Astell&Kern Open APP, Firmware, & APK Support

RICKY KOVACS | MOON AUDIO STAFF/JAN 16TH 2024

Support for Open APP Service and APK Versions

UPDATED January 16, 2024

Astell&Kern keeps innovating, updating, and raising the bar on the top-end technology you'll find when purchasing a premium AK DAP music player. The Open APP Service has been one of their big proprietary technologies that you'll only find on an Astell&Kern music player, allowing you to install Android-based (APK) streaming apps like Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and more directly to your Astell&Kern music player. Since then, they have implemented a number of updates and improvements to the service, along with "preinstalling" some streaming apps directly on the device.

Of course, if you're not familiar with the Open APP service or installing APK applications on Android, it can be a bit confusing how to do it or where to start. You're on the right page - here we're consolidating all of our Astell&Kern Open APP and APK resources for your assistance. You'll also find a history of past AK blogs, covering a variety of content for all your Astell&Kern resource and support questions. Scroll to see the latest supported app versions for your music player, firmware update, how-to guides and videos to make sure you're understanding how to get the most out of your audiophile-grade digital audio player.

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is a South Korean company that focuses on creating some of the most popular DAPs (Digital Audio Players), CD players, headphones, and home cinema products on the market. The company was founded in 2013 by iRiver with the debut of their AK100 digital audio player (DAP). Later that year they released the AKR01 in-ear monitors to go along with the new music player. The brand name Astell&Kern was created in October of that year to develop their in-brand products.

Astell & Kern's music players are natural partners with great DACs and amps such as Chord's Hugo 2 and Mojo 2 and great headphones or in-ear-monitors (IEMs) such as Astell&Kern Layla AION IEMs, Audeze LCD-5, Fostex TH900 mk2, and Sennheiser HD800S.

What makes AK different?

Astell&Kern creates the best music players in the world as our customer reviews note plus their technology is easy to learn and navigate as a newbie or a technology wizard. Our founder, Drew Baird, P.E., and the staff at Moon Audio recommend Astell&Kern high-resolution music and media players for people who love “mobile audio.” Astell & Kern (A&K) music players are "iPods on steroids". If you love to listen to music “on the go” and want hi-fi sound AK Digital Audio Players (DAPs) are essential listening gear with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS).

Playing all the high-res information captured during the music recording process is Astell & Kern’s expertise. You will not believe what your ears were missing once you try AK music players!

Support for Open APP and APK Version - Updated October 23, 2023

Open APP Service and APK file versions that can be supported by Astell&Kern products. This might not be supported by policy changes from the application company.

Astell&Kern Players DAP and APK Support Archives

(CLICK TO EXPAND)

> [10/26/21] Astell&Kern Preloading APK Apps Onto New DAPs

Astell&Kern DAP on table with Black Dragon Cable

Take the Hassle out of AK APK APPS

So if you've recently acquired the new SP2000T Music Player from Astell&Kern you might have noticed something new under the 'Services' menu. Particularly, the inclusion of pre-installed APK applications under the streaming section. Previously, A&K owners would have to either 1) use the pre-installed streaming apps included on the music players or 2) side-load your own APK applications onto the device manually. Both of these options have their frustrations, the first being that the pre-installed AK streaming apps would not allow for offline downloading to the DAP. Streaming services worked fine otherwise after logging into your account and accessing your library of digital music, but there was no option to download your music directly to the device. The second option of side-loading your apps manually involved the hassle of tracking down the latest stable version of the application, manually updating the app each time a newer version came out, and the included risk of damaging your device if you were to install a package from a non-reputable source. For this very reason Astell&Kern would post the following disclaimer:

- CAUTION -

The source of apps that are listed above are unknown and not provided by Astell&Kern. Please be aware that if any app is installed, the device may be damaged and personal data compromised. If you install an app from an unknown source, despite the warning, Astell&Kern is not responsible for any damages to the device and data resulting from the application's installation. Downloading and installing such applications may limit the scope of after-sales services provided by Astell&Kern. Installation of any application is under the discretion of the user.

It's basically a CYA policy. The internet is rampant with malicious material and unless you're well-versed in android OS and how to install APK apps. But now you don't have to worry about that nonsense!

Pre-installed APK

The largest benefit in have these applications pre-installed is the convenience and time-saving of not having to search the internet for the apps you want, download them, have to unpack the data, plug in your music player to your computer, transfer the data to the DAP, unplug the DAP, and set up the app on the music player. It just gets complicated. Now it's already there; you just have to select it to download automatically and you set it up. That's really all there is to it.

When going into your new Astell&Kern DAP music player, like the SP2000T, you'll find the [re-installed APK apps in the following location:

Select the "A" to get into the main menu of the music player
Select "Services"
You'll see the pre-installed apps below the divider (with the app version listed)
Click once to install the app
Once installed, click again to open the app
Login using your credentials

Lingering Questions

Now, all this is good and well, but we have some lingering questions to be answered about the new pre-installed applications. The first of these is whether or not Astell&Kern will be automatically updating the applications to the latest stable versions with future firmware or software updates. Our guess is that they will, but this is not officially confirmed at this time. Secondly, keep in mind that Astell&Kern are only pre-installing certain select music streaming apps. If your particular service or app is not there, then you'll still have to manually download and install the APK application. To learn more about downloading and installing APK applications to your Astell&Kern music player, check out our blog post:

Astell&Kern Players Support Android Based (APK) Streaming

Various AstellnKern devices now support Android based (APK) streaming apps through their Open APP service.

