Beschrijving
AK500N
The Ultimate MQS Network Audio Player
Perfect
ExtractorPure SoundPCM to
DSDAdvanced
Network4 BAY SSDPowerful
ConnectionsFixed & Variable
Analog OutMetal Body
The 500N gives you the freedom to select the sound.
The AK500N is the first desktop network audio product from Astell&Kern that truly combines advanced digital technology with analog sound.
The AK500N is the culmination of the experience and know-how accumulated from work on the AK series including the AK240.
One-click CD-ripping and perfect noise isolation through battery-only operation. PCM to DSD conversion faithful to the original sound and excellent compatibility with a wide range of devices. Easy DLNA-based networking and high-reliability SSD.
For the AK500N, no detail was overlooked from planning to development to delivery of sound that is true to the original source.
Perfect Extractor
How are you enjoying your precious CD collection?
Are you still listening to your music one CD at a time?
Import your CD collection into the AK500N with the one click.
By taking highly-optimized ripping engine, the AK500N provides users with flawless CD rips through enhanced jitter and error correction support. The highest sound quality is captured with enhanced jitter correction and excellent CD track error detection and correction.
Two speeds (Normal / Fast) are available for CD-ripping, and the tracks can be saved in either WAV or FLAC.
In addition, Album art and music data are automatically imported from Gracenote’s latest music DB, and is the most recognized and accurate source of music DB in the world. In addition the touch keypad allows the user to enter the CD title, artist, genre, year of release information.
CD-Ripping Screen
CD Album ImageCD Ripping SpeedCD Title InformationTrack Progress BarTrack Error Information
CD Ripping Progress
Ripping Completed Icon
Ripping Failed Icon
Track Skip Button
Pure Sound
A common factor in devices operating in AC power is that the AC power supply is a point of entry for unwanted external noise and exit for device noise. These are the main causes of sound quality degradation.
The AK500N does not allow even 1% of external noise.
Although the AK500N is desktop audio device, it was designed to use a built-in battery for noise isolation. The AK500N physically blocks noise generated in the AC power supply to prevent sound degradation at all levels. Music playback on the AK500N is achieved with battery-only operation, creating a truly Pure Sound.
The SMPS (Switched Mode Power Supply) employed in the AK500N is an outstanding device with a Level 5 efficiency rating. The noise-sensitive power ripple noise* is below 50mVp-p at full load (5A).
The AK500N delivers sound quality closest to the original recording through perfect noise isolation and battery-only operation.
* Ripple Noise : Unwanted “ripples” of direct current (DC) voltage in the alternating current (AC) peaks resulting from the incomplete conversion of AC to DC.
Diagram of Noise isolation through battery-only operation
– 10,400mAh 7.4 Li-Ion Battery
– The Battery is replaceable type
– About 7 hours of playback from
a fully-charged battery
– Automatic charging when battery
capacity is less than 4% or not
playing back music
PCM to DSD
The AK500N features a dedicated DSD chipset for DSD playback and converts PCM file to DSD64 data through audio engine of Astell&Kern.
The AK500N converts high-resolution 32 bit/384 kHz WAV PCM and 24 bit/352 kHz FLAC PCM file to DSD64 data without any down-sampling.
In Addition, real time PCM file to DSD64 data playback available.
Go one step further to original sound with this feature by converting, without any distortion, the unique audio information contained within the sound source.
Comparison of noise level PCM and DSD
Unlike PCM, the noise curve changes gradually without abrupt spikes in noise levels toward higher frequencies with DSD. This means that DSD is less vulnerable to noise intrusion in the higher frequencies compared to PCM.
Comparison of sample rate PCM and DSD
PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation), the common digital recording method for analog signals, divides the y-axis of a sine wave into 65,000 (16-bit) to 16.7 million (24-bit) units of resolution and the x-axis into 44,000 (44.1 kHz) to 384,000 (384 kHz) units for the sample rate before converting into a digital signal. Instead, DSD (Direct-Stream Digital) only divides the y-axis of a sine wave into a single-bit (0 and 1) resolution while dividing the x-axis into 2.8 million (2.8 MHz) to 5.6 million (5.6 MHz) units. DSD’s oversampled signal reduces noise and distortion into mere single bits of data for audio reproduction that’s closest to the original sound.
PCM
DSD
4 BAY SSD
The AK500N features multi-level cell (MLC) SSD rather than a triple-level cell (TLC) SSD for increased durability and reliability. The vibration noise generated by conventional HDDs has been eliminated completely. Save and load large amounts of data even faster than traditional HDDs through the superior speed and stability of SSDs.
1TB/2TB/4TB SSD options are offered to satisfy each user’s needs.
4 BAY SSD Structure
Comparison of SSD Cell type
TypeSLC (Single Level Cell)MLC (Multi Level Cell)TLC (Triple Level Cell)AdvantageExcellent durabilityGood durability / Large capacity supportedLow costDisadvantageLarge capacity unsupported-Low durability
Comparison of SSD and HDD
TypeSSD (Solid State Drive)HDD (Hard Disk Drive)AdvantageAbout 5 times faster than HDD / Durable and silentLow costDisadvantageHigher price compared to HDDLow speed and durability / Severe noise
By implementing RAID 0 and 5 capabilities optimized for each drive capacity, user data is protected and storage space is efficiently utilized.
Physically independent drives can be combined into a single drive through RAID 0, and one drive in a RAID 5 configuration is used for data parity*, ensuring user data safety.
* Data Parity : Parity block that verifies whether data is lost or damaged when moving data from one place to another in a storage device.
RAID 5 Structure for 4TB
User Data BlockData Parity Block
Powerful Connections
The AK500N supports a wide range of inputs and outputs.
Connect various high-end products through the AK500N’s digital inputs and outputs (AES/EBU, Coaxial, Optical, BNC).
In addition, the analog output supports both Fixed and Variable signals for a direct connection to a powered amplifier. A simple but high-level premium system configuration is possible through the AK500N’s flexible digital and analog connections. For user convenience, the inputs and outputs are expressed in easy-to-read graphics on the touch-screen menu.
Analog & Digital audio I/O
Connections Select Screen
