AK380 INSTRUCTION BOOK User Guide
CONTENTS Getting Started _01 Package Contents 02 AK380 at a Glance 03 Power Management 04 Connections 06 Firmware Upgrade 11 Using the Device _02 Basic Operations 12 Home Screen 14 Notification Bar Screen 15 AK Connect 18 Listening to Music 24 Playlist Management 30 USB DAC Installation 33 Using Bluetooth 38 Setup 40 Connecting to a Wireless Network 45 Equalizer Setup 46 Miscellaneous _03 Safety Precautions 49 Troubleshooting 51 Copyright 52 Certifications 53 R
User Guide Package Contents Components may be changed without prior notice to improve the performance or quality of the product. AK380 Leather Case (Including Warranty) & Protective Film Quick Start Guide & Warranty Card Micro-USB Cable microSD Card Slot Cover Leather Case & Protective Film: Protect the device and its screen. Warranty for the Leather Case guarantees the quality of the leather. Micro-USB Cable: Connect the device to a computer or charge the device.
User Guide AK380 at a Glance The appearance of the product as well as printed and engraved information may vary depending on the model. Earphones / Optical Port Power Micro-USB Port Balanced Audio Pin Map R- R+ L+ L- Balanced Audio Port Expansion Unit Balanced Out Previous/ Rewind Play/Pause Volume Next/ Fast-Forward microSD Card Slot LCD Touchscreen Home Button Earphones / Optical Port: Output sound to connected earphones.
User Guide Next/Fast-Forward: Skip to the next song. Long press - Fast-forward. LCD Touchscreen: Display with touch control. Volume: Control the volume by turning the wheel. microSD Card Slot: Insert a microSD card and access its files. Home Button: Show the home screen. Power Management Turn the Device On/Off 1. Long-press the [Power ] button to turn on the device. 2. While the device is on, long-press the [Power ] button to display a shutdown confirmation message. 3.
User Guide Reset Function 1. In cases of unexpected device failure or freeze, press the [Power ] button for 12 seconds to force a shutdown. The device can be restarted after a shutdown. Resetting the device will not affect the stored data or time setting. Do not use the reset function while the product is in use. Doing so may corrupt the data on the device. Charging 1. Turn on the computer. 2. The device will charge automatically when connected to a computer via the Micro-USB cable.
User Guide Connections Earphones/Headphones 1. Connect earphones or headphones to the earphones port. OR Balanced Earphones/Headphones 1. Connect supported earphones or headphones to the balanced port. OR Balanced Audio Device 1. Connect to an external audio device by using both the Earphones port and Balanced port in conjunction.
User Guide Optical Out 1. Music can be played back on an S/PDIF-capable external audio device by using an optical cable. DSD format is converted to PCM when using Optical Out. The volume will be fixed at the maximum level. Connecting to a Computer 1. Turn on the device and your PC. 2. Connect the device to your PC as a standard USB device by using a Micro-USB cable. [ - Connect USB]. Media Device (USB Drive): Transfer files from the PC to the device. DAC Input: Listen to music from the PC on the device.
User Guide Windows XP users require Service Pack 2 and Windows Media Player 10 to be installed for the computer to recognize the USB device. Download Windows Media Player and required Service Packs from the Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com Disconnecting from the Computer 1. Verify that all operations have completed before attempting to disconnect the device from the computer. Disconnecting the device from the computer during an operation (e.g. file transfer) may corrupt data on the device.
User Guide Make sure that the Micro-USB cable is securely connected. Please note that removing the Micro-USB cable or turning off the device or computer during a file transfer may corrupt data on the device. File transfer speeds may be affected by the computer and/or the OS environment. Delete Files/Folders on the Device 1. Right-click the desired file/folder, and then select [Delete]. 2. Select [Yes] in the [Confirm File/Folder Deletion] window to delete the selected files/folders.
