Astell&Kern PD20 Digital Audio Player

Craft Your Sound Finding the sound that truly suits you is the first step toward the essence of music. PD20 is designed to guide you on that journey. Our first step in this journey was to start from the very beginning. Rather than creating a successor to the PD10, we created an entirely new audio device that will redefine your musical experience. Through Personal Sound, you can create a sound signature tailored to your hearing, then precisely refine it to your taste using the Sound Master Wheel. An intuitive control that allows even the amplifier driving mode to be changed with a single touch. Now, music is not just something you listen to. It is something you shape. Exceptional resolution and high-purity sound, ES9027PRO Quad-DAC Designed with a singular focus on sound quality, PD20 adopts the ESS ES9027PRO DAC in a Quad-DAC configuration. Four DACs operate independently to minimize inter-channel interference and deliver precise signal separation. As a result, even the finest nuances in sound are revealed with greater clarity, creating a natural, analog-like presentation through clean, distortion-free layering. The PD10 supports native playback of high-res PCM music up to 32-bit, 768 kHz, and DSD512, with Bluetooth 5.3 offering 24-bit audio playback wirelessly for aptX HD, LHDC, and LDAC codecs. Astell&Kern's feature, BT Sink, allows the PD10 to connect to an external device via Bluetooth and function as a Bluetooth DAC, while AK File Drop enables you to freely transfer music files wirelessly through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network. Music file management is now possible with Apple AirPlay support and Roon Ready certification. To create the ultimate DAP unlike anything experienced before, we went beyond simply adopting the latest DACs and new specifications. We further evolved and applied TERATON ALPHA, Astell&Kern’s Ultimate Sound Solution, incorporating its advanced and innovative audio technologies. Refined through continuous research, TERATON ALPHA represents Astell&Kern’s integrated audio engineering expertise. Through effective power noise reduction, efficient power consumption with stable amplification, and a precisely engineered audio output interface, it delivers sound that remains faithful to the original source. Triple AMP Architecture PD20 features three distinct amplifier classes, allowing you to directly choose both sonic character and driving performance. Class A mode delivers rich, high-density sound with minimal signal distortion, expressing a smooth, analog-like texture. Class AB mode offers excellent balance and efficiency, providing stable dynamics and articulate detail. Hybrid mode combines the refined texture of Class A with the efficiency and power of Class AB, creating a new level of sonic balance. Switching between amplifier classes is achieved through a physical slide key rather than a software menu, enabling intuitive, immediate control based on your listening situation. Choose the amplifier class that best matches your music and listening environment. Adjustable Class-A Current In Class A and Hybrid modes, the amplifier current can be adjusted in three levels: High / Mid / Low. AMP Current adjustment goes beyond simple output control. It precisely fine-tunes the energy density and driving behavior of the amplifier, allowing you to further refine sound quality according to the characteristics of your earphones or headphones. High Maximizes power delivery to create a wide soundstage and explosive dynamics. Even high-impedance headphones are driven with unwavering authority and a spacious, stable presentation. Mid Provides an optimal balance between sound density and resolution. It preserves vocal texture while delivering a well-balanced sound that remains comfortable even during extended listening sessions. Low Employs delicate, precise current control to suppress background noise and enhance sonic purity. Ideal for high-sensitivity IEMs, revealing even the finest nuances and micro-details. A One-of-a-Kind Sound Tuned to Your Hearing PD20 delivers optimal sound tailored to your individual hearing. Developed in collaboration with global audio solution leader Audiodo, Personal Sound is used in a DAP for the first time, creating a personalized profile exclusively for you and redefining how you experience sound. By precisely analyzing your hearing characteristics and independently compensating for left and right ears, it dramatically enhances clarity and balance. Regardless of genre, volume level, or the headphones or IEMs you use, you can enjoy a consistently optimized listening experience. With a simple hearing test, your personal listening experience is complete. To cater to the diverse listening environments of users, the PD10 DAP is equipped with two distinct amplifiers–Normal Gain Amp and High Gain Amp–because two is better than one! Each amp has different sound tunings applied, so you can tailor the sound based on which headphones or IEMs you're using. Normal Gain Amp reduces delicate details and delivers high-purity sound, faithfully reproducing the original sound. High Gain Amp excels in handling complex and dynamic sounds, rendering audio signals more vividly with greater clarity for a more immersive listening experience. Smart Gain instantly detects the impedance of connected headphones or earphones and auto adjusts the amp The moment you connect a headphone or IEM to the PD10, the player instantly checks the impedance of the connected device and automatically sets the appropriate amp. Regardless of what is connected, the PD10 automatically distinguishes between low and high impedance and matches it with the optimal Amp, without having to worry about manually changing settings to find the perfect match. Earphones with an impedance of 32 ohms or less are set to Normal Gain, providing a maximum output of 5.5Vrms when connected to the balanced output. Earphones greater than 32 ohms are set to High Gain, providing ample output of up to 8.3Vrms for balanced out. The Smart Gain function optimizes amplifier matching, providing those who own a wide variety of headphones and earphones with a unique and refined listening experience. Audiodo Audiosphere: Immersive Spatial Sound from Any Stereo Source Audiosphere goes beyond conventional stereo, delivering a powerful sense of spatial immersion. It expands two-channel audio into a virtual three-dimensional sound field and