Astell&Kern ACRO L1000

The ACRO L1000 features two AK4490 DAC chips, the same proven performance DACs found in the popular and successful Astell&Kern AK380 players. The Dual DACs deliver proven consistent and high-performance digital music playback. With the Dual DAC configuration, the ACRO L1000 delivers superb resolution and rich spatial sound. The Dual-DAC implementation is re-designed to perform at its best efficiency with the new AMP circuit design in the L1000. This new design allows the ACRO L1000 to deliver master-quality sound with minimal distortion.

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, without compromising audio quality. 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. The maximum audio output would be limited based on the output capacity of your source device.

The ACRO L1000 provides multiple audio output options to fit our needs. It 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. Unlike other headphone amplifiers, the ACRO L1000 features speaker binding posts offering a maximum audio output of up to 15W per channel at 4 ohms. When connecting more than two headphones, the sound is output to the earphones/headphones of the last connected terminal.

The ACRO L1000 can be connected to your PC or MAC via Micro USB cable. Using an Astell&Kern portable player as a source device will give us more powerful audio experience with the L1000. The design of the ACRO L1000 resembles the Golden Ratio of the Parthenon of Athens. Like the Golden Ratio stays consistent and never changes, Astell&Kern has designed the L1000 to serve the never-changing value of music. Its design signifies something that should never be changed - the original sound and provides distortion-free sound. Therefore, the image of the historical building is the motif, and the L1000 represents a distortion-free sound. The composed geometrics of the cylinder and the square reaffirms the everlasting meaning of great music paired with modern technologies to provide the best listening experience. The entire body is made of aluminum, which maximizes sound clarity, adds aesthetics, and allows for an ergonomic volume control.

The size of volume wheel is designed to fit for your hand, and the knurled pattern allows the perfect feel of being in control of your music. The accent of the LED rim lights around the volume wheel adds a subtle, yet comfortable music listening ambiance, and the 12 dots of LED shows the status of music playback volume. The ACRO L1000 is priced at $899. Info and photos by Astell&Kern.