Activo P1 Review

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Specifications

For the nitpickers and nerdy ones here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just get to the next page and see how the P1 performs.

Dual ES9219Q

For quite some time now, Astell&Kern favored ESS Tech in place of AKM or Cirrus-Logic, for better or worse – that said the new A&K SP3000 comes with an AK4499EX chipset though.

And so, at the heart of the Activo PA we have a dual mono circuit, based on two ES9219Q, a DAC that I’ve never encountered before, advertised as “a high-performance 32-bit, 2-channel audio SABRE HiFi® D/A converter with QUAD DAC+™ technology, headphone amplifier, analog volume control, dynamic range enhancement (DRE) and output switch designed for audiophile-grade portable power sensitive applications such as digital music players” – which is exactly the purpose today

In a nutshell, this premium DAC comes with all of the flagship features you’d expect from a chip like this one:

• 32 bit HyperStream III Architecture with “unprecedented dynamic range & ultra-low distortion”
• 64bit accumulator et 32 bit processing and full integrated feedback resistors for low-noise digital to analog conversion
• up to 32-bit 384kHz PCM and DSD256 decoding
• 7 presets of digital optimal filters with custom filter programmability for each channel

Numbers? The chip can deliver up to +121dB DNR per channel and -114dB THD, also in mono mode. Good news, they are two of them in the P1!

Teraton Alpha

A quick note about Astell’s Teraton Alpha “ultimate sound solution”, now embed inside the P1. Basically, it’s a set of various patents, related to the DAC section, Amp section, and Software section that all proceed in symbiosis to ensure the perfect sound on your A&K/Activo device.

The patents act on:

• power noise reduction when the device is in use, regardless of the source (streaming or local)
• better audio wiring to improve the crosstalk, it mainly acts on the amp part
• the complete mute of the unused channel, so that noise levels always remain at the lowest level while the user listen to his music
• Silver platinum shield can, to prevent various noise and electromagnetic interference from affecting the audio block

Check the movie here.

Bundle

Inside the box

The P1 bundle is scarce, very scarce. In the box you have:

• the Activo P1
• an USB-C cable
• a glass protection
• a quick-start manual
• and you’re done!

But, Activo also gives you some vouchers to try on Roon, which is quite nice.

Full specs

• Type: Digital Audio Player
• OS: Blocks UI
• CPU: Octa-Core
• RAM: 4Gb
• ROM: 64Gb
• DAC: 2x ES9219Q
• Sample rate: PCM : 8Hz – 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits) native – DSD64/128/256
• System clock: 800 femtoseconds (25ps) / Reference clock jitter : 70ps
• Headphones Outputs: 3.5mm headphone out / 4.4mm balanced headphone output
• Digital inputs : USB-C
• Digital Outputs : USB-C
• Input: USB Type-C
• Screen: 4.1” 720×1280 touch-screen
• Micro SD: SDHC / SDXC (single slot)
• USB DAC: yes
• WiFi : 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz support
• Streaming app support
• Bluetooth support : SBC, aptX, LDAC, aptX-HD, AAC
• Battery: 3.8V 2700mAh Li-Polymer
• Quick Charge: yes (PD3.0)
• Battery life: up to 20h
• Charging time: around 1.5h
• Size: 62mm x 119,2mm x 17,2mm
• Weight: 155g
• Price: $429

3.5 mm Headphone out

• SNR: 120dB
• Crosstalk: -139dB
• Output impedance: 1 ohm
• THD: 0.0006%

4.4mm Headphone out

• SNR: 121dB
• Crosstalk: -140dB
• Output impedance: 2 ohm
• THD: 0.0007%

The review continues on Page four, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.

Page 1: About the brand, design, layout

Page 2: UI & Usage

Page 3: Specifications

Page 4: Sound performances