ASTELL&KERN A&FUTURA SE180

Astell & Kern is the best known and most innovative DAP manufacturer worldwide, this new SE180 is the only one on the market to have an interchangeable DAC.

Astell & Kern A & Futura SE180 has two separate units therefore: main body and DAC module, joined by a patented double locking system that allows the two components to be connected firmly without interruption, and without giving the slightest sensation of strangeness; the internal spring-loaded connectors also ensure a stable as well as reliable connection.

A & Futura SE180 adopts the exclusive technique developed by A&K TERATON ALPHA, which acts on three key areas. Effective power supply noise removal, efficient power consumption and uncompromising amplification using the Next Generation AMP technique, and therefore OP-AMP selection, accurate circuit design, including layout, as well as an accurate final calibration. All this to obtain an audio reproduction that is as close as possible to the original sound.

Other characteristics

Main body technical characteristics

Display: 5.0 ”1920x1080 FHD TFT LCD Touch

Audio formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA

MQA playback: Tidal Masters, Local files, USB, ripped MQA-CD

Input: USB C (for charging from PC and MAC)

Outputs: Optical and headphone unbalanced (3.5mm) / Balanced x 2 (2.5mm 4-pole and 4.4mm 5-pole)

Wi-Fi: 802.11 b / g / n (2.4GHz)

Bluetooth: V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm aptXTM HD, LDAC)

Dimensions (WxHxD): 77x137,2x19,9mm with SEM1 module inserted

Weight: about 280gr

Updates: Firmware upgrades (OTA)

Crossover Distortion: -128dB @ 1KHz unbalanced, -136dB @ 1KHz balanced

Battery: 3,800mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer Battery

Autonomy: 14.5 standard

Playback time: about 10.5hr (FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD Off)

Charging: 3 hr (with 9V / 1.67A quick charger)

Memory: Internal of 256GB, external microSD (Max 1TB) x1

Supp systems: Windows 8,10 (32 / 64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and above

Technical characteristics SEM1

Sampling Rates: PCM: 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24 / 32bits), DSD Native64 / 128/256

Output: Unbalanced (3.5mm), Balanced (2.5mm, 4pole support only, 4.4mm 5pole support only)

Unbal / bil output level: 3Vrms / 6Vrms

DAC: ESS ES9068AS x 2

Decoding: up to 32bit / 384kHz

Frequency Response: ± 0.04dB 20Hz ~ 20kHz

Signal / Noise: 129dB at 1kHz

Interference: -138dB at 1kHz

THD + N: 0.0007% at 1kHz

Output Impedance: 1ohm minimum

Dimensions (WxHxD): 77x76x19.9mm

Weight: about 100gr