condition: No Load)
[High Gain] Unbalanced 6 Vrms │ Balanced 12 Vrms (Condition: No Load)
[Super High Gain] Unbalanced 8 Vrms │ Balanced 16 Vrms (Condition: No Load)
– PRE- · LINE OUT
Unbalanced 2 Vrms │ Balanced 4 Vrms (Condition: No Load)
· Octa-Core CPU
· DAC ES9039MPRO x2
· Decoding Support up to 32-bit/768 kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback
· Input USB Type-C (for charging & PC & MAC)
· Outputs –
HEADPHONE OUT
3.5 mm (unbalanced, optical), 4.4 mm (balanced, only 5-pole supported)
PRE- · LINE OUT
3.5 mm (unbalanced), 4.4 mm (balanced, only 5-pole supported)
· Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz)
· Bluetooth V5.3 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™-HD, LDAC, LHDC)
· Dimensions 3.24" (82.4 mm) [W] x 5.55" (141.1 mm) [H] x 0.96" (24.4 mm) [D]
· Weight approx. 13.75 oz (390 g)
· Feature Enhancements: Firmware upgrade (OTA) supported
· Operating Temperature 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)

Audio

· Frequency Response
HEADPHONE OUT
±0.006 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.004 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Balanced
±0.016 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.020 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Balanced
PRE-OUT
±0.022 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.023 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Balanced
±0.023 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.023 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Balanced
LINE-OUT
±0.002 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.002 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz) Balanced
±0.007 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.006 dB (Condition: 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz) Balanced

· S/N
Headphone Out:
115 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 119 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced;
Pre-Out:
110 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 126 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced;
Line-Out:
110 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 125 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced

· Crosstalk
Headphone Out
134 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 140 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced
Pre-Out
128 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 128 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced
Line-Out
129 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 121 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced

· THD+N:
Headphone Out 0.0004% @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0004% @ 1 kHz, Balanced;
Pre-Out
0.0012% @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1 kHz, Balanced;
Line-Out
0.0013% @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1 kHz, Balanced

· IMD SMPTE
Headphone Out
0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Balanced
Pre-Out
0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Balanced
Line-Out
0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0006% 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Balanced

· Output Impedance
HEADPHONE OUT
Unbalanced 3.5 mm (1 ohm) │ Balanced 4.4 mm (1.3 ohms)
PRE-OUT
Unbalanced 3.5 mm (3.5 ohms) │ Balanced 4.4 mm (5.7 ohms)
LINE-OUT
Unbalanced 3.5 mm (6.5 ohms) │ Balanced 4.4 mm (10.7 ohms)

· Clock Source
Clock Jitter 25pS (Typ.)
Reference Clock Jitter 200 Femtoseconds

· Storage Capacity
Internal Memory 128 GB [NAND]
External Memory: microSD x1 (Max. 1 TB)

· Battery
· Capacity 8400 mAh 3.8 V Li-Polymer
· Charging Time approx. 3.5 hours (PD 3.0 charger)
· Playback Time approx. 11 hours (Standard: FLAC, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, Volume 50, LCD off, Low Gain)

Herstellerangaben:

Dreamus Company | Astell&Kern Unit
5, Bangbae-ro 18-gil, Seocho-gu
Seoul , Guangdong Province
South Korea
info@astellkernservice.de

Verantwortliche Person:

Hugo Park; Dreamus Company | Astell&Kern Unit
5, Bangbae-ro 18-gil, Seocho-gu
06664 , Seoul
South Korea
info@astellkernservice.de