Astell&Kern / IRVAKHC3

The Astell&Kern AK HC3 USB DAC offers high-quality sound just by connecting it to a smartphone or PC. Featuring an ESS DAC chip, it supports PCM up to 384kHz/32bit and DSD256. It has a 3.5mm unbalanced output and a mic input for calls and recording. With a compact aluminum body, it's the perfect blend of audio quality and portability for mobile use.

■Low distortion and high S/N sound with ES9219MQ dual DAC
・AK HC3 is equipped with ESS's SABER HiFi DAC ""ES9219MQ"" in a dual DAC configuration, which can reproduce Hi-Fi sounds such as MQA with ultra-high quality, and has excellent noise control and low power consumption. Supports native playback of PCM up to 384KHz/32bit and DSD256. Astell&Kern delivers a premium sound experience with low distortion and high S/N.

■Ultra-precision acoustic design technology unique to Astell&Kern
・AK HC3's compact size and uncompromising performance make it easy to enjoy true Hi-Fi sound anytime, anywhere. Astell&Kern is loved by many music lovers as a high-resolution audio player that is faithful to the original sound. The technology and know-how cultivated with that player has been condensed into a compact body. By using ultra-small resistors and capacitors, we achieved miniaturization while improving performance. In addition, it is equipped with a tailored ultra-small tantalum capacitor that is used in AK player products to suppress power fluctuations and achieve stable system and audio performance, creating an optimal audio circuit. Furthermore, considering the connected equipment, we have minimized current consumption due to bus power while simultaneously achieving high output of 2Vrms (no load), high S/N of 118dB, and low distortion of THD+N 0.0005%. In addition, low crosstalk of -130dB is achieved despite the 3.5mm unbalanced connection. This makes it possible to drive with high-impedance headphones, and conversely, even when using high-sensitivity earphones, you can enjoy noise-free, low-distortion sound that is faithful to the original sound.

■Equipped with 3.5mm 4-pole microphone controller input
・AK HC3 now supports 3.5mm 4-pole microphone controller input, which has been requested by many users. As a result, by using earphones or headphones that are compatible with a 3.5 mm 4-pole microphone controller, it is possible to use it for gaming, telework, etc. with high quality sound and clear audio functions.
*4-pole remote control microphone is not supported when using the included Lightning conversion adapter.

■Rear audio output structure that suppresses noise
・AK HC3 uses a rear audio output structure that suppresses noise to the absolute minimum, rather than placing a DAC on the USB terminal side directly connected to the device to process and output audio signals. The digital signal from the device enters the audio circuit via a double shielded cable and is then converted to an analog signal by a DAC. By post-processing the digital signal, we achieve superior sound with less noise.

■Highly durable dual noise shield cable
・AK HC3 is a model that is directly connected with a non-removable cable. It enables comprehensive sound tuning including cables, and by reducing the number of contact points, it achieves both noise prevention, sound quality, and ease of use. The cable section uses a dual noise shield cable to minimize noise and deliver clear and faithful sound to the source. Copper core wire is coated with tin to prevent corrosion and strengthen tensile strength for increased durability. Furthermore, the entire cable is wrapped in aluminum film and woven with tin-plated copper wire to minimize noise interference with the sound.

■Equipped with ultra-high resolution MQA 8X renderer
・AK HC3 is equipped with a renderer that supports ultra-high quality MQA 8X playback to achieve sound closer to the original sound. Connect your mobile device to the AK HC3 and play any MQA source up to MQA 8X. MQA is a high-quality sound source format, so you need a DAC with a renderer and compatible playback equipment, but with the AK HC3 you can enjoy MQA sound sources more easily.
*In order to use AK HC3 as a hardware MQA renderer, a software core decoder that supports MQA unfolding is required.

■Devices that have been confirmed to work with Roon
・AK HC3 is a Roon tested device. Profiled by the Roon team to ensure easy setup and daily use. If you own or are considering purchasing a Roon tested device, you can rest assured.

■Status display with LED indicator
・AK HC3 is equipped with an LED indicator that displays the music playback status. The lights are white when in standby, red when playing PCM, blue when playing DSD, and magenta when playing MQA.
*The earphone jack is equipped with a sensor, which recognizes the connected device as a USB-DAC only when the plug is inserted.

■Easy and convenient plug and play with bus power drive
- Easily enjoy Astell&Kern's superior sound by simply connecting directly to a Windows PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet with a plug-and-play USB Type-C port. Since it is a bus-powered system that uses the power from the connected playback device, there is no need to charge it, and there is no need to connect it to an external sound card, amplifier, or DAC. The AK HC3 also comes with a USB Type-C to Lightning conversion adapter, making it compatible with iOS devices.

■Color: Dark Gray
■Body material: Aluminum
■DAC: ESS Technology ES9219MQ×2 (Dual-DAC)
■Supported sampling rate: PCM maximum: 384KHz/32bit
■DSD maximum: DSD256 (11.2MHz/1bit) stereo
■Input: USB Type-C / Lightning (using the included conversion connector)
■Supported OS: Windows 10, 11 / MAC OS X 10.7 or higher, Android OS / iOS (smartphones & tablet PCs)
■Output: 3.5mm unbalanced output (Compatible with CTIA standard 4-pole microphone controller input)
■LED indicator: Standby status: White / PCM: Red / DSD: Blue / MQA: Magenta
■Size (W x H x D): USB plug section: 12.5mm x 21mm x 8.7mm, headphone output section: 18.2mm x 59mm x 11.5mm
■Weight: Approx. 20g
■Output level: 2Vrms (no load)
■Frequency characteristics: ±0.013dB (20Hz~20kHz), ±0.020dB (20Hz~70kHz)
■S/N ratio: 118dB @ 1kHz
■Crosstalk: -130dB @ 1kHz
■THD+N: 0.0005% @ 1kHz
■IMD: 0.0002% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1)
■Output impedance: 2Ω
■Accessories: USB Type-C to Lightning conversion adapter
■Country of origin: South Korea
■Manufacturer's warranty: 1 year for main unit / 90 days for accessories