Astell & Kern has released a new A&Norma SR35 hi-res player built on a quad-core processor and capable of working with 32bit/384kHz signals and DSD256 stream. This is how MQA file decoding is declared .
The digital-to-analog converter in the player is based on four CS43198 chips from Cirrus Logic , two per channel. This improves the signal-to-noise ratio and reduces the level of non-linear distortion. All major functions are controlled via physical keys on the left panel, a rotary knob on the right panel, and a 3.6-inch touch screen with a resolution of 720 x 1080 pixels . The body of the device is machined from aluminum alloy, the back wall is covered with a layer of carbon fiber and impact-resistant glass. The player measures 64 x 108.3 x 16.1 mm and weighs 184 grams .
To connect headphones, the player is equipped with three connectors – unbalanced 3.5 mm and balanced 2.5 mm and 4.4 mm. The output voltage is up to 3.1 V at the 3.5 mm output and up to 6 V at the balanced outputs. The model has received Roon Ready certification , and the built-in Bluetooth adapter supports the aptX HD codec . A full charge of the battery is enough, according to the manufacturer, for 20 hours of operation. Built-in memory is 64 GB , expandable up to 1 TB using microSD cards.
The Astell & Kern A&Norma SR35 hi-res player is sold on the European market for a retail price of $900.
