KALA K22
The K22 is an ideal entry point and to get the maximum musical enjoyment out of your music files and internet streams at this price level. With a K22 you will enjoy the most musically important features and performance of the K50, and have the cost-effective option to upgrade to the K50 level later by adding a K41. Adding a K41 will allow you to use DSP features, quickly navigate a library larger than 8TB, and it will reveal more layers of musical insight. But used within its limitations, the K22 on its own brings you very close to the performance of the K50. If your priorities are to be immersed in gorgeous sound and feel the emotional pull of your music, then the K22 will delight you.
Because the K22 does not support DSP functions, it cannot use HQPlayer Server App, but it does support HQPlayer NAA. All other apps in our software suite are supported, with the exception of the DSP features within the apps.
REVIEWS
"the K22 ticked so many of the same boxes of the [K50 or K41+K22] it offers the exact same tonal balance and it sure wasn’t reducing the musicality
or involvement... even in terms of resolution, transparency, and texturing, the K22-solo was not yielding to the [K50 or K41+K22]."
HIFI ADVICE
THREE PROCESSORS
The K22 uses a single engine for both Server and Player steps and does not offer Direct ethernet streaming. In all other respects the K22 process map is the same as the K50, and plays to the same output engines as are used in the K50 - USB signals are isolated, and re-generated/clocked, and synchronous signals (S/PDIF, AES3, I2S) are isolated, and re-generated/clocked separately. The cascaded processing stages progressively improve the digital signal before it goes to your DAC.
The medium-power Server/Player engine controls what is played and allows you to play over your network to multiple end-points, and to the DAC in your main system by USB, S/PDIF, AES3 & I2S.
K22 SPECIFICATIONS
CURRENT RELEASE
Oladra G4 Technology
A/C POWER
110-120VAC or
220-240VAC
NETWORK
Gigabit Ethernet
LOCAL STORAGE
One SATA SSD
User Installable
DIMENSIONS
445mm (W)
370mm (D)
105mm (H)
11kg
SHIPPING
600mm (W)
530mm (D)
240mm (H)
13.5kg
USB 2.0 OUTPUT
– PCM to 32 bit/768kHz
– DoP to DSD256
– Native DSD to DSD512
– On USB A
S/PDIF OUTPUTS
– PCM to 24bit/192kHz
– DoP to DSD64
– On RCA, BNC & TOS
AES3 OUTPUT
– PCM to 24bit/192kHz
– DoP to DSD64
– On XLR 3-Pin
I2S OUTPUTS
– PCM to 32bit/384kHz
– DoP to DSD256
– Native DSD to DSD512
– On HDMI & RJ45
MASTER CLOCK
– Output Only
– On BNC
WARRANTY
3 Years
5 Years (Registered)
WORLD PRICE
From $9,000
(plus duty & tax)