Astell&Kern ACRO L1000 desktop DAC launched at CES
Astell&Kern has introduced a new sub-brand of desktop audio products called ACRO at CES 2018, in Las Vegas. This range kicks off with the ACRO L1000 desktop DAC (digital analogue convertor).
The all-new ACRO line brings all the high-resolution music expertise of A&K’s award-winning portable players into the home.
Astell&Kern ACRO L1000 DAC
The ACRO L1000 is a 32bit desktop headphone amplifier/DAC unit that promises excellent performance, connectivity and design.
The ACRO L1000 provides multiple audio output options to fit your needs.
The unit can be connected to a universal 3.5mm/6.3mm jack, or to a headphone or earphone with a 2.5mm/4-pole XLR balanced jack.
USB connectivity means it can be used as a desktop amp/DAC to significantly boost the audio performance of your PC or Mac.
You can also use an Astell&Kern portable player as a source device, for an even more powerful audio experience with your L1000.
Additionally, the ACRO L1000 offers the option to connect to desktop speakers via dedicated, binding-post outputs. These offer a maximum audio output of up to 15W per channel at 4 ohms.
Specifications
The ACRO L1000 features two AK4490 DAC chips. These are the very same DACs found in the high-end Astell&Kern AK380 players.
The L1000 plays back bit-to-bit high-resolution PCM digital audio up to 32bits. A 32-bit CPU has also been added for the most accurate processing of digital audio playback.
As a result, the ACRO L1000 can reproduce up to 32bit/384kHz PCM as originally recorded, with no down-sampling.
The L1000 also supports native DSD playback up to 11.2MHz, without conversion.
Design
The ACRO L1000 is beautifully crafted from aluminium, and designed at a 30-degree angle to aid desktop usability.
The large volume wheel with the knurled edges gives the perfect feel of being in control of your music.
The volume wheel is haloed by LED lights. These clearly but subtly show the playback volume level.
The colour of these lights also indicates which of the L1000’s sound settings you’re using: Blue for the neutral, default setting; Green when the Bass-Boost Filter is applied and Red LED for High-Gain mode.
Price and availability
Available in a Gunmetal finish it will go on sale in the UK later this month, with a suggested retail price of £799.
