Astell&Kern’s new hi-res music player comes in titanium to match your iPhone 15 Pro
If this hi-res music player were a song, it’d be by Sia
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TheiPhone 15 Proisn’t the only high-end device to embrace titanium recently: Astell&Kern’s SE300 hi-res audio player is now available in the super-tough metal too. The new SE300 Titan Edition uses aerospace-grade titanium to make it lighter and stronger than before. Titanium is more resistant to corrosion and, according to Astell&Kern, it delivers audio benefits too.
Here’s the company’s explanation: Because titanium can better withstand heat and electrical conductivity “this vastly reduces any temperature variations or electrical interference within R-2R DACS and analog amplifiers to produce the most natural, distortion-free sound possible”.
Will you notice the difference compared to thebest MP3 players? I have no idea. But you’ll definitely notice the difference in how it looks and how it feels. If you thought Astell&Kern’s players were pretty premium already, titanium is even more metal.
Astell&Kern SE300 Titan: key features
The exterior of the SE300 Titan is made in a five-axis, vibration-free CNC machine of the kind often used to make premium watches. It’s been shaped by a combination of “six-axis control robots” and skilled engineers to create a “flawless” wave-like surface that’s undeniably nice to look at.
But of course, it’s what’s inside that really matters. And inside there’s the same tech as the normal Astell&Kern SE300. So that’s a R-2R DAC, a dual AMP mode with class A amplification and Astell&Kern’s own Teraton Alpha tech to remove power noise and deliver consistent, unwavering audio amplification.
The new Astell&Kern SE300 Titan has an RRP of £2,299 and is available directly from the company’s own website or via its network of trusted retailers. If that’s a bit of a stretch, Astell&Kern is currently discounting its SE180: it’s selling for£999 on Amazon UK, down from £1,869. There are also big discounts on the desktop amp/player, the ACRO CA1000.
You might also like
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than a dozen books. Her memoir,Carrie Kills A Man, is on sale now and her next book, about pop music, is out in 2025. She is the singer in Glaswegian rock bandUnquiet Mind.
Activo P1 music player review: Astell & Kern audio quality for considerably less cash
FiiO M23 portable music player review: delicate yet muscular, assertive yet subtle, lavishly detailed and vaultingly dynamic
Quordle today – hints and answers for Friday, November 8 (game #1019)
