Anyone check out the DX90?

I have a DX90 and love it

Astell&Kern Create Special Hi-Res Edition for Blue Note 75th Anniversary – Legendary jazz label Blue Note Records has partnered with high-end audio manufacturer Astell&Kern to offer an exclusive limited edition hi-res box set for their 75th Anniversary. It features 75 of the label’s essential albums, newly remastered from analog tape for the first time to a hi-res MQS digital format of 192K/24-bit. Five Blue Note albums also make their hi-res debut with the release, including Art Blakey, Don Cherry, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson and Tina Brooks. Astell&Kern’s AK240 hi-res portable audio player is part of the collection, with a 100-page book filled with the original album art, a new book on Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression, and a special stand. Aficionados can now experience the classic recordings just as the musicians originally did. All 75 albums are on a micro SD card in a unique case. Only 1000 of the packages with the custom blue AK240 player will be available worldwide. Price: $6000.

$6000?

Wowza. That's quite the pricetag!

This may be the most obvious case of "hold me back" that I've seen here at HC.

You're evil, Ken, really evil

Jebus.  Even with pricing each album at $30, the player comes out to $3750.  I guess they've been talking to Hasselblad (see Lunar, Stellar, or HV).

Damn!  Are the traces of the PCB a custom job by Coconut Audio or some shit?

More information here. BTW, each album appears to be on its own microSD card, then wrapped in a jewel case, that when stacked on the included stand can make different shapes. Or rearrange the order to spell 'NOTE LUBE'.

Edited October 20, 201411 yr by blessingx

Astell&Kern Create Special Hi-Res Edition for Blue Note 75th Anniversary – Legendary jazz label Blue Note Records has partnered with high-end audio manufacturer Astell&Kern to offer an exclusive limited edition hi-res box set for their 75th Anniversary. It features 75 of the label’s essential albums, newly remastered from analog tape for the first time to a hi-res MQS digital format of 192K/24-bit. Five Blue Note albums also make their hi-res debut with the release, including Art Blakey, Don Cherry, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson and Tina Brooks. Astell&Kern’s AK240 hi-res portable audio player is part of the collection, with a 100-page book filled with the original album art, a new book on Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression, and a special stand. Aficionados can now experience the classic recordings just as the musicians originally did. All 75 albums are on a micro SD card in a unique case. Only 1000 of the packages with the custom blue AK240 player will be available worldwide. Price: $6000.

 

I asked, and this is available to dealers, in case anyone is interested

So 1 box = 1 ak240 blue note

Ho jeez!

Those are some big ass micro SD cards.

Edited December 11, 201411 yr by blessingx

Priced by volume.

Now that is one unboxing video I'd like to see.

How about keep the player loaded with the titles...and sell the actual albums to recoup some cost?  

 

@ Justin:  Are you an AK dealer too or is that for your personal collection?

i would assume the resale value of a digital album would be equal to the resale value of a used SD card

 

i am an AK dealer, i just dont have the stuff listed on headamp.com right now

i would assume the resale value of a digital album would be equal to the resale value of a used SD card

i am an AK dealer, i just dont have the stuff listed on headamp.com right now

I would probably throw in a cookie though, if I was buying used.

I'll add two cookies. Good ones. Perhaps homemade.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/astellkern-unveils-ak380-flagship-high-resolution-portable-player/

 

 

How long do you guys think it'll take for an AK820 to reach the market at $57,000?

Why not, if there's a market for 150,000-300,000 USD watches, there can be a market for 50,000 USD high resolution audio players.

The strangest thing of course is they're selling like hot cakes. I guess adopting the Apple model of making their DAPs look slick coupled with a snappy and intuitive user interface (still the best amongst audiophile DAPs out there) work well for them. 

I can't stand the way they look (the flagship models). That price is truly terrifying.

The strangest thing of course is they're selling like hot cakes. I guess adopting the Apple model of making their DAPs look slick coupled with a snappy and intuitive user interface (still the best amongst audiophile DAPs out there) work well for them. 

 

Maybe not any more.  The AK240 owners are visibly upset, especially those who just spent a cool 3k for the AK240SS (stainless steel).  Many AK240SS owners are pissed b/c they were lied to that the SS will stay as the flagship model for the next year or two.