Astell & Kern
A&futura SE300 Music Player DAP
$1,499.00 USDFeatures
Equipped with 96 ultra-precision 0.01% & TCR10 resistors
New Dual AMP (Class A/AB) mode
Option for OS / NOS modes
Implemented self-developed and optimized FPGA technology
New Crimson theme UI/UX
Supports Bluetooth 5.0 and wireless Hi-Fi
What's in the Box?
Warranty
SE300: The Future of Analog Sound
The SE300 is a groundbreaking Astell&Kern music player, being the first to deliver true analog sound through its innovative R-2R DAC and dual Class A/AB amplification. This new addition to the A&futura line embodies Astell&Kern's commitment to continuous innovation, bringing cutting-edge technology and enhanced sonic capabilities to your music experience.
As the fourth model in the A&futura series, the SE300 pushes the boundaries of audio performance. It features an ultra-refined R-2R DAC, which provides a rich, analog-like sound quality. Additionally, it incorporates Class A/AB dual amplifiers, utilizing Astell&Kern's proprietary TERATON ALPHA technology, known for its superior audio fidelity and efficient power management.
Astell&Kern has also equipped the SE300 with a self-developed FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) optimized technology for the first time, further enhancing the player’s performance and precision. This advanced FPGA technology works in harmony with the R-2R DAC and dual amplifiers to deliver a pristine audio experience that stays true to the original sound. The A&futura SE300 represents the pinnacle of Astell&Kern's technological advancements, offering audiophiles an unparalleled music player that combines traditional analog warmth with modern digital precision.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Astell&Kern SE300 DAP Music Player with our popular Silver Dragon USB Audio Cable. The Silver Dragon USB cable is our best selling USB cable at Moon Audio, offering an extraordinary amount of detail and resolution to your hi-fi system. The Silver Dragon USB cable is designed to transfer digital audio from your source device (like a computer, phone, tablet, or digital audio player) to a USB-capable DAC. It is built to USB Audio specs. The Silver Dragon USB Cable is meant for audio data transfer only - meaning that this cable should not be used for high-speed data transmission (for external hard drives). Because of the high-quality materials and cable geometry, our USB cables will greatly reduce stock USB cable issues such as packet loss and jitter.
Features:
- R-2R DAC: The SE300 features a high-precision R-2R DAC, which delivers an authentic analog sound, providing a rich and natural listening experience.
- Class A/AB Dual Amplifiers: Equipped with both Class A and Class AB amplification modes, the SE300 offers flexibility in sound output, allowing users to choose between the warm, smooth sound of Class A and the more dynamic, powerful output of Class AB.
- TERATON ALPHA Technology: Utilizes Astell&Kern's proprietary TERATON ALPHA technology, which optimizes power management, noise reduction, and signal amplification to ensure superior audio quality.
- Self-Developed FPGA Technology: The SE300 incorporates a self-developed FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) optimized for high-fidelity audio processing, enhancing precision and performance.
- High-Resolution Audio Support: Supports a wide range of high-resolution audio formats including DSD (up to DSD256), FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, and MQA, ensuring compatibility with various audio sources.
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz): Offers enhanced network performance for streaming Hi-Fi music and utilizing Roon Ready services seamlessly.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Supports high-quality wireless audio via Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and LDAC codecs, ensuring high-fidelity wireless playback.
- Expandable Storage: Features internal storage capacity (built-in memory) with the option to expand via a microSD card slot, supporting cards up to 1TB.
- Long Battery Life: Provides up to 14 hours of continuous playback time, allowing for extended listening sessions without frequent recharging.
- Touchscreen Display: Comes with a high-resolution touchscreen display for intuitive navigation and control over music playback and settings. Quad-core CPU for smooth performance. Compatible with hi-res BT Sink and AK File Drop technologies.
- ReplayGain: Integrates ReplayGain technology to automatically and uniformly adjust playback volume across tracks, ensuring a consistent listening experience.
- Elegant Design: The SE300 showcases a sleek and modern design, embodying both aesthetic appeal and ergonomic functionality.
