The Future of Analog Sound, SE300

A&futura from Astell&Kern is a product line that represents Astell&Kern’s ceaseless efforts for innovation. SE300, the fourth model in the A&futura range is a premium digital audio player that inherits this identity and expands the scope of sound with an entirely new implemented technology.

A&futura SE300 is equipped with an ultra-refined R-2R DAC, Class A/AB dual amps born with our proprietary TERATON ALPHA technology, and for the first time a self-developed FPGA optimized technology. With these unrivaled components, it offers the true sound philosophy and technology of Astell&Kern.

Immerse yourself into the true analog sound that the SE300 produces with Class-A AMP and R-2R DAC technologies, for the first time in an Astell&Kern player. 

Features

• Fully Discrete 24 bit R-2R DAC
• 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

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.

TERATON ALPHA, The Essence of A&K Audio Technologies

It would not have been possible to combine the exquisitely designed R-2R DAC with ultra-precision resistors and Class A AMP, which was considered impossible to miniaturize, without the innovative audio technology of TERATON ALPHA. SE300 is an innovative audio player that is applied with current and temperature control of TERATON ALPHA technology and an optimized FPGA design.

TERATON ALPHA, engineered through endless research, is Astell&Kern's unique technology that has been designed to produce audio playback that is as close to the original sound through effective power noise removal, efficient power management and unwavering amplification, and a fully converted audio output interface.
Circuit structures of R2R DAC and Dual A/AB AMP that are applied for the first time in the SE300 is completed with the sound solution of TERATON ALPHA, creating the purest form of sounds and music.

Specification

General Specifications

Model	SE300
Body Color	Platinum Silver
Body Material	Aluminum and Stainless Steel
Display	5.46-inch HD 1,080 x 1,920 Touch screen
Supported Audio Formats	WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, MQA
Sample Rate	PCM: 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32-bits per Sample) DSD: DSD64 (1-bit, 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128 (1-bit, 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256 (1-bit, 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 32-bit / 384kHz Bit-to-Bit 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) | 4.4mm, 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 upgrades supported (OTA)
Operating Temperature	0℃ ~ + 40℃ (32℉~ 104℉)

Audio Performance

Frequency Response	±0.038dB (Condition 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced / Balanced ±0.045dB (Condition 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced / Balanced
Signal to Noise Ratio	[Normal Gain] 114dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 115dB @ 1kHz, Balanced [High Gain] 115dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced / 115dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
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 (1.3 ohm) | Balanced Out 2.5mm (1.3 ohm, 4.4mm (1.3 ohm)

 

Clock Source

Clock Jitter	25ps (Typ)
Reference Clock Jitter	500 Femto Seconds

 

Memory

Built-In Memory	256GB [NAND]
External Memory	microSD (Max. 1TB) x 1

 

Battery

Capacity	5,050mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer Battery
Charge Time	About 3.5 hours (9V/1.67A Charging)
Playback Time	About 12 hours (Standard: FLAC, 16-bit, 44.1kHz, Vol. 50, LCD Off, Normal Gain)

 

OS

Supported OS

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