Read the Blog

We'll keep you updated if this feature comes to other Astell&Kern DAP Music players in the future. If you have any questions about APK applications and Astell&Kern music players, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy listening!

> [3/15/21] Astell&Kern Music Players Receive Roon Ready Certificaton

New Firmware for the A&ultima SP1000 and SP2000 DAPs adding Roon Ready support will be available on March 16th

Originally published 3/15/2021

Astell&Kern is one of the world's finest manufacturer's of digital audio players. Recently they announced that two of their players from the A&ultima line of flagship players have received Roon Ready certification. The SP1000 and SP2000 music players will become Roon Ready via a firmware update to be released over the air (OTA) on March 16, 2021.

Roon Ready

With the addition of Roon Ready certification, Astell&Kern is adding new features to provide audiophiles with the ultimate audio experience.

Roon is a rich and engaging way to browse, organize, and listen to music. Artist photos, credits, bios, reviews, lyrics, tour dates, and composers are located automatically, then interconnected by links to build a surfable digital magazine. Roon is also a multi-room, multi-user networked audio platform, it offers features such as bit-perfect playback, DSD and PCM upsampling, multichannel support, and Signal Path display. Being Roon Ready means that Astell&Kern players transparently discover and connect to Roon without any configuration, and bit-perfect audio is delivered from Roon to the player. Together, Roon and Astell&Kern deliver the power, flexibility, and performance of networked audio, with the easiest setup and highest reliability available.

Flagship DAPs

The first two Astell&Kern music players to receive Roon Ready certification are:

Astell&Kern A&ultima SP2000 Music Player

The SP2000 is the current flagship portable player from the Astell&Kern A&ultima line that integrates the latest Asahi Kasei DACs, the AKM AK4499EQ. The SP2000 features two AK4499EQ DACs, arranged in a dual-mono configuration to provide a wider soundstage and better stereo separation. The SP2000 was the first Astell&Kern player to use separate, independent audio channels between the Unbalanced and Balanced outputs. This design offers much more power than ever before, with 6Vrms for Balanced output and 3Vrms for Unbalanced output and offers the ultimate audio experience as Astell&Kern’s current flagship player.

The SP2000 supports up to 32-bit/768KHz bit-to-bit playback of high resolution PCM audio and native playback of DSD up to DSD512. It also features an Octa-Core CPU, a 5-inch touchscreen, 512GB of internal memory (double of previous Astell&Kern players), MQA support, microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB microSD cards and dual-band Wi-Fi with a stereo antenna, for improved network performance when streaming music. The A&ultima SP2000 is available in Stainless Steel and Copper bodies with a unique crown pattern volume/power wheel.

The SP1000 is the first player in the Astell&Kern A&ultima line that integrates the popular Asahi Kasei AKM AK4497EQ DACs. The SP1000 features two AKM DACs, arranged in a dual-mono configuration to provide a wider soundstage and better stereo separation.

The SP1000 supports up to 32-bit/384KHz bit-to-bit playback of high resolution PCM audio and native playback of DSD up to DSD256. It also features an Octa-Core CPU, a 5-inch touchscreen, 256GB of internal memory, MQA support, microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB microSD cards and Wi-Fi.

Astell&Kern A&ultima SP1000 Music Player

More information on Roon support for other Astell&Kern player models will be announced at a later date.

To learn more about Astell&Kern and Roon, please visit the Astell&Kern Roon Partner Page at https://roonlabs.com/partners/astellkern

Roon Interface

Astell&Kern SP1000 and SP2000 available as device options in Roon

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern products stylistically stand out from the crowd with their modern metals aesthetic, sharp edges, and sleek designs. Their digital music players look like the future. They are best known for high-end music players, portable audio devices, or hi-res “iPods.” As the Financial Times notes, Astell&Kern, much like Chord Electronics, is committed to fidelity and quality. To say Astell&Kern media players are HOT would be an understatement. As consumers learn about the need for higher resolution music files to feed our high-quality media players, those made by Astell&Kern have thrived. Astell & Kern's music players are natural partners with great DACs and amps such as Chord's Hugo 2 and Mojo and great headphones or in-ear-monitors (IEMs) such as Astell&Kern Layla AION IEMs, Audeze LCD-4, Fostex TH900 mk2, Sennheiser HD800S, and of course Astell&Kern's very own AK T5p 2nd Gen.

What makes AK different?

Astell&Kern create some of the best music players in the world as our customer reviews note plus their technology is easy to learn and navigate as a newbie or a technology wizard. Our founder, Drew Baird, P.E., and the staff at Moon Audio recommend Astell&Kern high-resolution music and media players for people who love “mobile audio.” Astell & Kern (A&K) music players are "iPods on steroids". If you love to listen to music “on the go” and want hi-fi sound AK Digital Audio Players (DAPs) are essential listening gear with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS).

