Astell&Kern, known for pushing the sonic boundaries of portable media players, have released yet another flagship model, the AK380. Created for audio professionals and audiophiles alike, the AK380 can play back the full spectrum of digital audio sampling ratios (up to 384 kHz) and delivers the cleanest digital sound possible when playing back Direct Stream Digital files. The player is capable of handling mastering-quality sound files—which reproduce music exactly as it was recorded in the studio—using its …