Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 Digital Audio Player

The Astell&Kern A&norma SR35 brings Astell&Kern’s premium sound to a pocket-sized player. It follows the popular SR25 MKII and adds firsts for the A&norma series: four Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs (switchable to two for longer battery life), the new-generation amplifier from Astell&Kern’s flagship A&ultima players, two gain levels with up to 6Vrms balanced, and Roon Ready. It weighs 184g, plays for about 20 hours, and adds dual-band Wi-Fi, MQA full decoding and Astell&Kern’s Crimson interface.

Quad DAC, switchable to dual

For the first time in the A&norma series, the SR35 uses Cirrus Logic’s CS43198, a DAC praised for its spatial sense and resolution, in a quad-DAC configuration. A new audio circuit combines it with Astell&Kern’s own technologies and its patented TERATON ALPHA for more dynamics, space, resolution and separation. Switching to dual-DAC mode improves power efficiency and extends the playing time, a core A&norma strength. It plays native DSD256 and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz bit-to-bit.

New-generation amplifier

The SR35 has the same amplifier design as the latest A&ultima and A&futura players, redesigned from the op-amp choice to the component placement and circuit, which reduces noise at high output. The current capability at the output is increased, so it drives headphones and earphones of very different impedances reliably. Astell&Kern quotes a 130dB signal-to-noise ratio (balanced), which it calls industry-leading.

Two gain levels, Normal and High, match the output to everything from sensitive IEMs to hard-to-drive headphones, with high current for powerful sound and excellent driver control.

TERATON ALPHA

Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA sound solution makes high output and a quad DAC possible with long playing time and minimal noise, through effective power-noise removal, efficient power management, unwavering amplification and a fully converted audio output interface.

All-day music

At 184g the SR35 slips into a pocket, and up to 20 hours of continuous playback covers long-haul flights, full working days and holidays without a recharge.

Crimson interface and streaming

The redesigned Crimson interface makes the SR35 a true music player: browse categories quickly, rediscover songs in your library and search album art. Its keywords are edge, simplicity and dark mode, and the black-and-red colours reduce visual fatigue. App services, artist view and album sorting were also improved. The Services menu downloads streaming apps such as TIDAL, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Deezer.

Sound design with DAC filters

Pick from four DAC filters to shape your own sound: Low Latency Fast (post-echo enhances bass), Low Latency Slow (minimal echo, original sound), Phase Compensated Fast (pre- and post-echoes for a powerful sound) and Phase Compensated Slow.

Roon Ready, MQA and more

• Roon Ready, a first for A&norma: use the SR35 as a Roon network player for uncompromised hi-fi through your Roon system.
• MQA 8X full decoder plays and streams MQA natively.
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz) for streaming services and Roon.
• Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC and aptX HD, in both directions: send to headphones, or use BT Sink to play music from your phone through the SR35.
• ReplayGain evens out volume across tracks (up to 24-bit/192kHz).
• AK File Drop transfers music wirelessly from a PC, phone or FTP program.

Design

The design pictures a warrior’s sword and shield: a single bold line on the side and a surface that widens towards the bottom form the sword, and the finely refined, concave volume control the shield. An “A” pattern on the rear glass forms a rectangular motif marking the series’ first quad DAC, and the angular display sits well in the hand. The body is aluminium in Charcoal Gray.

Good to know

• USB-C charges the player and connects it to a Windows 10/11 or Mac computer. Firmware updates over the air.
• In the box: SR35, USB-C cable, two screen and two back protective films, microSD slot cover and quick start guide.