Astell & Kern has teamed up with Campfire Audio for its latest in-ear headphones – and with a host of audiophile specs, they should sound very good indeed.
The AK Solaris X in-ear monitors feature custom-made balanced armature drivers and a dynamic driver hybrid system, which the company says will deliver music "as the artist intended".
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Those drivers work alongside Campfire Audio's proprietary Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber technology, which adjusts the volume of space in front of the driver to deliver "unsurpassed clarity and a smooth, extended top end".
While the 10mm drivers are smaller than those seen in previous Astell & Kern earbuds, 'Polarity Tuned Chambers' are designed to use cavities around the drivers to draw out as much sound as possible, for deeper and more refined mid frequencies.
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As you might expect from an audiophile brand, a lot of attention has been given to the cables that come with these wired in-ear headphones.
In the box, you get a balanced 2.5mm silver cable (along with a 3.5mm adapter), which is designed to provide "the most transparent and extended sounds possible". Meanwhile, a handmade cork carry case will help you keep your buds in excellent condition.
So, how much will you need to fork out for the AK Solaris X in-ear monitors? Brace yourself: they'll be available from mid-July for $1,500 / £1,499 / AU$2,199.
That high price isn't entirely surprising. After all, Astell & Kern is best known for its high-end MP3 players and portable DACs, which often come with high price tags themselves.
In fact, one of the best portable music players you can buy is the Astell & Kern A&norma SR25, which comes with excellent support for hi-res audio files and Bluetooth LDAC wireless connectivity. This particular model will set you back $699 / £649 / AU$999.
Saying that, there is a cheaper option available to audiophiles on a budget. The Astell & Kern AK USB-C DUAL DAC Cable allows you to connect your wired headphones to phones or devices without a 3.5mm audio port (like most modern smartphones, for example), as well as hopefully improving the sound of your music, and it costs $149 / £109 / AU$169.
