Astell&Kern AK UW100 MKII Wireless Earphones

Astell&Kern AK UW100 MKII Wireless Earphones

 

If you value sound quality and convenience, then the Astell&Kern AK UW100 MKII Wireless Earbuds are the perfect choice for you. These earbuds offer best-in-class sound quality, thanks to the high-performance AKM 32bit DAC, Knowles Balanced Armature driver, and aptX™ adaptive technology.

The AK UW100 MKII earphones also boast outstanding noise isolation and a maximum playback time of up to 29 hours. Moreover, it is equipped with a fast charge feature so that you can enjoy Hi-Fi sound anytime, anywhere.

With its ergonomic design and top-tier features, the Astell&Kern AK UW100 MKII Wireless Earbuds are the perfect choice for anyone who wants to enjoy premium audio quality on the go.

 

Features

• High Performance AKM 32bit DAC
• Best in Class PNI (Passive Noise Isolation)
• Accurate Knowles BA Driver
• aptX™ adaptive for High Quality Wireless Audio
• Ambient Mode with 4 steps
• Premium Tier QCC5141 & Bluetooth 5.2
• Supports Multipoint
• Total 29hrs playback
• Wireless & Fast Charge

 

What Astell&Kern say

The AK UW100, which realised Astell&Kern's philosophy of "delivering music that is authentic to the original sound" even in true wireless earphones, has attracted a lot of interest due to its unique design and best-in-class sound. Based on this positive reception, Astell&Kern continued research and development to create our generation TWS, and as a result, is proud to present the AK UW100MKII, a new premium TWS that conveniently delivers the ultimate sound anywhere and at any time.

AK UW100MKII comes with a High-Resolution 32-bit DAC, which is difficult to mount on a TWS, and a full range Balanced Armature driver that offers precision sound, delivering outstanding Hi-Fi sound even in a wireless setup. In addition, with best-in-class PNI (Passive Noise Isolation) and aptX™ Adaptive, along with the ergonomic design and latest high-resolution codecs, it offers the most advanced True Wireless Sound to date.

We were able to further enhance the AK UW100MKII with a more advanced internal circuit design. The AK UW100MKII reduces noise through digital circuit separation, and the newly designed circuit structure ensures a more stable connection to the host compared to its previous model, AK UW100.

Additionally, the internal design was improved by adjusting the position of the BA driver and re-designing the acoustic chamber. With the optimization of electric currents, the earbuds can be played for up to 9.5 hours continuously and offer 29 hours of maximum playback, so you can enjoy Hi-Fi sound anytime, anywhere.

 

Advances for more complete wireless sound

Astell&Kern's long-standing, fundamental principle is the reproduction of sound as true to the original source as possible.

The AK UW100MKII, a true wireless earphone based on our proprietary audio technology, provides uncompromising wireless Hi-Fi sound with no cables required.

A rarity for True Wireless Stereo (TWS*), the AK UW100MKII has a separate embedded high-performance 32-bit DAC as well as a Balanced Armature driver for accurately reproducing sound, allowing the delivery of precise, high-quality audio with no loss of detail. aptX-Adaptive audio codec support for exceptional audio quality is the final flourish, ensuring the AK UW100MKII is ready for wireless Hi-Fi sound.

Combining all these features with ergonomic design and best-in-class Passive Noise Isolation (PNI), the AK UW100MKII takes your listening experience to a dimension where only you and the artist exist.

 

A New Design for Enhanced Perfection

Astell&Kern has further improved on the highly regarded TWS design of the AK UW100 to provide an even more perfect solution. AK UW100MKII offers the ultimate Hi-Fi sound—the pinnacle of Astell&Kern's technology and expertise.

The position of the BA driver has been moved towards the inside of the ear to better deliver the finer audio details more directly, and the acoustic chamber structure and mesh size have been re-designed multiple times in accordance with the new BA driver position to deliver the optimal sound output.
The new design took numerous attempts to minimize sound diffusion to provide a more delicate and dynamic performance and a richer high-frequency expression.

