Recently, there are more and more models that can play high-resolution audio on smartphones. In this mode, you can use high-resolution streaming and enjoy high-resolution audio without special preparation.
High-resolution audio is high-quality audio above CD sound quality. CD contains the sound of the area being cut, or data with higher resolution than CD. Of course, the amount of data will increase, but 5G communication is no longer such a big problem in modern times.
This high-resolution audio can be played by using the above-mentioned compatible smartphone or compatible application, but in the audio circuit inside the smartphone, it is difficult to say that its sound quality is complete.
Led by Sony's WALKMAN (Walkman), there are many special phones at home and abroad that enjoy high-resolution audio, but each one is very expensive, especially expensive things cost hundreds of thousands of yen. Most of the differences between these special planes and smartphones lie in the internal digital signal conversion (DAC:Digital to Analog Converter) and analog power amplifiers. The performance of the DAC that converts digital data of high-resolution audio into an analog signal determines the timbre (sound quality). In addition, the performance of the amplifier amplified to play the analog signal with headphones or headphones mainly determines the expressiveness of the sound.
In dedicated equipment, DAC, amplifiers and peripheral electronic components are expensive because they do not compromise.
さて、今回レビューするAstell&Kern「PEE51 AK USB-C Dual DAC Amplifier Cable」（以下、PEE51）は、スマートフォンで専用機並みの音質を楽しめるようにする製品。高級ハイレゾオーディオ専用機で知られた同ブランドから発売された、USB Type-Cポートに接続するタイプのDACとヘッドホンアンプを一体にしたアダプターです。
PEE51AK USB-C double DAC Amplifier Cable ()
When the PEE51 is connected to a smartphone or tablet, the internal digital converter and power amplifier will be replaced by the PEE51. As a result, you can immediately upgrade to specifications close to high-end audio. In addition, the PEE51 can also be used as a headphone adapter in recent smartphones that do not have a headphone Jack.
Some smartphones come with headphone adapters and built-in DAC, which have the same basic functions as PEE51, but the audio performance is similar but different.
Easy Advanced Audio experience
Astell&Kern（アステル&ケルン）は、韓国iriver社のプレミアムオーディオブランドです。スタジオレコーディングのマスター音源がそのまま再生できる能力を備えたポータブルオーディオ製品を2012年から発売していて、プロやハイエンドオーディオマニアに高く評価されています。
In PEE51, the Cirrus Logic DAC chip "CS43198" is also used for high-end audio, with each channel mounted independently on stereo audio and the left channel. General PCM sound sources support up to 384 kHz/32bit,DSD sound sources support native playback up to 11.2 MHz. Because the CD sound source is 48 kHz/16bit, the difference in ability is obvious.
使用する電子部品から回路構成、プリント基板に至るまでオーディオ性能に特化されていて、出力される音はAstell&Kernブランドならではの超品質サウンドです。聴く人によってはその音色がAstell&Kernの物とわかる「シグネチャーサウンド」と表現されており、PEE51でもそれを実現しているとのことです。
The company has a large number of high-resolution audio players with more than 100000 yen, which is not very popular, but it is surprising that a similar voice can be bought at around 15, 000 yen. In addition, in the case of using a variety of streaming transmission, smartphones have more means of communication than high-resolution audio playback machines, so using USB adapter types such as PEE51 is easier to use.
The method is easy to use, as long as the PEE51 is plugged into the device with USB Type-C port, and the normally used headphones and headphones are connected to the stereo mini Jack on the adapter side. IPad Pro series that supports Windows/Mac OS/Android, with informal USB Type-C.
I can check behavior in most audio applications, but in order to use the full functionality of PEE 51, you need to use an application that supports high-resolution audio.
This time, using Amazon Music HD to play, you can clearly hear the subtle sound that could not be heard before, and the overall clarity (resolution) is also increasing. In addition, I can also feel the three-dimensional feeling that the lead singer appears in front of me without being buried. After listening for a while, you should be shocked by the difference when you listen again in the previous environment.
In addition, the Xperia1II can play high-resolution audio of up to 192 kHz/24bit on the body alone, which is compared with the headphone Jack playing through PEE51.
Xperia1II has a 3.5mm audio Jack to pursue audio features. Together with this, it is rare in smartphones. The power amplifier "CS35L41" produced by Cirrus Logic carries two stereo channels. It is a smartphone that focuses on both hardware and software. If you compare it with PEE 51, it doesn't make sense to be at this level.
After comparison, it is found that, although the difference is small, the sense of resolution of PEE51 is higher, and the power of low areas is also very strong. The silent part also has less noise than the PEE51, and there is no annoying noise when listening to it at a slightly higher volume. The output of the PEE 51 is larger, so even through-ear headphones can be played at enough volume.
The shocking voices in movies and games
PEE 51 can also be used in addition to high-resolution music. The reproduction of movies and games is only the output of PEE51, the lines of environment sound collapse which are worse than music can also be heard clearly, the effect sound is also blessed by a surplus power amplifier, and the shocking bass can be enjoyed. The feeling of being attracted to the movie world has become stronger.
Wireless headphones are also very convenient, and the sound quality has become very good, but once again I feel that a wired connection is a good sound. If you start listening in this environment, you may want to re-listen to your music library from the beginning.
PEE51AK USB-C double DAC Amplifier Cable ()
