Astell & Kern AK Jr
THE GOOD The Astell & Kern AK Jr offers excellent design and great usability -- from the dedicated volume dial to the no-nonsense menu. Great-sounding sonics and able to drive many different types of headphones. Able to put dedicated USB DACs to shame.
THE BOTTOM LINE The Astell & Kern AK Jr marries classic design with class-leading sound, making it one of the best high-res players for the money.
Despite launching in only 2012, the name Astell & Kern has quickly become synonymous with high-end audio on the go. But with prices reaching into the many thousands of dollars, the company's gear has long been "aspirational" rather than "affordable" for many music fans. With the AK Jr, the brand becomes more attainable than ever before.