Astell&Kern KANN Cube Portable High-Resolution Music Player, Wolf Gray
Brand | Astell&Kern |
Model Name | kann cube |
Special Feature | Touch Screen |
Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Aux |
Memory Storage Capacity | 128 GB |
Color | Wolf Gray |
Screen Size | 5 Inches |
Media Type | Micro SD |
Component Type | Amplifier |
Supported Standards | DSD |
About this item
- A truly powerful high-resolution music player, bit-to-bit playback up to 32bit/384kHz and Native DSD (DSD256) and a quad-core CPU for outstanding response and performance
- Three Audio Output Modes, Up to 12V of Power; Audio outputs: 2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm headphone & 5-pin Mini XLR Output for even less noise (4Vrms)
- Dual ESS ES9038PRO DACs, designed for Pro Audio Equipment
- Up to 8 hours of continuous playback with 128GB of internal storage and 1 microSD card slot
- WiFi and Bluetooth aptX HD for wireless streaming including Open App Streaming for online/offline on select apps such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
- FiiO M11Plus Portable Android MP3/MP4 Player - High Resolution Audio, Bluetooth 5.0, DSD Lossless, 1000hrs Standby - For Home/Car AudioFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31Only 17 left in stock - order soon.
- Sony NW-WM1AM2 Hi-Res 128GB Walkman Digital MP3 Music PlayerFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31Only 9 left in stock (more on the way).
- Hidizs AP80 Pro-X MP3 Player with Bluetooth, Support Lossless Digital Music, DAP Portable, Dual ESS9219C Dac Chips, Hiby Link Hi-Res, for HiFi Music BlackFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31
- 160GB MP3 Player with Bluetooth and WiFi, innioasis Music Player with Spotify,Pandora,Amazon Music,4" Touch Screen Android MP4 MP3 Player for Kids with Libby,Audible,Hoopla(Black_Gold)Amazon's Choicein MP3 & MP4 PlayersFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31
- HiBy R3 II (Gen 2) Hi-Fi Lossless Audio Player - Portable with Bluetooth, WiFi, DSD, PCM, MQA Streaming, Dual ESS ES9219C, MQA 16X, Tidal/Qobuz, 3.5mm+4.4mmBAL Jacks (Black)FREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31
Compare with similar items
This Item Astell&Kern KANN Cube Portable High-Resolution Music Player, Wolf Gray | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | |
Price | $4,000.00$4,000.00 | $79.99$79.99 | $125.99$125.99 | $189.99$189.99 | $999.99$999.99 | $109.99$109.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | — | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
Battery life | — | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 3.3 |
Easy to use | — | 4.2 | — | 2.5 | — | 3.6 |
Value for money | — | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.3 | — | — |
User interface | — | 4.0 | — | 3.3 | 4.1 | — |
Sold By | Coconut Cove | YMSY | HIFI WALKER | HIDIZS Audio Direct | FiiODirect | Hmusic |
display size | 5 inches | 2 inches | 2 inches | 2.45 inches | 5.5 inches | — |
memory capacity | 128 GB | 64 GB | 64 GB | 512 GB | 64 GB | 16 GB |
supported standards | DSD | MP3 | APE,WAV,WMA,FLAC,DFF,Aiff,AAC,OGG,MP2,MP3,DSD | AAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, DSD, APE, M4A, PCM | MP3 | WAV, WMA, FLAC, MP3 |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux | USB | USB | Wireless | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | Bluetooth, USB |
media type | Micro SD | Micro SD | APE,WAV,WMA,FLAC,DFF,Aiff,AAC,OGG,MP2,MP3,DSD | MQA 8X/LDAC/apt-X/AAC/USB DAC/DSD256 | — | — |
model name | kann cube | M30 | H2 | AP80 PRO-X | m15 | — |
From the brand
Difference in Sound Quality
We use the power of music to fulfill your life
-
We use the power of music to enhance your life. Astell&Kern hopes to touch people's hearts and restore their vitality by delivering music that is authentic to the original sound when it was recorded or performed.
