description Astell&Kern AK120 Overview
Launched by South Korean electronics manufacturer iRiver in 2013, the Astell&Kern AK120 is a historical premium digital audio player (DAP) built to playback high-resolution master audio files. It is characterized by its solid, milled aluminum casing and its internal utilization of dual Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analog converter chips. This dual-DAC configuration was designed to provide improved channel separation and audio fidelity over the company's previous single-DAC models. It targets dedicated audiophiles seeking reference-grade portable audio.
help Astell&Kern AK120 FAQ
Why did the Astell&Kern AK120 use two Wolfson DAC chips?
The AK120 assigns its dual Wolfson WM8740 converters to separate audio channels. This dual-mono arrangement was intended to improve separation and refinement over the single-DAC AK100.
What audio formats can the AK120 play?
The player supports lossless formats such as FLAC, WAV and ALAC as well as common compressed files. It was also notable in 2013 for native playback of high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
Can the Astell&Kern AK120 be used as a computer DAC?
Yes, it can operate as a USB DAC when connected to a compatible computer. This allows its dual Wolfson conversion stage to handle computer audio rather than only files stored on the player.
How does the AK120 expand its music storage?
The original AK120 includes internal flash storage plus two microSD card slots. That was a significant advantage for large FLAC libraries at a time when many portable players offered only one expansion slot.
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