AK UW100MKII are completely wireless earphones with unrivalled 32-bit DAC technology, and the AMP and circuit technology of Astell&Kern enables the separation of the digital parts and analogue circuits of the wireless earphone. This new design allows for further reduced noise than the previous model, offering clearer sounds with higher separation levels.

 

 

 

The Best Choice for Pure Sound – Enhanced musical immersion

AK UW100, the previous model, is equipped with the highest-level PNI (Passive Noise Isolation), and has been recognized as a true Hi-Fi TWS that fundamentally eliminates noise that may be caused by ANC and sound distortions, together with its outstanding noise-cancelling performance. The AK UW100MKII allows users to enjoy complete musical immersion with its excellent sound technology and highest-level PNI technology.

ANC is not essential to achieve both reduced ambient noise and increased musical focus. When combined with the thoroughly tried-and-tested ergonomic design of the AK UW100MKII, PNI is sufficient to reduce noise physically.

Unlike generic ANC, which concentrates on cancelling low-frequency noise, PNI can efficiently cancel unwanted ambient noise in the mid and high ranges, as well as higher-pitched sounds. Notably, AK UW100MKII’s noise cancelling capability is comparable to that of ANC, even for low frequencies. Another significant feature is that sound quality is retained since noise is attenuated by the structure of the earbuds rather than by software. Developed with the help of countless simulations, the AK UW100MKII's best-in-class PNI capability allows you to escape annoying ambient noise and to immerse yourself in an experience where only you and the artist exist.

If you wish to hear ambient sounds, just tap the left earbud once to activate ambient mode. You can switch between the four ambient modes by tapping or using the app.

 

Continue the Joy of Music

We completely redesigned the power system to increase the playback time significantly, which is one of the important performance factors in TWS, while not compromising on the most important sound quality. Through new internal design and current optimization, we were able to maintain the earbud size while dramatically reducing the cradle size and significantly increasing the playback time. Now, you can enjoy the AK UW100MKII all day without worrying about recharging, with AK UW100MKII. With approximately 9.5 hours of continuous playback and up to 29 hours of total playback, never miss a beat with the AK UW100MKII.

Alongside the convenience of wireless charging, AK UW100MKII also supports fast charging, so you can charge for 10 minutes to play for an hour.

 

 

Premium Bluetooth, Ideal for Hi-Fi Sound Quality

AK UW100MKII features powerful wireless performance enabled by Premium Tier QCC5141, support for aptX™ Adaptive, Qualcomm's next-generation high-quality codec for wireless 24-bit sound quality and Bluetooth 5.2 support, for better connectivity than previous models.

In particular, through aptX™ Adaptive support, latency — the downside of Bluetooth audio — has been significantly improved. It also provides a feature that adjusts the bit rate according to the content or wireless environment, and supports 24 bit through a bit rate of up to 420 kbps.

In addition, Qualcomm True Wireless Stereo Plus* mode minimizes transmission delay by transmitting independent signals to each earbud. We hope you’ll enjoy the AK UW100MKII’s benefits of premium Bluetooth technology combined with next-gen high-quality wireless codecs.

* Qualcomm True Wireless Stereo Plus, This feature requires a smartphone that supports Qualcomm True Wireless Stereo Plus.

 

Multi-Point and Multi-Pairing Support

AK UW100MKII supports Multi-Pairing and Multi-Point functions. Pair your earbuds on multiple mobile devices at the same time. Not only can you easily switch connections to another mobile device, but you can also listen to songs played on your tablet PC while actively allowing phone notifications and calls from your smartphone.

*The Multi-Point function supports a connection of up to two devices.

 

Google Fast Pair. Make Pairing easier and faster.

The AK UW100MKII supports Google's Fast Pair Service, allowing for easier and faster connection with Android devices. Fast Pair Service utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy technology to automatically recognise and pair devices. By simply opening the cradle of the product near an Android device, it enters pairing mode, eliminating the hassle of opening Bluetooth settings and providing a simple and convenient way to pair the device.

 

Easy, Full-Touch Control

Precise full-touch control is enabled so you can simply tap to switch between functions:
Play Music, answer calls, adjust the ambient level and volume, and more.