User Guide 2. To safely remove a microSD card, select [Safely remove SD card] from the Notification Bar or select [Unmount SD card] from [ - System Information]. 3. Gently press the microSD card to release it from the slot. Recommended microSD Cards Brand: SanDisk, Transcend Maximum applicable storage capacity of microSD card: 128 GB Notes on inserting a microSD card Do not force the microSD card into the slot. Doing so may cause damage to the device and/or the microSD card.
User Guide Firmware Upgrade Wi-Fi Update / OTA (Over-the-Air) 1. Connect to a wireless network. 2. When a new firmware version is found, a Firmware Update Guide window will be displayed on the screen. 3. Select [Update] and choose the items for update. 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and proceed with the firmware upgrade. Refer to page 45 for connecting to a wireless network. The firmware upgrade may not initialize if the battery level is too low. (A minimum battery level of 50% is required.
User Guide Basic Operations Using the LCD Touchscreen 1. This device features an LCD touchscreen that allows you to perform operations by touching the screen. Interact with the device by touching the screen to access various features. To prevent damage to the screen, do not use a sharp object or excessive force. Return to the Home Screen 1. Press the [Home] button at any time to return to the Home Screen.
User Guide Moving up/down in the list 1. You can scroll through the list by dragging the list screen [up] and [down].
User Guide Home Screen 1 2 3 1 Current Song Currently-playing song information. 2 AK Connect Launches AK Connect. 3 Search Options View the list of songs by different search options. The search options can be long-pressed and dragged to change their locations.
User Guide Notification Bar Screen 1 2 9 10 11 3 12 4 13 5 6 14 7 15 8 Using the Device 15
User Guide 1 Notification Expand or collapse the notification Bar bar by dragging the bar down or up, respectively. 2 Wi-Fi Press [ ] to turn Wi-Fi on or off. 3 Bluetooth Press [ ] to turn Bluetooth on or off. 4 EQ Press [ ] to turn the EQ on or off. The most recent EQ settings are applied by default. 5 Gapless Press [ Playback playback on or off. 6 Line Out Turn Line Out on or off. 7 Wi-Fi Turn Wi-Fi speaker functionality Speakers on or off.
User Guide 12 Screen Lock Press [ ] to turn the screen lock on or off. The volume wheel is disabled when the screen is locked. 13 Play Mode Press [ ] to cycle through different play modes. : Sequential playback. : Shuffle playback. 14 Repeat Press [ Mode different repeat modes. ] to cycle through : Repeat the entire playlist. : Repeat the current song. : Disable repeat mode. 15 Screen Use the adjustment bar to control Brightness the display brightness. Long press [ screen.
User Guide AK CONNECT The AK380 can access or download music files stored on a computer on the same network. Music can be played through Astell&Kern speakers. MQS Streaming Server Installation 1. Visit the Astell&Kern website and download the server installer that corresponds to your operating system. [http://www.astellnkern.com > Support > Download] 2. Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions. 3. Check the help menu within the MQS Streaming Server for detailed information.
User Guide 4. A list of servers on the same network as the AK380 will be displayed. 5. Scroll the screen left and right to select a server. The selected server will be connected and the server home screen will be displayed. 6. Select a search option at the bottom of the server home screen to display a list of music. Refer to page 45 for connecting to a wireless network.
User Guide Music Streaming and Download 1. Select a search option from the server Home Screen to display a list of music. 2. Select a song to begin streaming. 3. Press the [ ] button at the upper-right corner of the music list. 4. Select the music to be downloaded, and then press the [ ] button at the top of the screen to begin downloading. A message on the Notification Bar will indicate a completed download. Depending on network conditions, song loading may be slow or streaming may stutter.
User Guide Selecting Speakers 1. Turn on the speaker(s) to be connected, and then connect it to the same network as the AK380. 2. Turn on [AK Connect] from the device settings. 3. Press [ ] from the notification bar to display a list of speakers available on the same network as the AK380. 4. Scroll the screen left and right to select a speaker. The selected speaker will be connected, and music will be played back through the speaker.