offers four presets: Subtle, Balanced, Immersive, and Echoic. From the expansive resonance of orchestral performances to the realism of video content, you can select the sound atmosphere that best suits your listening preference. * Audiosphere supports audio playback up to 32bit / 96kHz. Audiodo Equalizer: Effortless, Intuitive EQ Control Audiodo’s Equalizer offers intuitive control centered on Bass, Mid, and Treble. Working in harmony with the Personal Sound profile, it operates on an already corrected sound foundation, ensuring stable and consistent performance. With the Tilting function, you can naturally adjust the overall tonal balance toward either the low or high frequencies, while preserving the original sound character. * Equalizer supports audio playback up to 32bit / 192kHz. Sound Master Wheel, Crafting Your Own Sound in 160 Steps The Sound Master Wheel, a key design element of the PD20, is seamlessly integrated with the Audiodo equalizer. Each band—Bass, Mid, and Treble—can be finely adjusted across 160 steps, from –8.0 dB to +8.0 dB, allowing even the most subtle preferences to be precisely reflected in your sound. Without interrupting your music, you can shape and refine the sound purely through the tactile feel of the wheel. Bringing You Closer to the Original Sound, Advanced Digital Audio Remaster Advanced DAR is a second-generation DAR technology designed to deliver a more natural and refined sound. Rather than sending the audio signal directly to the DAR engine, the signal first passes through VSE (Virtual Sound Extender), where lost harmonics are virtually restored to enhance sound quality. After this initial enhancement, DAR processing is applied in a second stage to achieve more complete and sophisticated upsampling. Through this process, listeners can experience a deeper, more immersive sound that remains faithful to the original recording. Filter Minimum phase (Default) Description Low latency with minimized ringing and reduced ripple in the passband. Impulse Response Linear Phase Apodizing Designed to prevent aliasing, this filter offers improved overall imaging and a natural roll-off beyond the 20 kHz range. Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off Delivers clean transient response and high resolution, particularly suitable for music with strong transients. A widely used filter that provides a bright and clear high-frequency range. Linear Phase Slow Roll-Off Features low group delay and symmetrical impulse response with minimal ringing. Compared to LPFR, it offers a gentler roll-off and a cleaner high-frequency presentation. Minimum Phase Fast Roll-Off Minimizes pre-ringing, making it well suited for video and studio use. Free from aliasing within the audible range, it delivers a more powerful low-frequency response and clean highs compared to Linear Phase filters. Minimum Phase Slow Roll-Off Eliminates symmetrical filtering to further reduce pre-ringing. Provides a low-frequency range with strong extension and excellent transient response. Minimum Phase Slow Roll-Off Low Dispersion Combines low latency of minimum phase filtering with reduced dispersion of linear phase filters. Minimizes pre-ringing to achieve a well-balanced response and low dispersion across the audio band. Real-Time Information Visualized Through Light The LED light surrounding the power button displays the bit depth information of the currently playing track, while also enhancing the button’s presence with a refined visual accent, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the listening experience. * The LED light can be turned on or off according to user settings. 16 bit 24 bit 32 bit DSD Supports Native DSD512 and 32-bit / 768 kHz Playback Powered by Astell&Kern’s proprietary technologies to deliver premium sound, PD20 supports Native DSD512 and playback of up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, allowing you to enjoy your music with exceptional fidelity and freedom. ReplayGain for Consistent Volume Levels ReplayGain automatically adjusts the playback volume, normalizing tracks with different loudness levels to a consistent volume. With ReplayGain, you can enjoy your personal playlists with a more balanced and comfortable listening experience. * ReplayGain supports audio files up to 24-bit / 192 kHz. Crossfeed A Speaker-Like Listening Experience Through Headphones Crossfeed blends a portion of the opposite channel signal and applies a slight time delay before routing it to each channel, positioning the sound image toward the center. This creates a more natural, speaker-like listening experience and helps reduce listening fatigue. With detailed adjustments for Shelf Cutoff, Shelf Gain, and Mixer Level, users can fine-tune the settings to match their personal listening preferences. Wireless Hi-Fi Sound via BT Sink The BT Sink function allows PD20 to connect wirelessly to external devices via Bluetooth, similar to connecting a smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker. Music played on the external device is transmitted to PD20 through the BT Sink function, enabling high-quality wireless audio playback. Supports USB PD 3.0 Fast Charging With support for USB PD 3.0 fast charging, PD20 can be fully charged in approximately 3.5 hours. Equipped with a 6-inch FHD+ display Experience more convenient and comfortable use of PD20 with its expanded 6-inch Full HD display, offering a larger viewing area and enhanced image quality. DESIGN Sound Lab Control The design concept of the PD20 is “Sound Lab Control.” It offers an experience akin to working with professional studio equipment—directly shaping, adjusting, and perfecting sound with precision. The two wheels positioned on the top each serve a distinct purpose: one for sound tuning, the other for volume control. Their symmetrical layout ensures intuitive operation, while the low-profile protectors surrounding the wheels provide both protection and openness. Top-mounted graphics and LED lighting allow you to instantly confirm the current mode without looking at the screen. The AMP and CURRENT slide switches, along with the lock button, are individually positioned to clearly define their functions. At the same time, the multifunction key is placed where the thumb naturally rests, enhancing overall usability. A linear, refined body combined with structurally aligned control elements. The clean design identity pursued by the PD line reaches its fullest expression in the PD20.