 

Voice Assistant Support

Tap the left earbud three times to activate your smartphone's Voice Assistant function. Control music playback, make phone calls and more powerful smartphone functions with your voice.

*The supported Voice Assistant function may vary depending on the specifications of each mobile device manufacturer.

 

Clear Call Quality Provided by Two Optimised Microphones and cVc 8.0

The AK UW100MKII comes with Qualcomm's cVc Generation 8.0 (Clear Voice Capture) which creates enhanced call solutions for clearer and more stable call quality. The Clear Voice Capture technology applied to cVc Generation 8.0 keeps background noise in check and delivers clear voice audio at all times. Experience the ultimate Hi-Fi sound of AK UW100MKII and even more powerful, crystal clear call quality.

 

Easy Configuration with Our Proprietary App

Install the exclusive app to use various functions and enjoy easy setup. The AK TWS app is equipped with various newly developed user functions for the AK UW100MKII. Users can now conveniently control basic battery information, User EQ setup, touch-key arrangement, ambient stage control, etc.

 

Design

The AK UW100MKII is the first Hi-Fi TWS device based on Astell&Kern’s proprietary sound technologies. As with in-ear monitors (IEMs), it delivers the richness of the original sound intact and free from distortion, all through the freedom of wireless.

Just as Astell means "star" in Greek and Kern means "centre" in German, so too Astell&Kern symbolizes the company’s core identity of representing the centre of music. This identity also shapes the design philosophy of the AK UW100MKII : the beauty of music is symbolized by a single star (Astell), embodying the twinkling and scattering of starlight.

The product design emphasizes the contrasting surfaces, allowing users to appreciate the shapes, colours, materials and finishes used in the earbuds and how they play with the light and to picture in turn, the stellar beauty and delicacy of the sound created by Astell&Kern as it is focused and diffused.

Designed to fit snugly in the ear, the earbuds' shape is transformed from a pentagon to a circle, just as the sound flowing through them transforms when it is gathered, refined and then reproduced with clarity.

The AK UW100MKII cradle design combines two pentagon-shaped earbuds, representing the continuity of light and shade, the identity of Astell&Kern. The existing AK UW100 cradle actively displayed the identity of AK. However, with the AK UW100MKII, the cradle keeps the essence of Astell&Kern design and enhances it further whilst increasing portability.

 

Specification

 

• Model: AK UW100MKII
• BT Chipset: Qualcomm 5141
• Driver Unit: Knowles Balanced Armature
• DAC: AKM AK4332ECB
• BT Version: 5.2
• BT Codec: SBC, AAC, aptX™ Adaptive
• BT Profile: HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
• Sound Pressure Level(SPL): 94dB (1m@1kHz)
• Earbud Control: Capacitive Touch
• Sensor: Proximity Sensor
• Microphone: 2-mic / per earbud
• Playback Time: Up to 9.5hrs (Maximum 29hrs)
• USB: C Type for charging
• Cradle: Supports Wireless Charging
• Control APP: Android and iOS version
• Firmware Upgrade: OTA(Over The Air)
• Weight: Earbuds : approx. 7g / Charging Case : approx. 65g
• Dimension: Earbud : 22.2 x 21.2 x 22.8(mm) / Cradle : 72 x 32 x 34(mm)

 

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.

Today, original music performances can be captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new, advanced recording technology currently available. However, these high quality recordings are mainly listened to through inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or through streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers sacrificed sound quality for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because the MP3 format heavily compresses files for the sake of convenience, the vocals and instruments you hear are only an inferior version of the original. The soundstage and the ambience of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After pondering these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to poor sound quality for the sake of portability, and our way in reviving the original sound quality of music, MQS, for music artists, recording engineers, and professionals.

Astell&Kern's pursuit is to provide natural and original sound without distortion. It showcases the presence of the original recording with miniscule details you may not have noticed from other music systems, while playing back high-resolution music bit by bit, exactly as it was recorded. The ability to play back the exact recording of any live performance is what Astell&Kern is known for.

The power of true sound from Astell&Kern can now be experienced and has been part of many famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including the USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.