MQS includes high-resolution digital music recording formats from 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz. Sound engineering tech-speak can be confusing. More is usually better. Higher amounts of information can mean better sound with crisper highs and fuller lows (bass). The trick is to process and play as much information as possible or as much information as your recordings started with in the first place. Playing all the high-res information captured during the music recording process is Astell & Kern’s expertise. You will not believe what your ears were missing once you try AK music players!

> [7/22/20] Astell&Kern Music Player Vehicle Compatibility

Making the most of your Astell&Kern DAP in the car

Originally published 7/22/2020

I've been spending more time on my morning commutes checking out the latest re-releases of Abbey Road and The White Album. A lot of it I've already heard from the anthology recordings, but the drive affords me the time for critical listening that I might not have otherwise throughout the day. Astell&Kern music players are prized for their portability and audio quality. But you've invested a small fortune in a portable high-resolution digital audio music player, and one of the biggest perks is to be able to take your music library with you, isn't it? Taking a trip, driving to work, taking kids to after school activities - your vehicle can sometimes be your second home. So what is the current state of compatibility between Astell&Kern DAPs and vehicles? Let's find out.

Astell&Kern "Car Mode"

"Car Mode" sounds promising, right? In actuality, Astell&Kern's Car Mode amounts to a horizontal or vertical layout for the music player, creating larger and more manageable controls. Enlarging the play/pause, back and forward buttons, the layout transforms into a driver-friendly design much like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay does for your connected devices . Officially, Astell&Kern Digital Audio Players are not compatible or optimized for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Despite Astell&Kern's players running on an Android operating system, the device has not been made to integrate into Android Auto like other Android devices have been developed to work with car systems. Why have Astell&Kern DAPs not been optimized for car systems? We're not sure, but that doesn't mean that they won't work with your car's audio. The fact is that Astell&Kern DAP music players do one thing and they do it well: play music. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible infotainment systems are designed to act as an extension of your phone and integrate various functions into your vehicles personalized control scheme.

Just because Astell&Kern hasn't officially made their devices optimized with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, doesn't mean that they won't have some functionality with the audio system. We won't get into the compatibility of the devices with different systems, since they vary so much by audio system and car manufacturer. The down side to all this is that you could have a vehicle that might integrate fairly well with your music player, whereas others might have one that hardly retains any functionality whatsoever. You'll ultimately need to test your own device with your vehicle.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are car assistant systems that help integrate your Android or Apple phone into your vehicle audio/infotainment and control systems. CarPlay is optimized for Apple phones and Android Auto for Android phones. Most modern auto infotainment systems allow for both OS types to be integrated into the vehicle, unless otherwise stated. As phones become more of an extension of ourselves, the more essential it is for them to be assimilated into our vehicles to provide a safer driving experience free from distractions that require us to look away from the road.

Of course, we are not here to determine whether car assistant systems make you a safer driver, but one thing that is certain is we like to have our devices ready at the touch of a button. The biggest draw of the CarPlay and Android Auto integration is the ability to make calls with your audio system. This is something that will obviously be a moot point to Astell&Kern users, and should not play a big part in determining how your device will work with your vehicle.

The main question is how will your music player work connected to your vehicle?

The good news is that vehicle functionality shouldn't be your deciding factor in choosing an Astell&Kern DAP, since none of the music players are officially compatible and should work in the same way across the entire product line. So your SA700 will work just like the KANN Cube depending on how your vehicle integrates external audio devices.

The bad news is that since Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are designed to integrate various functions of say, your phone, this won't be the case with your Astell&Kern music player. Since the sole purpose of the device is to play music, this will be the only functionality that will transfer to the vehicle infotainment system (if at all). So don't expect to be able to make calls, use GPS and map features, along with various other application support.

How many devices can you connect to your vehicle?

The other thing to consider is that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can only connect to one host at a time, essentially becoming an extension or accessory of your phone. That means if you are wanting to connect your phone and DAP simultaneously, you'll have to choose one or the other for CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. Your best setup scenario would be to connect your phone directly to your vehicle's infotainment system and your DAP via Bluetooth audio playback.

Bluetooth Connection

The good news is that when it comes to your regular run-of-the-mill Bluetooth connection, you shouldn't have any problem transmitting your audio from your Bluetooth-compatible Astell&Kern device (as long as your vehicle supports Bluetooth connectivity). Regarding transmitting audio through a Bluetooth connection, your Astell&Kern DAP will work in the same way any other Bluetooth device transmits audio. Of course, overall audio quality will depend on various codecs and compatibility. Generally speaking, if your vehicle has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it's as simple as connecting your device to the audio system and selecting the Bluetooth Audio in the menu options. Your audio should then transmit through your vehicle's speakers. This is the most reliable and only "official" way that your Astell&Kern DAP music player will work with your vehicle audio system.