Fully Discrete 24bit R-2R DAC
To ensure that the A&futura SE300 audio player delivers superior analog sound, Astell&Kern innovatively integrated the DAC and AMP sections during the initial design phase. Unlike the more common Sigma Delta DACs found in other portable music players, the SE300 is equipped with an R-2R DAC. This type of DAC, also known as a ladder DAC, arranges resistors in a ladder formation, providing natural yet dynamic Hi-Fi sound. Implementing an R-2R DAC is highly technical and challenging due to the need for complex, refined resistor units and precise current control.
Despite these challenges, Astell&Kern dedicated several years to overcoming these obstacles through extensive development and trial and error. The result is a breakthrough in analog sound quality. Astell&Kern meticulously selected each of the 96 ultra-precision resistors to perfect the R-2R DAC technology. The SE300 brings us closer to achieving true analog sound from a digital source, showcasing Astell&Kern's uncompromising craftsmanship and relentless pursuit of the ultimate sound solution.
Realization of 24-bit Decoding with R-2R DAC:
The R-2R DAC within the SE300 utilizes an intricate arrangement of 96 ultra-precision resistors, divided into 48 pairs (23xR and 25x2R), to generate analog signals. This sophisticated configuration allows the SE300 to achieve true Hi-Fi 24-bit decoding, delivering an exceptionally accurate and dynamic sound reproduction. Each resistor pair is carefully calibrated to ensure precise current control and signal fidelity, which is essential for capturing the full depth and nuance of high-resolution audio. This meticulous design reflects Astell&Kern's commitment to providing an unparalleled listening experience by bridging the gap between digital and analog sound.
Ultra-precision resistor Design, the Key to Hi-Fi Sound
Achieving Hi-Fi sound with an R-2R DAC requires the precise summation of current values using resistors with minimal error margins. To accomplish this, Astell&Kern meticulously inspected and selected ultra-precision resistors with an error range of just 0.01%. This rigorous selection process was essential in finalizing the design of the SE300, ensuring the highest accuracy and fidelity in audio reproduction.
Ultra-precision TCR10 Specifications
To achieve distortion-free Hi-Fi sound within this highly precise design, Astell&Kern anticipated and analyzed potential impacts from temperature fluctuations. The SE300 incorporates special TCR10 specifications to minimize variations in the 0.01% resistor error range, ensuring consistent and accurate audio reproduction.
* TCR10: 10 ppm/℃ Low Temperature Coefficient of resistor
Supporting Class A/AB Dual AMP Mode
The SE300 features Dual AMP modes: Class A amplification for low distortion and natural sound, and Class AB amplification for dynamic, efficient sound. Users can select their preferred mode based on their listening preferences and the genre of music.
Experience the unparalleled sound quality that only Astell&Kern can deliver with the SE300, equipped with an R-2R DAC and Class A/AB Dual AMPs. These proprietary designs enhance output, reduce power consumption, and eliminate noise.
Class A AMP Mode: This analog amp provides the best linear output, amplifying signals without distortion or loss, resulting in soft, warm, and natural sounds. The refined analog signal, directly generated by the R-2R DAC, reproduces audio closest to the original analog source through the powerful Class A AMP.
Class AB AMP Mode: This analog amp delivers powerful output with high efficiency, producing dynamic and crisp sounds with minimal harmonic distortion.
2-Step Gain Mode for the Perfect Hi-Fi Experience
To seamlessly accommodate both sensitive IEMs and hard-to-drive headphones, a device must provide output that matches the specifications of the connected audio gear. The SE300 offers a 2-step Gain Level mode, ensuring optimal sound output for a wide range of headphones and IEMs. The "Normal" and "High Gain" settings allow for high current output, delivering powerful sound and excellent driver control. With up to 6 Vrms available from the balanced connections, driving high-impedance headphones is effortless.
TERATON ALPHA, The Essence of A&K Audio Technologies
Combining the exquisitely designed R-2R DAC with ultra-precision resistors and a Class A AMP, previously deemed impossible to miniaturize, was made achievable by the innovative TERATON ALPHA audio technology. The SE300 features advanced current and temperature control via TERATON ALPHA, along with an optimized FPGA design, marking it as a groundbreaking audio player.
