Astell&Kern – A&futura SE180

Designed in Korea 1 Year ofWarranty Ideal forAudiophiles Best Suited forPortable Use Bluetooth withLDAC & aptX HD 10.5 Hours ofBattery Life 2.5mm & 4.4mm Balanced Output Upto 6VrmsPower Output ESS ES9038PRO DAC Chip VolumeControls 256 GB Internal Memory Battery Capacity of3800 mAh DESCRIPTION THE FUTURE OF HI-FI MUSIC LISTENING IS HERE WITH THE HIGHLY ADVANCED A&FUTURA SE180 Powered with an interchangeable module, the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 comes with a powerful ESS ES9038PRO as its default configuration. This 8-channel DAC, which is used primarily in premium home audio equipment, is now a part of the SE180 aiding extended dynamic range and detailed sound. The ability to use different DAC/AMP configurations, tuning and outputs for each module gives you the freedom to pick the right kind of sound for a personalised music listening experience. Pair almost any headphones or IEMs with the A&futura SE180 as they support 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones connections. FUTURISTIC DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER WITH ONE-OF-ITS-KIND INTERCHANGEABLE DAC MODULES The use of innovative interchangeable DACs gives you a whole new way of exploring premium Hi-Fi sound. This also improves the overall sonic performance of the player. The interchangeable modules are connected to the SE180 using a double-locking mechanism which is different from other products. The first locking structure connects the module to the SE180 while the second locking structure informs you that the module is successfully paired. The internal connectors of the SE180 are spring enabled to ensure a stable audio signal connection and to avoid connection failure, particularly during external shock. The SE180 blocks the power and radio frequency (RF) noise caused by the main unit. This unique and circuit separation structure effectively eliminates the noise leading to a pure music listening experience. GO BEYOND THE LIMITS OF HI-FI PREMIUM SOUND WITH NEXT-GEN AMP TECHNOLOGY Breaking all the limitations of previously used amps, the A&futura SE180 features the Next Generation AMP technology to go beyond the acceptable HI-Fi premium sound and to deliver the absolute best. The SE180 has been entirely redesigned to include upgraded OP-AMP parts, circuit design, board layout and enhanced tuning. HI-FI WIRELESS SOUND WITH APTX-HD & LDAC CODECS POWERED BY BLUETOOTH 5.0 Get the absolute convenience of listening to music through your headphones wirelessly with Bluetooth 5.0. With support for aptX HD and LDAC, you can listen to audiophile-grade high-quality sound on your SE180. Enjoy your music in original master recording format with the SE180 as it is compatible with MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) playback. Get real-time updates about the volume level and current bit rate directly on the LED volume wheel of the SE180. TRANSFER MUSIC FILES WIRELESSLY IN NO TIME OR PLAY MUSIC DIRECTLY FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE Transferring files has never been this easy. With the all-new AK File Drop function, you can conveniently transfer files wirelessly from your PC, smartphone or an FTP program located device to your SE180. If you want to play music from an external device without having to transfer files, you can use the newly introduced BT Sync function. This function allows play music by pairing an external device, the smartphone, to your SE180 via Bluetooth. FIRST-EVER DAP WITH THE INNOVATIVE & POWER-EFFICIENT TERATON ALPHA TECHNOLOGY It is for the first time that a Digital Audio Player is featuring the TERATON ALPHA audio technology. This technology aids the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 to offer efficient power consumption and amplification and block power noise. This happens right at the audio output interface stage where the digital-to-analogue signal conversion takes place. TERATON ALPHA consists of Astell&Kern’s patented technologies that are developed after extensive research and development to deliver a sound closer to how artists intend their music to sound. NEWLY UPGRADED USER INTERFACE FOR AN ANDROID-LIKE SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE With an all-new upgraded user interface, the A&futura SE180 intends to offer a seamless user experience similar to that of an Android smartphone. Within the new