Luxury Music Player Brand Launches Enhanced Entry-level Model

WHO:

TechRadar - Astell & Kern is the brand launching the new digital audio player, PD5.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 is a successor to the award-winning A&norma SR35.

WHAT:

TechRadar - The Astell & Kern PD5 is described as an 'entry-level' digital audio player.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 features eight hours of extra battery life compared to its predecessor.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 has twice the number of DACs compared to the SR35, allowing it to switch between four and eight DACs.

What Hi-Fi? - The total battery life of the PD5 is quoted at 28 hours.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 can be charged to full capacity in approximately 2.5 hours using PD 3.0 charging.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256 files.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 includes a feature called EnviroTune that optimizes sound based on ambient noise.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 is equipped with an octa-core processor and an Android OS-based platform for music streaming.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3, along with Qualcomm aptX HD, LDAC, and LHDC codecs.

WHERE:

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 will be showcased at the Hong Kong AV show and the Shenzhen International Audio Show (SIAS) in China.

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 will also be featured at the CanJam SoCal 2026 in the United States.

WHEN:

What Hi-Fi? - The Shenzhen International Audio Show (SIAS) will take place from August 14th – 16th.

What Hi-Fi? - The CanJam SoCal 2026 event is scheduled for August 29th – 30th.

WHY:

What Hi-Fi? - Astell & Kern aims to enhance the specifications of its products to follow up on the success of the award-winning SR35.

HOW:

What Hi-Fi? - The PD5 allows users to switch between different numbers of DACs to optimize sound quality and battery life.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 15:34 UTC)

Astell & Kern has announced the launch of its new entry-level digital audio player, the PD5, which serves as a successor to the award-winning A&norma SR35. The PD5 boasts impressive features, including a total battery life of 28 hours, the ability to switch between four and eight DACs for optimized sound quality, and a quick charging time of approximately 2.5 hours. This innovative device will be showcased at the Shenzhen International Audio Show from August 14th to 16th and at CanJam SoCal 2026 on August 29th and 30th.