Developed through extensive research, TERATON ALPHA is Astell&Kern's proprietary technology designed to deliver audio playback that remains true to the original sound. It accomplishes this through effective power noise removal, efficient power management, unwavering amplification, and a fully converted audio output interface. The SE300, with its R-2R DAC and Dual Class A/AB AMP circuits, showcases this technology for the first time, providing the purest form of sound and music possible.
A New Design for a New Music Player
Astell&Kern's design philosophy for the A&futura SE300 music player revolves around the theme of "Stream." Inspired by the transformation of small ripples into crashing waves, AK crafted the SE300 with a Class A amplifier—a pinnacle in AMP technology—to give it a distinctive identity among Astell&Kern DAPs.
Crafted primarily from aluminum, the SE300 features sleek surfaces that mimic the fluidity of music. AK incorporates materials like stainless steel and glass to further accentuate the "Stream" theme. The bottom section of the player gently curves outward, enhancing ergonomic comfort during use. On the right side, stainless steel coating adds a visual focal point. Every pattern, curve, and design element of the SE300 embodies the "Stream" concept from inception to completion.
Supporting Optimized FPGA OS / NOS Modes
The SE300 incorporates Astell&Kern’s proprietary FPGA and offers optimized OS/NOS modes. Instead of using standard commercial semiconductor chipsets, the SE300 utilizes Astell&Kern’s self-developed FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) for a tailored design, efficiently transmitting digital signals to the R-2R DAC through specialized algorithms. This FPGA, specifically engineered for the SE300, supports the optimal OS (Over Sampling) / NOS (Non-Over Sampling) modes. Experience distinct sound signatures achieved through meticulously crafted NOS and OS modes, perfectly tailored to the SE300’s hardware and software configurations.
NOS (Non-Over Sampling) Mode
In NOS mode, the player reproduces the pure original sound without any digital processing, allowing users to enjoy the true unprocessed sounds decoded by the R-2R DAC itself.
OS (Over Sampling) Mode
OS mode offers partial digital processing that expands the bandwidth of the original signal to offer impressive details, with an expansive sense of space creating crisp and clear sounds.
New Experience, New User Interface
The SE300 introduces a refreshed Crimson-themed UI/UX designed to redefine the music player experience, fostering deeper connections with your music. This updated interface allows users to effortlessly navigate music categories and rediscover songs within their library. The new UI/UX is designed so that users can quickly browse music categories and re-discover songs within their music library. An added album art search feature enhances the joy of exploring music visually while listening.
Focused on edge, simplicity, and dark mode aesthetics, the crimson theme pairs black with red accents to reduce visual fatigue and enhance user intuition. Numerous enhancements improve user-friendliness across app services, artist views, album sorting, and album art searches. Immerse yourself in music with our enhanced UI/UX, tailored for a seamless and enjoyable listening journey.
Real-Time Information Confirmed by Light
Behind the exquisite A&futura SE300 volume wheel is an LED light that is reminiscent of rising waves. With the LED light that radiates from the inside of the SE300, users can check the Bit Depth information of the currently playing music or the current AMP mode.
MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information. Astell&Kern SE300 includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording.
The MQA logo is a trademark of MQA Limited. © MQA Limited 2018.
Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries.
LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
Roon Ready network players from our partners have Roon’s high-resolution streaming technology built right in. They combine simple setup, daily reliability, and support for the highest level of digital audio performance in the industry. Every Roon Ready player is certified by Roon to guarantee the same stellar experience, regardless of its manufacturer, its price, or its features. * Roon Ready and MQA features will be supported through a firmware update.
About DAPs:
Digital portable music players (DAPs) cater to music enthusiasts seeking high-fidelity audio experiences on the go. These devices, often equipped with Android or specialized OS, support a variety of formats including MP3 and lossless formats like FLAC and WAV, ensuring pristine sound quality. DAPs integrate powerful amplifiers, enhancing playback through earbuds or headphones, delivering immersive soundscapes. For audiophiles and music lovers, features like headphone jacks and expandable SD card storage are essential, allowing ample music collection storage and connectivity flexibility. Leading brands and devices such as the old Apple iPod, Sony NW Walkman, and Astell&Kern craft DAPs with advanced open technologies like proprietary DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) and streaming capabilities, enabling seamless access to music libraries and online music streaming services. Whether exploring the clarity of hi-fi audio or embracing the nostalgia of MP3 players, DAPs redefine portable music enjoyment with innovative designs and uncompromising sound fidelity.
