The world of portable audio is a fascinating realm, filled with a vast array of devices vying for the attention of discerning audiophiles. In this crowded market, Astell&Kern, a name synonymous with high-fidelity audio, has introduced a new contender: the ACTIVO P1. This Digital Audio Player (DAP) marks the debut of ACTIVO, a sub-brand aiming to deliver a premium portable audio experience without the premium price tag often associated with Astell&Kern’s flagship products.

But does the ACTIVO P1 live up to the legacy of its parent company? Let’s embark on a comprehensive exploration of its features, design, and performance to see if it truly delivers on its promise.

Design and Build: A Symphony of Aesthetics and Ergonomics

The ACTIVO P1 is a testament to the philosophy that form and function can coexist harmoniously. Its design language is characterized by clean lines, smooth curves, and a minimalist aesthetic that exudes sophistication. The compact form factor, measuring just 2.44 inches wide, 4.69 inches tall, and 0.67 inches deep, ensures that the P1 can comfortably reside in the palm of your hand or slip effortlessly into your pocket.

Crafted from a combination of aluminum and polycarbonate, the P1’s construction strikes a balance between durability and lightweight portability. The aluminum frame provides a robust skeleton, while the polycarbonate back adds a touch of softness and contributes to the device’s overall comfortable grip. The subtle curve of the back panel further enhances ergonomics, ensuring a secure and natural feel in hand.

The P1’s design is not just about aesthetics; it’s also about practicality. The tactile buttons, strategically placed on either side of the device, offer intuitive control over playback functions. These buttons are thoughtfully shaped to provide distinct tactile feedback, allowing for easy identification and operation without needing to look at the device. This is particularly useful when navigating through tracks on the go or when the device is tucked away in a pocket or bag.

The front of the device is dominated by a 4.1-inch touchscreen display, providing ample real estate for navigating the user interface and viewing track information. The display’s resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels ensures sharp text and vibrant graphics, making the overall user experience visually appealing.

User Interface: Simplicity Meets Sophistication

Navigating the ACTIVO P1’s user interface is a seamless and intuitive experience. The UI design philosophy revolves around simplicity and clarity, ensuring that even first-time DAP users can easily find their way around. The touchscreen is responsive and complements the physical buttons, providing a dual-control system that caters to different preferences and usage scenarios.

The UI elements are thoughtfully designed, with a focus on visual harmony and ease of use. Triangles, circles, and squares, the basic building blocks of geometry, are employed throughout the interface, creating a visually cohesive and aesthetically pleasing experience. These simple shapes are arranged in a logical and uncluttered manner, making it effortless to navigate through menus, browse your music library, and access various settings.

The P1’s UI also prioritizes functionality. The home screen provides quick access to essential features, including your music library, streaming services, settings, and playback controls. The music library can be organized by various criteria, such as artist, album, genre, or playlist, allowing you to quickly locate your desired tracks. The settings menu provides granular control over various aspects of the device, including audio output, display brightness, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth settings.

Audio Performance: The Heart of the Matter

At the heart of the ACTIVO P1 lies Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA sound solution, a testament to the company’s expertise in audio engineering. This innovative technology comprises a dual-DAC configuration, a dedicated AMP circuit, and a sophisticated audio processing architecture, all working in concert to deliver a truly immersive and high-fidelity audio experience.

The P1 utilizes the ESS ES9219Q SABRE Dual-DAC, a highly regarded digital-to-analog converter known for its exceptional audio performance. The dual-DAC configuration ensures a balanced audio signal, minimizing distortion and noise for a cleaner and more accurate sound reproduction. This configuration also contributes to a wider soundstage, allowing you to perceive the spatial positioning of instruments and vocals with greater clarity.

Complementing the dual-DAC is a dedicated AMP circuit, designed to amplify the audio signal without compromising its integrity. Unlike some DAPs that rely on the built-in AMP functionality of the DAC, the P1’s dedicated AMP circuit ensures greater control over the amplification process, resulting in a more dynamic and nuanced sound output. The TERATON ALPHA AMP, with its advanced design technology, delivers exceptional clarity, spaciousness, and detail retrieval, allowing you to hear even the most subtle nuances in your music.

