Astell&Kern A&futura SE200 Digital Audio Player - Ex Demo

Astell&Kern A&futura SE200 Digital Audio Player - Ex Demo

 

If you are in the market for a premium Hi-Fi audio player with high-end sound reproduction and customisable sound signature, then the Astell&Kern A&futura SE200 is the perfect choice for you. The SE200 is the second model from the Astell&Kern A&futura premium line of Digital Audio Players. After the first model SE100, Astell&Kern were once again thinking about the nature of the word premium and asked themselves, "What is the value of premium in Hi-Fi and how can we express it with a product?". They decided "Let's make one device that nobody can duplicate". They wanted to try something no one else has tried before, including Astell&Kern. The result is the SE200.

 

With its multi-DAC configuration, you have unprecedented control over your sound experience and can fine-tune it to your exact preference. The SE200 is also equipped with an independent amplifier structure and DAC filters, allowing you to create your own unique sound. Moreover, it offers bit-to-bit playback at 32bit 384kHz, native DSD playback, an octa-core CPU and a new blue UI.  All these features make the SE200 a top-of-the-line device that offers an unparalleled level of performance. With its powerful hardware and features, the A&futura SE200 is a must-have device for any high-fidelity music enthusiast.

 

Features

• Equipped with the world's first Multi DAC (1x AK4499EQ + 2x ES9068AS)
• Independent AMP structure designed to compliment each DAC's characteristics and DAC Filters to create your own sound
• Audio performance to feel premium Hi-Fi sound presented by Astell&Kern
• Upgrades that add a Premium value experience
• 32bit 384kHz bit to bit playback
• Native DSD
• Octa-Core CPU
• New Blue UI
• LED Indicator
• Ceramic Cover Top & Rear

 

World's First Multi-DAC DAP

The A&futura SE200 is the world's first Multi DAC player. Since the release of the Dual DAC AK120 player in 2013, hardly any products featured more than Dual DACs in the last seven years. This prompted Astell&Kern to ask the question, "Why hasn't there been more than two DACs in a player?" So, they set out to become the first manufacturer to use more than two DACs and the result is the SE200.

The SE200 features the latest audiophile DACs from ESS, the ES9068AS in a Dual DAC configuration. Astell&Kern then added a single AK4499EQ, AKM's flagship DAC that is used in their flagship SP2000. Combining the three DACs, Atell&Kern have produced the world's first multi-DAC DAP.

This pairing exhibits the philosophy of the A&futura line to pursue fundamentally different sound than found in typical DAPs. To properly implement multiple DACs, Astell&Kern needed to spend twice the amount of time on development and double the amount of time in properly tuning the player.

Astell&Kern is not content to keeping things the same all the time. They are constantly working to improve on what they have already achieved to bring the most accurately reproduced and best sound to their products.

 

Independent AMP Sections Designed to Match DAC Characteristics

The SE200 was not designed with one AMP circuit, but multiple, different AMP designs to optimize the different characteristics of the AKM and ESS DACs that are used in the player.

By separating the signals for each channel of Balanced and Unbalanced, we designed independent circuits that do not interfere with each other to provide the best sound possible.

 

Your own sound style

The SE200 goes beyond selecting the best DAC for type of music you are listening to. You can now further customize your sound by choosing from a variety of DAC filters provided by the DAC manufacturer. With the SE200, you can now choose your own preferred sound profile.

• AKM AK4499EQ Filter
• Super Slow Roll-Off: No echo reproduces natural sound
• Short Delay Slow Roll-Off: Minimal echo reproduces original sound
• Slow Roll-Off: Minimal echo reproduces original sound
• Low Dispersion Short Delay: Short echo reproduces original sound
• Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off: Post echo enhances bass sound
• Sharp Roll-Off Pre and post: echoes make powerful sound
• ESS ES9068AS Filter
Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off: Most Common filter with clean suppression and high rejection, best for music with high transients. Provides crisp clean highs
• Minimum Phase Slow Roll-Off: Non Symetrical filter designed to minimize pre ringing. Strong punchy bass with good transient attacks
• Hybrid Fast Roll-Off: Combination of Linear phase and Minimum phase. Fast transient attack, strong punchy bass, crisp highs.

 

Unique manufacturing technology that takes a step further

Astell&Kern products are often compared to art sculptures, with colorful faces and angles that are not found in other products. This crafting is done using precise metal processing technology.

The SE200 maintains a similar design identity to the SE100 which combines trapezoidal straight lines and curves. These curves are the result of ultra-precision metal processing that has been perfected by Astell&Kern.

After experimenting with different materials for the rear of the SE200, Astell&Kern created a new ceramic rear cover, instead of the glass found on the previous generation SE100. This material not only improves wireless network performance, but produces a more premium feel to the player.

New manufacturing techniques were developed to precisely mold the high-gloss ceramic cover involving seven separate processes. A low-speed processing method is used to prevent cracking and produce a durable backing. The results are a rear cover that is not just beautiful, but functional.

