The Dongle DAC market has been a runaway practice for nearly 3 years and while there isn’t a scarcity of nice choices from nearly 20 high-end manufacturers, gross sales have positively slowed down and producers are beginning to strip away options that they deem pointless and which solely add extra prices to the manufacture of stated merchandise. The brand new Astell&Kern HC4 is a primary instance of that.
The HC4, which follows the discharge of the HC3 Dongle DAC in 2022, is predicted to promote for $220 when it goes on sale in December.
What’s New?
Deciding between the HC3 and HC4 is dependent upon a number of key elements.
- The HC4 makes use of an AKM DAC chips versus the ESS DAC within the HC3.
- HC4 contains each 4.4mm and three.5mm headphone jacks, Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) to upsample PCM and DSD, and helps each UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 to be used with gaming techniques.
- HC3 contains solely 3.5mm headphone jack however does embrace assist for gaming headsets with mics and MQA decoding. HC4 doesn’t embrace assist for MQA or mics.
- Cables are detachable/replaceable on HC4 and contains USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning cables. HC3 has USB-C cable hooked up and a USB-C to Lightning adapter for iOS gadgets.
Astell&Kern HC4
The brand new AK HC4 is Astell&Kern’s fourth USB DAC/Headphone amplifier designed to offer playback of high-resolution audio out of your laptop or cellular gadget. With extra cell phone producers eradicating headphone jacks from their gadgets, the Astell&Kern AK HC4 USB DAC gives customers the power to get the very best sound attainable out of their cellular gadgets whereas utilizing headphones and earbuds they already personal.
The AK HC4 options an AKM AK4493S DAC chip which helps native playback of high-resolution audio as much as DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM. It’s the first Astell&Kern USB DAC to include an AKM DAC.
AKM DACs have earned a lot love when featured in Astell&Kern’s digital audio gamers, however as a result of small dimension of USB DACs and the challenges of amp design, it has been troublesome to implement this DAC within the USB DAC Cable lineup till now.
The AK4493S DAC from AKM, used within the AK HC4, is additional enhanced with improved noise management, decrease energy design, and ultra-precise amp design know-how, delivering exceptionally high-quality Hello-Fi sound.
Twin Outputs
The AK HC4 options Twin Outputs with each 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors, permitting you to make use of the AK HC4 with most Hello-Fi IEMs and headphones with out the necessity for adapters or further cables.
The 4.4mm balanced jack gives a excessive output of 3Vrms, maximizing the efficiency of delicate headphones and IEMs, whereas making certain clear channel separation and minimal noise.
The three.5mm unbalanced jack is appropriate with the vast majority of present IEMs and headphones, providing a ample output of 2Vrms to completely expertise the capabilities of your headphones and IEMs.
To realize secure output energy and ultra-high-quality Hello-Fi sound by the Twin Outputs, the AK HC4 introduces an unique AMP circuitry that supersedes the usual built-in AMPs utilized in most USB DAC designs.
To keep up a compact kind issue of 29.5 x 64.5x 14.5mm, Astell&Kern used micro resistors and capacitor components to attain a small footprint with out compromising efficiency.
Rigorously chosen ultra-small tantalum capacitors, that are utilized in AK participant merchandise to create a secure system and audio efficiency by controlling the ability fluctuations, are additionally included within the AK HC4 to create an optimum audio circuit design.
As well as, the output and audio efficiency are enhanced with Astell&Kern’s distinctive energy administration know-how to reduce energy drain from linked gadgets.
Digital Audio Remaster
Beforehand solely present in Astell&Kern digital audio gamers, the HC4 is supplied with Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) know-how. DAR know-how is used to upsample the pattern charge of the sound supply being performed to transcend the boundaries of the supply format.
The excessive pattern charge permits extra refined play and provides delicate and analog-like authentic sound, permitting you to benefit from the richness of the unique sound, hear delicate variations within the nuance of the music and supply richer sounds at a better degree. The DAR slide key on the facet of the AK HC4 gives a straightforward method to allow the DAR perform straight from the gadget.
Whereas trendy smartphones, tablets, and computer systems assist UAC 2.0 connections, many gaming gadgets nonetheless solely assist UAC 1.0 connections. The AK HC4 ensures compatibility with any supply by supporting each UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 connections for cross-platform high quality sound experiences.
Now avid gamers can join the AK HC4 to their favourite gaming gadgets resembling a PlayStation or Nintendo Change to get pleasure from low latency and enhanced, audiophile sound for an immersive gaming expertise.
Equipment
To make sure compatibility with each Android and iOS gadgets with out the necessity for added adapters, the AK HC4 contains two interchangeable cables that assist USB Kind-C and Lightning connections. The cables are twin shielded cables to reduce noise and ship a extra vivid, authentic sound.
