Astell&Kern PA10 Review

Specifications

For the nit-pickers and nerdy ones here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just go to the next page to see how the PA-10 performs.

Full Class-A + Teraton

Once again, Astell&Kern implemented its Teraton Alpha principle, which appears to be an array of technology, combined with a proprietary chipset. On the A&K PA10, those combinations are the following:

• Class A amp design
• Gain design of distortion-free output
• Efficient current control
• Effective Power Noise Removal
• True-balanced circuit without signal loss

An impressive layout already, but the true magic of this amp isn’t there. No, where the PA10 differs from the previous A&K amps, is elsewhere: to offer the best linear output, providing soft, warm, and natural sounds by amplifying signals without distortions or defects, the Astell&Kern PA10 comes with a Class-A.

A system that’s usually found in high-end amplifiers, where power consumption isn’t an issue – on class A only 10% of the input power really gets through the output, and the rest becomes thermal dissipation. That said, it’s not too difficult to make a class-A amp if it’s only dedicated to headphones, but creating one that truly outshines the others… that’s a different story.

I’ll quote the A&K communication about that:

“The AK PA10 introduces a high output design for the perfect operation of hard-to-drive headphones, using delicate current control, and a perfect circuit design that is the embodiment of the philosophy of Astell&Kern which continuously aims to deliver pure and refined audio without any noise.

This design eliminates the interfering ripple noise (rippling noise that occurs when power is turned on) of DC-DC power, thereby minimizing audio noises that may be amplified along with the audio.

In addition to this, our proprietary shield can technology is applied so that noises and electromagnetic waves do not affect the audio block and the design that physically separates unbalanced and balanced circuits completes the high-output and low-noise audio.”

Full specs

• Model: Astell&Kern PA10
• Type: portable headphone amplifier
• Outputs: 3.5mm TRS // 4.4mm Pentaconn
• Inputs: 3.5mm TRS // 4.4mm Pentaconn
• Battery: 3.8V 4800mAh Li-Polymer
• Quick Charge: yes, 9V / 1.67A, or 5V / 2A
• Battery life: 12h with wired headphones (unbalanced, low gain, 30%)
• Charging time: around 3h
• Size : 158.4mm x 88.5mm x 28mm
• Weight: 325g
• Price: $599 / €629

3.5mm TRS

• Frequency Response : 20Hz – 50kHz (0,1dB)
• THD: 0.00045% (low gain) / 0.00027% (high gain)
• SNR: <111dB (low gain) / < 114dB (high gain)
• Crosstalk: -83dB
• Voltage: 2.1Vrms (low gain) / 3.1Vrms (High gain)
• Output impedance: 1.1 ohm

4.4mm Pentaconn

• Frequency Response : 20Hz – 20kHz (0,1dB)
• THD: 0.00015% (low gain) / 0.00013% (high gain)
• SNR: <115dB (low gain) / < 117dB (high gain)
• Crosstalk: -110dB
• Voltage: 3.1Vrms (low gain) / 6.20Vrms (High gain)
• Output impedance: 1.3 ohm

The article continues on Page four, after the click here.

Page 1: about Astell&Kern

Page 2: UI, Usage, Bundle

Page 3: Technical specifications

Page 4: Sound performance