Codecs

Wireless audio quality is going to greatly depend on the Bluetooth codec that the device utilizes. You can learn more about codecs and how they differ from our Digital Music and Music Downloading Guides linked below. Astell&Kern music players have been around for some time, and because of this, there have been advancements in Bluetooth technology. This is why you'll find that some of the older DAPs use an earlier version of Bluetooth. For instance, the SR15 has Bluetooth 4.1 whereas the newer SR25 uses Bluetooth 4.2. I don't know why Astell&Kern hasn't upgraded to Bluetooth 5.0 in their newer DAPs considering it's been out for a while now, but I suppose there are more important things to worry about in the world.

Digital Music Guide

Music Downloading Guide

The Wired Option

If your vehicle has an auxiliary port, then the easiest way for you to get the best quality audio from your device is to connect via a cable. A cable is always going to give you better quality sound over a wireless option. With wireless audio you can experience dropouts and most Bluetooth codecs do not support high-resolution audio. Wired audio is the most reliable way to get the most fidelity out of your music, no matter the ergonomic scenario you find yourself in. When it comes to cables, it's important to note that not all are created equal. Usually the stock cables that come packaged with your gear will get the job done. I find that very few manufacturers put the care and consideration into their cables like they do their headphones or other audiophile-grade equipment. Apart from the overall quality of the cables, materials matter as well, and they can adjust the sound signature of your device and music to your preference. Our Dragon Portable Headphone Cables make the perfect auxiliary connection for your Astell&Kern DAP to your vehicle. The braided cable is durable yet flexible enough to configure in your vehicle to lay out exactly where you need it to go. Each Dragon cable has its own sound signature that will pair perfectly with your favorite genre of music. You can find out more at the links below. If your vehicle has a USB audio in/out, then our Silver Dragon USB cable would be a great choice as well. Make sure your vehicle manufacturer supports USB Audio before ordering. If you have the option, a cabled connection from your Astell&Kern DAP to your vehicle audio system is the way to go.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you want to play your Astell&Kern DAP music player in your car, you have a number of options. Don't expect to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with it anytime soon, as official support for it is not expected nor in the pipeline to be implemented. It seems Astell&Kern knew it would be a tricky thing to do, but did alleviate some of the issues with their implementation of "Car Mode." Chances are if you're using it already you've figured out how to play your music too.

For those curious others it seems the only options for now are the use of Bluetooth Audio or a wired auxiliary (aux) connection. So your portable music player can indeed remain portable! If you have any questions about connecting your DAP to your vehicle's sound system, please leave a comment below. We'd love to see how you were able to connect your DAP to your vehicle. Please share your successes, pics and/or questions about which cable to buy to connect your DAP to your vehicle below and our engineers will be happy to help you. Happy listening!

> [6/22/20] XAPK Support for Astell&Kern DAPs

New updates allow for XAPK formats

Originally published 7/22/2020

Good news to Astell&Kern DAP owners - you can now install XAPK! The new update comes to all DAPs that previously supported the OpenApp Service, listed below. If you are unfamiliar with installing applications on your music player, don't worry - we'll walk you through all the steps and cover everything you need to know.

Sideloading

Either you're familiar with the term sideloading or you're not. If you are, then you've probably had some experience installing applications onto your Android device separate from the preinstalled app store. When referring to applications, "sideloading" typically means manually installing an application package onto your Android device. Most users install their apps from the store that comes installed on the device itself, however, sometimes specific apps are not officially supported by the device or might not be available in your country. The only way around this is to find a package of the application online and install it manually onto the device. This is known as sideloading.

Android Package File

The standard format for Android OS and applications is the Android Package File, or APK. Typically, users never see these files because Android handles much of the app installation behind the scenes via Google Play Store or another app distribution platform. Google Play requires that the compressed APK file that users download be no more than 100MB.

An OBB file is an expansion file used by some Android apps which contain data not stored on the application's main package, usually consisting of larger program assets. Each time you upload an APK file using the Google Play console, you can also add one-to-two .obb expansion files to the package. These accompanying .obb files can be any format (mp3, mp4, pdf, zip, etc) and can be up to 2GB. The OBB file consists of extra data that helps keep the app running, and is also used as a workaround for the 100MB size limit on the APK file, allowing for the additional data to be included.

What is XAPK?

XAPK is an Android Application Package file format. An XAPK file usually consists of at least one APK file and an OBB file. An XAPK file is compressed with these files attached creating a single file for download and installation. A single compressed file has many advantages including smaller file size for faster downloads, compared to the raw file size.

The only thing about XAPK files is that they cannot be installed the same way APK files are if going through the procedures manually. You will need to install a separate XAPK installer to correctly unpack the data onto your device. We'll walk you through the necessary steps below.

XAPK file = APK file + OBB data file

An OpenApp Recap

OpenApp is Astell&Kern's application service which allows you to install various verified music streaming applications and more onto your digital audio player. Currently, here is the list of music players supporting this feature:

Applications such as Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. will not be available on older models - only the current/new models via the OpenApp Service (sideloading). The OpenApp Service will be available on all future music players with WiFi capability unless specified otherwise. For the embedded apps on the older players, Tidal is the only streaming service that can be used in the US (online mode only due to restrictions from the record labels since it is build into Astell&Kern's system). Note that in order to enable offline music downloading and listening, you will need to install the standalone application through APKPure or other similar application libraries. Although Qobuz was built into some of the players, at the time it was not available in the US, therefore when selected it will say that it is not available in the specified territory. Unfortunately this will continue to be the case. Tidal is available on SK70, SK100 II, AK120 II, AK 240, AK 300 Series (AK 300, AK 320, AK 380) and all models after.

