Name: AK UW100
Brand: Astell&Kern
SKU: 8809755501983
Price: 299.0 EUR
Availability: BackOrder

Astell&Kern AK UW100 True Wireless Earbuds

The AK UW100MKII are the latest high-end True Wireless earbuds from Astell&Kern, a Korean brand specializing in high-quality audio. They succeed the AK UW100 model, with significant improvements in design and sound performance.

Technical Specifications

The AK UW100 feature Knowles balanced armature drivers, typically used in high-end in-ear monitors. Each earbud also integrates a 32-bit AKM AK4332 DAC, derived from the brand’s portable players, for top-notch digital-to-analog conversion.

Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2, with a range of up to 13 meters. Supported codecs include SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive, allowing high-definition audio transmission with compatible devices.

Each earbud is equipped with microphones for making calls and interacting with the smartphone’s voice assistant (Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri). Echo reduction and noise cancellation technologies enhance communication quality. The earbuds alone have a battery life of up to 6 hours, extending to 24 hours in total with the charging case. The case is compatible with wireless induction charging.

Features

The AK UW100 stand out by focusing on sound quality rather than integrating active noise cancellation. Astell&Kern has opted for high-level passive isolation, achieved through the design of the earbuds and the provided tips.

Each earbud has a responsive touch surface for controlling playback, volume, skipping tracks, and activating the voice assistant with a simple touch. An ambient mode is also included to hear external sounds if needed, with several adjustable intensity levels.

Pairing is made easy on Android devices thanks to Google Fast Pair. Multipoint connectivity allows the earbuds to be simultaneously connected to two devices, such as a smartphone and a computer.

Sound Quality

This is obviously where the AK UW100 aim to stand out. Astell&Kern’s expertise in portable audio is undeniable. The aptX Adaptive Bluetooth chip allows high-definition wireless transmission, up to 24-bit, provided the source is compatible. This enables an unprecedented level of audio detail for True Wireless earbuds.

The 32-bit DAC integrated into each earbud offers excellent digital-to-analog conversion, far superior to the standard Bluetooth chips that typically include low-quality DACs.

The Knowles balanced armature drivers deliver highly precise and remarkably clear sound across the entire spectrum. The highs are detailed and crystalline, without harshness. The mids are rich and nuanced, with perfectly intelligible vocals. The bass is fast and well-controlled, without masking the rest of the spectrum. The highly effective passive isolation allows for a good level of detail even in noisy environments, providing an immersive listening experience.

The dedicated mobile app offers several predefined equalizations (bass boost, treble boost, vocal boost, game mode) to tailor the sound to your preferences. An entirely customizable equalizer would have been appreciated, but the presets prove to be effective.

Key Advantages

Hi-fi sound with great richness and fidelity
32-bit audiophile DAC and balanced armature driver
Excellent soundstage and instrument separation
aptX Adaptive codec for optimal Bluetooth quality
Unique design and premium finishes
Highly effective passive isolation
App for personalized settings
Wireless charging case

Technical Specifications

Audio and Connectivity Specifications

Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC): AKM AK4332ECB 32-bit
Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm 5141
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Bluetooth Profiles: Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Maximum Sound Level: 94 dB SPL (1 m at 1 kHz)