We firmly believe that our passion for music and tireless effort provide beautiful and creative products for our users.
Astell&Kern's audio products deliver music that touches your heart, not just your ears.
-
-
About Us
Astell&Kern is a premium audio brand of portable and non-portable audio systems that play hi-res audio files without compromise. Astell means "star" in Greek, and Kern means "core“ in German. Together, they refer to our aim to continuously reach for the core of music — the "original sound."
Since its first product was launched in 2012, Astell&Kern's brand philosophy—refusing to overlook even the smallest differences in sound quality—has led to a diverse array of audio products and outstanding and well renowned technology honed through continuous R&D, enriching music lovers' lives.
-
A New Era In Hi-Res Audio
Exquisitely crafted in limited quantities, A&K's marvelous products are specifically designed and crafted for those who truly appreciate faithful, rich music.
Technology & Materials Innovation
A&K has achieved clear innovations in leading technologies and in the application of new technical materials, plans, and designs.
An Iconic Visual Identity
The goal of A&K is to deliver the beauty of the original sound of music as it was intended.
Our designs are inspired by the various features of nature that surround us. Product designs are inspired by "light" and "shadow."
Product Description
Astell&Kern is the ultimate Hi-Fi audio system
Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.
Original music performances recently have been captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new and advanced recording technologies currently available. These great-sounding recordings are mainly listened to in inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers scarified the quality of the sound for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because MP3 heavily compresses the original file for the sake of convenience, you only hear inferior vocals and instruments, and the full soundstage and ambience from the original recordings is missing. The movement of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After agonizing over these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to the poor quality of musical sound for the sake of portability, and our way to ultimately bring back the original sound quality of the music, MQS, back to music artists, recording engineers and professionals.
Astell&Kern pursuit is to provide the natural and original sound without distortion. It offers almost the exact presence with tiny details you wouldn’t have noticed from other music systems by playing back high-resolution music bit for bit, exactly as it was recorded. The exact sound without missing any bit of the live performance in recordings is what Astell&Kern is known for.
The power of true sound from Astell&Kern has been experienced and also from famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.
Audio Powerhouse
Astell&Kern KANN CUBE
KANN CUBE is the second model of the KANN line, which focuses on high fidelity with powerful output and low noise. The newly designed powerful amplifier and audio circuitry have been strategically implemented to offer a very low noise floor, even with its massive power output, making it an Audio Powerhouse capable of driving the most power-hungry headphones.
Introducing the Astell&Kern KANN CUBE, which achieves a more powerful output and lower noise than ever before.
- Three Audio Output Modes, Up to 12V of Power
- Dual ESS ES9038PRO DACs, designed for Pro Audio Equipment
- 5-pin Mini XLR Output for Even Less Noise
- Quad-Core CPU
- 5.0" 720x1280 HD Touchscreen
- 32bit/384kHz, Native DSD256 Support
- Open APP Support for Music Streaming
|
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Three Audio Output Modes, Up to 12V of PowerKANN CUBE offers 3 different power output options of High / Mid / Low, which can drive any headphone with unprecedented power never seen before in any portable device - 12Vrms for Balanced output and 6Vrms for Unbalanced output. To provide a natural and neutral audio experience with minimal distortion, a newly designed OP Amp and Volume IC manages power optimally and efficiently. |
5-pin Mini XLR Output for Even Less NoiseKANN CUBE offers a 5-pin mini XLR connector for the first time in an Astell&Kern player. Thanks to the even lower noise floor and higher audio output through the XLR connection, you can enjoy pure, clear audio playback. It offers easier connection to your home audio systems and active speakers with balanced connections. |