Supported Music Streaming Services

Astell&Kern currently supports the following music streaming services:

7Digital
Amazon Music
Apple Music
Audiobooks by Audible
AWA
Bandcamp
BBC iPlayer Radio
Bugs
Deezer
DS Audio

Foobar2000
IDAGIO
Joox
KK BOX
KT Genie
Last.FM
Melon
Moov
Music Mate
myTurner Radio

Nugs.net
Onkyo Music
Pandora
Player FM
Qobuz
QQ Music
Sirius XM
Soundcloud
Spotify
Tidal
Tune-In Radio

*Note that not all services are available in all countries and certain apps are not available on certain player models. For more information on OpenApp, please view the OpenApp Service Instructions page.

How To Install XAPK Files

Confirm you have the APK Pure XAPK Installer installed as an app on your OpenApp supported Astell&Kern player under the services menu.
If you have not installed the XAPK installer, download the XAPK Installer from the following link:

- APKPure.com XAPK Installer -

Download

Copy to OpenService folder. Once it appears in the services menu on the player, install the XAPK Installer on the player like you would any other APK file.
Copy the XAPK of the music service you would like to install to the OpenService folder.
Open XAPK Installer app in the services menu on the player. Choose the XAPK file you would like to install and then click "Install."

**Please note that you cannot install any XAPK files. According to Astell&Kern, you are still limited to apps that are currently whitelisted by Astell&Kern. For more information on supported apps and how to install APKs, you can also visit their tutorial - OpenApp Services Instructions.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that APK and XAPK applications that you install by sideloading DO NOT auto-update. If a new version of the application software is released, you will have to download and re-install the new software for the updates to take effect.

Downloading Music for Offline Listening

Most of the streaming apps that Astell&Kern supports has a download or offline mode where are you able to download music to the internal or external memory of the device to listen to when you are not connected to the internet via WiFi. Options may vary by application. Please refer to the instructions from the streaming service on how to configure the offline storage location and what can be downloaded for offline use. Usually there are time restrictions set by the streaming service to allow offline playback without online authentication. For instance, if you have not connected your device to WiFi after 30 days, then the songs you have downloaded might not play without authenticating your account online again by simply connecting your device and starting the application. This too will vary by the terms of the streaming application.

Please Note - Due to DRM restrictions, offline music downloaded to the player is only available for playback in the streaming app where it was downloaded from. You will not be able to play tracks downloaded from a supported streaming service from the main player interface.

Caution

The source of apps listed is unknown and not provided by Astell&Kern. Please be aware that if any app is installed, the device may be damaged and personal data compromised. If you install an app from an unknown source, despite the warning, Astell&Kern is not responsible for any damages to the device and data resulting from the app's installation, and downloading and installing such apps may limit the scope of after-sales services provided by Astell&Kern. Installation of any app is under the discretion of the user.

If you have any questions about installing apps onto your Astell&Kern music player, please leave a comment below and we'll get back with you. Happy listening!

> [12/20/19] Astell&Kern Releases New Firmware Updates

New Firmware Updates Now Available

Originally published 12/20/09

New firmware updates now available for the SP1000, SP1000M, SE100 and SR15. New features include Folding List for Artist and Genre Menus and reversed rotated view for Car Mode. Also included are a number of operational stability fixes. Connect to Wi-Fi and download today.

Updating Your Device

Astell&Kern SR15, SE100, SP1000M, & SP1000

SR15 v1.33; SE100 v1.41; SP1000M v1.41; SP1000 v1.41

[Warning]
Before firmware upgrade:
1. Make sure of the battery level at least over 50%.
2. Make sure of the memory size at least over 500MB.
3. User setting is initialized after upgrade.
4. Before upgrading, please make a backup of important files just in case.

[how to upgrade]
1. Connect to Wi-Fi
2. Find 'new' firmware on Setting - Update - System update

[Improvements]
- Folding list feature added
: for Artist and Genre menu
- Reversed rotated view for Car Mode added
- Operational stability improved

> 10/24/19] Astell&Kern SP2000: Firmware Update v1.13 Instructions

Originally published 10/24/2019

Astell & Kern released the latest firmware update this week for their new top-of-the-line DAP, the SP2000. This update brings some improved operational stability as well as some additional services to the Open App Service*, specifically the Chinese music streaming service Xiami Music.

To Update to SP2000 v1.13:

Before firmware upgrade:

1. Make sure of the battery level at least over 50%.
2. Make sure of the memory size at least over 500MB.
3. User setting is initialized after upgrade.
4. Before upgrading, please make a backup of important files just in case.

[Update]

1. Connect to Wi-Fi
2. Find 'new' firmware on Setting - Update - System update

*Note: OpenAPP Service and APK apps will work on the following A&K Devices: (SA700 / SP2000 / KANN CUBE / SP1000 / SP1000M / SE100 / SR15).

