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Astell & Kern PEE51
SMALL, BUT MIGHTY
The Astell&Kern USB-C DUAL DAC CABLE has been designed as an extension of existing Astell&Kern DAP lines.
Smartphone manufacturers are removing headphone jacks from their products.
"Without a headphone jack, how do you listen to music on your smartphone with the headphones and earphones you currently own?"
"As streaming services begin to support high-quality, high-resolution audio, are wireless earphones and
headphones able to provide the full audio playback experience?"
"How can you enjoy high-quality music playback or games with dynamic and realistic sound on your computer
without an expensive high-end sound card?"
Our development team set out to create a product that would answer these questions.
- Full Metal Housing Design
- Dual-DAC HiFi Audio Chipset
- Silver-Plated Copper Shielded Cable
- Small Size, but Powerful Output
Dedicated Dual DAC with Hi-Fi, Ultra High Resolution Sound
The Astell&Kern USB-C DUAL DAC Cable features two Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHIFI™ DACs which supports native DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz playback. With the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable, you can experience premium, high-resolution audio from your computer or mobile device.
Small But Powerful Output, Astell&Kern’s Signature Sound and Design
Astell&Kern’s expertise in audio circuit design has allowed us to create a complex and highly integrated
circuit chip on a small,
six-layer PCB the size of 14 x 41 mm.
In order to create a small device, micro resistors and tantalum capacitors, exclusively created for
Astell&Kern were used.
These same capacitors, which are used by AK DAPs, optimize the audio circuit to suppress power
fluctuations, creating a USB DAC that provides stable operation and superb audio performance.
The dual CS43198 DACs are paired with an independent analog amplifier, designed to provide true audio
playback so you can feel the live,
warm and clear sound as intended, without distortion. This is possible based on years of Astell&Kern’s
expertise in AMP design.
Although it is a small and simple cable type external DAC,
it is able to sufficiently drive high impedance headphones with a 2Vrms (Condition No Load) output
level.
Plug & Play with Most Devices
The Astell&Kern USB-C DUAL DAC Cable features a USB-C connection, which can be found on the latest
Android-based smartphones and Windows and Mac computers.
Since the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable draws power from the playback device it is connected to, there is no need
for a separate charger. The USB-C DUAL DAC Cable supports any headphone or earphone with a 3.5mm
connector.
The USB-C DUAL DAC Cable brings the famous signature Astell&Kern sound to your devices for a reasonable
price.
* Both earphones and headphones that support 3-pole and 4-pole 3.5mm plugs can be used, but the in-line controller and microphone functions built into 4-pole earphones and headphones are not supported.
Noise-Shielded Customized Cable
We developed a custom-made, 4-core cable to express the sound you want to reveal through the cable and
enhance durability against disconnection.
The cable is reinforced to withstand up to 200N of tensile force using aramid fiber.
This cable is made by wrapping silver-plated copper wire and the copper wire in a spiral form around a
center core made of Technora Aramid fiber to block external noise.
A separate shielding treatment is applied to the cable to block distortion and noise of digital and
analog signals from the playback device.
The silver-plated copper wire used in the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable is thicker than typical silver-plated
copper wire (0.3μm, usually 0.1~0.15µm).
The addition of copper wire provides clear and rich spatial sound.
Precautions When Using the Product
The Astell&Kern USB-C DUAL DAC Cable is compatible with most Android-based smartphones and tablet PCs,
computers running Windows 10 and macOS.
iOS-based devices, such as iPhones and iPads are currently not supported.
Some Android devices may require adjusting certain settings to function correctly.
to hardware, software, and system limitations of certain supported devices, not all functions may work
correctly or be available for use.
When connected to a Windows PC, the device is automatically recognized and the correct driver will be
installed. A separate USB DAC Driver installation may be required for high-quality sound playback, and
can be downloaded
from the Support-Download section of the Astell&Kern global website.
To play DSD and high-quality PCM sound sources on a smartphone, a separate free/paid app that supports
high-resolution audio playback must be installed. (When using the smartphone's own built-in player,
audio may be down-sampled)
When connecting to a playback device (Android-based smartphone, tablet PC, and PC), be sure to check the
volume level before connecting earphones and headphones. Some devices may automatically set the output
level to maximum volume when the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable is connected.
Listening to headphones or earphones at maximum volume may damage your hearing. Please verify the volume
level before each use.
