NEW - Astell&Kern SE200 Music Player
Jun 26, 2020 at 9:54 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 8
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Just Announced!
Astell & Kern A&futura SE200 DAP Music Player
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NEW! Introducing the world's first multi-DAC DAP, the Astell&Kern A&futura SE200. The SE200 is the world’s first digital audio player to be equipped with DACs from two different manufacturers, ESS and AKM, in one device. The SE200 was not designed with one AMP circuit, but separate AMP designs to optimize the different characteristics of the AKM and ESS DACs that are used in the player. DAC filters are available to further customize your sound. The SE200 supports native 32bit/384kHz and DSD256 playback and features LED lighting around the volume wheel which displays different colors of light, including red, green, blue, and purple to reflect music playback information including volume range, bit-rate of track currently playing and the current DAC that is being used for playback of music. Other features include MQA support, 5.0-inch HD touchscreen, 256GB of internal memory with support for microSD cards up to 1TB, Wi-Fi, DLNA networking, USB digital audio output, aptX HD, USB-C for data transfer and fast-charge and support for music streaming services via our OpenApp platform.

Available in July 2020.

Order here:
https://www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-a-futura-se200-dap.html

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Check out more info on the New Astell&Kern SE200 DAP Music Player
 
Moon Audio Stay updated on Moon Audio at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Jun 26, 2020 at 11:29 AM Post #2 of 8
Putting two DACs in the same player is an interesting choice, but I'd suggest that putting in a 4.4mm and ditching 2.5mm would have been a better choice. Also, which DAC chips? I'm going to guess single AKM4492ECB and single ES9028Q2M. Also why gimp the DSD to 256? DSD512 is probably supported by whatever chip you use. This seems like a conscious choice to give an elitist 'upgrade' path for something that is potentially only a lateral move.

I honestly don't think it matters, I can't tell the difference between DSD256 and DSD128, and doubt anybody can tell the differences between DSD256 and DSD512 in a blinded test. Just because it takes more space doesn't mean it sounds better. The optics are just bad, like when you named the SR15 Norma (implying for normal people) and gimped it to DSD128 (DoP) and USB micro just to be condescending (and then realised this was mean and released a SR25 with the same chip later with DSD256 Native and USB C at the exact same price). Astell & Kern needs to think beyond being elitist.
 
Jun 26, 2020 at 9:42 PM Post #3 of 8
Also, which DAC chips? I'm going to guess single AKM4492ECB and single ES9028Q2M.
You don't have to guess, it is listed at the top of the page when you click on the more info link:
  • Equipped with the world's first Multi-DAC (2 x ESS ES9068AS + 1 x AKM AK4499EQ)
 
Astell&Kern Stay updated on Astell&Kern at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Jun 27, 2020 at 5:48 AM Post #4 of 8
lol
 
Jun 29, 2020 at 12:23 PM Post #5 of 8
You don't have to guess, it is listed at the top of the page when you click on the more info link:
  • Equipped with the world's first Multi-DAC (2 x ESS ES9068AS + 1 x AKM AK4499EQ)
I don't think it was listed on Moon Audio when first posted. Could be me missing something, but I looked all over Moon Audio before posting.

ESS doesn't list that chip, is it ES9068Q or something bespoke for you? They've also never posted the ES9068Q full spec sheet on esstech, as far as I can tell. ES9068AS searches only return the SE200.
 
Jul 29, 2020 at 9:59 PM Post #6 of 8
I don't think it was listed on Moon Audio when first posted. Could be me missing something, but I looked all over Moon Audio before posting.

ESS doesn't list that chip, is it ES9068Q or something bespoke for you? They've also never posted the ES9068Q full spec sheet on esstech, as far as I can tell. ES9068AS searches only return the SE200.
Did you ever come across clarification on the DAC chip? I searched as well and, same as you, only found reference to the SE200.
 

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