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Astell&Kern PD20
Astell&Kern has introduced the PD20, a new premium portable audio player that combines the Korean brand's familiar idea of a self-contained high-end source with unusually advanced sound personalization. In an era in which many listeners use a smartphone as their main music device, such a product may seem like a niche proposition, but this is precisely the field in which Astell&Kern has built its reputation over the years. The PD20 is not another all-purpose gadget. It is a dedicated player for users who want a local hi-res music library, high-quality headphone outputs, a serious DAC section, support for high-resolution formats and the ability to adjust the behavior of the amplifier stage to suit different headphones.
The PD20's most distinctive feature is its Personal Sound system, developed in collaboration with Swedish company Audiodo. Rather than applying a generic EQ curve or relying solely on factory presets, the system is designed to adapt playback to the user's individual hearing profile. The process uses a pair of dedicated earphones supplied with the player. After completing a hearing test, the device creates separate audio profiles for the left and right ear. According to Astell&Kern, the result should be a more natural tonal balance, improved detail retrieval and a greater sense of immersion in the music. 'The PD20 was designed so that music sounds as it should - not according to a statistical average, but according to the individual hearing of the user,' the company says in its press materials.
At the heart of the player is a Quad DAC configuration based on four ESS ES9027PRO chips. This architecture is intended to minimize inter-channel crosstalk, improve separation and contribute to a more precise soundstage. The PD20 supports PCM files up to 32-bit/768 kHz and Native DSD512, which goes far beyond the requirements of everyday listening, but remains important for users who have built extensive high-resolution music libraries. Astell&Kern emphasizes clarity, precision and a reference-oriented presentation, in line with the way the company's portable players have traditionally been positioned.
Another key element of the design is the Triple Amp architecture, which allows the user to switch between three amplifier operating modes. Class A is intended to deliver a denser, more analog and saturated sound. Class AB is designed for a more dynamic and energetic presentation, while Hybrid mode is meant to combine musicality with control. This gives the user a degree of flexibility not only in relation to personal taste, but also to the headphones being used. In practical terms, the PD20 is meant to be more adaptable than a conventional player with a single fixed output character.
Visually, the PD20 follows Astell&Kern's established design language, though the manufacturer highlights its more industrial, studio-inspired character. The aluminum body, 6-inch Full HD+ display, two top-mounted control knobs and physical switches are intended to evoke associations with professional audio equipment. This matters in a segment where a player is not merely a carrier for electronics, but also a tactile object that the owner handles directly. The physical controls, clearly defined knobs and switches distinguish the PD20 from devices that rely almost entirely on touchscreen operation.
The new Astell&Kern also includes a full set of contemporary connectivity features. On board are Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, aptX HD and LHDC codec support, dual-band Wi-Fi, DLNA and a USB DAC mode for Mac and Windows computers. The player has 256 GB of internal storage and supports microSD cards up to 2 TB, allowing users to build a substantial local music library without relying exclusively on streaming. Headphone outputs include a 3.5 mm socket and a balanced 4.4 mm connection, so the PD20 can be used with both conventional portable headphones and more demanding models designed for balanced operation. The Astell&Kern PD20 is scheduled to go on sale in May, depending on the market, with pricing listed at $1,899/€1,999/£1,799. Info and photos by Astell&Kern.
