Page 94 - Stuff - September 2017 UK

GROUP TEST AUDIO PLAYERS

Elevate your music

The iPod is back in retro vogue thanks to its starring role in Baby Driver…
so here’s our pick of the best portable audio players you can buy in 2017

TEST
WINNER

Astell & Kern AK70

£499 / stuff.tv/AstellKernAK70
Why would anyone buy player with a 3.3in LCD
an iPod-alike in the age of touchscreen, up to
Spotify? For hi-res audio, 256GB of storage and
of course. As your phone an Android-powered
only has a basic digital- interface, it makes it easy
to-analogue converter to find your favourite DAC’S NICE HIGH FOR THIS NOT VERY ’APPY
(DAC), you’ll lose a lot in tunes. Oh, and it sounds A born multitasker, the Although it will play This device may run on
audio quality whether phenomenal, with an AK70 can also double mp3 files, you’ll get Android, but you can’t
you’re listening to a ropey awesome balance of up as a standalone the most of your AK70 download any Spotify
YouTube stream or Jay Z’s subtlety and precision. DAC – acting as a by playing PCM files or Tidal directly to its
new record on Tidal. middleman between up to 24-bit/192kHz hard drive because it
Fire up a song on the STUFF SAYS your laptop and (32-bit files are playable, doesn’t have Google’s
AK70 and you’ll really hear A smart and stylish hi-res headphones so you just downsampled). Play Store installed.
the difference. A sleek music player can listen to hi-res Audiophiles will surely Time to go digging for
music while you work. hear the difference. your favourite albums.

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