AK new player "SE180" display. Acoustune new headset newsletter-spring headphone festival 2021 ONLINE

アユートが「春のヘッドフォン祭 2021 ONLINE」で披露した製品群。右がAstell&Kernの最新ハイレゾプレーヤー「A&futura SE180」、左下がAcoustuneの新しい有線イヤホン「HS2000MX」(仮称)のワーキングサンプル第2弾。手に持っているのはAcoustuneから発売予定のLightning DACアダプター「AS2000」

It brings together many portable audio brands at home and abroad, led by headphones and headphones, and also holds a major activity of the new product release and audition experience, "headphone Festival". Unfortunately, due to the coronal disaster, the real event in the spring of 2021 continued to be suspended last year, replaced by the Spring headphone Festival 2021ONLINE.

トップバッターのアユートの回には、同社の斎藤氏(S氏)が登場。Astell&Kernから4月23日に発表されたばかりの最新ハイレゾプレーヤー「A&futura SE180」が紹介された。また、Acoustune(アコースチューン)からは、現在開発中の新たなフラッグシップイヤホン「HS2000MX」のプロトタイプと、イヤホンジャックを付け替えられるモバイルユースDACアダプター「AS2000」が披露された。いずれもユーザーが好きな音を探して楽しめる、“パーツ交換可能”という共通点があるのが特徴だ。

Astell&Kern「SE180」(209,980円)は既報の通り、異なるオーディオ特性を持つ交換可能なDACモジュール(SEM1、SEM2)をユーザーが選んで付け替え、サウンドをカスタマイズできるようにしているのが大きな特徴。Astell&Kernでは、ESSと旭化成エレクトロニクス(AKM)のマルチDACを搭載したハイレゾプレーヤー「A&futura SE200」を2020年に発売しているが、新製品の「SE180」ではそのコンセプトを継承しつつ、DACモジュールの交換を可能にした。

When it comes to disassembly and disassembly, in case of falling off or poor connection, SE180 uses a double locking mechanism to realize the reliable installation of the player body and the DAC module. If the SE180 and SE200 are arranged together, the longitudinal length SE180 is slightly longer and becomes thicker because of the replaceable DAC mechanism.

SE180's default module "SEM1" installs 8ch DAC's ESS "ES9038PRO" in a single configuration. It can play PCM up to 384 kHz/32bit and native playback of DSD11.2 MHz. As an exchange module, "SEM2" (49980 yen) is equipped with AKM "AK4497EQ" in a left and right independent double structure, corresponding to the maximum PCM regeneration of 768 kHz/32bit and the local regeneration of DSD22.4 MHz. The output of the two modules as headphones, in addition to the extremely unbalanced 3.5mm3, but also has a balanced connection terminal between the 2.5mm4 pole and the 4.4mm5 pole.

Each module combines the unique "TERATON ALPHA (TERATON ALPHA)", integrates the main circuit, and pursues the playback close to the original sound. The next generation amplifier technology is also used to improve the output while achieving a maximum SN ratio of 129dB (SEM1). The highest SEM2 is 127dB). Can be switched between normal gain and high gain. The playback time is about 10.5 hours (FLAC 44.1 kHz/16bit, volume 50, unbalanced output, normal gain).

As a special guest, music producer Junosuke Sato, who has written many animated songs, made his debut. SE180 has been tried out, and the impression of sound "(standard) SEM1 has a sense of power and sounds well in all frequency bands, wanting to listen to interesting sounds of music one after another", "SEM2 (recently added in the main production site, etc.) uses the familiar sound of AKM's DAC. Enjoy the benefits of SN and rising, high-resolution sound. In addition, Mr. Sato is now hand-made Sony's stereo experience "360Reality Audio" sound SE180 can enjoy things also look forward to.

With regard to the replacement of the DAC module, Mr. Sato said with confidence that it was "very suitable for startling". He described the module as a "core fighter", while Mr. S, on the other hand, said "Pardeon", which he seemed to have taken a fancy to a long time ago.

The default SEM1 is not only a separate SEM2, but the project development of the next module is also under way. "consider it as soon as this winter, or next spring," (Mr. S). In addition, the future is a more powerful DAC composition, or a higher gain output, while listening to the user's voice, while exploring a variety of possible posture. Mr. Sato asked for "a high-power output module for the AKM dual DAC", and Mr. Kenji Nomura, who served as the active MC, asked for "a module with a stepped DAC vacuum tube (which can be doubled in length and thickness)", which made Mr. S laugh.

As for the fact that the picture supports full HD, Sato said happily: "[the work of music] can be beautifully displayed in HD resolution." "Music and visual information are also often linked. (jacket) can be displayed beautifully, visually enjoyed, and the entertainment has been improved.

As other convenient features, Ayute S introduces the new feature "BT Sink" that uses SE180 as a "Bluetooth receiver". Through any codec of SBC/AAC/LDAC, the music such as the auxiliary application of smartphone is wirelessly transmitted to SE180 and listened to through the high-quality DAC amplifier on the SE180 side. While recognizing the convenience of smartphones, we hope to give full play to the unique charm of portable players that smartphones do not have, and seek coexistence and co-prosperity. This attitude of the Japanese side is also reflected in AK, and this new feature has also yielded results.

In SE180, it is also a big point that the operation keys are concentrated in the multi-function buttons configured under the volume knob. In the common operating system of complete wireless headphones, operations such as play / song send and return are assigned according to the number of presses, reflecting the user's voice: "it's best to operate when groping with one hand."

Mr. S also mentioned that it adopted the design idea that AK did not have in previous products. As a leading manufacturer of high-resolution players, Astell&Kern has been pursuing evolution and brand features that are different from smartphones. In recent years, it has reflected the opinions of the market and users, resulting in the flexibility of using 4.4mm balance terminals in AK players. It is said that it is switching to the position of "bringing better things to the market".

Acoustune showed off the second bullet of the brand's new flagship, a working sample of wired headphones with a tentative name of "HS2000MX" (model under development). At the fall headphone Festival ONLINE in 2020, what Mr. S first revealed when he took part in the jump evolved, and the face that was dyed red in the first prototype turned a little blue and brown (the color is also uncertain).

The biggest feature of HS2000MX is that the sound room with built-in headphone drive unit can be replaced with the one the user likes. It uses Acoustune capsule technology "ACT Standard", after the screw is removed by hand, the panel will be opened, and the internal storage chamber can be removed and replaced. I actually opened the screw and saw it coming out of the chamber.

It took two and a half years of development time to develop the new "Millinks compound driver" for a single ride. From the characteristics of Acoustune headphones-"the impact sound caught with the initial sound" to "the sound that can tell the benefits by listening carefully", the direction of sound tuning has been changed. The HS2000MX standard room is made of Jullamin. In the future, items of other materials such as brass and titanium will appear in separate replacement chambers, and different screwdrivers will pile up.

The cable is removable and the headset side terminal is Pentaconn Ear. The attached earplugs will also be the new series of earplugs.

The price is about 200000 after tax, aiming for sale in mid-August. According to the person in charge, the completion of HS2000MX has reached 70%, Nomura Kenji said: "you can see the basic physical strength, the level of strength, looking forward to completion." You can also exchange rooms, which is very interesting, very interesting. Tomorrow is fine. I want to hear it earlier. "he seemed unable to restrain his excitement. Future follow-up reports are also worthy of attention.