Astell&Kern SE180 LUXURY Audio Player CONVERTS ME ! HEADFI REVIEW

[@Sunshine_Superman]

I am that market :) I have the SE100, had the A&K Junior before that. I just prefer having something 100% dedicated for music when I'm on the go that's up there with my hi-fi system.

[@dinfreitas]

One of your best reviews so far. Very much focused on practical things we can all relate to.

[@klaymoon1]

Awesome review. Many angles a typical portable reviewer does not cover. I hope you review more portable products because not many people have experience with both the high-end speakers and high-end headphones.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I def will as its good to have the experience

[@jeffleigh3747]

Really good video, sir 👏👏

[@jcgoobee]

This is a really nice review. Your presentation skill is superb! Thank you for making this and keep up the great job sir.

[@saman.artman6845]

Thanks man🙏, I was hesitant to buy the sr25. And you have now brought my opinion closer to buying sr25.

[@williambiggar1054]

A very in depth review. On my Hi Fi system I use a record deck, cd and a Astell and Kern AK70. The AK 70 is used to put on single tracks on from my cd collection and other single tracks I have bought over the years. The Ak70 is connected to my Sugden amp and controlled from I my IPad. It’s got two DAC s and sound very impressive. I much prefer this to streaming.

[@66brave]

Thanks for the great review. As an owner of AK100 for more than 6 years, I consider myself converted a long time ago :)

[@davidrivera2165]

Fair review Terry on what is an extremely narrow niche product. Thanks.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I hoped people would take from this review what seems like a very niche product is actually much more flexible - this could be someone's whole headphone system obviously minus the headphones rather than loads of boxes that do all the same duties its good enough sounding to be that - plus then all the mobile benefits etc. Like a proper audio headphone Swiss army knife and it has more features than a lot of other like the equalisation etc

[@paulgillard5094]

Nice one Terry!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks Paul

[@PatGigtainment]

I was converted when I got the ak junior years ago. Now I have the sr15 with b&w p9 and I use it as my source with my Rotel a12 and bw 805N. That little thing packs a big punch

[@barrywilson9927]

Hi. Loved the review. Appreciate they will be tailored to your taste and headphones but would it be possible to share the EQ settings you set of the SE180 SEM2 please?

[@falcogol3451]

hi i saw you compared this product to chord mojo which is a dac/amp. nice thing to do and thak you for that. cause there is rarely a comparison between different type of portable devices for example between a dap, a dongle and a dac/amp. the ultimate goal of these different genres of products is same afterall. so how should consumers know what they should expect from them sound quality wise. that exactly my current situation i want to buy a portable and have a 2k budget and sound quality is my only priority but don't want to pay more than it is necessary. don't care if it is dap, dac or dongle. which type of product should i investigate? tx

[@mahakalax108]

so what u choosen and are u satysfi ?

[@datdudeinred]

A hiby, ibasso, fiio, lootoo, shanling will eat this for breakfast any day day of the week especially for their performance/price & also with much better design & functionality [better screens, interchangeable amps etc] I miss the iriver days of A&K. BTW if you plan on going portable route please consider dap's from above brands first mate & great review as always

[@O.G.LIL-MAN]

false....yes, some of those brands (which I have owned most of em) can get close, but the AK daps go way beyond these...even so without external amp/dacs connected on. Now if youre talking lower tier AK's, then ok maybe...but for the A&Futura line and above, thats a hearty nope.

[@datdudeinred]

@@O.G.LIL-MAN What I hate a&k most is their interface & how slow it is easpecially if you have any dsd files or even 24/192 it jkust lags the processors are 5yr old midrange smartphone ones for that money if you don't even get a proper interface & fast response whats the point of great audio? & also the battery life is worst for the size of futura & up daps. ibasso gives ultra fast interface & 12+hr battery life 15hr max on 3.5mm. & those daps at least mention what processor they use also they use open android os not like ak where you can't even update the streaming apps nor can install apps without laptop.

[@suntanglory]

@@datdudeinred lt's a music player not a phone. The lower the processing power the better to reduce emi interference, noise and bring out more dynamics in the music. I have two phones,l don't want them to be my music player, hence a dedicated player. Infact luxury and precision lp 6 pro are even lower powered yet double the price of most Ak players.If you must use a phone there is a dac function that connects to a phone and pc. This players has the capability of replacing not just a dedicated headphone amp but a dedicated dac, streamers etc yet you can take it with you everywhere.l personally don't see why people buy home hifi anymore when this player are that close to the performance of home hifi system in you pocket.