The Aluminum body on the S200 provides maximum sound quality, while suppressing noise as much as possible. The use of laser ground extension technology gives you the best sound possible, without interference or distortion.

The vibration-free processing machines used by Astell&Kern are the same ones used by expensive Swiss luxury watch manufacturers. This is reflected in the crafting of the volume wheel which is processed precisely like the crown of a luxury watch for the best operating feel.

Astell&Kern products are designed to achieve perfect integration at whatever angle you look at it in your hands. Astell&Kern combines these small parts to make a big difference in the quality of our products that no other manufacturer can match.

 

Playback Information reflected in Light

The SE200 features a volume wheel LED that displays a variety of music playback information including volume range, bit-rate of track currently playing and the current DAC that is being used for playback of music. (LED can be turned on or off according to user setting)

 

MQA

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 SE200 includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording.

 

Specification

• Model : SE200
• Body Colour : Moon Silver
• Body Material : Aluminium
• Display : 5.0inch HD 720 x 1280 Touch Display
• Supported Audio Formats : WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
• MQA Playback : Service (Tidal Masters), Local Files, External USB, MQA-CD (Ripped)
• 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 : Unbalanced: AKM 3.0Vrms / ESS 2.0Vrms (Condition No Load), Balanced: AKM 6.0Vrms / ESS 4.0Vrms (Condition No Load)
• DAC : Multi DAC: AKM AK4499EQ x1 (Single DAC) / ESS ES9068AS x2 (Dual DAC)
• CPU : Octa-Core
• Decoding : Support up to 32bit / 384kHz Bit to Bit Decoding
• Input : USB Type-C input (for PC & MAC)
• Outputs : Unbalanced Out (3.5mm) x2 / Balanced Out (2.5mm, only 4-pole supported) x2
• Wi-Fi : 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
• Bluetooth : V4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, Qualcomm® aptXTM HD)
• Dimensions : 3.02 ”(76.9 mm) [W] x 5.20 ”(132.2 mm) [H] x 0.62 ”(15.8 mm) [D]
• Weight : 9.66 oz (about 274 g)
• Feature Enhancements : Firmware upgrades supported (OTA)
• Frequency Response : Unbalanced: AKM ±0.015dB, ESS ±0.023dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) / Balanced: AKM ±0.010dB, ESS ±0.015dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced: AKM ±0.050dB, ESS ±0.065dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) / Balanced: AKM ±0.030dB, ESS ±0.10dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz)
• Signal to Noise Ratio : Unbalanced: AKM 124dB, ESS 121dB @ 1kHz / Balanced: AKM 125dB, ESS 123dB @ 1kHz
• Crosstalk : Unbalanced: AKM -138dB, ESS -138dB @ 1kHz / Balanced: AKM -144dB, ESS -144dB @ 1kHz
• THD+N : Unbalanced: AKM 0.0003%, ESS 0.0006% @ 1kHz / Balanced: AKM 0.0004%, ESS 0.0006% @ 1kHz
• IMD SMPTE : Unbalanced: AKM 0.0003%, ESS 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz(4:1) / Balanced: AKM 0.0003%, ESS 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz(4:1)
• Output Impedance : Unbalanced Out 3.5mm (AKM 0.7ohm, ESS 1ohm) / Balanced out 2.5mm (AKM 1.3ohm, ESS 1.6ohm)
• Clock Jitter : 25ps(Typ)
• Reference Clock Jitter : 200 Femto Seconds(VCXO)
• Battery Capacity : 3,700mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer Battery
• Continuous Playback Time : About 10 hours (Standard - AK4499EQ, MUSIC: FLAC, 16-bit/44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Volume 50, EQ OFF, LCD OFF), About 14 hours (Standard - ES9068AS, MUSIC: FLAC, 16-bit/44.1kHz, Unbalanced, Volume 50, EQ OFF, LCD OFF)
• Charge Time : About 2.5 hours (Standard - 9V/1.67A Fast charging)
• Built-in Memory : 256GB [NAND]
• External Memory : microSD (Max 1TB) x 1
• Supported OS : Windows 7,8,10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X 10.7 and up

 

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.

Today, original music performances can be captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new, advanced recording technology currently available. However, these high quality recordings are mainly listened to through inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or through streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers sacrificed sound quality for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because the MP3 format heavily compresses files for the sake of convenience, the vocals and instruments you hear are only an inferior version of the original. The soundstage and the ambience of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After pondering these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to poor sound quality for the sake of portability, and our way in reviving the original sound quality of music, MQS, for music artists, recording engineers, and professionals.

Astell&Kern's pursuit is to provide natural and original sound without distortion. It showcases the presence of the original recording with miniscule details you may not have noticed from other music systems, while playing back high-resolution music bit by bit, exactly as it was recorded. The ability to play back the exact recording of any live performance is what Astell&Kern is known for.

The power of true sound from Astell&Kern can now be experienced and has been part of many famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including the USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.