The copper core wire is coated with tin to stop corrosion and strengthen tensile pressure for enhanced sturdiness. The cable is then wrapped in an aluminum movie to dam noise with an additional layer of defending across the energy cable to additional decrease noise, the most important challenge in audio.
The tin-coated copper wire is then woven to additional decrease noise interference. Completed with a material jacket on high of the TPE jacket, the cable options enhanced sturdiness and usefulness with good aesthetic attraction.
Design
Whereas small in dimension, the AK HC4 inherits the identical design philosophy discovered all through Astell&Kern’s product traces – Mild and Shadow, by easy, but delicate design parts.
The AK HC4 adopts a unibody construction, making a clean and clear look to the gadget. The entrance edge line is designed to be symmetrical left and proper in order that the road is gathered within the middle, making a balanced look that naturally focuses the gaze to the middle of the gadget.
The facet of the AK HC4 options concave traces, making it simple and comfy to make use of in a kind naturally tailor-made to be held in your hand. The keys on the facet are both lifted at each ends or divided into dot embossed particulars, permitting the consumer to simply management perform with out trying, simply by contact of the fingertips.
A LED indicator on the entrance of the AK HC4 shows music particulars and USB Audio Class (UAC) standing.
The AK HC4 is licensed Roon Examined.
Comparability
| AND HC3 | AND HC4 | AND HB1 | |
| MSRP | $229 | $220 | $259 |
| Colour | Darkish Grey | Moon Silver | Shadow Black |
| Physique | Aluminum | Aluminum | Polycarbonate (Physique) / Aluminum (Quantity Wheel) |
| DAC | ES9219MQ x2 (Twin-DAC) | AKM AK4493S | ESS ES9281AC PRO |
| Pattern charge (PCM) | PCM: as much as 32bit/384kHz | PCM: as much as 32bit/384kHz | PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Pattern) |
| Pattern charge (DSD Native) | DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo | DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo | DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo |
| Output degree (Unbalaced) | 2Vrms | 2Vrms | 2Vrms |
| Output degree (Balanced) | – | 3Vrms (Situation No Load) | 4Vrms (Situation No Load) |
| Enter | USB Kind-C (Helps UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0) | USB Kind-C (Helps UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0) | USB Kind-C (Helps UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0) |
| Output (Unbalanced) | 3.5mm (CTIA commonplace 4-pole supported) | 3.5mm (CTIA commonplace 4-pole supported | 3.5mm (CTIA commonplace 4-pole supported |
| Output (Balanced) | – | 4.4mm (Solely 5-pole supported) | 4.4mm (Solely 5-pole supported) |
| Bluetooth Chip | – | – | Qualcomm CSR8675 |
| Codecs / Profile | – | – | Bluetooth 5.0, LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Frequency Response (Unbalanced) | ±0.013dB (Situation : 20Hz~20kHz) ±0.020dB (Situation : 20Hz~70kHz) |
±0.062dB (Situation : 20Hz~20kHz) ±0.066dB (Situation : 20Hz~70kHz) |
±0.135dB (Situation : 20Hz~20kHz) |
| Frequency Response (Balanced) | – | ±0.063dB (Situation : 20Hz~20kHz) | ±0.136dB (Situation : 20Hz~20kHz) |
| SNR (Unbalanced) | 118dB @ 1kHz | 118dB @ 1kHz | 117dB @ 1kHz |
| SNR (Balanced) | – | 118dB @ 1kHz | 118dB @ 1kHz |
| Crosstalk (Unbalanced) | -130dB @ 1kHz | -134dB @ 1kHz | -112dB @ 1kHz |
| Crosstalk (Balanced) | – | -136dB @ 1kHz | -112dB @ 1kHz |
| THD+N (Unbalanced) | 0.0005% @ 1kHz | 0.0005% @ 1kHz | 0.0005% @ 1kHz |
| THD+N (Balanced) | – | 0.0009% @ 1kHz | 0.0005% @ 1kHz |
| IMD SMPTE (Unbalanced) | 0.0002%, 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) | 0.0005% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) | 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) |
| IMD SMPTE (Balanced) | – | 0.0004% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) | 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) |
| Output Impedance (Unbalanced 3.5mm) | 2 ohm | 0.9 ohm | 2.5 ohm |
| Output Impedance (Balanced 4.4mm) | – | 1.6 ohm | 2 ohm |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 12.5 x 21 x 8.7 mm | 29.5 x 64.5 x 14.5 mm | 39.8 x 68.4 x 16.5 mm |
| Weight | 0.71 oz. (20g) | 1.09oz (31g) | 1.41oz (40g) |
Value & Availability
The Astell&Kern AK HC4 USB DAC will likely be accessible for $220 at approved Astell&Kern sellers worldwide in December 2023.
