Astell&Kern HC5 | Portable DAC and Amp

HC5 is a Next-Generation USB DAC/Amp that Brings Astell&Kern’s Flagship DAC Architecture to a Compact Form First portable DAC/amp with the AKM AK4499EX Constant High Driving, DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) Support 150-step Volume Control + 6 DAC filters Dual Noise-Shielded cable 3.5mm SE + 4.4mm BAL outputs Bloom's Take The HC5 brings true flagship DNA into a dongle-sized DAC/amp, borrowing core architecture from A&K’s top-tier players to deliver a portable experience that feels closer to a compact DAP than a typical USB DAC. Built around the AK4191EQ + AK4499EX DAC combo, HC5 isn’t just chasing convenience, it’s aiming for genuine hi-fi performance in a pocketable form factor. Sonically, HC5 captures Astell&Kern’s signature balance of precision and musicality, offering excellent detail retrieval with a touch of warmth that keeps it from sounding sterile. Its natural timbre, wide soundstage, and strong imaging give instruments convincing weight and vocals a lifelike presence, while a low noise floor makes it especially satisfying with sensitive IEMs. Read our full review. Compact Form. Complete Perfection. Created to achieve perfect sound, AK HC5 sets a new standard for USB DAC cables. The AK HC5 embodies Astell&Kern’s audio philosophy and precise engineering in a compact form, delivering a level of perfection beyond its predecessors. Equipped with a flagship-grade DAC and optimized power control, it delivers flawless sound performance unmatched by any other USB DAC.  Borrowing From Astell&Kern's Flagship DAC Architecture For the first time in a USB DAC cable, the AK4499EX DAC, previously only used in flagship DAPs, delivers top-tier sound performance. The combination of the AK4191EQ digital processor and AK4499EX DAC perfectly separates and processes digital and analog signals, minimizing noise interference and reproducing even the finest details with precision. Experience premium, digital-audio-player–level sound quality through a USB DAC cable. The High Driving Mode technology perfected in the SP4000 now powers the AK HC5, achieving exceptional sound performance in a remarkably compact form. A horizontal OPAMP layout delivers driving power on a completely different level from typical portable USB DACs. Rich density, deep spaciousness, and powerful energy, experience flagship-grade sound from a compact size. Noise Suppression Design for Pure Sound Due to the nature of USB DAC cables that receive power from external devices, minimizing sound degradation caused by incoming noise is essential. The AK HC5 features a dedicated amplifier with excellent PSRR (Power Supply Rejection Ratio) / CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio) noise-suppression performance, delivering pure and clean sound no matter what device it is connected to. Dual Noise Shielded Cable To minimize noise and deliver clean, lifelike original sound, a Dual Noise-Shielded Cable design was adopted. The internal conductors are made of tin-plated copper wire to prevent corrosion and oxidation, while their high tensile strength enhances durability. An additional tinned copper braided shield further suppresses any remaining noise, ensuring exceptional signal purity.  Vivid Sound with DAR DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) technology upsamples the input digital audio’s sample rate using a high-precision algorithm, delivering playback quality that surpasses the limits of the original data. This results in more detailed expression and an expanded dynamic range, reproducing natural, lifelike sound that’s closer to the original recording.  Wide Compatibility Supporting both UAC 2.0 and 1.0, the AK HC5 ensures perfect compatibility with a wide range of devices. With UAC 1.0 mode, it can be directly connected to gaming consoles such as PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, delivering dynamic, immersive sound for gaming. From music listening to gaming, the AK HC5 provides high-resolution sound in any situation.  Specifications DAC: AKM AK4191EQ + AK4499EX Sample Rate PCM : 8kHz ~ 768kHz (8/16/24/32bits per Sample) DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo / DSD512(1bit 22.4MHz) Stereo Output Level: Unbalanced 2.5Vrms / Balanced 5Vrms (Condition No Load) Input: USB-C Output: 3.5mm (Unbalanced), 4.4mm (Balanced, Only 5-pole supported) Frequency Response: ±0.006dB (Condition : 20Hz~20kHz) Unbalanced, Balanced │ ±0.06dB (Condition : 20Hz~70kHz) Unbalanced, Balanced SNR: 121dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 125dB @ 1kHz, Balanced Crosstalk: -139dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ -141dB @ 1kHz, Balanced THD+N: 0.0005% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced IMD SMPTE: 0.0006% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0005% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced Output Impedance:  0.5 Ω (3.5 mm) 1.1 Ω (4.4 mm) Dimensions: 32mm x 64.3mm x 16mm Weight: 1.62oz