Astell&Kern A&futura SE300 High Resolution Portable Music Player

Fully Discrete 24bit R-2R DAC

To ensure the A&futura SE300 audio player better reproduces analog sounds, we set out to combine the DAC and AMP sections for the first time during the initial design phase.

The SE300 comes supplied with an R-2R DAC, instead of a Delta-Sigma DAC that is most commonly used in other audio players. R-2R DAC, also known as Ladder DAC, as it arranges resistors in a ladder form, offers natural yet dynamic Hi-Fi sounds, but it is extremely technical and difficult to execute as it requires complex refined resistor units and hard to manage current controls.

However, despite these technical challenges, after several years for development and a lot of trial and error we have managed to overcome this and create a new analog sound. In the process, we have meticulously selected each and every one of the 96 ultra-precision resistors and finalized our R-2R DAC technology.

SE300 takes us one step closer to realizing analog sound from a digital source and is the result of a long journey taken by Astell&Kern with uncompromising craftsmanship to find the ultimate sound solution.

Realization of 24-bit Decoding with R-2R DAC

The R-2R DAC within the SE300 arranges 48 pairs (23xR and 25x2R) of 96 ultra-precision resistors to create analog signals, in turn realizing true Hi-Fi 24-bit decoding.

Ultra-precision resistor Design, the Key to Hi-Fi Sound

It is key to total the accurate current value with resistors that has the smallest error ranges in order to create Hi-Fi sound with an R-2R DAC. To realize this, Astell&Kern inspected each specifically selected ultra-precision resistor of 0.01% error range to complete the design of SE300.

Ultra-precision TCR10 Specifications

To create Hi-Fi sound without distortions within such an extreme precision design, we analyzed and preconceived any potential impacts that may be caused by changes in temperature. The SE300 comes with special *TCR10 specifications to minimize the changes in the 0.01% resistor error range.

* TCR10: 10 ppm/℃ Low Temperature Coefficient of resistor

Supporting Class A/AB Dual AMP Mode

The SE300 comes with a Dual AMP mode. Class A amplification that creates low distortions and natural sounds and a Class AB amplification that plays dynamic sounds with high efficiency so users can pick and choose from the two amps according to their listening preferences and genre of music that they are playing.

Experience the true sounds that only Astell&Kern can deliver with the SE300 that comes with an R-2R DAC and Class A/AB Dual AMPs born from Astell&Kern’s unique proprietary designs that reduces power consumption whilst enhancing output and removing noise.

Class A AMP mode

Class A AMP is an analog amp that offers the best linear output, amplifying signals without distortion or loss of signal and providing soft, warm, and natural sounds. The refined analog signal created directly by the R-2R DAC, reproduces a sound closest to the original analog audio through the organic and powerful Class A AMP.

Class AB AMP Mode

Class AB AMP is an analog amp that offers a powerful output with the added benefit of high efficiency.
This presents dynamic and crisp sounds with less harmonic distortion.

2-Step Gain Mode for the Perfect Hi-Fi Experience

For seamless use of sensitive IEMs and hard to drive headphones, a device must provide suitable output, respective of the connected device’s specification.

The SE300 supports a 2-step Gain Level mode to create the prefect match for a wide range of headphones and IEMs, maintaining an optimal sound output.
The two-step gain setting with "Normal" and "High Gain" modes can generate a high current output to create a powerful sound and excellent driver control.
With up to 6 Vrms from the balanced connections, driving high-impedance headphones has never been easier.

Specifications

• Model: SE300

• 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℉)

Clock Source

• Clock Jitter: 25pS (Typ)

• Reference Clock Jitter: 500 Femto Seconds

Storage Capacity

• Built-in Memory: 256GB [NAND]

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

Battery

• 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)

Supported OS

• Windows 10,11(32/64bit) MAC OS X 10.7