Aune Yuki SE

The Aune Yuki SE is a compact portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier that brings a discrete, transistor-based balanced amplifier and an ESS DAC to a pocket-sized dongle. Like its sibling, it uses an innovative dual-layer structure that keeps the digital and analog sections physically separate for cleaner, more resolving sound. With balanced and single-ended outputs and a genuinely discrete amp stage, it is designed to lift the sound of a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or games console well above their built-in audio.

Type and Technology

The Yuki SE is a portable USB-C DAC/amp (dongle) built around an ESS ES9280AC Pro DAC chip, supporting master-tape-grade decoding up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512. Instead of a fixed integrated amplifier, Aune uses a discrete headphone amp board with 16 transistors forming a four-way balanced amplifier on a plus/minus 5 V supply, the result of testing many transistor, resistor, and capacitor combinations. Two AS318 crystal oscillators provide low-jitter clocking for the digital core, and multiple DC-DC power management stages deliver multi-stage noise suppression and precise voltage regulation.

Sound Character

Tuned toward a natural, musically rich signature, the Yuki SE keeps a very quiet background: output noise is only 2.9 microvolts with THD+N of 0.00050% at 1 kHz. The 3.5 mm output delivers 2.0 Vrms and the 4.4 mm balanced output 4.0 Vrms, giving the headroom and control to drive a wide range of IEMs and headphones with clarity and precise detail. The discrete amplifier and clean power design help the presentation stay composed and refined.

Build and Finish

The Yuki SE continues Aune's signature transparent-window design, combining an all-aluminium structure with a look that shows off the technology inside, offered here in purple. Despite its compact size, the build is solid and pocketable, and its two headphone outputs make it easy to connect balanced or single-ended cables.

Best For

Listeners who want an affordable, well-engineered dongle DAC/amp with a discrete amplifier and balanced output to drive IEMs and headphones from a phone, laptop, or console. It is a natural match for sensitive in-ears; pair it with something from our IEMs collection.

What's in the Box

• Aune Yuki SE portable DAC/amp
• USB-C connection cable
• Documentation

Note: exact cable and adapter contents may vary by region; confirm with your distributor.

Specifications