What's in the Box?
- SE300 Music Player DAP
- USB-C Charging Cable
- Manual and Warranty
FAQ
What audio formats does the SE300 support?
The Astell&Kern SE300 supports a wide range of audio formats including MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DSD (up to DSD256), and MQA.
What is the storage capacity of the SE300?
The SE300 typically comes with internal storage options of 128GB, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot supporting cards up to 1TB.
Does the SE300 have a balanced output?
Yes, the SE300 features both balanced (4.4mm and 2.5mm) and unbalanced (3.5mm) outputs, providing versatile connectivity for various headphones and audio setups.
How long is the battery life of the SE300?
The SE300 offers up to 14 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, depending on the usage and file format being played.
Can the SE300 connect to streaming services?
Yes, the SE300 supports streaming services like Tidal and Spotify, allowing users to enjoy online music via Wi-Fi.
Does the SE300 support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi?
Yes, the SE300 supports both Bluetooth (with aptX HD and LDAC for high-quality wireless audio) and Wi-Fi connectivity, making it easy to stream music and update the firmware.
What is the DAC configuration in the SE300?
The SE300 features an advanced DAC configuration, often utilizing high-end DAC chips such as the ESS ES9038PRO, ensuring top-notch audio performance.
Is the SE300 Roon Ready?
Yes, the SE300 is Roon Ready, meaning it can seamlessly integrate with Roon’s music management and streaming system for a high-quality audio experience.
Does the SE300 have a touchscreen display?
Yes, the SE300 includes a high-resolution touchscreen display for intuitive navigation and control over playback and settings.
Specifications
- Body Color
- Platinum Silver
- Body Material
- Aluminum and Stainless Steel
- Display
- 5.46inch HD 1080 x 1920 touch screen
- Supported Audio Formats
- WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF
- Sample rate
- PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample)
- DSD : DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo
- Output Level
- [Normal] Unbalanced 2Vrms │ Balanced 4Vrms (Condition No Load)
- [High] Unbalanced 3Vrms │ Balanced 6Vrms (Condition No Load)
- CPU
- Quad-core
- DAC
- Full Discrete R-2R
- Decoding
- Support up to 32bit / 384kHz playback
- Input
- USB Type-C input (for charging & PC & MAC)
- Outputs
- Unbalanced Out (3.5mm), Optical Out(3.5mm)
- Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported | 4.4m, only 5-pole supported)
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
- Bluetooth
- V5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, LDAC)
- Dimensions
- 3.01” (76.45mm)[W] x 5.49” (139.45mm)[H] x 0.69” (17.6mm)[D]
- Weight
- About 11.18oz (317g)
- Feature Enhancements
- Firmware upgrade supported (OTA)
- Operating Temperature
- 0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)
General Specifications
- Frequency Response
- ±0.038dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced │Balanced
- ±0.45dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced │Balanced
- S/N
- 114dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 115dB @ 1kHz, Balanced (Normal Gain)
- 115dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 115dB @ 1kHz, Balanced (High Gain)
- Crosstalk
- -135dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -144dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
- THD+N
- 0.006% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.006% @ 1kHz, Balanced
- IMD SMPTE
- 0.005% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │Balanced
- Output Impedance
- Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (1.3ohm) │ Balanced Out 2.5mm (1.3ohm), 4.4mm(1.3ohm)
- Clock Jitter
- 25pS (Typ)
- Reference Clock Jitter
- 500 Femto Seconds
- Built-in Memory
- 256GB [NAND]
- External Memory
- microSD x1 (Max. 1TB)
- Capacity
- 5,050mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer
- Charge Time
- about 3.5hours (9V 1.67A Charging)
- Playback Time
- about 12hours (Standard : FLAC, 16bit, 44.1kHz, Vol.50, LCD Off, Normal Gain)
- Windows 10,11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7