Portable Media Players

Activo is a new brand from high-end audio firm Astell & Kern, and the P1 is its first music player: it’s a hi-res audio player, a music streamer and an external DAC in a single pocket-friendly device. It’s an excellent audio player and DAC and, at $440 / £399, it represents very good value; similarly […]

The HiFi Walker H2 ticks lots of boxes for audiophiles with wide-ranging file support, plenty of connection options and an onboard equalizer, but it’s so rough around the edges that it’s hard to recommend beyond that. Pros + Many connectivity options + Onboard equalizer + Responsive scroll wheel Cons – Awkward navigation – Limited battery

Bargain hunting? You’re in the wrong room, friend. From the demurely classy build and finish to the stone-cold serious nature of the spec-sheet, get it playing and it certainly sounds as if no expense was spared here. It’s abundantly clear to me that Astell & Kern set out to leave any competitors around this price-point

If you demand (and can afford) the very best digital audio player around, the Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 is a no-brainer. Remarkably, it gets pretty close to justifying the asking price. Pros + Audio excellence in every respect + Uncompromised specification + A lovely object as well as an impressive device Cons – Stunningly