User Guide Case 2 AK500N AK380 AK T1 LIBRARY REMOTE SPEAKER Case 3 AK380 AK500N REMOTE & LIBRARY SPEAKER Using the Device 22
User Guide Case 4 AK380 AK500N AK T1 LIBRARY REMOTE SPEAKER Case 5 AK380 LIBRARY or AK Connect APP REMOTE AK T1 SPEAKER AK500N LIBRARY Using the Device 23
User Guide Listening to Music Selecting Music 1. Select a search option at the bottom of the home screen to display the playlist. 2. Select a song from the list to begin playback. Select [Folder] to search music by folder. Continuous Playback: Approximately 10 hours (Basis: FLAC, 16-bit, 44 kHz, unbalanced output, volume 80, EQ Off, LCD Off) Supported Formats: PCM [8 – 384 kHz (8/16/24/32-bit)] DSD [2.8/5.6 MHz] Listening to Music Press [ ] at the top of the music list to display music options.
User Guide Long-press [ / ] during playback to rewind/fast- forward. You can also rewind/fast-forward by pressing the [ / ] button on the device. Drag the progress bar to the desired location during playback. Press the [Home] button on the device to go to the Home Screen. Press the album cover during playback to display an additional screen. : Display the previous screen. : Display the current playlist. Press [ ] next to the playlist to edit the playlist order.
User Guide Playlist Screen 1 4 5 2 6 3 Using the Device 26
User Guide 1 Current Location Indicates the current location. Press to return to the previous screen. 2 Play All Play all songs from the current playlist. 3 Playlist Displays the playlist for the current location. Long-press a song to add it to or remove it from the playlist. 4 List Sorting Select a method for sorting the playlist. 5 List View Select a view type for the list of albums. 6 Music Select the checkbox to apply playlist Options options.
User Guide Music Player Screen 1 10 2 3 4 11 5 12 6 7 8 13 9 15 14 1 Previous Screen Return to the previous screen. 2 Album Cover Displays album covers.
User Guide 3 Lyrics 4 Add to Playlist Add the current song to a playlist. 5 Song Progress Indicates song duration. 6 Details 7 Title Lyrics for the current song. Displays bitrate and sampling frequency data. Song title information. File name is displayed when ID3 metadata is unavailable. 8 Artist Artist name. 9 Play/Pause Play or pause the current song. 10 Playlist Displays the current playlist. 11 Details Displays current song information.
User Guide Playlist Management Creating a Playlist 1. Press [Playlist - Playlists] from the home screen to display a list of playlists. 2. Press [+] at the upper-right corner of the screen. 3. Enter a name for the playlist, and then press [Add] to create a new playlist. Adding a Song to a Playlist 1. Press [Playlists] to display a list of playlists. 2. Select a playlist and press [+ Add] to display a list of songs. 3.
User Guide Removing a Song from a Playlist 1. Press [Playlists] to display a list of playlists. 2. Select the desired playlist, and then press [ ] at the top of the screen. 3. Select the desired song, and then press [ ] to remove the song from the selected playlist. Editing the Playlist Order 1. Press [ ] next to the playlist to modify the playlist order. Playing a Playlist 1. Press [Playlists] to display a list of playlists, and then press [ ] at the top of the screen. 2.
User Guide Renaming a Playlist 1. Press [Playlists] to display a list of playlists, and then press [ ] at the top of the screen. 2. Select a playlist to be renamed. 3. Press [ ] at the top of the screen to display a rename window. 4. Enter a name for the playlist, and then press [Rename] to save the playlist under a new name. Deleting a Playlist 1. Press [Playlists] to display a list of playlists, and then press [ ] at the top of the screen. 2. Select the playlist to be deleted. 3.