When connecting the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable to an Astell&Kern player and using the cable as an external
DAC, the output volume will be fixed at the maximum volume setting. It is not possible to adjust the
volume through the Astell&Kern player. Listening at maximum or a high volume setting may cause serious
damage to your hearing. Astell&Kern, its affiliates and agencies, cannot be held liable for any damage
or injuries from negligent or inappropriate use. We do not recommend using the USB-C DUAL DAC Cable with
Astell&Kern players.
Firmware updates may be released periodically for stability improvements. For more information on
firmware updates and to check if a firmware update is available, please visit the Support-Download
section of the Astell&Kern global website.
Design Concept
The USB-C DUAL DAC Cable uses the design concept of “light and shadow” that is used in all Astell&Kern products. The USB-C DUAL DAC Cable design is based on a single centerline that boldly crosses from right to left. The faces were arranged by adjusting the angle ratio so that the sharp faces of the upper four faces meet at one point. It is designed so that each side is reflected according to the movement of light.
To make the grip comfortable for one-handed use, the surface was created to be like a pebble that has been smoothly polished by the natural weathering effect of stone, rather than featuring the sharper angles typically found in existing AK products. This product design provides a nice, smooth feeling when holding the cable in your hand.
The weight of the metal material used reflects the same durability and solid feel compared to other Astell&Kern devices.
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Professional Reviews 88/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Usability
83/100
Value for Money
90/100
Compact and well-built, the PEE51 gives wired headphones a clearer, cleaner, and punchier feed than a basic dongle, with more space around vocals and instruments. What Hi-Fi? found it surprisingly capable with both modest earbuds and higher-impedance cans, making this USB-C DAC/amp cable a sharp, pocketable upgrade for laptop and phone listening.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Delivers a clearer, cleaner, and punchier sound than a basic USB-C dongle, with more detail and openness.
Drives a wide range of headphones effectively, including harder-to-power models.
Compact, lightweight, and robustly made for everyday portable use.
&
Cons
Does not support iOS devices.
Lacks MQA support, so it cannot play MQA-encoded hi-res streams.
Output-only design means it won’t work with headphones that rely on an in-line remote.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers consistently describe a clearer, cleaner, punchier presentation than a basic dongle, with more space and definition around vocals and instruments. The cable DAC is praised for opening music up and revealing more detail, while also keeping playback engaging rather than sterile.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
What Hi-Fi says it makes music come through "much clearer, cleaner" and "opens up music and let you in on more of its detail." The review also highlights generous definition around vocals and guitar textures, pointing to strong low-level clarity and openness.
Tonal Balance Musicality
87/100
The presentation is described as engaging and easy to listen to, with music rendered in a way that preserves the character of the performance rather than sounding hard or clinical. Reviewers emphasize the lively, entertaining nature of the sound more than any specific tonal coloration.
Dynamics
90/100
The cable DAC is called "punchier" than a standard dongle, and the review repeatedly suggests it brings extra drive and animation to the music. That sense of added energy and stronger forward motion is one of its clearest strengths.
Noise Floor
88/100
No hiss or background noise is mentioned, and the review’s language about clarity and cleanliness suggests a quiet output in normal use. The available evidence points to a very clean listening experience, though reviewers do not explicitly dwell on ultra-sensitive IEM behavior.
Headphone Compatibility
90/100
What Hi-Fi says it is designed to drive even power-hungry, high-impedance headphones, and it handled a spread of Grados, Beyerdynamic on-ears, and Sennheiser Momentum earbuds without trouble. That gives it unusually broad real-world compatibility for a compact dongle-style amp.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
Reviewers are notably positive about the construction, calling it compact, lightweight, and well made. They also praise the aramid-fiber reinforced cable and metal casing, and note that it feels durable enough to survive being tossed in a bag and even accidental yanks.
Features Usability
83/100
Functionality is straightforward but useful: USB-C input, 3.5 mm output, and support for high-resolution PCM and DSD playback. The main limitations are the lack of MQA support and the fact that it is output-only, so it won’t work with headphones that rely on an in-line remote.
Value for Money
90/100
What Hi-Fi calls it "a very attractive proposition" for a modest amount of money and frames it as an affordable, practical way to improve smartphone or desktop headphone sound. The value pitch is clearly positive against typical dongle DAC alternatives.
Reviews
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