Korean manufacturer Astell&Kern has just unveiled its new AK UW100MKII True Wireless earbuds. Featuring an ergonomic design, extended battery life and improved wireless playback, these latest-generation earbuds deliver wireless hi-fi sound thanks to the extensive research carried out by the brand to enhance the qualities of their predecessors, the Astell&Kern AK UW100.
A new standard for wireless listening
Building on Astell&Kern’s philosophy of delivering natural sound that is as true to the source as possible, the True Wireless UW100MKII IEMs offer excellent wireless sound thanks to a 32-bit AKM AK4332ECB DAC paired with a full-range balanced armature transducer. This duo offers an unmatched level of precision and detail. With support for the aptX Adaptive codec for excellent sound quality and the highest level of passive isolation for intimate listening sessions, the Astell&Kern UW100MKII take the listening experience to another dimension.
The Astell&Kern UW100MKII True Wireless earbuds also feature an advanced circuit architecture that guarantees a more stable connection and considerably reduces distortion and unwanted noise. The optimized internal configuration, with the improved balanced armature transducer and a new acoustic chamber, not only improves the overall sound quality of these earbuds, but also extends their autonomy.
Extended battery life
The power supply of the Astell&Kern AK UW100MKII True Wireless earphones has been redesigned to offer 9h30 of wireless playback, with a total battery life of 29 hours thanks to the charging case. What’s more, the size of the case has been considerably reduced, and it’s now possible to enjoy an extra hour of music playback after a fast charge of 10 minutes.
Improved call quality and touch controls
The Astell&Kern UW100MKII True Wireless earbuds feature Qualcomm cVc Generation 8.0 (Clear Voice Capture) technology for clear, stable phone calls. Clear Voice Capture technology minimizes background noise in noisy environments and enhances the voice to deliver clear, coherent sound.
User-friendly touch-sensitive controls ensure a seamless listening experience. Simply press the controls to manage music playback, answer calls, switch to ambient mode, adjust the volume and more.
Optimized connectivity
The Astell&Kern UW100MKII True Wireless earphones support the Multi-Pairing and Multi-Point features, allowing you to pair them to several portable devices simultaneously, as well as switch easily between connections. What’s more, users can listen to songs on a tablet or PC while accepting notifications and calls from their smartphone.
For simplified connectivity, the UW100MKII wireless earbuds also feature Google’s Fast Pair Service, which automatically connects the earphones to Android devices using Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Simply open the case near an Android device, and the earbuds will enter pairing mode and connect instantly.
Simplified configuration with the A&K app
The Astell&Kern UW100MKII True Wireless earbuds are accompanied by a dedicated app to allow listeners to fully customize their listening experience. It features a 10-band adjustable equalizer to modify the earphones’ sound signature to suit your preferences, while also allowing you to reconfigure the touch controls and adjust ambient mode levels.
Iconic, ergonomic design
The Astell&Kern UW100MKII IEMs are the expression of the name “Astell”, which means “star” in Greek, and “Kern”, which means “center”. This iconic design is an integral part of the brand’s identity. Designed to adapt perfectly to the shape of the ear, the rounded pentagon shape of the UW100MKII True Wireless earbuds provide optimal comfort during long listening sessions.
Key specifications
- Bluetooth chip: Qualcomm 5141
- Transducer: Knowles balanced armature
- DAC: AKM AK4332ECB
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Bluetooth profiles: HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
- Sound pressure level (SPL): 94 dB (1m @ 1kHz)
- Touch-sensitive controls
- Proximity sensor
- Microphones: 2 per earbud
- Autonomy: 9.5h (up to 29h)
- USB-C (charging)
- Wireless charging compatible case
- Control app for Android and iOS
- Firmware updates: OTA
- Weight (earbuds): 7g
- Weight (case): 65g
Availability
The Astell&Kern UW100 MK II True Wireless earbuds will be available at Son-Vidéo.com from September 2023.