interface, you will find a fresh navigation bar right at the bottom of the screen that lets you control playback and skip tracks even when you are swiping through screens. STUNNING 5-INCH HD SCREEN FOR A VIBRANT AND CRISP DISPLAY From the album artwork comes to life on the screen of the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 as it comes with a stunning HD screen. With a 5-inch touchscreen display having a 1920×1080 pixel resolution, you get up to 16.7 million colours and 441 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). This makes for a vibrant, clean and sharp user interface. AN ART-CENTRIC ELEGANT DESIGN THAT REPRESENTS HIGH-QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP The design of the A&futura SE180 depicts the traces of the wind, while the flowing lines on its body indicate great tunes that are vital for an immersive listening experience. The key element in the design of the SE180 is the smooth yet expanding silhouette. The continuous outline on the exterior shows the limitless possibility of tonal scalability. You can find the volume knob button at the centre of the curves while a single multi-function button is on the left for efficient one-hand use. The ceramic rear cover, used in the A&futura SE180 implicates a finely crafted art sculpture. Every audio output on this device including, 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors, comes with gold rings. SPECS GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS MODEL A&futura SE180 BODY COLOR Moon Silver BODY MATERIAL Aluminum DISPLAY 5-inch, 1920×1080 FHD Touch Display SUPPORTED AUDIO FORMATS WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA MQA PALYBACK Services (Tidal Masters), Local files, external USB, MQA-CD (ripped) INPUT USB Type-C input (for charging PC & MAC) CHARGING 9V 1.67A/5V 2A WI-FI 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz) BLUETOOTH V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC) DIMENSIONS 3.03″(77mm)[W] x 5.09″(129.2mm)[H] x 0.78″(19.9mm)[D] (Only body) 3.03″(77mm)[W] x 5.4″(137.2mm)[H] x 0.78″(19.9mm)[D] (Combined with a module WEIGHT 9.88 oz (280g) FEATURE ENHANCEMENTS Firmware upgrades supported (OTA) SAR Body 10g SAR (W/Kg)_WLAN 2.4Ghz: 0.016 WHEEL LED light (LED Indicator) BATTERY CAPACITY 3,800mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer Battery CHARGE TIME About 5 hours (Standard: 5V / 2A Charging), about 3 hours (Fast: 9V / 1.67A Charging) MEMORY BUILT IN MEMORY 256GB (NAND) EXTERNAL MEMORY microSD (Max. 1TB) x1 OS SUPPORTED OS Windows 7,8,10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and up CLOCK SOURCE CLOCK JITTER 25ps(Typ) REFERENCE CLOCK JITTER 800 Femto Seconds SEM1 SPECIFICATION MODEL SEM1 BODY COLOR Moon Silver BODY MATERIAL Aluminum, Stainless steel, Polycarbonate SAMPLE RATE PCM: 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo OUTPUT LEVEL [Normal Gain] Unbalanced 2Vrms / Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load) [High Gain] Unbalanced 3Vrms / Balanced 6Vrms (Condition No Load) DAC ESS ES9038PRO (Single DAC) DECODING Support up to 32bit / 384kHz Bit-to-Bit Playback DIMENSIONS 3.03″(77mm)[W] x 2.99″(76mm)[H] x 0.78″(19.9mm)[D] (Only body) WEIGHT 3.53 oz (100g) PLAYBACK TIME Above 10.5hours (FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD off) AUDIO PERFORMANCE FREQUENCY RESPONSE ±0.04dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.04dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced ±0.07dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.06dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO [Normal Gain] 122dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 126dB @ 1kHz, Balanced [High Gain] 125dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 129dB @ 1kHz, Balance CROSSTALK [Normal Gain] -138dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -145dB @ 1kHz, Balanced [High Gain] -138dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -147dB @ 1kHz, Balanced THD+N [Normal Gain] 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced [High Gain] 0.0007% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced IMD SAMPTE 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced / 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced OUTPUT IMPEDANCE 3.5mm (1ohm) / 2.5mm (1.5ohm) / 4.4mm (1.5ohm) IN THE BOX BOX CONTENTS 1. Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 2. 