While most modern WiFi-enabled DAPs can also function as a streamer, latest, PD10, takes that split functionality to the next level. PD10 is a shapeshifter: part desktop streamer, part DAP, but always very Astell&Kern. With some fresh design elements and new features, is PD10 the perfect solution for all of your home and portable audio needs?
Build and Design
Astell&Kern is known for great builds with subtle angular features, and PD10 delivers a great build with top notch materials. This time, rather than varied overlapping angles, A&K went more rectangular, with squared off 90 degree angles all around. Another big change is that the volume wheel has also been replaced with buttons, and a physical “Hold” switch has been added to prevent buttons from being accidentally triggered while PD10 is in your pocket.
The package for PD10 includes the device itself, the dock, a case, charging cables, and screen protectors. The dock provides a cradle for charging PD10, connecting it to an external amplifier via XLR or connecting it to a separate DAC via USB-C.The case is the same sort of high quality leather case that Astell&Kern regularly bundles with their flagship players. One downside of the package is that the DAP doesn’t fit on the dock with the case on, so if you plan on using the case with PD10, you’ll have to take it off any time you’re using it docked.
Using PD10
If you’ve used SP3000, KANN Ultra or any of A&K’s other recent players you’ll feel right at home with PD10. The UI is the same clean and intuitive Crimson UI built on Android, and the performance matches the best of A&K’s players. Apps load quickly, and the touch response and scrolling is snappy and responsive.
PD10 introduces a few new features, including Smart Amp mode and AirPlay receiver support. For gain, PD10 lets you choose between Normal, High, and Auto, but on Auto, it will automatically switch between Normal and High based on the impedance of the headphones you plug in (less than 32ohm = Normal, 32ohm or greater = High). If you trust the science, you can just leave Smart mode on, and it will seamlessly adjust the gain appropriately when you switch headphones.
AirPlay support is a big part of PD10’s function as a desktop or home audio unit, allowing you to control playback from another device. The dock, along with the home/desktop audio features are really cool, but seem to work best for specific use cases. If you’re primarily using streaming apps, PD10 works great as an AirPlay receiver or with Spotify or TIDAL Connect to control playback from your phone. The performance as a streamer was quite strong, and it worked quite well either as an integrated streamer/player and DAC or as just a streamer/player connected to a separate DAC via USB.
Probably the most frustrating part of my evaluation of the PD10 is that I couldn’t get Astell&Kern’s AK CONNECT app to work with my iPhone. In a perfect world, you could load up all of your downloaded music onto a microSD card, plug it into the PD10, and then use AK CONNECT to control playback of your music from your phone or other device. AK CONNECT worked with my iPad and other Android DAPs, but not with my iPhone, so I would be cautious regarding your exact plans for using PD10 as a streaming device.
I was able to, in a roundabout way, use VLC player to connect to the music library on the PD10, and then set the output to the PD10 via AirPlay, which worked, but it would have been much nicer to just connect everything through the Astell&Kern app which is purpose-designed to do exactly this sort of thing.
Sound
Using PD10 as a DAP, you’ll find that Astell&Kern’s house sound is alive and well here. The PD10 is clean and clear, with a reference sound that features a touch of softness up top, smoothing out aggressive treble without dulling it. PD10’s treble is crisp and controlled, never harsh. The general tuning is very similar to SP3000, but with a little added punch in the midbass.
PD10 has a strong soundstage and imaging presentation. The stage is wide and deep, with a good sense of three-dimensionality to the space, and the imaging is weighty and holographic. It’s not quite as lifelike as the SP3000, but it’s in the same league of DAPs with an immersive stereo image.
In terms of power, PD10 provides moderate power, good enough for most headphones, but not quite enough for hard to drive planer magnetic sets. It handled the Meze 109 Pro and HIFIMAN Arya with authority, but if you’re thinking of plugging in demanding headphones like the Dan Clark Audio E3 or HIFIMAN Susvara, don’t expect to get the world class performance that those headphones are capable of delivering.
Using PD10 as a DAC and Streamer, you get a similar Astell&Kern flavor, but it sounds more fleshed out and impactful than previous Astell&Kern DAPs that I’ve used the line-out function on. The overall character does seem slightly warmer when connected to a headphone amp or 2-channel system than when it’s being used solely as a DAP, but the imaging performance remains just as strong.
Comparison: Astell&Kern SP3000M, iBasso DX340
If you’re looking for flagship DAP sound, there are a number of good options right now, with the and iBasso DX340 being among the best current options. SP3000M gives you a similar Astell&Kern sound and experience, while DX340 comes in a little cheaper with an entirely different feeling.
In terms of sound, DX340 has a slightly more aggressive sound than the other two, with just a little more energy in the top end, and a bit more of a truly neutral tonality. SP3000M comes in with the classic Astell&Kern sound that’s also very natural and neutral, but just slightly more relaxed. PD10 is a little bit warmer than the other two, and is the only one that has any noticeable color to it, being just a little bit warm. In terms of the technical aspects of the sound, SP3000M has the edge, with DX340 and PD10 being very close – just different in the presentations.
The functionality is where things get a little interesting. SP3000M is the best choice for having an actual portable, pocketable DAP for bringing on the go. The DX340, with the power adapter, is the best for harder to drive headphones, and the best bang for your buck. But the PD10 fills a completely different role –if you want a single system for storing and playing your music that works both on the go and can be conveniently connected to a bigger amp for speakers or those hard to drive headphones, PD10 is the best choice.
Final Thoughts
Taken solely as a DAP, PD10 would be another strong addition to the Astell&Kern lineup. Add in the dock and the welcome addition of AirPlay support, and it becomes something a little more special than just another flagship level A&K DAP. While the SP3000M remains a better pick as a standalone DAP, if you plan on using the device both as a DAP on the go and as media hub at home, PD10 is an excellent choice.
