Astell&Kern - PEE51

Designed to complement Astell&Kern's series of Digital Audio Players, the PEE51 lets you enjoy the dynamic and lifelike high-definition sound on your computer and Android mobile phones without using a high-end sound card. The PEE51 features two Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHIFI DACs that support Hi-Res audio playback including native DSD256 and 32bit / 384kHz.

Putting years of experience to best use, Astell&Kern has designed a highly intricate circuit on a small and 6-layered 14 x 41 mm printed circuit board (PCB). Even the micro resistors and tantalum capacitors used in the PEE51 were indigenously developed by Astell&Kern. These are the same capacitors that are used in the A&K DAPs and they optimise audio circuits to minimize fluctuations leading to overall stability and unrivalled sound quality.

The power of CS43198 DACs is combined with an independent analogue amplifier to deliver highly authentic sound reproduction. This allows you to enjoy a dynamic and clear sound that is free of colourisation and distortion just the way artists intend their music to sound. The PEE51 is compact and drives even high impedance headphones easily with an output level of 2 Vrms.

Offering the widely used USB-C connector, the Astell&Kern PEE51 is compatible with almost all the latest Android smartphones, tablets, Windows 10 computers and macOS. You can connect headphones to the PEE51 with a 3.5 mm connector. The PEE51 lets you discover the popular Astell&Kern sound signature using your audio devices. From full-size headsets to in-ears, you connect a host of headphones that support 3.5mm 3-pole and 4-pole plugs. Kindly note that 4-pole earbuds with inline controller and microphone functions are not supported.

Empowered with a custom 4-core cable for precise sound reproduction, the PEE51 improves disconnect resistance. With reinforced aramid fibre, the PEE51 can resist a tensile force of up to 200 Newton. This thick cable consists of spiralled silver-plated copper wires wrapped around a centre Technora Aramid core to eliminate external noise. This copper wire also helps to deliver clean and rich surround sound. There is unique shielding on these cables that eliminates distortion and noise in digital and analogue signals coming from the playback device.

Featuring the "light and shadow" design, the USB-C DUAL DAC utilises a unique design that has been fundamental to Astell&Kern products. This design consists of a single centerline that crosses from right to left. The ratio of the angles is optimised to ensure that the sharp portions of the four top faces coincide at a single point. Reflection on each side of the design follows the movement of light. The surface is polished to make one-hand use more comfortable. Reflecting on the durability of other Astell&Kern machines, the PEE51 uses robust metal elements.

Considering limitations of hardware, software and the overall system some of the devices might not be able to function perfectly with the Astell&Kern PEE51. iOS devices like iPhones and iPads are not compatible with the PEE51 currently while some Android devices may need changes in settings to work efficiently. If you are using the PEE51 with a computer, the computer will automatically install the required driver. However, a separate installation may be required for high-end audio playback. This extra installation file can be accessed from the Support-Download section of the Astell&Kern global website. Kindly note that to play hi-res audio files like DSD and PCM on your smartphones you will need a separate free / paid application that is compatible with high-definition audio playback.
It is advised to get the volume level checked before connecting headphones to the PEE51 as there are chances of some devices having maximum volume by default. When you are using the PEE51 with an Astell&Kern player as an external D / A converter the volume will be set to the highest, by default. Listening to music on high volumes can damage your listening. Astell&Kern does not recommend using the PEE51 with Astell&Kern players. Firmware updates may be available from time to time to enhance stability and performance. Visit the Support-Download section of the Astell&Kern global site to get more information on updates and to check if any update is available.