1 x SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO DAC module 3. 1 x USB-C to USB-A cable (1 metre) 4. 3 x screen protectors 5. 1 x Quick start guide COMPARISONS Astell&Kern – A&futura SE180 ₹ 1,24,999/-₹ 1,49,999SEE MORE Astell&Kern – A&norma SR25 ₹ 54,990/-₹ 69,990SEE MORE Astell&Kern – KANN ALPHA ₹ 99,999/-₹ 1,09,999SEE MORE Astell&Kern – A&futura SE200 ₹ 1,34,990/-₹ 1,64,990SEE MORE DAC Chip 1x ESS ES9038PRO 2x Cirrus Logic CS43198 2x ESS ES9068AS 1x AKM AK4499EQ & 2x ESS ES9068AS CPU Octa-Core Quad-Core Quad-Core Octa-Core Screen Size 5″ FHD 3.6″ LCD 4.1″ HD Screen 5″ LCD Sample Rate PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits Per Sample) / DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits Per Sample) / DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits Per Sample) / DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits Per Sample) / DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo Battery Life 10.5 Hours 21 Hours 14.5 Hours 10 Hours Balanced Outputs 2.5 mm & 4.4 mm Bal Output 2.5 mm Bal. Output 2.5 mm & 4.4 mm of Bal Output 2.5 mm Bal Output USB Interface Type-C, Micro USB Type-C, Micro USB Type-C, Micro USB Type-C, Micro USB Internal Storage 256 GB 64 GB 65 GB 256 GB External Storage MicroSD (Max. 1TB) X1 MicroSD (Max. 1TB) X1 MicroSD (Max. 1TB) X1 MicroSD (Max. 1TB) X1 Output Power Upto 6Vrms Power Output Upto 4.0 Vrms Power Output Upto 12Vrms Power Output Upto 6Vrms Power Output Bluetooth Version V5.0 V4.2 V5.0 V4.2 Bluetooth Codecs (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® AptX™ HD, LDAC) (A2DP, AVRCP, AptXTM HD, LDAC) (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® AptX™ HD, LDAC) (A2DP, AVRCP, AptXTM HD) WiFi Tidal Streaming Downloadable Apps MQA Support Inputs USB Type-C Input (For Charging PC & MAC) USB Type-C Input (For PC & MAC) USB Type-C Input (For Charging PC & MAC) USB Type-C Input (For PC & MAC) In The Box 1. Astell&Kern A&Futura SE1802. 1 X SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO DAC Module3. 1 X USB-C To USB-A Cable (1 Metre)4. 3 X Screen Protectors5. 1 X Quick Start Guide 1. Astell&Kern – A&Norma SR25 Digital Audio Player2. USB Type-C Cable X 13. MicroSD Card Slot Cover X 24. Protective Film (Front X 2, Back X 2)5. Quick Start Guide X 16. Warranty Card X 1 1. Astell&Kern KANN ALPHA Digital Audio Player2. USB Type-C Cable X 13. Quick Start Guide X 14. Warranty Card X 15. MicroSD Card Slot Cover X 26. Protective Film (Front X 2, Back X 2) 1. Astell&Kern A&Futura SE2002. USB Type-C Cable3. Quick Start Guide4. Warranty Card5. 2x MicroSD Card Slot Cover6. Protective Film (2x Front, 2x Back) Expert Verdict The newly introduced BT Sink function connects the SE180 to an external device, such as your smartphone, via BT, enabling you to take advantage of the A&K’s DAC while playing from your phone’s library.”Steronet “The SR25’s design blends aesthetics with user convenience and features an aluminium body that suppresses noise and improves sound quality.”AVS FORUM The battery will outlast a road-trip, the power handling is glorious, and the stylish, rock-solid build is (just about) small enough to take with you on your travels.”WHAT HI FI “The SE200 is a world first in that it features two audiophile-calibre Sabre ESS9068AS DACs (in a dual DAC configuration), alongside a single AKM4499EQ (last seen in the flagship SP2000).”Trusted Reviews SEE MORE SEE MORE SEE MORE SEE MORE FAQS What is the warranty? How do I claim it? All Astell&Kern products come with a year warranty. You can simply get in touch with us to claim the warranty.Click here. Does the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 support MQA? Yes, the SE180 does support MQA. Download master quality files and make most of them. Can the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 be used as an external DAC? Yes, it can be used as an external DAC or Bluetooth receiver with smartphones and tablets. Does the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 come with any Balanced Output? The Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 does come with a 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced output to enhance the sound quality further. What is the battery life of this player? It comes with 10.5 hours of battery life on continuous play. What Bluetooth audio codecs does the A&futura SE180 support? The Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 supports