User Guide USB DAC Installation The USB DAC functionality allows the AK380 to be recognized as a sound card on the computer. Music from the computer is played through the device’s earphones port for an enhanced listening experience. USB DAC Specifications USB DAC Supported OS Windows XP (32 bit) / Windows 7(32 & 64 bit) / Windows 8 (32 & 64bit) USB DAC Support Specifications Supported formats: PCM [8 – 384 kHz (8/16/24/32-bit)] DSD [2.8/5.6 MHz] Control the volume with the AK380's volume wheel.
User Guide USB DAC Installation 1. Set [DAC Input] from [ - Connect USB]. 2. Connect the device to the PC using the supplied MicroUSB cable. 3. Run 'Setup.exe' from Drivers. 4. Press [Next] when the below screen is displayed. However, when the following screen is displayed, verify that [DAC Input] is selected under [ - Connect USB].
User Guide 5. Click [Browse] to select the driver destination folder and click [Install]. 6. When the following screen is displayed, click [Finish] to complete the installation.
User Guide 7. Change the default 'Sound Output' device according to the operating system as seen in the images below. Windows XP: Control Panel > Sound and Audio Devices > Audio tab > Change the default audio device under 'Sound playback' to [AK380 USB DAC]. Windows 7/8: Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices > Right-click [AK380 USB DAC] and select [Set as default device].
User Guide Hi-Fi audio playback on Windows 7/8: Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices > Double-click [AK380 USB DAC] > Advanced tab > Default format > Select [24-bit, 192000 Hz] (Recommended) Mac OS X: System Preferences > Sound > Output tab > Select [AK380 USB DAC]. This step is only required for the initial setup procedure. No additional steps are necessary after selecting the AK380.
User Guide Using Bluetooth Connect a Bluetooth device to listen to music wirelessly. Turning Bluetooth On/Off A Bluetooth device must be paired with the AK240 prior to use. Refer to the Bluetooth device's instruction manual for details. 1. Select [ ] from the home screen, or select [On/Off] from [ - Bluetooth]. Bluetooth Pairing 1. Select the appropriate Bluetooth device from the list of available devices. Refer to the Bluetooth device's instruction manual for details.
User Guide Removing a Bluetooth Pairing 1. Press [ ] on the right side of the paired device to be directed to the settings screen. 2. Select [Remove Pairing] to complete the process. Bluetooth Support Specifications Profile: A2DP Device performance may be affected during Hi-Fi playback. (48 kHz or lower is recommended) DSD playback is unavailable via Bluetooth. Do not turn off the device while connected to Bluetooth. Power cycle the Bluetooth device in case of malfunction.
User Guide Settings Set up the device according to the user's needs. The settings menu may vary depending on the firmware version. Setup 1. Select [ ] from the home screen notification bar. 2. Select the desired item for setup. Wi-Fi Change wireless network settings and turn Wi-Fi on or off. Refer to page 45 for more information on connecting to a wireless network. Bluetooth Connect a Bluetooth device to listen to music wirelessly.
User Guide Equalizer Set the equalizer according to the user's preferences. Pro EQ: EQ preset recommended by professionals. User EQ: Adjust the frequencies according to the user's preferences. EQ Supported Formats : PCM [8 ~ 192kHz(8/16/24bit)] Equalizer is not supported during DSD, 32bit playback. Using the equalizer may negatively affect device performance. Refer to pages 46-48 of the manual for more information on using the equalizer. Gapless Playback Play the next song without any interruption/silence.
User Guide AMP Set the amplification level for amp connection. Screen Brightness Adjust screen brightness settings. Theme Change the theme. Date & Time Set the current date, time, and region. Device Name Designate the device name. You can set up to 30 characters. Language Select a language. English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified / Traditional) Keyboard Select a language for the keyboard.
User Guide Power Automatic Shutdown: The device will turn off after a defined period when there is no user input. Screen Timeout: The screen will turn off after a defined period when there is no user input. Sleep Timer: Music playback will stop, and the device will turn off after a defined period. USB Connection Media Device (USB Drive) : Connect to a computer to transfer media files. DAC Input: Listen to music on a PC through the device. Download Select a folder for downloaded files.
