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Astell Kern Ak Zero2 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£1,140Form factor:in-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Astell Kern Ak Zero2 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Astell Kern Ak Zero2
6.0/10

Overall score

Score
6.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 64% of models
Score components

80%

5.6

Technical score

20%

7.6

User score

â–¼Worse than 64% of headphones
5.5

Value for money

Value for money
5.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 97% of models
Score components

70%

6.0

Overall score

30%

4.5

Price

â–¼Worse than 97%
5.6

Technical score

Technical score
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
Score components

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

8.0

Design

8%

4.0

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

3.8

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 70%
7.6

User score

User score
7.6/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 71% of models
Score components

70%

9.6

User ratings

30%

2.8

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–¼Worse than 71%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Astell Kern Ak Zero2

Technical score
Technical score
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
Score components:

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

8.0

Design

8%

4.0

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

3.8

Calls & Controls

5.6
User score
User score
7.6/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 71% of models
Score components

70%

9.6

User ratings

30%

2.8

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
7.6
Popularity
Popularity
2.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 71% of models
Popularity:
Astell Kern Ak Zero2 has a popularity score of 2.8 points, which is lower than that of 70.2% of products in this category.
2.8
Value for money
Value for money
5.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 97% of models
Score components:

70%

6.0

Overall score

30%

4.5

Price

5.5
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
hybrid
Driver size
10 mm
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 10 mm, smaller driver size than 87.7% of headphones and equal to 4.1% of headphones.
Number of drivers
6
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 6 drivers, more drivers than 100% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
20 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 20 Hz, higher lowest frequency than 50.8% of headphones and equal to 47.3% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
no
This pair of headphones is not headset-ready, while 15.1% is. 84.9% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
0
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 0 microphones, fewer microphones than 73.2% of headphones and equal to 26.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
N/A
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Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
no
This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Astell
Form factor
in-ear
Weight
11 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 11 g, lighter than 94.3% of headphones and equal to 1% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
N/A
Show more

Astell Kern Ak Zero2 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 95% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (11 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    11 g vs 218 g
  • 5 more drivers
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (6 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    6 vs 1
  • 10,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (30,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    30,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 3 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 7 newer release date
    This pair of headphones was released more recently than the average pair of headphones (2023 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    April 2023
    2023 vs 2016
  • 95% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (11 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    11 g vs 218 g
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    This pair of headphones has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average pair of headphones does not. 23.1% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 5 more drivers
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (6 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    6 vs 1
  • 10,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (30,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    30,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 3 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    105 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 7 newer release date
    This pair of headphones was released more recently than the average pair of headphones (2023 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    April 2023
    2023 vs 2016
  • 30 mm smaller driver size
    This pair of headphones has smaller driver size than the average pair of headphones (10 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    10 mm vs 40 mm
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Not headset-ready
    This pair of headphones is not headset-ready, while the average pair of headphones is. 84.8% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    20 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 0.4 % higher distortion
    This pair of headphones has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (0.7 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    0.7 % vs 0.3 %
  • 12.67x more expensive
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£1,140 vs £90).
    £1,140 vs £90
  • 31.5% worse value for money
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (5.53 vs 7.3).
    5.53 vs 7.27
  • 12.67x more expensive
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£1,140 vs £90).
    £1,140 vs £90
  • 31.5% worse value for money
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (5.53 vs 7.3).
    5.53 vs 7.27
  • 5.3% lower user score
    User score
    7.6/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
    When it matters
    When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
    Score distribution
    ▼▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2
    the average pair of headphones
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 has a lower user score than the average pair of headphones (7.6 vs 8).
    7.6 vs 8
  • 2.07x less popular
    Astell Kern Ak Zero2 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (2.84 vs 5.9).
    2.84 vs 5.87
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • 30 mm smaller driver size
    This pair of headphones has smaller driver size than the average pair of headphones (10 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    10 mm vs 40 mm
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    20 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 0.4 % higher distortion
    This pair of headphones has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (0.7 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    0.7 % vs 0.3 %
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • Not headset-ready
    This pair of headphones is not headset-ready, while the average pair of headphones is. 84.8% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Overview video

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

A
aboutaudio.org
25/01/2024
Summary of the review
Astell&Kern Zero 2 Review: Sugar-free Sweetness
aboutaudio.org
25/01/2024
Listening review · Quad-driver in-ear monitors
Verdict
The Astell & Kern Zero 2 is a neutral, detailed in-ear with solid bass and a roomy soundstage, but fans of warm, dark sounds may find it too clean.

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: November 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Astell Kern Ak Zero2

  • Neutral and reference-based sound signature with exceptional clarity in upper frequencies
  • Well-controlled, tight, and dense bass response that avoids being overwhelming
  • Highly resolving quad-brid driver setup (planar, dynamic, BA, and piezoelectric)
  • Superior technical performance and wider soundstage compared to the previous Zero1 model
  • Premium build quality featuring CNC-milled aluminium and high-purity silver-plated cables
  • Generous accessory package including multiple ear tip sizes and both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced cables

What customers don't like about Astell Kern Ak Zero2

  • Bulky earpiece design and short nozzle length can cause fit issues, especially for those with smaller outer ears
  • Use of MMCX connectors instead of the more popular 2-pin alternative is seen as a slight disadvantage
  • Sound signature may feel 'boring' or too analytical for users who prefer warm or coloured audio
  • Requires high-quality amplification or EQ to truly shine, otherwise it can sound lacklustre to some
  • Higher price point compared to many other high-performance IEM competitors

Verdict

The Astell & Kern AK Zero2 is a high-end 'quad-brid' in-ear monitor (IEM) featuring an advanced six-driver array: one 10mm micro dynamic driver with a piezoelectric transducer, one micro rectangular planar dynamic driver, and four custom balanced armature drivers. Housed in a precision CNC-machined aluminum body with a 3D-printed acoustic chamber, it boasts a frequency response of 20Hz–30kHz, an extremely low impedance of 5Ω, and a 105dB SPL. Its main strengths include exceptional transparency, rich instrumental detail, and a neutral, reference-quality sound signature supported by high-quality silver-coated OFC cables (3.5mm and 4.4mm included). However, its clinical neutrality may feel lacking for those who prefer a warmer or more colored sound, and its ultra-low impedance can make it highly sensitive to the noise floors of some audio sources.

Compare Astell Kern Ak Zero2 with other products in the Headphones category

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