Within the headphone world, Astell & Kern are greatest identified for his or her gamers. However additionally they make some spectacular IEMs, although true wi-fi expertise is a comparatively new avenue for them. What are you able to anticipate from the UW100MKII by way of design and efficiency? And does it reside as much as the Astell & Kern model?
What’s within the Field?
- UW100MKII earbuds
- Charging case
- 4 sizes silicone ear ideas
- USB-C charging cable
- Guarantee card
- Person information
Look and Really feel
Whereas the design sports activities the retro-futuristic aesthetic that A&Ok’s gamers are identified for, the construct is only a tad cumbersome. Although the charging case is smaller on this iteration, there’s nonetheless a robustness to the design, and the shells look fairly large within the ears when in comparison with competing fashions. However that is unsurprising given the high-performance DAC below the hood. I had no points with consolation, and the pure sound isolation was fairly efficient.
Design and Performance
Bluetooth
The UW100MKII employs Bluetooth 5.2 and helps the aptX Adaptive hi-res codec. Pairing was seamless after the primary connection, and I by no means skilled any dropouts, even in a busy metropolis atmosphere.
DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter)
A&Ok makes use of 32-bit DAC expertise in its design, standing out as one of many few wi-fi earbuds on this worth vary that supply this degree of digital to analogue conversion efficiency. You’ll additionally be capable to change between DAC filters, resembling “Sluggish Roll-Off” and “Sharp Roll-Off”.
Controls
The UW100MKII employs contact sensors on the earpieces to manage its features. Along with activating ambient mode, you’ll be capable to navigate all the standard controls, resembling quantity, play/pause, monitor skipping and name answering.
Battery Life
You’ll get about 29 hours of whole cost from the UW100MKII, with 7.5 hours of playback at a time. That is fairly spectacular for a wi-fi IEM with such a complicated DAC, and by way of battery life, it beats competing fashions such because the Sennheiser Momentum 3.
Additional Options
The UW100MKII comes with a companion app that means that you can absolutely customise the equalizer, in addition to select between presets. You may also navigate the varied DAC filters and customise faucet gestures. Lastly, you may select between completely different ranges of ambient mode, which permits in sound from the skin atmosphere. There’s no ANC, however given the effectiveness of the pure sound isolation, the ANC can be redundant and would additionally have an effect on the sound high quality.
Sound Impressions
Soundstage
For probably the most half, the soundstage feels comparatively flat, which is unsurprising for wi-fi earbuds. You gained’t sense a lot top, and the extra nuanced variations in depth placement are sometimes arduous to discern. That being mentioned, you’re going to get a small style of ahead and behind-sitting devices, and the stereo subject in all fairness vast.
Low-Finish
The bass is tight and edgy, sustaining a reasonable presence within the combine all through the low-end. And even the sub-bass frequencies really feel a contact extra reserved than you’ll discover in competing fashions, such because the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 3. However the bass is definitely clear and textured, revealing loads of low-end element and grip.
Mids
I ought to be aware that there’s an ever so slight veil over the mids that you just neglect after some time. However particularly once you first begin enjoying music, this mildly cloudy high quality may be noticeable. That mentioned, the extent of resolve is spectacular, and positively, the standard DAC appears reduce any trace of compression that you just usually discover in wi-fi buds. There’s loads of meat on the bone within the mids, and also you’ll get that grand, all-encompassing really feel, even when the upper-mids are barely favored. Lastly, there’s a mildly refined high quality to the sound that feels very A&Ok-ish. So definitely, the model’s considerably fluid sonic high quality is current on this sound signature.
Highs
The highs have respectable transparency, though element within the high treble registers can typically really feel a tad smoothed over. Total, that is an easy-listening high-end that by no means feels too sharp. On the flip aspect, you may anticipate extra snap than sparkle, and there’s a richness to the highs that offers a little bit of weight and colour to the tone.
Closing Verdict
Though I discovered few faults with the UW1000MKII, it will not be my favourite wi-fi mannequin on this worth vary, contemplating the notably expansive soundstage of the Sennheiser Momentum 3 and the plethora of additional options provided by the Sony WF-1000XM5 companion app. Nonetheless, the presentation in each sound and design is unmistakably Astell & Kern. So, if you happen to’re a fan of the model, it’s seemingly that you just’ll gravitate in the direction of these distinctive earbuds.
You should buy the Astell & Kern UW100MKII at Audio 46.
