A&futura SE180 – A&K News room

Astell&Kern, the global leader in premium portable high-resolution audio devices, introduces the SEM4 DAC module for its award-winning A&futura SE180 digital audio player (DAP). The fourth module in the series, this dual-DAC is the first to feature Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) upsampling technology, enhancing the sample rate of the audio source so music fans can get closer to the analogue-like original sound.

The A&futura SE180, an IF Design Award Winner 2022 and the first Astell&Kern player to boast interchangeable all-in-one DAC modules, allows music fans to customise their sound with different audio-flavoured DACs to find the hi-fi-grade sonics that suit them.

Astell&Kern SEM4 DAC module key features at a glance:

Equipped with an Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ dual DAC for more natural playback
Specially developed Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) upsampling technology enhances sample rate and sound quality up to a maximum PCM rate of 384 kHz/DSD256
Features proprietary TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution technology
Supports play of up to 32-bit 768 kHz/Native DSD512 high-resolution digital audio files
Low-power consumption design provides 14 hours of playback

Introducing Digital Audio Remaster (DAR)

Specially developed for the SEM4, DAR upsamples the sound source up to a maximum PCM sample rate of 384 kHz/DSD256. Whatever file you are playing, the SEM4 will convert to a higher sample rate that suits the source. The result will be a more refined and richer sonic performance, revealing detail and nuances in your favourite music otherwise unheard.

The SEM4 Digital Audio Remaster upsampling guide:

Maximum upsampling PCM rate:

44.1kHz range PCM will be converted to 352.8kHz for playback
48kHz range PCM will be converted to 384kHz for playback
No conversion will be made when playing DSD with this option selected

Maximum DSD upsampling rate:

PCM files lower than 96kHz will be converted to DSD128 for playback
PCM files over 96kHz will be converted to DSD256 for playback
DSD files below DSD256 will be converted to DSD256 for playback with this option selected

Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ dual DAC with VELVET SOUND™

The SEM4 is the first Astell&Kern product to be equipped with a premium dual AK4493SEQ DAC from Asahi Kasei. Featuring VELVET SOUND™ technology, this DAC aims to deliver a more natural audio with even lower noise and distortion, along with a wider dynamic range. Carefully selected advanced switch and capacitor components allows the low-power consumption design to provide a stunning low-noise playback performance of up to 14 hours – the longest among SE180 modules.

SEM4 featuring TERATON ALPHA technology

The result of extensive research and development, Astell&Kern’s patented TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution is designed to deliver audio playback close to the original sound. It effectively removes power noise and provides efficient power consumption and amplification right through to the audio output interface stage where the digital-to-analogue signal conversion (DAC) takes place – audio technology Astell&Kern has consistently developed and perfected over the years.

Meet the Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 DAC Module Family

The SEM4 is the fourth in a series of DAC modules exclusively designed for the premium Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 portable digital audio player. Each DAC module offers different sonic characteristics to suit the music you love. All modules support 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones connections for accommodating a greater variety of headphones and in-ear monitors (IEM)

SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO (supplied with the SE180 player)
SEM2 Asahi Kasei AK4497EQ Dual DAC
SEM3 ESS ES9038Q2M Quad DAC
SEM4 Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ Dual DAC

The optional Astell&Kern SEM4 DAC (Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ Dual DAC Module) is priced £369 / $400 / €429 and will be available from May from www.astellkern.co.uk

The Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 (with SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO DAC module) is priced £1,399 / $1,499 / €1,599 and is available now from www.astellkern.co.uk

Technical Specifications

Body Material: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polycarbonate

Body Colour: Moon Silver

Sample Rate:

PCM: 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample)
DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo
DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo / DSD512(1bit 22.4MHz), Stereo

Outputs: Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported / 4.4m, only 5-pole supported)

Output Level:

[Normal Gain] Unbalanced 2Vrms / Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load)
[High Gain] Unbalanced 3Vrms / Balanced 6Vrms (Condition No Load)

DAC: AKM AK4493SEQ x 2 (Dual DAC)