Applications such as Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. will not be available on older models, only on the current/new models via Open App Service (sideloading). Open App Service is available on SR15, KANN Cube, SE100, SP1000M, SP1000, SP2000 and all future models unless specified that it will not be available.

For the embedded apps on the older players, Tidal is the only streaming service that can be used in the US (online mode only due to restrictions from the record labels since it is built into A&K's system). Although Qobuz was built into some of the players, at the time it was not available in the US therefore when it is selected it will say that it is not available in the territory and unfortunately this will continue to be the case. Tidal is available on AK70, AK100 II, AK120II, AK240, AK300 series (AK300, AK320, AK380) and all models after).

About Xiami Music:

Xiami is the latest music streaming service to offer high-resolution streaming and MQA support. Like Spotify, Xiami offers a ton of playlist options, but more importantly, it offers a lot more content than just music. There are music videos, lyrics, commentaries, reviews, news and more available to you.

Xiami offers a social experience for listening to music. You can create a personal account, add friends, share thoughts on the latest music you’re listening to, or even join digital parties where you’re thrown into an artist-themed chatroom and can engage with fellow listeners.

Xiami is extremely customizable too. There are too many features to discuss in this brief introduction, but it’s safe to say that the streaming service is targeting younger audiences or more social demographics. The service is in Chinese, but if you are interested in checking it out, here’s a quick tutorial on how to use Google translate to convert some of the app’s text to English. Like other supported Open App Services, the application can be downloaded from an external site like APKpure.com. See our tutorial on how to install such apps like Tidal here. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Happy listening!

> [8/1/19] New Update for AK DAPs - 1TB microSD Support

The Latest Firmware Update Supports 1TB cards and more Open APP Services

Originally published 8/1/2019

Astell&Kern dropped a new firmware update on August 1, enabling support for new 1TB microSD cards that are hitting the market lately. "A thousand songs in your pocket" sounds trifle by today's standards. Try x 200 that, and fitting on something no larger than the tip of your finger. The future is now folks. There are some other major updates to come to the Astell&Kern lineup. We'll group them by models below:

SP1000, SP1000M & SE100

New Open APP Services added: 7Digital, Apple Music, Audiobooks from Audible, BBC iPlayer Radio, Foobar2000, IDAGIO, Last.FM, Nugs.net, Onkyo Music, Player FM, and Yandex Music.
1TB microSD card support
Other operational stability improvements

KANN Cube

New Open APP Services added: 7Digital, Apple Music, Audiobooks from Audible, BBC iPlayer Radio, Foobar2000, IDAGIO, Last.FM, Onkyo Music, Player FM, and Yandex Music.
*Nugs.net will not be supported on this device
1TB microSD card support
Other operational stability improvements

SR15

New Open APP Services added: 7Digital, Apple Music, Audiobooks from Audible, BBC iPlayer Radio, Foobar2000, IDAGIO, Last.FM, Onkyo Music, Player FM, and Yandex Music.
*Nugs.net will not be supported on this device
1TB microSD card support
Car Mode function added
EQ Sharing Sync function added
Other operational stability improvements

About Streaming Services

The latest models* are equipped with embedded hi-res streaming options of Tidal and Deezer as well as the option to add Open APP Services. Open APP Services available for download include:

7Digital, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audiobooks from Audible, BBC iPlayer Radio, Foobar2000, IDAGIO, Last.FM, myRadio, Nugs.net, Onkyo Music, Pandora, Player FM, Qobuz, Sirius XM, Sound Cloud, Spotify, Tidal and Tune-In Radio.

Select apps offer offline mode such as Tidal, Spotify and Amazon Music allowing you to conveniently stream while on the go.

(Services are subject to change and/or more options may be added in the future. App availability varies by country.)

*Note: OpenAPP Service and APK apps will work on the following A&K Devices: (SA700 / SP2000 / KANN CUBE / SP1000 / SP1000M / SE100 / SR15)

Streaming Services FAQ

What are Streaming Services?

Check out our earlier blog on APK streaming apps:

Astell&Kern Players Support Android Based (APK) Streaming

CLICK HERE

How Do I Update the Firmware on my DAP?

See more info on how to update to the latest firmware version in our blog below:

Astell & Kern Firmware Update For DAPs

CLICK HERE

How Do I Install Open APPs to my DAP?

Here's our blog showing you how to install applications to your Astell&Kern player. We used Tidal as an example:

Astell&Kern Support For OpenApp Services - Tidal

CLICK HERE

If you have any additional questions regarding updating your Astell&Kern player or installing apps, please leave a comment below. Happy Listening!

> [7/17/19] Astell&Kern Support for Open APP Services - Tidal

How to: Install, Activate Offline Mode and Other Features Using Tidal

Originally published 7/17/2019

As most already know, Astell&Kern released their Open APP service for a selection of their digital audio player lineup, allowing the installation of APK applications to the popular DAPs. The list of models supporting this feature includes the SP1000, SP1000M, SE100, SR15 and the new KANN Cube and SP2000. Running Open APP Service, there are some limitations on Android version and internal RAM. Among Astell&Kern products, only for those that are using Android 6.0 were the main target to investigate for equipping (SP1000 / SP1000M / SE100 / SR15 / KANN Cube / SP2000). Those that are using lower than version 4.2 are unable to utilize the service.