Dual ESS ES9038PRO DACs, designed for Pro Audio EquipmentKANN CUBE uses two 8-channel DACs, the ES9038PRO, one for the left and one for the right channel. As each DAC chip sends out 8 channels of audio signal through the Astell&Kern Analog AMP Block, you experience unlimited sound stage and the full depth of the original performance. The ESS SABRE PRO series of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC) is targeted for premium audiophile and professional recording studio equipment. The SABRE PRO series sets a new benchmark in high-end audio by offering the industry's highest dynamic range (DNR) with impressively low levels of total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) in a 32-bit, 8-channel DAC. All PRO SABRE DACs feature ESS's patented 32-bit HyperStream DAC technology which delivers outstanding sound quality and top performance. |
Open APP Service, Music StreamingThe Open APP Service enables you to install specific APK music streaming apps to the device. Streaming Services Available:
Stream your music when you are on the go with offline mode in select applications. For full instructions on how to download and install apps or access offline content, please refer to our direct website. |
Astell&Kern A&norma SR15 Portable High Resolution Portable Music Player | Astell&Kern KANN Portable High Resolution Portable Music Player | Astell&Kern KANN CUBE Portable High Resolution Portable Music Player | Astell&Kern A&ultima SP1000M Portable High Resolution Portable Music Player | Astell&Kern A&ultima SP1000 Portable High Resolution Portable Music Player | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Add to Cart
|
|||||
Customer Reviews |
4.1 out of 5 stars
32
|
3.8 out of 5 stars
104
|
3.8 out of 5 stars
30
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
19
|
3.5 out of 5 stars
18
|
Colors/Editions | Dark Gray | Astro Silver, Eos Blue | Wolf Gray | Lapis Blue, Onyx Black, Royal Gold | Stainless Steel, Copper, Onyx Black |
Body Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum, Gold-Plated Brass | Stainless Steel, Copper |
Display Touchscreen | 3.3 inches | 4 inches | 5 inches, HD | 4.1 inches, HD | 5 inches, HD |
CPU | Quad-Core | Dual-Core | Quad-Core | Octa-Core | Octa-Core |
DAC Chips | 1 x Cirrus Logic CS43198 | 1 x AKM AK4490 | 2 x ESS SABRE ES9038PRO, 8-Channel | 2 x AKM AK4497EQ | 2 x AKM AK4497EQ |
Playback | Up to 24bit/192kHz; Native DSD64; DSD128 & DSD256 to PCM | Up to 32bit/384kHz; Native DSD | Up to 32bit/384kHz; Native DSD | Up to 32bit/384kHz; Native DSD | Up to 32bit/384kHz; Native DSD |
Playback Time (Up to) | 11 Hours | 15 Hours | 8 Hours | 10.5 Hours | 12 Hours |
Internal Memory | 64GB | 64GB | 128GB | Blue/Black: 128GB, Gold: 256GB | 256GB |
External Memory | 1 x microSD Card | 1 x microSD Card; 1 x SD Card | 1 x microSD Card | 1 x microSD Card | 1 x microSD Card |
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Package Dimensions | 7.3 x 5.2 x 3.2 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.9 pounds |
Manufacturer | Astell&Kern |
ASIN | B07RVC7TCH |
Item model number | 3PPM428C-CMGRN1 |
Customer Reviews |
3.8 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | May 15, 2019 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, ease of setup, quality and appearance of the mp3 player. For example, they mention it's a great music player, it'll play high quality music and is built like a tank. That said, they appreciate the unique design and the amazing DAC.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the mp3 player. They mention that it has HD6 speakers and the sound is simply stellar. They also say that it is a great music player and is dead quiet with no distortion.
"The sound quality from this player is just incredible. Two ESS 9038PRO DAC's can take anything you can throw at it...." Read more
"...It's all software, it'll get better. But as far as high quality music on the go for the audophile, this is as good as it gets right now." Read more
"...the lineout to RCA to my AUDIOENGINE HD6 speakers and the sound is simply stellar...." Read more
"This is so far the best sounding music player I have listened to...." Read more
Customers find the setup process of the mp3 player to be easy. They mention that the interface is clunky, but the product is responsive and intuitive. They also appreciate the clean menus and easy access to configuration changes.