LDAC & aptX HD. What is the Bluetooth version on the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180? The Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 comes with Bluetooth version v5.0. How many DAC chips are present in Astell&Kern A&futura SE180? The A&futura SE180 comes with interchangeable DAC modules, however, it uses SEM 1 as its default configuration which consists of the powerful ESS ES9038PRO. What is Open APP Service? The Open APP Service enables the user to install specific APK music streaming apps to the device. How to install third-party applications on Astell&Kern players? Copy the desired APK into the Open Service folder of the product and install the relevant App in the Menu-Service of the product. What models support Open App Service? SR15, SR25, KANN ALPHA, SA700, KANN Cube, SE100, SE180, SE200, SP1000M, SP1000, SP2000 support Open App Service. What applications does the Open App Service support? 7digital Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, Awa, Bandcamp, BBC iPlayer Radio Bugs, Dsaudio, FLO, foobar2000, Genie, IDAGIO, Joox, Kickbox, LastFM, Melon, Moov, My Yuner Radio, nugs.net, Onkyo HF Player, Pandora, Player FM, Qobuz, QQmusic, Sirius, Soundcloud, Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, Xiaomi music, Yandex Music. DOWNLOADS SE180 User Manual SE1800 USB DAC Driver Driver File: SE180 USB DAC Driver Notes 1. This is an integrated USB Audio driver for AK Devices. The previous USB DAC driver will need to be deleted from the AK Device prior to installing the new driver. To delete the previous driver, connect the AK Device to the computer and the previous driver can be located in the “Contents” folder. 2. This driver is for Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32/64bit). For MAC OS, the driver is automatically recognized without needing to be manually installed. 3. Once the driver is installed for Windows PC, the device will be recognized automatically. 4. To use the AK Device USB Audio as the default device, you may need to change the default output device option in the computer’s Settings Menu. 5. For high quality sound playback on Windows PC, it is recommended to change the default format to 24-bit, 192000Hz” for the AK Device in the Control Panel – Sound menu. 6. For Native DSD playback, the music playback program must also be capable of Native DSD playback. Depending on the music playback program, you may need to change the audio device to AK Device USB Audio in Settings menu. 7. For more information on using USB Audio, please refer to the AK Device’s product manual. How to Install the Driver 1. Click the Driver File link above to download the USB DAC driver for your Windows computer. After running “setup.exe” file, click the [Next >] button. puter and the previous driver can be located in the “Contents” folder. 2. The installer will display the path of the driver to be installed. 3. Click the [Install] button in the installer to complete the installation. 4. When the installation is complete, the AK Device’s USB DAC device driver is automatically installed. Click [Next >] --> [Finish] button of the installer to complete the installation. 5. Connect the AK Device in USB DAC mode to listen to music. Warranty & Media Reviews 1 Year Warranty Don’t sweat it, this Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 comes with a 1 year warranty from Astell&Kern that covers manufacturing defects. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer’s warranty. Read more about Astell&Kern’s warranty in India. Best portable music player over £1000 What HiFiOct, 2021 “The newly introduced BT Sink function connects the SE180 to an external device, such as your smartphone, via BT, enabling you to take advantage of the A&K’s DAC while playing from your phone’s library.” Read More “Both modules support 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones connections for accommodating a greater variety of headphones, while there is support for MQA playback via downloaded MQA audio files and Tidal.” Read More “The A&futura SE180 is the first model to boast Astell&Kern’s Teraton Alpha Sound Solution technology. This is designed for deliver audio playback close to the original sound.” Read More “A&futura SE180 has 256GB onboard memory that can be expanded up to 1TB by using the microSD card slot, meaning users can carry thousands of hi-res albums at all times.” Read More