The Astell & Kern – SA700 pays homage to the AK120, one of the company’s first high-resolution digital audio players (DAPs). While the SA700 pays homage to the past. It’s also a forward-thinking statement piece with meticulous attention to industrial design and a sound so good and seductive that it’s arguably my favorite high-resolution DAP to date.

The main thing a potential buyer looks for in a Hi-Fi player is, of course, sound quality. And the Astell&Kern SA700 handles this issue admirably: it sounds great, is versatile in terms of genres, and has excellent recording quality. 

The benefits of the player do not stop there: almost all major music formats are supported, and there is a choice of the familiar 3.5mm jack paired with a 2.5mm balanced jack. All of this is housed in a sleek stainless steel case.

Astell & Kern – SA700 DESIGN

The colorful, retro volume dial on the SA700 was inspired by the design of A&K’s old classic, the AP120. It also has that boxy feel to it. However, the technology used in the SA700 is completely novel. 

A&K used AKM’s AK4492ECB DAC chips for its dual DAC. It is the first player to use VELVET SOUNDTM technology in these components.

The Astell & Kern SA700 feels very different in your hand if you’re used to the shape of your phone. It’s smaller, thicker, sharper, and more substantial. 

You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a solid block of stainless steel, but it has a glass-covered touchscreen on the front and plenty of high-resolution audio technology on the inside.

The large volume knob on the right creates the asymmetric shape, which is flanked by swooping, textured guards that blend into the angular body. It’s a great contrast to the otherwise blocky design, and it gives the SA700 personality. 

When you turn on the player, the volume knob is illuminated by a bright LED behind it, which turns red at high volumes.

When it comes to connections, the player has a 2.5mm balanced jack on top, as well as a standard 3.5mm jack. It is also Bluetooth with aptx HD support for wireless listening.

Astell & Kern – SA700 Audio quality

The SA700 outperformed full-sized headphones in terms of power and the finesse with which it can handle sensitive IEMs, with 4.0Vrms available from the 2.5mm balanced output and a not-to-be-missed 2.0Vrms from the 3.5mm single-ended output. It sounds absolutely fantastic.

The SA700 has a velvety, controlled, and nuanced sound. While there is plenty of detail and texture, the SA700 steers clear of the sterile or cold end of the spectrum. The SA700’s ability to immerse you in music album after album, without any hint of fatigue, has always impressed me.

 Take some well-recorded source material and a pair of headphones capable of appropriate levels of fidelity, and the SA700 will envelop you in a silky, enveloping sense of ‘head-stage,’ with visceral and believable levels of imaging and distinct, placeable instrumental parts, all placed in a diffuse, 3D space.

Last Thought about Astell & Kern – SA700

The SA700 is a versatile, well-built, and simple-to-use unit with an enticing sonic signature. The sound reproduction was organic and warm, with all of the detail you’d expect from a high-resolution file. 

If you want every last bit of control or nuanced detail from your higher-resolution audio files, this may be the player for you. Others, including those in the Astell&Kern portfolio, offer this.

Specifications

• DAC: 2 × AK4492ECB
• Output power: 2.0 Vrms single ended, 4.0 Vrms balanced
• Output impedance: 1.8Ω balanced, 1.9Ω single ended
• Frequency range (single): 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.24 dB), 10 Hz – 70 kHz (±1.95 dB)
• Frequency range (balanced): 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.24 dB), 10 Hz – 70 kHz (±1.94 dB)
• Signal/noise ratio: 120 dB single ended, 123 db balanced
• Channel separation: 134 dB single ended, 138 dB balanced
• THD + noise: 0.0006% single, 0.0004% balanced
• Format support: WAV, FLAC, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
• Max resolution: 382 кГц/32 бит, DSD до DSD256
• Screen: 4.1″, 720 × 1280
• WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth: V4.2 with aptX HD support
• Input: USB 3.0 Type-C
• Outputs: 3.5 mm TRS, 2.5 mm TRRS
• Battery: 3150 mAh
• Playback time: up to 8.5 hours
• Charging time: ~ 4.5 hours
• Internal memory: 128 Gb
• Memory card support: MicroSD
• Dimensions: 59 mm × 116 mm × 17 mm
• Weight: 303 g.

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Bringing a popular design back to life is no easy job. The film’s critical and financial success elicits positive emotions and builds anticipation for the inevitable sequel. Campfire Audio – Vega 2020 builds on all of the great and unique features of the original 2016 design.

They have redesigned a larger dynamic driver. And improved the Material choices and design. Everything is fresh and better for 2020. The Campfire Audio – Vega 2020, on the other hand, may surprise you with its lower price of 949 EUR.

Exceptional sound, unique approach

A single full-range dynamic driver lies at the core of the Vega. The campfire has developed a unique lightweight and robust diaphragm using its trademark A.D.L.C. (amorphous diamond-like carbon) coating technology. By decreasing flex, increasing detail, and lowering audible distortion, these physical characteristics improve the driver’s musical performance.

Ceramic shells are a miracle…

With the original Lyra, Campfire Audio was the first business to offer a ceramic body earphone in 2015. They’ve returned to this great material with the new Campfire Audio – Vega 2020 and Dorado.