The P1’s audio prowess extends beyond its hardware. The device supports a wide range of high-resolution audio formats, including native DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM. This ensures that you can experience the full potential of your high-resolution audio files, capturing the nuances and details that are often lost in compressed formats.

Connectivity and Features: A Versatile Companion

The ACTIVO P1 is not just a high-fidelity audio player; it’s also a versatile companion for the modern music enthusiast. It offers a comprehensive suite of connectivity options and features that cater to various needs and preferences.

Wireless Connectivity:

• Dual-band Wi-Fi: The P1 supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), ensuring a stable and reliable connection for streaming music from online services or accessing your local network.
• Bluetooth 5.3: With Bluetooth 5.3, the P1 offers seamless wireless connectivity with a wide range of devices, including headphones, earphones, and speakers. Support for high-quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX HD, LDAC, and LHDC ensures that you can enjoy your music wirelessly without compromising audio quality.

Wired Connectivity:

• USB Type-C: The USB Type-C port serves a dual purpose: charging the device and enabling DAC functionality. When connected to a computer or other compatible device, the P1 can function as an external DAC, enhancing the audio output of your source.

Additional Features:

• MQA Support: The P1 supports MQA (Master Quality Authenticated), a technology that delivers high-resolution audio in a file size that’smore manageable for streaming and storage. This allows you to enjoy studio-quality sound without the need for large file downloads.
• Parametric EQ: The P1’s parametric equalizer provides granular control over the audio output, allowing you to fine-tune the sound to your liking. With 20 adjustable frequency bands and precise control over gain and Q value, you can tailor the sound to suit your preferences or compensate for the sonic characteristics of your headphones or earphones.
• Crossfeed: The Crossfeed function creates a more natural soundstage by introducing a slight overlap between the left and right channels. This can help reduce listening fatigue, particularly during extended listening sessions, by simulating the way sound is perceived when listening to speakers.
• Digital Audio Remaster (DAR): The DAR technology upsamples audio to a higher resolution, potentially revealing subtle details that might be lost in the original recording. This can result in a more refined and nuanced listening experience.

Battery Life: Power to Fuel Your Passion

A portable audio player is only as good as its battery life, and the ACTIVO P1 doesn’t disappoint in this regard. With its low-power consumption design and optimized circuitry, the P1 delivers an impressive 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. This means you can enjoy your music throughout the day without worrying about running out of power.

When it’s time to recharge, the P1 supports PD 3.0 fast charging, allowing you to replenish the battery quickly and efficiently. A full charge takes just 1.5 hours, minimizing downtime and maximizing your listening time.

Storage Capacity: Ample Space for Your Music Library

The ACTIVO P1 provides ample storage space for your music collection. It comes with 64GB of built-in memory, which can hold a substantial number of high-resolution audio tracks. If you need more space, the P1 also supports microSD cards with capacities up to 1.5TB, giving you the flexibility to expand your library as needed.

Software and Firmware: Keeping Up with the Times

The ACTIVO P1 runs on a customized operating system optimized for audio playback and user experience. The software is designed to be stable and efficient, ensuring smooth operation and responsive performance.

Astell&Kern is committed to providing ongoing support for its devices, and the P1 is no exception. Firmware updates are released periodically to address bug fixes, improve performance, and introduce new features. These updates can be easily installed over the air (OTA), ensuring that your P1 stays up-to-date with the latest software enhancements.

Conclusion: A Worthy Contender in the Portable Audio Arena

The ACTIVO P1 is a compelling entry into the portable audio player market. It successfully combines Astell&Kern’s audio expertise with a focus on design, usability, and affordability. The P1’s sleek design, intuitive interface, and powerful audio performance make it a worthy contender for audiophiles seeking a premium listening experience on the go.

While the P1 may not be the absolute pinnacle of portable audio technology, it offers a compelling combination of features, performance, and value that will appeal to a wide range of music enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or a casual listener looking to upgrade your portable audio experience, the ACTIVO P1 is definitely worth considering.

The ACTIVO P1 is a well-rounded DAP that excels in many areas. Its combination of design, performance, features, and value make it a strong recommendation for those seeking a premium portable audio experience.