Astell & Kern PD5 Digital Audio Player Review

Astell & Kern's digital audio players are often flagship devices audiophiles strive to include in their setup. Their previous entry-level DAP, the SR35, has since been discontinued and replaced with the new PD5. The PD5 is a compact digital audio player that is great for newer audiophiles who want to upgrade their setups to a proper listening device. At $1,049, it's a high price point but definitely in the affordable range when it comes to high-end equipment. Is the PD5 the DAP you should be getting for your listening? In this review, we take a look at all the finer details of the PD5 to see how it performs as a premium audiophile accessory. 

Astell & Kern is known for making some pretty massive units. They are large in the hand and heavy in your pocket, sizing up to be just a bit bigger than your standard smartphone but nearly 3 times heavier. In the past, Astell & Kern has made some smaller players, like the SP3000M and the SR35. The PD5 replaces the SR35 as a compact, travel-ready device you can take anywhere. The device body is made of silver aluminum, which shines brightly in the light but keeps the design simple. The button controls all share the same aluminum build, and it is protected by a clear silicone case. This case doesn't hide the metallic design but gives you reassurance that you can use this on the go without risk of damage. 

Compared to other Astell & Kern DAPs currently on the market, the PD5 is extremely compact and lightweight. The screen is smaller than what you might be used to, but it still displays a clear picture that is easy to see and navigate through. The buttons on the top and the side match the titanium aesthetic of the body itself, and they go for a friendlier circular design rather than the sleek rectangular buttons seen on prior models. The volume dial sticks out of the side a little more than it does on the SR35 or the SP series, but it remains easy to reach for and use to adjust the volume as needed. 

It wasn't difficult to figure out the functionality of the PD5, especially given the helpful guide written right inside the packaging. The PD5 operates like any typical smartphone, and if you've had an Astell & Kern player in the past, you'll find the PD5 interface very familiar. I like that Astell & Kern keeps the interface consistent from one player to the next, so people who stay with the brand aren't thrown off by a whole new system. The interface was fast and responded quickly to the touch controls on screen, even with a couple of apps open and in use. The tactile buttons were easy to press and didn't require too much force. The volume knob was smooth and allowed you to adjust volume with ease. A clever safeguard by Astell & Kern is the volume warning at 60 to protect your hearing. You can remove this safeguard if you know you are someone who listens consistently at a higher volume, but it's nice to see Astell & Kern help you listen for longer with a small warning. 

You can connect to the PD5 a couple of different ways. Using the PD5 as a source is the most common way, with the 3.5mm unbalanced and the 4.4mm balanced headphone ports being the easiest way to get sound out. You also have the option of wireless Bluetooth connectivity, which is great for wireless headphone users. The USB-C port doesn't work as an output option, but you can use it as an input if you choose to hook up the PD5 to an external source and just use the player as a DAC/Amp. 

The PD5 has a lot of features that allow you to listen at maximum quality. The PD5 is equipped with an Octa-DAC configuration, with the option to switch between Quad and Octa configurations. You have EQ customization, where you can save filters that you create to use at your leisure. I liked experimenting with the EQ and seeing how influential it was on the sound with minor adjustments, and the results were effective and impressive. Another feature I found interesting was the EnviroTune Mode. In this mode, the microphone on the top of the PD5 picked up ambient sound from your environment and used it to tune your listening experience more naturally. At first, I didn't think the filter did much, but it was noticeable after having it on for a long period of time and then suddenly switching it off. 

If you have the SR35, you won't be looking at a huge upgrade in storage by acquiring the PD5. The PD5 has 64GB of internal storage, so you can download any apps you know you'll use regularly and keep some music downloaded on the device itself. Even if the 64GB isn't enough space, you have the option to insert a 1.5TB microSD card. This is pretty typical of Astell & Kern devices, so it's nice to see this feature remain consistent from one device to the next. 

Battery life does get an upgrade. The PD5 is ready for all-day listening, gaining a decent 8 hours of playback time over the SR35. With approximately 28 hours of playback, you can listen all day and not worry about running out of juice at the office. You only need 2.5 hours to get back to a full charge, and depending on how loud you listen, the battery may drain faster or slower. Still, this make sthe PD5 an excellent and reliable travel companion.

• CPU: Octa-Core
• Operating System: Windows 8, 10, 11 (32/64 bit) / MAC OS X 10.7
• DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198 x8 (Octa-DAC)
• Supported Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
• Bluetooth Version: 5.3
• Bluetooth Codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC, LHDC, SBC, AAC
• Internal Storage: 64 GB
• External Storage: microSD (1.5T)
• Battery Life: ~28 hours (Standard: FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHzm Vol. 50, Quad-DAC, LCD Off)
• Charge Time: ~2.5 hours (PD3.0 Charging)
• Weight: 6.98oz
• Dimensions: 2.74" x 4.71" x 0.63"
• Digital Audio Inputs: USB Type-C (for Charging & PC & MAC)
• Sampling Rate:
  • PCM: 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample)
  • DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo
• Analog Audio Outputs:
  • Unbalanced Out (3.5mm)
  • Balanced Out (4.4mm, 5-pole only)
• Output Power:
  • [Quad] Unbalanced 3Vrms │ Balanced 6Vrms (Condition No Load)
  • [Octa] Unbalanced 4Vrms │ Balanced 8Vrms (Condition No Load)
• Frequency Response: 
  • ±0.011dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.011dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
  • ±0.130dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │ ±0.143dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
• S/N: 125dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 129dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
• Crosstalk: -145dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -147dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
• THD+N: 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced
• IMD SMPTE: 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │0.0001% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
• Output Impedance: Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (0.6ohm) │ Balanced Out 4.4mm(1.2ohm)

