Astell&Kern - ACRO CA1000

Astell&Kern has redefined the headphone amplifier with the introduction of the ACRO CA1000. It expertly combines a high-performance amplifier with Digital Audio Player (DAP) capabilities in an incredibly compact desktop and portable-friendly form factor. The powerful ACRO CA1000 delivers the optimal performance to any wired headphone or IEM. An array of digital/analogue inputs and outputs also ensures the ACRO CA1000 can be at the heart of any hi-fi setup and become the ultimate system for audiophiles.

The team at Astell&Kern realised the fact that to achieve the optimum potential and run the most sophisticated and power-hungry headphones a dedicated amplifier is essential. The ACRO CA1000 features an Amplifier with a four-step Gain Level setting that can run high-impedance headphones with a 15Vrms output level. All this without any deterioration of sound quality or distortion. The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 is equipped with balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm and unbalanced 3.5mm and 6.35mm outputs, to accommodate a wide variety of headphones. Using ultra-small relay parts and circuits for each output, they are physically separated from each other to minimise any internal noise interference that can adversely affect the quality of the signal and sound.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 comes with a high-quality, high-performance Quad ES9068AS DAC that delivers a clear, detailed and balanced sound with support for MQA protocols. The Quad-DAC also supports high-resolution audio playback natively for DSD512 and 32bit/384 kHz files, enabling you to get even closer to the original studio sound, while revealing musical details never heard before. The ACRO CA1000 also features Astell&Kern’s patented Teraton Alpha technology which is a result of extensive research and development, this sound solution is designed to deliver audio playback close to the original sound through the audio output interface by use of effective power noise removal, efficient power management and amplification with minimal distortion.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 features DAP capabilities, transforming it into the go-to system for Hi-Fi aficionados. A tilting 4.1-inch touchscreen (up to 60-degrees) enables easy control of the player and amp settings with an intuitive Android OS. Equipped with an 8,400mAh large capacity battery, the ACRO CA1000 can provide up to 10.5 hours of playback without a separate power supply. The ACRO CA1000 features USB-PD 2.0 charging that supports 9V/3A for faster charging and when used with a USB-C adapter, the ACRO CA1000 can charge to 50% in one hour, and fully charge in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. An array of inputs and outputs allows the connection of digital and analogue sources to expand the system's capabilities. These include Optical, Coaxial, Type-C USB digital inputs/outputs and RCA analogue input/output (RCA). The ACRO CA1000 harbours 256GB on-board memory that can be expanded up to 1TB via a microSD card slot, meaning users can stockpile thousands of hi-res albums.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000’s beautifully engineered aluminium body shape and the prominent tactile volume wheel design are inspired by rugged space-age exploration vehicles. The system still retains Astell&Kern’s signature angular shadow and light motif to seamless fit into the company’s bold and aspirational design language. Replay Gain functionality automatically and uniformly adjusts volume playback from sound sources up to 24-bit/192 kHz so music can be enjoyed without reaching for the volume. Activate the Crossfeed function and a more comfortable listening experience is revealed. This mode blends the left and right channels, relieving ear fatigue by creating a more natural sound akin to listening to speakers. In this setting Shelf Cutoff, Shelf Gain, and Mixer Levels are adjustable according to listening tastes.

The Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 boasts Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, providing greater range and a more stable wireless connection to headphones and, along with support for 24-bit aptX™ HD and LDAC codecs, offers the best possible wireless sound quality. Alongside dual-band Wi-Fi support, the ACRO CA1000 features AK File Drop for easier wireless file transfers. Users can wirelessly transfer files through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network to make music management even more convenient. A Bluetooth Sink function connects the Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 to an external device, such as a smartphone, via Bluetooth, enabling music to be played back in high-quality on the headphone amp.