Astell&Kern A&futura SE180 - The First Modular DAP from Astell&Kern

[turbofeet]

I'm also selling my SEM3 on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19552983...AKhRTzZSRi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

After reading this thread however it seems SEM4 is probably a clear winner for most people..

I have purchased the SEM4 and indeed it is warmer and more to my tastes.

Not sure about the additional DAR feature but if anything perhaps the PCM one sounds a little better to me. It's great without though.

If anyone wants a more technical flavour then just PM me and I'll take the SEM3 off from eBay and sell it privately.

Cheers all

 

[shwnwllms]

Not yet, expecting it to be available soon. Just asked the team for an update.

Any word on when we can expect an announcement on this? Let’s start off 2023 with a bang!

 

[558698]

@JasonNYC Hi Jason, I've been having some issues with my SE180.
There's some power noise in my house it seems, and when using IEMs with my SE180 this noise is audible if the SE180 is plugged into wall power (directly or indirectly through e.g. a PC).
The product page of the SE180 always boasted a lot of (vague) things about "power noise removal" and the like, so I was wondering whether this isn't supposed to be dealt with by the device.
If it isn't, it'd be really nice if the product page wouldn't act like it has a miracle cure to noise from the outside, or isn't, at best, ambiguous about it.

 

[qsk78]

Do you guys expereince any background noise with very sensetive IEM on the 4.4/2.5 mm output in case of SEM4?
I read one complain that SEM4 can be noisy in comparision with SEM1 with certain type of IEM.
Thanks.

 

[carlton22]

I was perusing the A&K US store site today and found the SE180 and the SEM2, SEM3, and SEM4 listed on the Closeouts page, which has a heading of “Grab the last remaining and final inventory of these Astell & Kern products.” So it would appear that the SE180 might be discontinued. Has anyone else heard this from another source?

 

[shwnwllms]

I was perusing the A&K US store site today and found the SE180 and the SEM2, SEM3, and SEM4 listed on the Closeouts page, which has a heading of “Grab the last remaining and final inventory of these Astell & Kern products.” So it would appear that the SE180 might be discontinued. Has anyone else heard this from another source?

This is the first I’ve heard of that and seems to contradict some other recent info on this thread. @JasonNYC can you please confirm?

 

[carlton22]

This is the first I’ve heard of that and seems to contradict some other recent info on this thread. @JasonNYC can you please confirm?

If the SE180 is indeed discontinued, that will mean the entire A&futura line is now gone. I speculate whether this was due to insufficient sales or to better-than-expected sales that poached from the A&ultima line.

 

[Huckle]

Any word on when we can expect an announcement on this? Let’s start off 2023 with a bang!

Hi @JasonNYC ! Happy new year! Any news regarding the ARC support on SE180? What about the brand new ACRO CA1000T?

 

[carlton22]

Do you guys expereince any background noise with very sensetive IEM on the 4.4/2.5 mm output in case of SEM4?
I read one complain that SEM4 can be noisy in comparision with SEM1 with certain type of IEM.
Thanks.

I listen with Thieaudio Monarch IEMs through the 2.5 mm output and get no noise whatsoever with the SEM4.

 

[qsk78]

I can confirm myself now - dead silence with Earsonics S-EM9.

 

[3388]

Hi, I m pairing se180/sem4 with HS2000MX listen to orchestral music, wanted to change HS2000 to other earphone, budget USD 2,000 any recommendations please?

 

[carlton22]

Hi, I m pairing se180/sem4 with HS2000MX listen to orchestral music, wanted to change HS2000 to other earphone, budget USD 2,000 any recommendations please?

Is there some aspect of the HS2000MX sound that doesn’t work for you, or are you just looking for something different?

 

[3388]

Is there some aspect of the HS2000MX sound that doesn’t work for you, or are you just looking for something different?

I m looking for something different

 

[carlton22]

I m looking for something different

I had also been looking for something different recently. I read a lot of reviews and almost bought the 64 Audio U12t. I ultimately went with the Moondrop S8, but that decision was motivated by price ($700 for the S8 vs $2,000 for the U12t). The most respected IEM reviewers all have the U12t close to the top of their rankings.

 

[3388]

I had also been looking for something different recently. I read a lot of reviews and almost bought the 64 Audio U12t. I ultimately went with the Moondrop S8, but that decision was motivated by price ($700 for the S8 vs $2,000 for the U12t). The most respected IEM reviewers all have the U12t close to the top of their rankings.

thanks, I also heard about this 64 Audio U12t...did you try them with your se180? how does it sound like and you feel upgraded from Hs2000?