User Guide System Information System Information: View model number, firmware version, and data storage information. The microSD card can be mounted/dismounted, and data can be deleted. Formatting the microSD card will delete all data on the memory card. Be sure to backup any important files before formatting. When formatting the microSD card from a computer, be sure to select the FAT32 system. System Restore Database Initialization: Reset the internal database.
User Guide Connecting to a Wireless Network Connecting to a Network 1. Long-press [ Bar or select [ ] from the Notification - Wi-Fi] to display a list of access points (AP). 2. Select the desired AP to connect to the wireless network. Additional information (encryption key, index, etc.) may be required depending on the network settings. 3. Long-press the network name and select [Network Settings] to edit specific network settings.
User Guide Equalizer Setup Equalizer Setup 1. Long-press [EQ] from the Notification Bar, or turn on the feature from [ - Equalizer]. 2. Press [Pro EQ] at the upper-left corner of the screen and select [ + ]. 3. Enter a name for the custom EQ settings and select [Add].
User Guide 4. Adjust the frequencies left and right according to the user's preferences. 5. The number values at the lowerleft corner of the screen can be adjusted for fine-tuning. 6. Press [ ] at the lower-right corner of the screen to display the PEQ settings screen. The frequency, gain, and Q values can be adjusted according to the user’s preferences. Resetting the Equalizer 1. Select the desired EQ setting and press [ ] at the bottom of the screen to revert the EQ to its default settings.
User Guide Deleting an Equalizer 1. Press [Pro EQ] at the upper-left corner of the screen. 2. Press [ ] next to the desired item to delete the selected equalizer. Renaming an Equalizer 1. Press [Pro EQ] at the upper-left corner of the screen. 2. Press [ ] next to the desired item and enter a new name for the selected equalizer. 3. Press [Rename] to apply the changes.
User Guide Safety Precautions Device When a plug is inserted into the earphones, balanced, or USB port, do not apply any force or shock to the plug. Do not insert any metal objects (coins, hairpins, etc.) or flammable debris into the device. Do not place heavy objects on the device. In case the device gets wet (water, chemicals, medicine, cosmetics, sweat, etc.), do not power on the device. Allow it to dry thoroughly and then contact the nearest iriver Customer Support Center.
User Guide Do not disconnect the Micro-USB cable during data transfer. When connecting the Micro-USB cable, use a USB port on the back of the PC. Connecting to a defective or damaged USB port may damage the device. Displaying one image for an extended period may cause screen burn-in (afterimage). Using poor quality protective films or adhesive stickers on the screen may cause damage. Do not insert any foreign objects into the earphones port.
User Guide Troubleshooting Check for solutions to common problems. 1. The device won't turn on. The battery may need to be recharged. Charge the device for at least one hour and try again. Reset the device and try again. (See p. 5) 2. The device will not charge when connected to a computer via USB cable. Use a USB port on the back of the computer, and check that the USB port is functioning properly. Check that the USB cable is connected correctly 3.
User Guide 7. A file does not play, or the product is unstable when a certain file is used. The following may occur due to the condition of the file: Playback is unstable or difficult. The device may not function properly. The file may sound different from a computer. There may be a difference in the performance of playback or other functions. The file may not be compatible with playback specifications. A file conversion or use of a different file is recommended.
User Guide Certifications KC / FCC / CE / TELEC Class B Device (Communication equipment for residential use): This is a Class B Device and is registered for EMC requirements for residential use. This device can be used in residential areas and all other areas.
User Guide Specifications General Specifications Product Name AK380 Model PPF21 Body Color Meteoric Titan Body Material Aircraft Grade Duralumin Display 4inch WVGA(480x800) Touch Screen Supported Audio WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE(Normal, High, Fast), Formats AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF Sample rate PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo/ DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo Output Level Unbalance 2.2 Vrms/ Balance 2.
