Astell&Kern UW100MKII
What’s the story?
If you’re more bothered about DACs and EQs than ANC and IP ratings, these buds are probably already on your radar. The focus here is on sound quality, but it comes at the expense of features that are usually standard at this price.
The biggest absence is noise-cancelling but there’s no official waterproofing either, so you need to be careful where you use them. Is the sound quality enough to make up for such major omissions?
Are they any good?
Whether you’ll get the best audio quality from these A&Ks depends on what device you pair them with. Despite using a 32-bit DAC that wouldn’t break a sweat with high-bitrate tracks, they don’t support LDAC or LC3 codecs, although aptX Adaptive is enough for 24-bit playback.
The default EQ mode was our go-to for most genres, preserving treble clarity while maintaining bass oomph. High-end frequencies don’t sit as forward in the mix as with certain rivals, but detail is excellent. There’s never a hint of harshness, even with the volume cranked, and positioning is excellent, with a wide soundstage and great separation.
If you really want to personalise the audio, the companion app offers a 10-band equaliser that allows you to save multiple presets.
