The Dongle DAC marketplace has been a runaway teach for nearly 3 years and while there is not any scarcity of serious choices from nearly 20 high-end manufacturers, gross sales have indisputably bogged down and producers are beginning to strip away options that they deem pointless and which simplest upload extra prices to the manufacture of stated merchandise. The 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 is going on sale in December.
What’s New?
Deciding between the HC3 and HC4 is dependent upon a couple of key elements.
- The HC4 makes use of an AKM DAC chips as opposed to the ESS DAC within the HC3.
- HC4 contains each 4.4mm and three.5mm headphone jacks, Virtual Audio Remaster (DAR) to upsample PCM and DSD, and helps each UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 to be used with gaming programs.
- HC3 contains simplest 3.5mm headphone jack however does come with strengthen for gaming headsets with mics and MQA deciphering. HC4 does no longer come with strengthen 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 units.
Astell&Kern HC4
The new AK HC4 is Astell&Kern’s fourth USB DAC/Headphone amplifier designed to supply playback of high-resolution audio out of your pc or cell software. With extra cell phone producers taking out headphone jacks from their units, the Astell&Kern AK HC4 USB DAC supplies customers the power to get the most productive sound conceivable out in their cell units whilst the use of headphones and earbuds they already personal.
The AK HC4 options an AKM AK4493S DAC chip which helps local 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 virtual audio gamers, however because of the small measurement of USB DACs and the demanding situations of amp design, it’s been tough to enforce this DAC within the USB DAC Cable lineup till now.
The AK4493S DAC from AKM, used within the AK HC4, is additional enhanced with progressed noise keep an eye on, decrease energy design, and ultra-precise amp design era, turning in exceptionally fine Hello-Fi sound.
Twin Outputs
The AK HC4 options Twin Outputs with each 3.5mm and four.4mm connectors, permitting you to make use of the AK HC4 with maximum Hello-Fi IEMs and headphones with out the will for adapters or further cables.
The 4.4mm balanced jack supplies a excessive output of 3Vrms, maximizing the efficiency of delicate headphones and IEMs, whilst making sure transparent channel separation and minimum noise.
The three.5mm unbalanced jack is suitable with the vast majority of current IEMs and headphones, providing a enough output of 2Vrms to totally revel in the functions of your headphones and IEMs.
To realize solid output energy and ultra-high-quality Hello-Fi sound during the Twin Outputs, the AK HC4 introduces an unique AMP circuitry that supersedes the usual integrated AMPs utilized in maximum USB DAC designs.
To deal with a compact shape issue of 29.5 x 64.5x 14.5mm, Astell&Kern used micro resistors and capacitor portions to reach a small footprint with out compromising efficiency.
Sparsely decided on ultra-small tantalum capacitors, which can be utilized in AK participant merchandise to create a solid machine and audio efficiency via controlling the facility fluctuations, also are incorporated 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 control era to attenuate energy drain from attached units.
Virtual Audio Remaster
Up to now simplest present in Astell&Kern virtual audio gamers, the HC4 is provided with Virtual Audio Remaster (DAR) era. DAR era is used to upsample the pattern price of the sound supply being performed to move past the bounds of the supply structure.
The excessive pattern price lets in extra delicate play and gives refined and analog-like unique sound, permitting you to benefit from the richness of the unique sound, listen refined variations within the nuance of the tune and supply richer sounds at the next degree. The DAR slide key at the aspect of the AK HC4 supplies a very simple technique to allow the DAR serve as without delay from the software.
Whilst trendy smartphones, capsules, and computer systems strengthen UAC 2.0 connections, many gaming units nonetheless completely strengthen UAC 1.0 connections. The AK HC4 guarantees compatibility with any supply via supporting each UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 connections for cross-platform high quality sound studies.
Now players can attach the AK HC4 to their favourite gaming units similar to a PlayStation or Nintendo Transfer to revel in low latency and enhanced, audiophile sound for an immersive gaming revel in.
Equipment
To verify compatibility with each Android and iOS units with out the will for added adapters, the AK HC4 contains two interchangeable cables that strengthen USB Kind-C and Lightning connections. The cables are twin shielded cables to attenuate noise and ship a extra bright, unique sound.
The copper core cord is lined with tin to forestall corrosion and give a boost to tensile power 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 largest factor in audio.
The tin-coated copper cord is then woven to additional decrease noise interference. Completed with a cloth jacket on most sensible of the TPE jacket, the cable options enhanced sturdiness and usefulness with very best aesthetic attraction.
Design
Whilst small in measurement, the AK HC4 inherits the similar design philosophy discovered all over Astell&Kern’s product traces – Mild and Shadow, thru easy, but refined design parts.
The AK HC4 adopts a unibody construction, making a clean and blank look to the software. The entrance edge line is designed to be symmetrical left and proper in order that the road is amassed within the heart, making a balanced glance that naturally focuses the gaze to the middle of the software.
The aspect of the AK HC4 options concave traces, making it simple and comfy to make use of in a kind naturally adapted to be held on your hand. The keys at the aspect are both lifted at each ends or divided into dot embossed main points, permitting the consumer to simply keep an eye on serve as with out having a look, simply by contact of the fingertips.
A LED indicator at the entrance of the AK HC4 shows tune main points and USB Audio Elegance (UAC) standing.
The AK HC4 is qualified Roon Examined.
Comparability
| AK HC3 | AK HC4 | AK HB1 | |
| MSRP | $229 | $220 | $259 |
| Colour | Darkish Grey | Moon Silver | Shadow Black |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum | Polycarbonate (Frame) / Aluminum (Quantity Wheel) |
| DAC | ES9219MQ x2 (Twin-DAC) | AKM AK4493S | ESS ES9281AC PRO |
| Pattern price (PCM) | PCM: as much as 32bit/384kHz | PCM: as much as 32bit/384kHz | PCM : 8kHz ~ 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits in line with Pattern) |
| Pattern price (DSD Local) | 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 usual 4-pole supported) | 3.5mm (CTIA usual 4-pole supported | 3.5mm (CTIA usual 4-pole supported |
| Output (Balanced) | – | 4.4mm (Best 5-pole supported) | 4.4mm (Best 5-pole supported) |
| Bluetooth Chip | – | – | Qualcomm CSR8675 |
| Formats / Profile | – | – | Bluetooth 5.0, LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Frequency Reaction (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 Reaction (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 ounces. (20g) | 1.09oz (31g) | 1.41oz (40g) |
Worth & Availability
The Astell&Kern AK HC4 USB DAC will likely be to be had for $220 at approved Astell&Kern sellers international in December 2023.
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