Astell&Kern AK HC3 USB Dual DAC

Astell&Kern AK HC3 USB Dual DAC Amplifier Cable

 

If you're looking for a lightweight, hi-fi quality USB DAC that is easy to use and provides a consistently clear and noise-free sound, the Astell&Kern AK HC3 is an excellent choice. Its ES9219MQ Dual DAC delivers ultra-high sound quality and its dual shielded cable minimises noise interference. The AK HC3 is compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, Windows 10/11 and macOS products, making it easy to use regardless of your device. Furthermore, the AK HC3 requires no charging or connecting to an external sound card, AMP, or DAC, and its LED display allows for real-time indication. With its sophisticated design and lightweight, the AK HC3 is perfect for Hi-Fi lovers who want an all-in-one solution for their mobile audio needs.

 

Here is what Astell&Kern say about the HC3

Astell&Kern introduces the new AK HC3, a lightweight USB DAC that boasts a sleek and noise-free design for all your on the go entertainment needs.

The AK HC3's ultra-high sound quality is produced through the ES9219MQ Dual DAC. The Dual DAC from ESS is well known to audio fans for it's excellent control and low power consumption, making the AK HC3 desirable to those looking for a true mobile Hi-Fi experience. To add to the hi-resolution sound performance, provided through the lower latency of the direct USB connection, the AK HC3 also boasts a high-quality microphone input that is perfect for gamers. The AK HC3 is conveniently designed for any Hi-Fi lovers that are always on the move as it uses power from the connected playback device and does not need to be charged up or connected to a seperate external sound card, AMP or DAC. 

 

Key Features

• ES9219MQ Dual DAC from ESS for true Hi-Fi quality
• Dual shielded cable for minimising noise interference
• Proprietary app for Android users
• Compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, Windows 10/11 and macOS products
• LED display for real-time indication
• Full aluminium housing
• Super light, weighs only 20g

Compact Design, Easy to Use

Whether you are using a laptop or smartphone, the AK HC3 USB-C port is compatible with Windows PC and Apple Mac devices and a USB-C to lightning adaptor is provided for IOS users. Astell&Kern have made the AK HC3 with convenience in mind by making this USB DAC compatible with any 3 or 4-pole 3.5mm plug earphones and headsets as well as in-line controller and microphone features of 4-pole earphones and headsets. A common compatibility issue with many USB DACs arises when different connected devices are being set automatically to maximum volume output or playback at too low volume. To resolve such issues Astell&Kern have created an effortless Hi-Fi experience by providing an Android proprietary app that allows for detailed volume control.

 

 

No more noise interference

To deliver a vivid unique sound, the AK HC3 features a rear output structure and a dual noise shielded cable. Unlike most USB DAC products, the AK HC3 uses the dual shielded cable to pass digital signals from the playback device through to the DAC, where the signals are then converted to analog. To minimise noise intereference to your music or video conferences the copper core wire is coated with tin and the entire dual noise shielded cable is wrapped in aluminium film. Astell&Kern have used micro resistors and capacitor parts to achieve the small dimensions of this DAC without compromising performance. Similar to other AK player products, the HC3 uses tailored ultra-small tantalum capacitors to create a stable system and audio performance by controlling the power fluctuations. The audio experience is enhanced with Astell&Kern's unique technology while minimising current consumption in consideration of the connected device.

 

 

 

'Light and Shadow' Concept

Astell&Kern have a design philosophy that allows for a more immersive music experience with no visual distractions. The 'light and shadow' concept is applied to the AK HC3 and users will see all four sharp sides, centered around the traversing centreline, positioned proportionally on a single point, making the device uniquely reflective and iridescent. Not only is the AK HC3 sleek in design but it is also super light, weighing just 20g.

 

 

Precautions When Using the Product This product is compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, Windows 10/11 and macOS products. In some cases, it may not be compatible or may be restricted depending on the hardware, software and/or system of the device that you connect to. When connecting to a Windows PC, the driver will automatically be recognized and installed. For high-quality sound files, you are required to install a separate USB DAC driver which can be downloaded from the Support — Download section on the website. 4-pole earphones and headphones support CTIA devices, but OMTP is not supported. AK HC3 may not support call features when paired with iPhones or some Android phone models with a 3.5-mm connector. To play DSD and high-quality PCM sound files on a smartphone, you must install a separate free/paid player program that supports high-resolution audio playback. (When using the default player app on a mobile device, the file will be downsampled. Please make sure to play it with a different player app.) Please note that the volume will be fixed to the maximum level if you allow access with Tidal and some other apps on Android devices. Make sure to check the volume on your connected player device before using headphones or earphones. Some devices may automatically set the output level to maximum volume when the cable is connected. Listening to headphones or earphones at maximum volume may damage your hearing. Please verify the volume level before each use. Do not connect the USB-C Dual DAC Cable to an Astell&Kern player. When connecting the cable to a player and using it as an external DAC, the output volume will be fixed at the maximum volume setting. It is not possible to adjust the volume through the Astell&Kern player. Listening at maximum or a high-volume setting may cause serious damage to your hearing. Astell&Kern, its affiliates and agencies, cannot be held liable for any damage or injuries from negligent or inappropriate use. Firmware updates may be released periodically for stability improvements. For more information on firmware updates and to check if a firmware update is available, please visit the Support — Download section on the website.

 

Specification

• DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo
• USB Type-C Input(for Windows 10,11, Android, iOS smartphone & Tablet PC, macOS)
• Outputs: 3.5mm (CTIA standard 4-pole supported)
• LED Standby: White / PCM || Red / DSD || Blue
• Dimensions: USB Plug:12.5mm[W] x 21mm[H] x 8.7mm[D]. 3.5mm Headphone:18.2mm[W] x 59mm[H] x 11.5[D]
• Frequency Response: ±0.020dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) ±0.013dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz)
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 118dB @ 1kHz
• Crosstalk: -130dB @ 1kHz
• THD+N: 0.0005% @ 1kHz
• IMD SMPTE: 0.0002%, 800Hz 10kHz (4:1)
• Output Impedance: 2 ohm
• Output Power or Voltage: 2Vrms (Condition No Road)

 

About Astell&Kern

Astell&Kern is the ultimate digital music source that brings you Mastering Quality Sound or MQS. Astell means ‘Stars’ in Latin and Kern means ‘Center’ in German. We believe Astell&Kern is the center of music.

Today, original music performances can be captured in digital almost exactly as they were performed due to new, advanced recording technology currently available. However, these high quality recordings are mainly listened to through inferior sound formats, such as MP3 or through streaming services. With the debut of the MP3 format, music lovers sacrificed sound quality for the convenience of being able to carry their music collection wherever they went. Because the MP3 format heavily compresses files for the sake of convenience, the vocals and instruments you hear are only an inferior version of the original. The soundstage and the ambience of the original performance often disappears when listening to compressed MP3 music. After pondering these issues, Astell&Kern was our solution to poor sound quality for the sake of portability, and our way in reviving the original sound quality of music, MQS, for music artists, recording engineers, and professionals.

Astell&Kern's pursuit is to provide natural and original sound without distortion. It showcases the presence of the original recording with miniscule details you may not have noticed from other music systems, while playing back high-resolution music bit by bit, exactly as it was recorded. The ability to play back the exact recording of any live performance is what Astell&Kern is known for.

The power of true sound from Astell&Kern can now be experienced and has been part of many famous audio exhibitions around the world. Astell&Kern is now admired by music lovers from many countries, including the USA, China, Japan, UK, France, and many more around the world.