Astell & Kern AK HC3 review 2024: Highs are pleasing

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The Astell & Kern AK HC3 is a small USB DAC that comes from a firm that is famous for its over-the-top (OTT) approach to portable high-fidelity audio. However, the operation of this DAC is surprisingly straightforward. It offers a significant improvement in sound quality in comparison to more simple adaptors, which have been a must for anyone who has a great pair of headphones ever since smartphones began removing 3.5mm connectors from their designs.

Interestingly enough, for a company that will gladly charge you roughly a thousand dollars for one of its flagship digital music players, the HC3 is on the cheaper end of the price spectrum. Playback at 32 bits and 384 kilohertz, support for the MQA high-resolution audio format, compatibility with iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, and the option to use headset microphones with your electronic devices are all included in the £200 price tag.

Astell & Kern AK HC3 Specifications

Specification	Details
Model	AK HC3
Audio Format	FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DSD, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, etc.
Storage	256GB internal storage (expandable via microSD card)
Screen	4.3-inch HD touchscreen display
DAC Chip	Dual DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter)
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Battery Life	Up to 12 hours of continuous playback
Dimensions	4.56″ (116mm) x 2.61″ (66.3mm) x 0.57″ (14.5mm)
Weight	7.58 oz (215g)

Design and Build

The AK HC3 isn’t much bigger than a flash drive, but its all-aluminum construction gives it the satisfying weight you’d expect from a high-end device. Astell & Kern’s trademark geometric forms are on this dongle. They catch the light and brighten up what would otherwise be a very simple device.

To cut down on signal noise, the main section is separated from the USB connector. The braided cord is strong without being too stiff. It should be able to bend quite a bit, which is useful if you want to hang it out of your pants pocket so it doesn’t scratch your phone. You can buy this Astell & Kern AK HC3 from its official website

Connections and Control

There are several good arguments in favor of this strategy. The HC3 has a male USB-C connection, which means you won’t need a separate, bulkier cable to link it to the output of your source player. Second, before entering the central processing unit, the digital signal is routed through a twin noise-shielded wire. Win/win.

The AK HC3 features aluminum construction for all non-cable parts. It’s aesthetically pleasing and tactilely satisfying, and it helps reduce the product’s total weight down to a modest 20 grams. The surface also features Astell&Kern’s trademark prismatic angles, which elevate the design to new heights.

Astell & Kern AK HC3: Performance

The HC3 is a step up in terms of clarity and effect, and that was just with basic Spotify streaming. When you play a MQA-encoded Tidal Masters track, it has a wide soundstage, great blending, and instruments that are in the right place.

When listening to a lossy stream over Bluetooth, the opening acoustic strings on Ghost’s “Imperium” can sound less delicate and precise. Here, the highs are very clear and the bass is warm, and the midrange has a lot of impact. With a good pair of headphones, it makes high-resolution streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz well worth the cost.

Final Words

DACs like the AK HC3 make sense if you’ve invested in a good set of headphones or in-ear speakers but can’t use them because your phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone port. But they’re overkill if you just want to use the buds that come with them, and they don’t have the connections or power to run the really demanding cans that well-off audiophiles like to use. But if you fall somewhere in the middle, having spent £150 or more on wired earphones and not wanting to move to Bluetooth audio, there’s a lot to like here. Some software glitches depend on the device.

Astell & Kern AK HC3 review: The good and The bad

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