List of supported apps by A&K: (Sirius MX / Tune-In / myTuner / KT genie / Bandcamp / Joox / Moov / Qobuz / DS Audio / Deezer / More...)

There are 21 validated apps by Astell&Kern (see HERE). Some apps are incompatible such as Apple Music and Google. Although the application is validated, there might have some restrictions on services, policies or updates. (Supported applications will be continuously updated.) Recent updates have allowed Astell&Kern players to support offline mode on the Tidal application (as well as other apps that support offline features). We'll show you step by step instruction on how to enable and configure this on your A&K digital audio player.

Tidal Troubleshooting on A&K Devices

Error Message:"User trying to get stremurl does not have a valid session." Solution:

Log out of the Tidal application through the settings menu on the device.
Restart/reboot the device.
Log back into your Tidal account with your credentials.

Installing Tidal on Your Astell&Kern DAP:

The firmware will be updated OTA.
Download app from apkpure.com.
Search for the Tidal application.
Copy the tidal app to open service folder in SP1000.
Menu > services… now install the Tidal app by clicking the right-side icon.
Install Tidal.
Run the app.
Download option is available.
Downloading album now.
To test Tidal offline, turn off Wi-Fi.
Similarly, like Tidal you can also install other apps.

Download app from apkpure.com

Search for Tidal

Copy the Tidal app to open service folder in SP1000

Menu > services ... Now install the Tidal app by clicking the right-side icon

Install Tidal

Download option is available

Downloading album now

To test Tidal offline, turn off Wi-Fi

Similarly, like Tidal you can also install other apps

To Enable Offline Mode for Tidal:

Locate "MyCollection"

Locate the "Settings" icon

Activate offline mode

In the same settings menu, you can also change:
- Quality for Streaming and Download (where you can adjust to "Master" quality)
- You can also select where the offline content can be stored, either on the DAP itself or externally

*NOTE:
The embedded Tidal application on the SP1000 (and corresponding A&K players) does not support Offline Mode. Therefore, you must access and download the separate Tidal application from APKPure.com. Keep in mind that other applications such as Qobuz, Deezer, etc., which come pre-installed on Astell&Kern players do not support offline features. You will need to download the APK version of the application using the Open APP service to install the correct application to support offline mode.

Visit APKPure.com

Please also make sure that your DAP is equipped with the latest firmware V1.17 in order to support this latest application content. Your DAP should download the latest firmware version when connected to Wi-Fi. If not, you can manually determine if an update is available in the settings menu.

As always, Astell&Kern advises caution when installing APK applications:

- Caution - The source of the applications on the list are unknown. The installation of an app may result in damage to the device and personal data, and therefore it might cause security vulnerabilities. Some functions may not work normally.

If you have any other questions about installing applications or updates to your Astell&Kern player, please leave a comment below. Happy listening!

> [6/25/19] Astell&Kern Firmware Updates

New firmware update, new features, and new improvements

Originally published 6/25/2019

Astell&Kern released a firmware update for the SP1000M and SE100 digital audio players. Bringing about a handful of new features including shareable EQ syncing and a new Car Mode, they have also implemented a number of system stabilizations and bug fixes The new firmware update for the SP1000M and SE100 is available now for download. Make sure to do the following before downloading and installing the firmware upgrade:

Make a backup of important files just in case
Make sure the battery level is at least 50%
Make sure you have at least 500MB of free storage for the file size
User setting is initialized after the upgrade

To upgrade to the latest firmware version, connect your Astell&Kern DAP to wi-Fi. Find the new firmware file for download under "Settings" > "Update" > "System Update"

*Note [Updated 11/5/19]: Open APP Service and APK apps will work on the following A&K Devices: (SA700 / SP2000 / KANN CUBE / SP1000 / SP1000M / SE100 / SR15)

> [4/17/19] Astell&Kern Players Support Android-Based (APK) Streaming - Info & How-To

*Updated 7/21/2022 - Here is a list of music players supporting this feature:

Astell&Kern SP2000
Astell&Kern SP2000T
Astell&Kern SP1000
Astell&Kern SP1000M
Astell&Kern SE100
Astell&Kern SE180
Astell&Kern SE200
Astell&Kern KANN Cube
Astell&Kern KANN Alpha
Astell&Kern KANN Max
Astell&Kern SA700
Astell&Kern SR15
Astell&Kern SR25
Astell&Kern SR25 MKII

Various AstellnKern devices now support Android-based (APK) streaming apps through their Open APP service

Open APP Services support the following streaming apps:

Tidal, Quboz, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, TuneIn Radio, myTuner, Sirius XM, DS Audio, Bandcamp, Melon, Bugs, Music Mate, AWA, QQ Music, KK BOX, KT genie, Joox, and Moov

*Specific validated apps by Astell&Kern can be installed on the select players. Not all apps available in app stores will be validated for Astell&Kern devices, such as Apple Music and Google, but will be continuing to add services available for download. Although an app is validated, there might be some restrictions on services, policies or updates. Also, keep in mind that some apps are only available in select countries.