[@claudiotorres5305]

I had shanling (m6 pro 21), hiby (r6 pro), fiio (m11, m11 pro, plus and m15), ibasso (DX300) and i can assure that none of them is better than my A&K se200. The other difference is the quality. All chinese brands feels cheap and fragile. Probably fiio is getting better. Shanling sound great but their interface is horrible.

[@Cestmoi50]

I listen to all of them, I can assure you it does NOT!, I listened to the Fiio M15/17/M15S, Shanling M6 Ultra/M9 Plus, Ibasso DX300-DX320 (with all AMPS), functional wise yes, musical wise not even close, don't go the SP3000, that it is completely destroy.

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Great review, between this and kann alpha is a lot of difference? Im going to use it for online/offline tidal streaming, which one has more power amplification? Thanks

[@christianbujard5496]

My usage is the complete reversal to not bothering others with the sound I hear. When the kids watch tv or my GF is on the phone and I want to relax, it is time to get the A&K and a pair of headphones out. The source is the WIFI music server and I can sit with a great tune everywhere around the house!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I think your usage case is ideal for the A&K :)

[@heroicmiquio6327]

Wie kann ich KZbin auf astell&kern kann alpha Installieren? Ich habe APK-Files auf dem Gerät Installieren, aber die Apks werden nicht erkannt oder können nicht Installiert werden. Beste und schöne Grüße, Monig G.

[@Shunto99]

So… does this mean it will replace my IPod touch then?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

It could do up to you 😀

[@Shunto99]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem thanks for the reply. I was looking to up grade from my iPod. Will it work with iTunes?

[@Shunto99]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem or am I rocking up the wrong tree

[@marcelteiwes1045]

A Beyerdynamic dt 1770 pro is midfi? Huh? Because is does not cost over a 1000 euro?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

No because other headphones sound a lot better. I like the beyers but they are only so good compared to others.

[@marcelteiwes1045]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Sorry do not agree with you. I think you are a person who thinks more expensive sounds better. That is simply not correct. But you also think cables make a difference. So..................

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

@@marcelteiwes1045 how many headphones have you compared to the beyers? I own the beyers so have compared them to many. I used to use the beyers every day for making videos they have a nice balance of sound making them suitable for pro work. But for sound qualities other headphones create much larger and better sound stages or head stages, they sound bigger full stop with better resolution and clarity and less bloated upper bass. Price has nothing to do with it. Also I have recorded the sound differences of many things inc cables its all out there not about believing

[@marcelteiwes1045]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem i have compared a lot. Did you try a dt 1990 pro?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

@@marcelteiwes1045 not the 1990, i have 1770 and 770 the closed backs. I am not the biggest fan of open back headphones

[@ezvkm77]

To limited in app you can install on these A&K devices

[@jamesmay3941]

I have the a&norma SR25. At about half the price of this one with almost the same features and quality, everyone should ditch listening to music on their phone and get one!

[@Goryglory0209]

A&K is the best

[@lextr3110]

why this when you can have ibasso dx300 for half the cost?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Dx300 is 1200 dollar so similar price

[@suntanglory]

Dx300 is not half the cost and Ak se 180 is slightly more powerful.

[@lukedudgeon8699]

as of 2022, i can get an A&K se180, brand new, for the price of a used DX300. Cant even find a brand new DX300 for sale(in australia). So yeah, this is most probably the route i will be taking.

[@CarAudioHorizons]

They have great sound unfortunately their software is slow and cumbersome and lack a lot of features of the competition

[@darksideblues135]

I am decentralizing. Getting away from having Apple, as they tend to take music away from you, even after buying it. I am missing an album. Daps allow me to make sure the music I buy is there and mine.

[@Cestmoi50]

because their is nog dongle that gives you that type of sound. but the thing that annoys be about Astell, is the idiocy they don't even support DLNA shares, yes through some idiot method, that needs an phone to control, THAT WAS JUST THE POINT, now I still need another device! and for the prices not a connection to the google appstore is a joke. Yes I agree the sound is amazing, but useless as phone dac, useless as streaming (because you can't use offline cached music) so in a plane you are out of luck, no offline cached music, so whole use of this DAP becomes useless than.

[@okaygoogle781]

Fiio way better. Runs on true Android.

[@knives24kb]

To be honest i had this player for a few months but have to return it due to it stuttering and being too slow. A waste of money to be honest. I would not even pay $100 for this piece of shit.

[@Ψορηα]

Hi I purchased Astell & Kern SE 180, but I have a question about Bluetooth Codec setting. Which setting is best between LDAC - audio quality optimization and LDAC connection quality optimization. Thanks in advance