…and a thick substance.

When it comes to creating earphones, this is part of the attraction. As it doesn’t allow vibrations to go wild, the density works well with dynamic drives. It also has the additional advantage of being highly scratch resistant, which adds to the value of ownership.

The back of the dynamic driver is vented via the port on the earphone’s face. The airflow is further regulated by an acoustic dampener to enhance the dynamic driver’s sound performance.

The sintering process gives our ceramic shells their strength. Two days at 600 degrees Fahrenheit are followed by three days at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. As a consequence of the prolonged exposure to high heat, the components’ size is drastically reduced and their density is increased.

The shells are then tumbling for up to three days with tiny alumina stones and water in a tumbler. This polishing procedure is what gives them their appealing high-gloss sheen.

Simplicity is the secret to the sensual sound

The acoustic design philosophy at Vega is simple: utilize the finest components available and maximize their capabilities. In the signal route, there is no cross-over or other technological clutter to obstruct the driver’s musical performance. From our unique Beryllium Copper MMCX connection to the driver and back, there are high quality conductors.

The design’s simplicity is its strength, and it’s what makes Campfire Audio – Vega 2020 so cohesive. Vega is a combination of elegance and practicality. It’s an earphone that may be used for any genre or recording. Listening to streaming music and lower-quality recordings is just as forgiving and pleasant as listening to a full-fledged hi-fi track from a dedicated device.

Campfire Audio – Vega 2020 Specifications

• 5 Hz – 20 kHz Frequency Response
• 94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 19.86 mVrs
• 36 Ohm @ 1kHz Impedance

Campfire Audio – Vega 2020 Features

• White Ceramic Shell
• Single Full Range 10mm Dynamic Driver
• A.D.L.C. Diaphragm
• Oversized Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet
• Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
• Stainless Steel Spout

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Campfire Audio – Dorado 2020 has created a remarkable succession of high-fidelity hybrid IEMs since Dorado’s first release in 2016, which have gone from niche to popularized as some of the finest in the world.

With a fresh twist on the traditional hybrid design, Dorado 2020 infuses new vitality into the name and history of the original. One dynamic driver and one balanced armature There are no problems since there is no cross-over. These simplified pairings, according to Campfire, recreate sound more accurately, with better clarity and cohesiveness, than those with too complex cross-over systems.

The end effect is a rich, genuine tone. They’re resolving and emotionally engaging, and they’re a real blend in terms of design and sound.

A bass-satisfying hybrid high-fidelity earphone

The custom-tuned 10mm A.D.L.C. diaphragm dynamic driver is augmented by a single balanced armature. In addition, giving the powerful driver the freedom to dig a little deeper, reach a little lower, and produce rich and satisfying bass by leaving the dazzling highs to the B.A. It has a crisp and pronounced vocal delivery. The Dorado 2020 is a high-fidelity hybrid earphone.

Ceramic – very durable with a stunning appearance

With the original Lyra, Campfire Audio was the first business to offer a ceramic body earphone in 2015.
They’ve returned to this great stuff with the new Dorado and Vega.

Ceramic is a thick substance. When it comes to creating earphones, this is part of the attraction. As it doesn’t allow vibrations to go wild, the density works well with dynamic drives. It also has the additional advantage of being highly scratch resistant, which adds to the value of ownership.

The sintering process gives Campfire’s ceramic shells their strength. Two days at 600 degrees Fahrenheit are followed by three days at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. As a consequence of the prolonged exposure to high heat, the components’ size is drastically reduced and their density is increased.

The shells are then tumbled for up to three days with tiny alumina stones and water in a tumbler. This polishing procedure is what gives them their appealing high-gloss sheen.

Campfire used a machined brass spout with a ‘gunmetal grey’ P.V.D. finish for Dorado 2020. The spout’s conical shape and smaller diameter offer further tuning benefits while also increasing wear comfort. The super-small balanced armature centered in the spout, and its closeness to the outlet gives it just the perfect amount of presence.

To have the most pleasant music listening experience

Dorado’s acoustic design is similar to Vega’s in that it uses the finest components available and lets them shine. There is no cross-over or other technological clutter in the signal route, similar to Vega 2020, to jeopardize the driver’s musical performance.

As a hybrid IEM, distinguishing the Dorado 2020 from Vega by the addition of a single high-frequency focused balanced armature. Finally. Dorado also employs a custom-tuned dynamic driver, which is comparable to the full-range sibling found in Vega.

Consider the future: environmentally friendly pouches

The salmon-colored case is constructed of recycled marine plastic from ocean cleaning for an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional leather bag.

Campfire Audio – Dorado 2020’s Specifications

• 5 Hz – 22 kHz Frequency Response
• 94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 18.52 mVrs
• 10 Ohm @ 1kHz Impedance

Campfire Audio – Dorado 2020’s Features

• Black Ceramic Shell
• Single Custom Balanced Armature (High)
• 10mm A.D.L.C. Diaphragm Dynamic Driver (Mid+Low)
• Oversized Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet
• Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
• Brass Spout with ‘Midnight Grey’ PVD finish

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