PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS
These portable music players bring impressive hi-fi quality to your music, wherever you go
Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 £599
Each new generation of Astell & Kern’s ‘entry level’ portable music players has proved more talented than the last – and so it is with the SR25. It doesn’t let its lineage down; indeed, it sets a new performance benchmark.
The A&norma SR25 marks more of an evolution than a revolution of the brand’s entry-level player, but still it takes significant strides. The SR25 supports native DSD256 and 32-bit/ 384khz audio. In a first for an Astell & Kern player, the SR25 expands Bluetooth support to include Sony’s LDAC codec alongside aptx HD and A2DP for high-quality wireless playback through a pair of compatible headphones.
The 3.6in HD screen is now more responsive, thanks to a faster Quad-core CPU and an upgrade to version 9.0 of the Android operating system. Music streaming service apps can be added via the Open APP platform, and there are small interface improvements to ease navigation too. Thankfully, battery life hasn’t taken a hit – at 21 hours, the SR25 lasts longer than any other A&K player.
The SR25 is aesthetically similar to the SR15, with its geometrically distinct form, hallmark side volume-wheel, top-panel 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm headphone jacks, and microsd slot. Its aluminium chassis, now in an attractive ‘Moon Silver’ finish, has filled out a bit and gained 24g in weight. However, it could still be described as slimline, and is manageable to use with one hand.
The SR25’S sound is familiar, rich, smooth and has plenty of detail, but the bar has been raised a peg or two, especially in terms of subtlety. Compared with its predecessor, the new A&K player more faithfully delivers The Tallest Man on Earth’s I Love You, It’s A Fever Dream, capturing intricacies such as the creak of his seat in the intimate production as well as paying greater dynamic attention to his exuberant strumming and the crispness of those leading notes. The soundstage has been prized wide open, too, allowing the track’s scale to soar and detail to unfold.
While still an excellent player, the SR15 is less agile, less precise and less rhythmically assured. Musically, the SR25 is considerably more compelling.
A successor should, of course, offer some degree of progress, and the A&norma SR25 does just that. Such progress may be marginal in terms of design and features, but not so modest when it comes to sound quality. The SR25 demonstrates just how good music on the move can sound, while also remaining reasonably affordable.
The A&norma, then, remains top of the tree for portable music players at this price, and a worthy recipient once again of a What Hi-fi? Award in this category.