"...I use it to stream Tidal HiFi and the new Amazon HD music services. Easy to set up but the interface is a bit clunky...." Read more
"...That said it has a very intuitive UI, clean menus and easy access to configuration changes." Read more
"...and the Cube with the Astell&Kern Ripper II makes it as easy as pushing a button." Read more
"...Extremely responsive and intuitive user interface!..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the mp3 player. They mention that it is well-machined, solid, and built like a tank. Some say that the balanced output is not accurate. Overall, customers are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...It won't be for everyone, but if you are looking for a very high quality streaming device that you can move from place to place, this is a good..." Read more
"...Seriously, it is heavy and large, and very well machined and it does have a distinctive look that most A&K devices have...." Read more
"Would be solid player but has a weak spot - balanced output is not reliable...." Read more
"...Dead quiet, no distortion, built like a tank...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the mp3 player. They mention that it has a distinctive look and the design is funky enough.
"...Downloading Android APKs feels risky. The interface itself looks beautiful, but the back hover is obtrusive with Android apps...." Read more
"...it is heavy and large, and very well machined and it does have a distinctive look that most A&K devices have...." Read more
"...Makes my Sony Z1R sound like LCD 4ZBeautiful... if only it was smaller and needs 4.4MM Pentaconn for balanced. 2.5MM is weak link." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the tech in the mp3 player. They mention it has an amazing DAC and MQA sounds incredible.
"There is little I can tell you other than "this is the one". Period. Amazing DAC. MQA out of TIDAL sounds incredible...." Read more
"...A separate DAC in each channel separates the music. It is amazing. I have spent so much money pairing up a DAC to a player for on the go commuting...." Read more
"Nice tech, worth it?..." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
It is a bit large for true portability. I usually use it hooked up to my outside speaker so it just sits on a table next to the speaker. Definitely not pocket friendly, but I knew that before I bought it. It won't be for everyone, but if you are looking for a very high quality streaming device that you can move from place to place, this is a good choice.
The battery seems to finish way too fast, and I'm not sure that sound is that much better, compared to something like Hiby R6 pro. The Hiby R6 pro was basically producing very similar sound, and in a very portable package and better processor.
The sharp corners and very heavy weight don't help either.
Alas, I wished it had included a case and an XLR cable for the price. You'll shell out another $400 if you go A&K on those (which, tbh, are very good quality items.)
The sad part: The software is clunky. Built-in services do not support downloads as of firmware 1.13 (July 31 2019). Downloading Android APKs feels risky. The interface itself looks beautiful, but the back hover is obtrusive with Android apps. It's all software, it'll get better. But as far as high quality music on the go for the audophile, this is as good as it gets right now.
1, Despite trying, I don't see the value that a DAP provides vs its cost and potential risks (no points deducted)
2. A&K devices are priced for a premium priced crowd (as a multi-decade Apple user, I get it). So drop one point minimally for cost vs performance. I did not hear the standout value I would have expected sonically.
Rant on DAPs:
From my research and experience, DAP's are inconsistent in their choice of OS and version of OS, features - especially networking and sonic capabilities, which makes them risky to own. As a result we have many choices of vendors, models and options and its hard to tell what quality and security they provide - videos provide opinions on the comparisons between these, but we lack true "DAP" standards to objectively evaluate them against one another (sonics aside - they are subjective).
End Rant
On the Cube itself, the Cube is less portable than my Hugo 2:-). Seriously, it is heavy and large, and very well machined and it does have a distinctive look that most A&K devices have. It fits in may car or desktop, but sadly, not in my pocket. That said it has a very intuitive UI, clean menus and easy access to configuration changes.