How to Install the Open APP Service

Please follow these instructions on how to download and install the Open APP Service on your Astell&Kern player (Example: download and install of Spotify on SP1000M from APKPure.com):

1). On your computer, visit apkpure.com

2). Type "Spotify" in the APKPure search box and press enter.

3). Select "Spotify Music" to go to the app's page. Once there, click on the green button "Download APK" to start the download.

4). Connect your Astell&Kern music player to your computer. Next, drag the downloaded Spotify file into the file named "OpenService" on the player's directory (*Note that the OpenService folder is automatically generated on the player. The process will not work if the app file is placed outside of this folder).

5). Once complete, safely disconnect your Astell&Kern player from the computer.

6). On the main menu of the Astell&Kern player, select the "Service" folder.

*Note: The "Back" button (in picture below on right of screen) can be relocated if in the way or covering icons. Simply press and drag the button up or down to relocate.

7). Now you will see the apps that have been downloaded to the player and you can install the app by tapping on the icon to the right.

8). Next, select "INSTALL" to start the install process.

9). Once the install is complete you are ready to start streaming!

(To install other streaming apps on the A&K music player, repeat the steps above for each service)

Do Astell&Kern Players support XAPX files?

Yes.

Under the services menu, check to confirm that you have the APK Pure XAPK Installer installed as an app on your Open App supported Astell&Kern player.
You can download the XAPK installer directly from the APK Pure website
Once downloaded, copy the contents to the OpenService folder. Activate the installer on the player once you see it appear in the services menu on the player.
Copy the XAPK of the music service you would like to install to the OpenService folder.
Open the XAPK installer app on the player and choose the appropriate file you would like to install.
Click install.

*Please note, you cannot install any XAPK files. You are still limited to apps that are currently whitelisted by Astell&Kern. For more information on supported apps and how to install APKs, visit OpenApp Service Instructions. -Astell&Kern

Ripping & Transferring Files On Your Astell&Kern Player

Since as long as we can remember Astell&Kern players could not transfer files from internal storage to external expansion cards within the device itself. Until now. A recent firmware update now allows you to transfer your music files from internal storage to your SD cards all within the music player’s menu. In the past if you wanted to transfer files from one to the other, you would be required to connect your music player to your computer to manually cut-and-paste the files, or you would have to remove the SD card and transfer files directly using a USB card reader. Check out the blog post for more: Ripping & Transferring Files

- CAUTION -

The source of apps that are listed above are unknown and not provided by Astell&Kern. Please be aware that if any app is installed, the device may be damaged and personal data compromised. If you install an app from an unknown source, despite the warning, Astell&Kern is not responsible for any damages to the device and data resulting from the application's installation. Downloading and installing such applications may limit the scope of after-sales services provided by Astell&Kern. Installation of any application is under the discretion of the user.

If you have any further questions or comments regarding the installation of APK apps onto your Astell&Kern device, please leave a comment below. We have many great products from Astell&Kern available - check out our Astell&Kern Brand Page to learn more. Happy listening!

Roon Endpoints

Astell&Kern + Roon: How to Set Up Your Music Player as a Roon Endpoint

Select Astell&Kern Music Players have received Roon Ready certification, allowing you to set up your DAP as a Roon endpoint. In this guide we'll show you how to set it up!

CHECK OUT THE GUIDE

Astell&Kern BT SINK

How To: Astell&Kern BT SINK

BT Sink allows you to connect an external device where you have a local music library, connect it to your DAP via Bluetooth, and play it at the highest available codec. For instance, if you have music stored locally on your phone or laptop and you want to access said library that might not be on your music player, you can connect it to the AK player for immediate file playback through the DAP itself via Bluetooth sync (or BT Sink).

CHECK OUT THE GUIDE

Astell&Kern + Android Transfer

How To Transfer Music To Your Music Player: Astell&Kern, Cayin, iBasso, or Sony

How compatible is Android OS with PC and MAC? Believe it or not, you don't have to work for the Geek Squad at Best Buy to get music from your computer to your spiffy new Android-based DAP music player. It's not quite plug-and-play, but it's honestly not that difficult, and we're here to walk you through the process step by step.

CHECK OUT THE GUIDE

Videos

Astell&Kern AK File Drop Tutorial & Review

Astell&Kern BT Sink Tutorial & Review

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Ricky Kovacs

My dad told me to be responsible and get a job that would allow me to finance my passion for music. Well, I did. That's why I spend all day in a proverbial candy store for music lovers. It's a dream job really.

Ricky Kovacs is a performer at heart but loves to bring his passion and experience with music to others. With a background in both politics and religion, Ricky has a knack for writing about divisive topics - which is why at the end of the day he loves writing about the one thing that brings us all together: music. Outside of Moon Audio, Ricky enjoys performing music in his band, recording, video games, virtual photography, reading, traveling, partaking in the finest scotch, and spending time with his wife, newborn, and doggy.

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