Astell & Kern ZERO1 is a high performance hybrid driver in-ear

Astell & Kern has had a very decorated 2021, launching several new products, and another that's joined the list is the ZERO1 in-ear monitor (IEM).

What makes the ZERO1 unique? It features three unlike types of commuter in one compact, in-ear form; fabricated upwardly of a micro planar dynamic driver, dual balance armature drivers and dynamic driver.

A&Yard went down this path to combine the sonic characteristic of each one to produce "unprecedented natural sound", a functioning information technology claims brings listeners closer to the music.

The AK ZERO1 shares the same angular and diagonal design language that A&K uses on their portable music players, the housing covered in premium cut metal and shaped to provide a secure and comfortable fit, too equally send the audio "efficiently and accurately" to your ears. Five pairs of silicone ear tips alongside a set of foam tips are provided to get that best fit.

Moving to the driver arrangement, the Micro Rectangular Planar Dynamic Driver features a "sturdy and lightweight" planar membrane to minimise frequency loss, and combined with a loftier-polymer and sparse metal flick vibration panel, aims to produce "crystal clear and dynamic loftier frequencies".

The dual BA drivers focus on the midrange, re-producing vocals with depression distortion, while the 5.vi mm dynamic commuter to deals with the low frequencies, offering "rich, controlled and deep" functioning.

For audiophiles in need of the highest quality audio experience, Astell & Kern is launching an optional 4.4mm cablevision. Called the PEP11, it has larger aluminium-machined four.4mm plugs and the aforementioned tiptop-quality high-purity silverish plating and copper cable available on the 'standard' model. The PEP11 is priced £119 / $130 / €139 and goes on sale in November.

The AK ZERO1 is priced £649 / $699 / €749, and goes on sale in November from the A&Thou website and local contained dealers.