Decoding: Support up to 32bit / 768kHz Bit-to-Bit playback

Dimensions: 3.03″(77mm)[W] x 2.99″(76mm)[H] x 0.78″(19.9mm)[D]

Weight: 90g (3.17oz)

Playback Time: about 14hours (Standard: FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Vol.50, LCD Off)

Audio Specifications

Frequency Response:

±0.09dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.04dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.65dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / ±0.65dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced

S/N:

[Normal Gain] 121dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 121dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
[High Gain] 125dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

Crosstalk

[Normal Gain] -134dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -138dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
[High Gain] -135dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / -143dB @ 1kHz, Balanced

THD+N

[Normal Gain] 0.0003% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced
[High Gain] 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 0.0006% @ 1kHz, Balanced

IMD SMPTE: 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)

IMAGE DOWNLOADS

Astell&Kern, the global leader in premium portable high-resolution audio devices, introduces the SE180, the third model in its award-winning A&futura series and the audio specialist’s first player to feature interchangeable all-in-one DAC modules. Expanding on the multi-DAC innovation first introduced with the SE200, music fans can customise their sound with different audio-flavoured DACs to find the hi-fi-grade sonics that suit them.

The A&futura SE180 is the company’s most advance player yet and is the first model to boast Astell&Kern’s TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution technology for improved audio, an enhanced user-interface design, a full HD display and added advanced connectivity functionality.

Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 new audio design and feature innovations include:

Interchangeable all-in-one DAC modules
New TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution technology
Full HD display for improved image quality
Enhanced user interface more consistent with an Android smartphone experience
AK File Drop for easier wireless file transfers
BT Sink function for simpler connection of the SE180 to an external Bluetooth device

INTERCHANGEABLE DAC MODULES

The innovative interchangeable DAC design not only offers a new level of audio flexibility for the user but also improves the sound performance. By physically separating the main body from the all-in-one module, power and radio frequency (RF) noise generated by the main unit is completely blocked. This creates an independent structure that prevents noise from interfering with music playback.

The module slots easily into place from the top of the player and features an innovative double locking mechanism that securely connects each component. Expertly engineered, with flowing smooth lines between each part, there isn’t a noticeable trace of two separate elements in play.

The A&futura SE180 arrives with a default module featuring the SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO, an 8-channel DAC traditionally used for premium home audio equipment. This DAC provides a wider dynamic range and greater detail, while audio file support is extensive for high-resolution fans, with the SEM1 DAC capable of playing up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256 files.

The SEM2 Asahi Kasei AK4497EQ Dual DAC has the ability to play files up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD512.

The SEM3 ESS ES9038Q2M Quad DAC supports high-resolution audio playback up to native DSD512 and 32bit/768kHz.

The SEM4 Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ dual DAC is the first to feature Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) upsampling technology, enhancing the sample rate of the audio source so music fans can get closer to the analogue-like original sound.

All modules support 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones connections for accommodating a greater variety of headphones and in-ear monitors (IEM), while there is support for MQA playback via downloaded MQA audio files and through the Tidal music app.

INTRODUCING TERATON ALPHA SOUND SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY

The result of extensive research and development, Astell&Kern’s patented TERATON ALPHA Sound Solution is designed to deliver audio playback close to the original sound. The onboard DAC is not the only factor that determines the quality of sound from a DAP: Power, noise, signal conversion, circuit structure all effect the sound signature. Only when each and every one of these elements are optimised, can a player produce sound as close as the music artist and producer intended.

With the A&futura SE180 the first to harbour TERATON ALPHA technology, it effectively removes power noise and provides efficient power consumption and amplification right through to the audio output interface stage where the digital-to-analogue signal conversion (DAC) takes place – audio technology Astell&Kern has consistently developed and perfected over the years.

ENHANCED USER INTERFACE DESIGN

The A&futura SE180 user-interface has been enhanced to offer an experience consistent with an Android smartphone. A new navigation bar pinned at the bottom of the screen allows users to control playback and skip tracks from any screen, while a single swipe returns to the previous screen. Like the SE200, users can also discern the volume level, file type and bitrate being played thanks to the colour-coded LED light surrounding the player’s volume wheel.

