Astell & Kern SA700
The Astell & Kern SA700 delivers a rich, intimate midrange with smooth, high-resolution poise. MajorHifi found exceptional control, separation and easy-on-the-ear balance, while Home Theater Review praised its natural presentation and stronger dynamics from balanced output. Dual-DAC playback, USB DAC capability and robust stainless-steel construction make it especially compelling for vocals and acoustic music.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Usability
93/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Smooth, highly resolving and controlled sound with strong separation and no fatiguing brightness.
Natural, intimate vocal and midrange presentation that excels with acoustic material.
Balanced output improves dynamics and control, while USB DAC and line-out modes add system flexibility.
Exceptionally solid stainless-steel build with a premium, no-flex feel.
Cons
Wi-Fi signal strength and reliability can be inconsistent, frustrating streaming away from the router.
Its roughly 300g stainless-steel chassis feels noticeably heavy in a pocket.
Demanding full-size headphones and complex bass-heavy passages can exceed its driving limits.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
Reviewers consistently praise a detailed, controlled and unusually natural presentation, with particularly strong vocal reproduction and a smooth, non-fatiguing character. Its midrange-forward balance is a deliberate flavor rather than a neutral all-round tuning, while direct comments on noise with sensitive earphones are absent.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
MajorHiFi calls its resolution fantastic and highlights its control and seemingly zero distortion, while PortaFi describes high resolution, fine detail and strong technical performance without dryness. Reviewers also praise clean separation and precise imaging, though Home Theater Review found the overall soundstage somewhat compact.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The SA700 is repeatedly described as relaxed, natural, smooth and emotionally engaging, with no harsh upper-midrange edge or uncomfortable brightness. Its defining trait is a pronounced, intimate midrange that flatters voices and acoustic instruments, but places bass and treble somewhat behind the vocal range.
Dynamics
90/100
Alpha Audio heard unusually powerful, intense reproduction, while PortaFi found the bass tight, impactful and supported by convincing attack and decay. Home Theater Review specifically reported improved dynamics and control from the balanced output with the Beyerdynamic T9iE.
Noise Floor
80/100
The supplied reviews do not directly discuss hiss, hum or background silence, including with highly sensitive IEMs. They do praise smoothness and control, but do not provide enough listening evidence to establish how quiet the player is with the most sensitive loads.
Headphone Compatibility
87/100
Reviewers report that the SA700 can drive most full-size headphones, and the balanced output brought more control and dynamic authority with the T9iE. The 3.5mm and 2.5mm outputs, plus line-out mode, make it flexible for portable listening and use with an external amplifier, although broad testing across demanding planars and sensitive IEMs is not documented.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
Home Theater Review found the stainless-steel body exceptionally solid, with no flex and a convincingly substantial feel. The trade-off is portability: both MajorHiFi and Alpha Audio note that its roughly 300g weight is noticeable in a pocket.
Features Usability
93/100
This is a notably capable portable player, with balanced and single-ended headphone outputs, Wi-Fi, aptX HD Bluetooth, USB DAC operation, line-out functionality, local storage expansion and extensive high-resolution format support. Reviewers found operation simple and intuitive overall, though Home Theater Review encountered occasional Wi-Fi glitches.
Value for Money
88/100
At about $1,299, the SA700 is clearly a premium portable player, and Alpha Audio acknowledges that it is a lot of money. MajorHiFi nevertheless considered it worth the extra cash over Astell & Kern's SR15, citing its cleaner, smoother and more controlled performance.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Model
- SA700
- Body Color
- Onyx Black / Stainless Steel
- Body Material
- Onyx Black / Stainless Steel
- Display
- 4.1inch (720 x 1,280) Touch display
- Supported Audio Formats
- WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
- MQA playback
- Services(Tidal Masters), Local files, External USB, MQA-CD(ripped)
- Sample 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
- Output Level
- Unbalanced 2.0Vrms / Balanced 4.0Vrms (Condition No Load)
- CPU
- Quad-Core
- DAC
- AKM AK4492ECB x2 (Dual DAC)
- Decoding
- Support up to 32bit / 384kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback
- Input
- USB Type-C input (for PC & MAC)
- Outputs
- Unbalanced Out (3.5mm) / Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported)
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
- Bluetooth
- V4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, aptXTM HD)
- Dimensions
- 2.32 ”(59.1 mm) [W] x 4.56 ”(115.9 mm) [H] x 0.64 ”(16.5 mm) [D]
- Weight
- 10.68 oz (303 g)
- Feature Enhancements
- Firmware upgrades supported (OTA)
- Frequency Response
- ±0.24dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.24dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced ±1.95dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / ±1.94dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
- Signal to Noise Ratio
- 120dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 123dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
- Crosstalk
- -134dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -138dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
- THD+N
- 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced
- IMD SMPTE
- 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz(4:1) Unbalanced / 0.0004% 800Hz 10kHz(4:1) Balanced
- Output Impedance
- Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1.8ohm) / Balanced out 2.5mm (1.9ohm)
- Clock Jitter
- 70ps(Typ)
- Capacity
- 3,150mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
- Continuous Playback Time
- Up to 8.5 hours (Standard - MUSIC: FLAC, 16-bit/44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Volume 80, EQ OFF, LCD OFF)
- Charge Time
- About 4.5 hours (Standard - 5V/2A Charging)
- Built-in Memory
- 128GB [NAND]
- External Memory
- microSD (Max. 1TB) x1
- Supported OS
- Windows 7,8,10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and up
- Specification
- - Audio was NOT muted during the measurement. - The image/specification may be changed without notice to improve product performance and quality.
Manufacturer's Description — Astell & Kern
Past Meets Present, SA700
With the launch of Astell&Kern's first product in 2012, we always aim to deliver uncompromising
sound to music lovers.
One day we decided to ask ourselves a question - "What if we combined Astell&Kern's first starting
point and present?"
- We wanted to combine the analog sensibilities that remained in our hearts with the sound
technology
that has evolved over the years since our first product was released.
We wanted to create the best sound that only we can do.
"Past Meets Present" The SA700 is a product where past emotions and current technology meet.
The SA700 is an evolution of technology and design that deliver the ultimate sound to Astell&Kern
original design and sensibility.
We took the original design of AK120 and redesigned it into a simple, but refined form.
With the latest technology, the deeper and stronger sound of the SA700 delivers new experiences and
values not found in other products.
- Emotional Retro Design
- Intuitive LED Indicator
- New Special GUI
- Stainless Steel Body for Premium Sound
- Ideal Size for Portability
- Dual DAC of AK4492ECB from AKM
- 32bit / 384kHz, Native DSD256 support
First DAP Using AKM AK4492ECB DAC
The SA700 is the first DAP to use a AK4492ECB Dual DAC to give a new sound signature.
AKM's AK4492ECB is a DAC that aims to achieve the best performance in the industry by utilizing the
technology obtained by developing AK4497EQ.
It has a lower power consumption and similar audio performance compared to AK4497EQ, making it the
best DAC for a portable DAP.
Only Astell&Kern's Sound Technology know-how has made the DAC's performance even more perfect.
Now you can enjoy premium sound close to the original performance with the SA700 and the AK4492ECB.
Unchanging Value, Stainless Steel
The SA700 uses stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant and durable, for maximum material strength and beauty.
Since it takes a lot of time, skill and cost to process the material, it is often only used for expensive products. The SA700 uses stainless steel because it provides the perfect sound.
Stainless Steel delivers both luxury and balanced, clean sound
Feel it at the SA700.
Deliver the perfect original sound
SA700 offers the optimal condition to deliver perfect original sound.
SA700 is capable of bit-to-bit playback up to 32bit 384kHz and native DSD playback up to 11.2MHz,
delivering detailed, distortion-free sound just as the artist intended.
32-bit bit-to-bit Playback by the SA700
32-bit Playback by Other Products
Intuitive LED Indicator
The LEDs around the volume wheel are not just visual effects, but provide the listener information
including volume and status of the currently playing song.
Different colors are displayed depending on the bit depth of the song being played,
and 150 levels of red saturation are displayed to reflect the current player volume.
* LED can be turned on or off according to user setting.
New GUI where the past and the present coexist
SA700 maintains the convenience of Astell&Kern's UI combined with a new GUI that reminds users of our 1st
generation players.
You can combine Astell&Kern's past and present through the GUI which is reinterpreted by using Astell&Kern's
various color identities.
Using Open APP Service
The Open APP Service enables the user to install specific APK music streaming apps to the
device.
Copy the desired APK into the Open Service folder of the product and install the relevant
App in the Menu-Service of the product.
Open APP
Service
DESIGN
Inspired by the string bridge, the wheel protector is designed to reveal
the LED lighting hidden under the wheel as you start playing.
The knurled pattern of the volume wheels and the color of the light reflected
by the beautiful luster of stainless steel make it easy to provides various
playback information to the user while also providing visual enjoyment.
The lower microSD slot uses the Astell&Kern 1st generation
sliding door system, further enhancing the Astell&Kern retro look and feel.
The SA700 is designed to be the perfect size for one-handed operation.
The SA700 is optimized for portability so it can be held in one hand with the front 4.1-inch touch display
and all the side control buttons and volume wheel easily accessible.
With control in one hand, the SA700 gives you the best possible environment to focus on your music.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Astell & Kern SA700
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Advanced MP3 Players — online and in-store — Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- ALAIN CHOUKROUN — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Anquan — online and in-store — Glika Nera, Greece (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
and 69 more verified dealers