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

How do we test the sonic quality of the PD5? For my listening, I used a few different headphones and IEMs with both neutral and unique tunings to see how the profile of the PD5 would influence their signatures. Not only that, but I chose headphones that were particularly hard to drive to see if the power output would be enough. These were a few notable models that I used while testing the PD5: 

• Sennheiser HD 600
• Abyss Diana MRx
• Focal Bathys MG
• A&K x Volk Audio Stella
• Dan Clark E3
• Noble Audio Iris

These models were all great for testing out soundstage and imaging, as I found them to have pretty neutral signatures that prioritized space and natural sound reproduction. I was impressed by the space that was consistent in the signatures with the PD5, as well as the attention to detail in the imaging. There was a distinct difference between the Quad-DAC and the Octa-DAC modes, which was noticeable on any of the headphone models. The Quad-DAC had a clear sound with good spatialization, but when doubling up the DACs and going for the full eight, you got a much wider and deeper sound profile that sounded more expansive. The PD5's soundstage definitely opened up and gave elements their own individualized space. It made details richer and more precise, which helps when you want to analyze and pick apart the finer intricacies of your tracks. 

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

In terms of frequency response, the PD5 made sure all the headphones kept their honest signatures. You weren't left wondering if the punchy bass of the Final Audio DX4000CL would fade out, or if the brightness of Sennheiser's IE series would be dampened. When trying out the Sennheiser HD 600, I could still appreciate the brightness in the treble and the sharpened detail the PD5 brought to the table with the Octa-DAC arrangement. I found this extra separation with the Octa-DAC to really open up the top end, which was especially noticeable with IEMs like the STELLA, the A&K and Volk Audio collaboration. The bass stayed controlled and punchy in headphones like the Abyss Diana MRx and the Dan Clark E3. 

When connecting headphones to the PD5 via Bluetooth, the sound didn't waver. The connection stayed strong during listening, and the only sonic difference I could note was the slight bass push that came from the noise cancellation of the wireless headphones. I liked listening to the slight bass boost and the sub-bass extension that came with some of the IEMs, like the Sennheiser IE 600 or the Noble Audio Lu Ban. The PD5 proved to have consistent and reliable sound no matter what type of music you chose to listen to, whether wired or wireless. 

The PD5 was released to replace the SR35, so it makes sense to look at those two side by side. How does the PD5 compare with an already popular entry-level model? The most obvious difference between the SR35 and the PD5 is the physical build. The PD5 is a bit bigger and slightly heavier, and it has a larger display screen to navigate through. The screen on the SR35 was famously angled so that it could be held more comfortably, but the PD5 forgoes this and opts for a straight screen that fits the body of the device. The SR35 has more angular design choices, making it more similar to higher-end models like the SP3000 and the SP4000. The volume knob on the PD5 juts out more, and the buttons are easier to find, so users will have an easy time navigating through the controls. 

From SR35 to PD5, storage stays just about the same. Don't go upgrading to the PD5 if you think you'll be able to fit more music on the device. The battery life does get 8 more hours, increasing from 20 on the SR35 to 28 on the PD5. Of course, this is also dependent on how loud you listen and what type of files you have, so these numbers are just estimations. The power output does increase from one model to the next, with the PD5 putting out more power in both the balanced and unbalanced outputs. This lets you listen at higher volumes with ease on the PD5 and opens up the possibility of using this device with more types of headphones and IEMs. 

Sonically, you can hear the upgrade in sound when using the PD5. The SR35 has decent power output, but the PD5's Octa-DAC and Quad-DAC configurations deliver a cleaner, crisper sound that reveals more detail throughout your listening. Below, you'll find a helpful chart of the differences between the PD5 and the SR35.

Astell & Kern proves itself to be a trustworthy brand yet again with the introduction of this new entry-level device. The A&K PD5 DAP is a great device for newer audiophiles who finally want to take the leap to a nicer player, or for the seasoned vet who wants a more compact, travel-friendly device. While the PD5 may not be the top-of-the-line player, it still offers incredible sound and features to aid any audiophile on their journey to higher-quality listening. The PD5 stands to be a great replacement for the SR35, giving listeners all the same great features and more to adapt to the growing needs and demands of hi-res listening. 

You can get the PD5 at Audio46.