FULL HD DISPLAY

Album artwork pops from the screen with the A&futura SE180 is the first Astell&Kern player to boast a full HD display. This 5-inch touchscreen packs a 1920×1080 pixel resolution, 16.7 million colours and 441 PPI, resulting in a clean and sharp user-interface design.

CONNECTIVITY

The A&futura SE180 is also the first model to feature AK File Drop for easier wireless file transfers. Users can wirelessly transfer files through a PC, smartphone, or FTP program located on the same network to make music management even more convenient.

The newly introduced BT Sink function connects the A&futura SE180 to an external device, such as a smartphone, via Bluetooth, enabling music to be played back in high-quality on the Astell&Kern player.

Elsewhere the A&futura SE180 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, providing greater range and a more stable wireless connection to headphones and, along with support for 24-bit aptX HD and LDAC codecs, offers the best possible wireless sound quality.

The A&futura SE180 features 256GB on-board memory that can be expanded up to 1TB via a microSD card slot, meaning users can carry thousands of hi-res albums with them at all times.

To keep the A&futura SE180 in pristine condition but still stylish, a Black or Navy leather case is available. Using quality Badalassi Carlo Minerva leather, this material is made from a process called ‘full vegetable tanning’, a traditional method used in Italy for over 200 years, that brings out the special characteristic of leather while creating a natural tanning look. A variety of trees and plants are involved in this tanning process which takes about 40 days to complete, while containing oil that allows the leather to shine the more it is used.

The Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 (with SEM1 ESS ES9038PRO DAC module) is priced £1,399 / $1,499 / €1,599 and is available now from www.astellkern.co.uk

The optional Astell&Kern SEM2 Asahi Kasei AK4497EQ Dual DAC Module is priced £319 / $349 / €379 and is available now from www.astellkern.co.uk

The optional Astell&Kern SEM3 ESS ES9038Q2M Quad DAC Module is priced £319 / $349 / €379 and is available now from www.astellkern.co.uk

The optional Astell&Kern SEM4 Asahi Kasei AK4493SEQ Dual DAC Module is priced £369 / $400 / €429 and is available now from www.astellkern.co.uk

Technical Specifications

Astell&Kern A&futura SE180

Body Material: Aluminium

Colour: Moon Silver

Display: 5-inch, 1920×1080 FHD

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

Services: (Tidal Masters), Local files, External USB, MQA-CD (ripped)

Input: USB Type-C input (for 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: 9.88oz (280g)

Feature Enhancements: Firmware upgrade supported (OTA)

SAR: Body 10g SAR (W/Kg) _ WLAN 2.4Ghz: 0.016

Clock Jitter: 25ps (Typ)

Reference Clock Jitter: 800 Femto Seconds

Wheel: LED Light (LED Indicator)

Built-In Memory: 256GB (NAND)

External Memory: microSD Card x1 (Max. 1TB)

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

Charge Time: About 5hours (Standard: 5V / 2A Charging), about 3hours (Fast: 9V / 1.67A Charging)

Supported OS: Windows 8,10(32/64bit) Mac OS X 10.7 and up

Astell&Kern SEM1 DAC

Body Material: Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Polycarbonate

Body Colour: Moon Silver

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

Outputs: Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported / 4.4mm, only 5-pole supported)

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]

Weight: 3.53oz (100g)

Playback Time: About 10.5hours (FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD Off)

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, Balanced

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 SMPTE: 0.0004%, 800Hz 10kHz (4:1), Unbalanced / 0.0004%, 800Hz 10kHz (4:1), Balanced

Output Impedance: 3.5mm (1ohm) / 2.5mm (1.5ohm) / 4.4mm (1.5ohm)

Astell&Kern SEM2 DAC

Body Material: Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Polycarbonate

Body Colour: Moon Silver

Sample Rate:

PCM: 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample)
DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo /
DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo / DSD512(1bit 22.4MHz), Stereo

Outputs: Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported / 4.4mm, only 5-pole supported)

Output Level: