Astell & Kern Kann Ultra High-Resolution Digital Audio Player

Ultra-powerful portable sound

Introducing KANN ULTRA - The 5th player in the brand’s award-winning KANN series and its most powerful digital audio player to date. Featuring Octa-core processors, the KANN ULTRA reaches new sonic heights with DAR technology, an upgraded DAC and Triple Output while delivering the most seamless user experience possible.

Fueling Your Sound

The multi-award-winning global audio component pioneer from South Korea, has launched its most powerful digital audio player to date - the KANN ULTRA. The first player in the brand’s award-winning KANN series of players to feature Octa-core processors, the KANN Ultra reaches new sonic heights with DAR technology, an upgraded DAC and Triple Output while delivering the most seamless user experience possible.

Next-Generation Octa-Core Performance

The Astell&Kern KANN ULTRA is the first DAP in the renowned KANN series to feature Octa-Core processors, levelling up from Quad-Core in previous models. The Octa-Core element brings significant performance improvements allowing the listener to enjoy incredible sound quality with faster system speeds and a smooth flowing 4th generation UI/UX.
With the new internal design, the audio circuitry is separated from the processors – which include CPU, memory and wireless connection components – and is equipped with a dedicated shield to minimise heat and noise from the processor.

Upgraded Sound with Triple Output

Featuring a Triple Output Mode to deliver natural, detailed sound when connected to demanding headphones, highly detailed IEMs and external devices. Instead of simply separating the output ports, Astell&Kern's TERATON ALPHA technology allows for separate amplifier/sound design for the Headphone Out, Line Out and Pre-Out ports to provide the optimal sound for each.

Digital Audio Remaster (DAR)

KANN ULTRA is equipped with Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) technology, which was developed to deliver fine sound at higher sample rates. DAR technology is developed to upsample the sample rate of the sound source being played to go beyond the limits of the source format.

Flaship DAC

The KANN ULTRA is also designed with the newest flagship DAC from ESS to deliver a richer and more expansive sound than before. The ES9039MPRO has even more advanced modulation to reduce power consumption, noise and distortions for enhanced audio performance.

Key Features

• Triple Output Mode Featuring Separately Configured Circuit and Amplifier Designs
• HEADPHONE OUT / PRE-OUT / LINE OUT
• Next-generation Octa-Core processors with significant high-performance improvements
• Supports 4 preset gain settings with ultra-high output up to 16Vrms (Headphone Out)
• Equipped with ES9039MPRO Dual DACs
• Features Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) technology
• Supports playback up to 32bit/768kHz, Native DSD512
• Features Astell&Kern's unique TERATON ALPHA technology
• Battery 8,400 mAh (up to 11 hours of playback)

General Specifications

• Model: KANN ULTRA
• Body Colour: Astro Grey
• Body Material: Aluminium
• Display: 5.5inch HD 1080 x 1920 touch screen
• Supported Audio Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
• Sample rate: PCM : 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo / DSD512(1bit 22.4MHz), Stereo
• Output Level: HEADPHONE OUT [Low Gain] Unbalanced 2Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No [Mid Gain]Unbalanced 4Vrms │ Balanced 8Vrms (Condition No [High Gain]Unbalanced 6Vrms │ Balanced 12Vrms (Condition No [Super Gain]Unbalanced 8Vrms │ Balanced 16Vrms (Condition No PRE · LINE OUT Unbalanced 2Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load)
• CPU: Octa-core
• DAC: ES9039MPRO x2
• Decoding: Support up to 32bit/768kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback
• Input: USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC)
• Outputs: HEADPHONE OUT 3.5mm(Unbalanced Out, Optical Out), 4.4mm (Balanced Out, only 5 5-pole supported) PRE · LINE OUT 3.5mm(Unbalanced Out), 4.4mm (Balanced Out, only 5 5-pole supported)
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4&5GHz)
• Bluetooth: V4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™-HD, LDAC)
• Dimensions: 3.24” (82.4mm)[W] x 5.55” (141.1mm)[H] x 0.96” (24.4mm)[D]
• Weight: About 13.75oz (390g)
• Firmware upgrade supported: (OTA)
• Operating Temperature: 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)

Audio Performance

• Frequency Response
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT
    
    • ±0.012dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.011dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
    • ±0.125dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.126dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
  • PRE OUT
    
    • ±0.022dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ 0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
    • ±0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ 0.023dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
  • LINE OUT
    
    • ±0.002dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ 0.002dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
    • ±0.007dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ 0.006dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
• S/N
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT: 115dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 119dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • PRE OUT: 110dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 126dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • LINE OUT: 110dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
• Crosstalk
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT: 134dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 140dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • PRE OUT: 128dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 128dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • LINE OUT: 129dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 121dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
• THD+N
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT: 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • PRE OUT: 0.0012% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
  • LINE OUT: 0.0013% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Balanced
• IMD SMPTE
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT: 0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
  • PRE OUT: 0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
  • LINE OUT: 0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
• Output Impedance
  
  • HEADPHONE OUT: Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (1.3ohm)
  • PRE OUT: Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (3.5ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (5.7ohm)
  • LINE OUT: Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (6.5ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm (10.7ohm)

Clock Source

• Clock Jitter: 25pS (Typ)
• Reference Clock Jitter: 200 Femto Seconds

Storage Capacity

• Built-in Memory: 128GB [NAND]
• External Memory: microSD x1 (Max. 1TB)

Battery

• Capacity: 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer
• Charge Time: about 4.5hours (9V 1.67A) / about 6.5hours (5V 2A)
• Playback Time: about 11.5 hours

OS

• Supported OS: Windows 10, 11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7