Design & Build Quality
Casing
Nowadays, there are lots of great-looking players available, but all were inspired by Astell&Kern design, to some extent. And there is a good reason for that: A&K is the benchmark.
But, the Kann series always stood apart. You can either find them chunky/bulky or imposing, but, so far, I never heard someone calling them beautiful. In fact, the first time I saw the Kann Cube back in the days, I thought to myself “How hideous!” And here I am today, with a Kann Alpha…
As usual, the case is made of one solid block of aluminum, CNC-milled, brushed, and anodized. If the front is made of tempered glass, as for every A&K player now, the back end is completely free of it, giving the Kann Alpha a raw impression overall. It’s definitely not as posh as the SE180, nor the SA700, but it’s still a premium/luxury player with clear outlines and the same perceived quality shown in previous DAP.
There is no gap or flaw on any part of the player and, this time, I won’t complain about the lack of a case, because I don’t think the Kann Alpha would need a case. As it is, the player is already thick enough, and the raw sensation of brushed aluminum gave me enough confidence to carry mine without any kind of protection. It’s a small tank after all.
Layout
Like the A&Futura SE180, the Kann Alpha offers two balanced outputs. Not that one isn’t enough, but since A&K held dear to the classic 2.5mm TRRS, many audiophiles had to use an adapter, like ddHiFi ones, for example, to connect their 4.4mm Pentaconn headphones/IEMs. On the upper side, you get:
- the classic 3.5mm TRS output, compatible with almost everything
- the usual 2.5mm TRRS, balanced output, that I use more than the…
- 4.4mm Pentaconn, balanced output, first introduced by Sony and now available almost everywhere
On the lower side, you’ll find the usual multi-purpose USB-C port, used for data transfer, charging, and DAC/Source connection. On the upper left side, you’ll find three tiny control buttons, while the opposite side displays a massive, but lovely, volume knob surrounded by a colorful ring led
Once again, build quality is absolutely flawless, even if sub-par compared to the SE180, and wherever you look or touch, you’ll be rewarded.
Screen
If not as good as the A&Futura or A&Ultima series, the Kann Alpha’s screen remains very good.
A regular-sized 4” 1280x720px IPS screen, boosted by A&K proven UI. It’s snappy, and touch-screen responsiveness is top-notch, even if boot time remains incredibly long. The contrast looks very good, and colors appear more vibrant than many players, equally sized. Maybe not as pop as the Shanling M6 Pro by comparison, but it’s very nice overall.
Again, don’t be fooled by the black bar at the bottom, the screen doesn’t cover the whole panel but just the upper size. When new players like the iBasso DX300 gets tiny bezels, it’s a bit sad to see A&K players not following this particular trend.
Everyday carry
On a day-to-day basis, the Kann Alpha is very pleasant to use but way too big to be really comfy.
It’s extra thick and if it’s smaller than my iPhone, the sheer size makes it hard to fit in my trouser’s pocket. Add the case and this can be even more problematic, especially when it’s getting hot like summer, and you don’t wear a jacket… You’ll definitely have to buy a separate pouch for this one, unless if you constantly wear a jean.
Fortunately, the design gives the Kann Alpha a really nice grip and once you hold it, the design doesn’t feel like an issue anymore. I’m more comfortable with aluminum back, compared to glass one, but that’s just a personal preference.
The new scroll wheel is a real pleasure to use. I love the chunky design, it really feels like an airplane clutch, ready to push the volume up to 11/10. Moreover, it’s superbly accurate, and you can fine-tune the listening volume until you get the exact amount of sound you’re seeking for. There is no real cover for the wheel, but it’s slightly recessed into the case, just enough to avoid an unfortunate move in the pocket. Of course, you can lock it through the menu, plain and simple.
Number? The A&K Kann Alpha weighs less than the SE180 (!) 316g and is 117mm tall, 68.5mm wide, 25mm thick. Yes, that’s extra-thick.
The review continues on Page Three, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.
Page 1: About the brand
Page 3: UI & Usage
Page 4: Specifications
Page 5: Sound performances
Onik
Wrong Specs! Ka works only with WiFi: 2.4 GHz.
also you didn’t mention that this new DAP has issues with embedded tidal, it keeps skipping songs randomly even their new updates couldn’t fix the damn issue. The WiFi module of this dap is really old gen so its doesn’t really work with moder busy routers, in 2020 and for the price I paid the dap should be the most powerful portable streaming device but sadly A&K is a joke! instead of fixing their current gen dap they keep making their sexy looking daps with d.o.d.g.y support!
Edmundo
Agreed! I am having the same problem, I’ll return it.
It is so refreshing that still a few concerned consumers just point to real shortages, instead of just going with the hype or the marketing superficialities.
Claudio
Embedded tidal? Did you try to install Tidal apk? The embedded tidal in all A&K didn´t work well but if you install the apk TIDAL will work perfectly!. I agree that all A&K DAP use old parts in their DAPs. In my experience i think all DAPs has weakness. I have own many brands like Fiio, Ibasso, Sony, Hiby, Shanling and A&K and I can’t find one with perfect performance. Or the battery drains, or the android stop working, or the wifi/BT are weak or the UI is to slow and so on!!. And the DAP that do the best job didn’t sound as great as the other with some issues.
Sproesser
That’s useful feedback. Best to read the user reviews before buying any DAC to make sure the issues it has are not a deal breaker for you. I have the Kann Cube. Same thing, a couple flaws that hold it back from being otherwise amazing.
Chance Witt
Guessing that you haven’t reviewed a Pioneer XDP-300R based on that volume range comment.
The Pioneer has over 150 individual volume steps, makes phenomenal use of its dual DACs, and even utilizes two way BT.
It also operates on a full Android OS.
I’d highly recommend comparing it to the midrange DAPs you’ve touted in this review to see how it stands up in your opinion.
I keep trying to move to a “higher end” player only to find I often have to make too many concessions in other areas just to get an arguably higher end DAC.
Katie Fincher
The Kann Cube is hands down the worst DAC I’ve ever owned, and it all comes down to its charging capabilities. It is impossible to charge it at a rate that keeps its battery in check while using anything 1.4v or higher on the XLR out, so it stops working after less than an hour.
Do not buy.