Astell & Kern AK XB10

amazon Astell & Kern AK XB10 reviews

Astell & Kern isn’t the first high-end audio company to eye Bluetooth connectivity. It’s really handy and highly portable. But the big problem is that Bluetooth was born to transfer small files, not to please audiophiles. Until aptX came out to change this story, try to imagine an equally small road, but if all traffic flows chaotically, it will certainly be congested. When all cars are instructed how to move in a certain order, the speed will be many times faster. aptX can be considered as such control, which should be called an audio codec. Device manufacturers and technology researchers have found ways to extend the bandwidth to help Bluetooth achieve better data transfer rates. Still, equally important is that Qualcomm has also made great strides in this area. The introduction of the aptX HD standard, allowing music to be transmitted with quality equivalent to 24-bit/48kHz instead of nearly reaching 16-bit/44.1kHz before. The protagonist of this article is one of the first devices to apply aptX HD codec based on Bluetooth 4.1 platform called Astell & Kern’s AK XB10 that we introduced. Capital is considered the number 1 music player brand today, but Astell & Kern also realizes that the demand for listening to music from smartphones is very large. But the current obstacle is that many companies such as Apple and Intel show their desire to kill the traditional 3.5mm port. One of the solutions is listening to music through a Bluetooth connection.

Astell & Kern is famous for its sound, but its products are considered Hi-End in terms of craftsmanship. But much of their experience is in creating sophisticated aluminum cases, and this is the first time they’ve come up with a plastic design. Perhaps that is why the AK XB10 still has an unreasonable score. The point that makes me think the most is this glossy black plastic shell that saves a lot of fingerprints and dirt during use. The good thing is that we only need to gently wipe the device to return to like-new, but this operation needs to be done continuously to keep the beauty of the XB10.

The XB10 does not display like some competitor products, but the control buttons are reasonably arranged in return. The two largest volume up/down buttons are the main surface, the Bluetooth connection button, and the music stop/receive call button. The switch buttons are arranged on the side of the machine, symmetrically with the start/lock button. Once I get used to it, I can use it even without looking at the XB10. The manufacturer arranged on the back to fit the frame; make it hang on clothes or bags if you want to put the XB10 in your pocket. This structure is simple but creates high reliability, not afraid of breaking during use.

I often hook the XB10 at the collar because this amp has a microphone near the 3.5mm port. This feature seems very small, but it is extremely useful because most high-end headphones do not use signal wires with microphones. The XB10 makes it easy for me to answer calls hands-free while driving while still allowing the use of my favorite Hi-End headsets. The battery life of the XB10 reaches approximately 5 hours when listening at medium volume, quite similar to what the manufacturer announced. Normally, I will set the volume on the phone to maximum, then adjust the volume flexibly on the XB10 body.

If you only care about sound quality, the XB10 is even slightly better than the AK Jr line of music players that cost twice as much. The XB10 does not have a screen, plays music depending on the smartphone, not use an aluminum case, so the cheap price is undisputed. But Astell & Kern favorably included both the 2.5mm Balanced audio output port along with the traditional 3.5mm port. The 2.5mm Balanced port is often used with high-end in-ear headphones, which is considered a new trend today, increasing the sound quality and doubling the capacity so that it can play with other headphones. Listen to high impedance better. The XB10 is not a high-end Hi-Fi music player. I figured Astell & Kern made it to help people improve the sound compared to smartphones. Right from using the standard 3.5mm port, the XB10 has a larger capacity than most smartphones. Still, the point that I find more satisfying is the relatively quiet background music, suitable for using high sensitive in-ear headphones. I use the LG G5 smartphone as a standard source for comparison. It’s not difficult to see the XB10’s comprehensive improvement in sound. The bass becomes firmer, stronger, and fuller, singer’s voice is clearer and clearer. Not only is the treble sharper, but the soundstage is significantly expanded instead of flat as before. In general, the XB10 plays quite naturally and in detail, smoothly, bearing the characteristics of Astell & Kern. The AK XB10 not only makes me feel like an upgrade compared to a smartphone but more importantly, it brings a sense of comfort and is a lifesaver for smartphones without a 3.5mm port like the Apple iPhone 7. However, I hope Astell & Kern will support playing music from memory cards or add water resistance later.

where can you get a Astell & Kern AK XB10 online

Astell&Kern AK XB10 Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Dongle Headphone Amp/DAC with aptX HD: Buy it now