Astell & Kern HC2 USB-C digital-to-analog converter

Name: Astell & Kern HC2
Brand: Astell&Kern
SKU: 838HC2
Price: 249.0 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 2.5 (3 reviews)

Item # 838HC2

Use Astell&Kern's powerful HC2 to drive your headphones and clean up your digital tunes.

HC2 shown with included Lightning® adapter

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The HC2's balanced 4.4mm output

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HC2 shown with included Lightning adapter attached

Astell & Kern HC2 HC2 shown with included Lightning® adapter

Astell & Kern HC2 The HC2's balanced 4.4mm output

Astell & Kern HC2 HC2 shown with included Lightning adapter attached

Use Astell&Kern's powerful HC2 to drive your headphones and clean up your digital tunes.

Item # 838HC2

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A small DAC built for audiophile sound

Astell&Kern are well-known for their high-quality portable high-resolution music players. The company threw the audio world a curveball last year when they released their first-ever portable digital-to-analog converter. I was incredibly impressed with its performance and the value it offered. The HC2 is A&K's second-generation portable USB DAC, and it cranks everything its predecessor did "up to eleven" for enthusiasts of hi-fi headphone sound.

Note: The HC2 features only a balanced 4.4mm headphone output. You'll need headphones with a 4.4mm connector, or to add a third-party 3.5mm adapter (not included).

This sleek DAC features refined internal components, twin high-performance DAC chips, and a durable noise blocking cable to help you get the most out of your tunes. Astell&Kern even made a dedicated app for it that gives you better control over the DAC's volume.

Twin DAC chips for premium performance

There are two next-generation Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHIFI™ digital-to-analog converter chips housed inside the HC2's aluminum body. That's a pretty big deal, considering MasterHIFI DAC chips are often only found on high-end components. Each high-performance chip has low jitter (a form of digital distortion), low analog total harmonic distortion, and a patented DSD processor. That's right — this mean machine supports both PCM and DSD.

The DAC chips are separate and have their own independent signal pathways. One chip is for the left channel and the other is for the right. Having separate signal pathways for the left and right channels reduces the amount of inter-channel crosstalk (which can muddy sound) and gives better stereo separation and soundstage imaging.

High-quality headphone amplifier

Astell&Kern went all-out on the HC2's internal design. As mentioned above, the left and right amplifier channels are each fed by a dedicated DAC chip. And each uses hand-picked resistors and tantalum capacitors to keep the overall size small without compromising on audio performance. The amplifiers aren't shy on power either. This DAC dishes out about 4 volts at maximum output and can drive all but the most power-hungry of headphones.

App-based volume control for fine adjustments

Sometimes smartphones crank the volume all the way up as soon as a USB DAC gets connected. Astell&Kern designed a companion Android™ app for the HC2 to work around that issue. The app's sleek interface lets you make smooth, precise volume adjustments.

Product highlights:

portable USB digital-to-analog converter
twin Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHIFI™ 32-bit digital-to-analog converter chips
supports headphones or earbuds with a 4.4mm connector
- no onboard 3.5mm connection; third-party adapter required
uses hand-picked micro resistors and tantalum capacitors to suppress power fluctuations
works with most USB-C devices, including iPhone®, Android smartphones, and Windows® and Mac® computers
- Lightning® adapter included (for compatible iPhone)
custom 4-core, dual-shielded cable helps block potential noise
supported sample rates:
- PCM: up to 32-bit/384kHz
- DSD: up to 11.2 MHz (DSD256)

Other info:

durable aluminum chassis
supports headphones with in-line microphones and remotes, but in-line mics and controls will be disabled
4-volt RMS output
frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
signal-to-noise ratio: 122 dB
total harmonic distortion: 0.0004% @ 1kHz
output impedance: 1.5 ohms

Dimensions and warranty:

4.4mm headphone module: 13/16"W x 7/16"H x 2-5/16"D
USB plug: 7/16"W x 1/4"H x 13/16"D
weight: 0.06 lbs.
warranty: 1 year
MFR # 3PEE520CCMDSN1
Item # 838HC2

What's in the box:

Astell & Kern HC2 owner's manual

USB DAC with attached 2.5" cable (male USB-C plug)
Adapter plug (female USB-C on one end and Apple Lightning connector on other end)
Manual
Warranty booklet

Researched by Crutchfield's Mark G.

Features & specs

Design
Type	Portable
Built-in Rechargable Battery	No
Built-in Headphone Amplifier
Output Power	4V
Output Impedance (Unbalanced)	N/A
Output Impedance (Balanced)	1.5 ohms
Audio Specs
Bit Depth (USB)	32
Max Sampling Rate (USB)	384 kHz
Bit Depth (S/PDIF)	0
Max Sampling Rate S/PDIF	N/A
S/N Ratio (Unbalanced, in dB)	0
S/N Ratio (Balanced, in dB)	122
THD (Unbalanced)	N/A
THD (Balanced)	0.0004%
Supported File Types
PCM	Up to 384kHz
DSD	DSD 256
DXD	N/A
MQA	No
Inputs
Total Inputs	1
USB	USB-C
Optical Digital	None
Coaxial Digital	None
3.5mm Digital	None
Stereo RCA Analog	None
Stereo 3.5mm Analog	None
Stereo XLR Analog	None
Headphone Outputs
3.5mm Unbalanced	None
1/4-inch Unbalanced	None
4.4mm Balanced	1
XLR4 Balanced	None
Other Headphone Outs	None
Line Level & Digital Outs
RCA Line Out	None
3.5mm Line Out	None
XLR Line Out	None
Subwoofer Out	None
Optical Digital Out	None
Coaxial Digital Out	None
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth	No
Wi-Fi	No
Apple-compatible	No
Android-compatible	No
General Info
Width (inches)	0-15/16
Height (inches)	0-1/2
Depth (inches)	2-7/16
Weight	1.05 lbs.
Parts Warranty	90 Days
Labor Warranty	90 Days

Product Research

Features

Overview: The Astell & Kern AK HC2 USB-C Dual DAC Amplifier Cable is a small, but powerful Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier. It is designed to provide your smartphone or computer with the high quality sound of an A&K digital audio player (DAP). It works with devices with USB-C output, and with Apple iPhones and iPads using the included USB-to-Lightning adapter. The AK HC 2 has a USB-C input and a balanced 4.4mm output with a 2-1/2" connecting cable. Dimensions: Width 0.899" x Height 0.478" x Length 1.977"; Weight 1.05 ounces.

Construction: The USB-C Dual DAC Cable features full metal construction of refined aluminum with a dark silver finish. The main body and the USB-C plug have a hexagonal prism shape, similar to the Astell & Kern digital audio players. The body and USB plug are connected by a dual-shielded, tin-coated copper cable with an aluminum film to block noise.

Digital-to-Analog Converters: Like its predecessor, the HC1, the AK HC2 is equipped with two Cirrus Logic CS43198 Master HIFI™ DACs -- one for the left channel, and one for the right. The DACs support playback resolution of up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256. You can listen to premium, high-resolution audio files stored on your computer or smartphone. In addition, the HC2's circuit board features the same micro resistors and tantalum capacitors created for and used in A&K A&norma range of Digital Audio Players to bring the famous signature sound of Astell & Kern to your devices. With the 4.4mm balanced output, the HC2 features lower noise, better channel separation, and higher output.

Roon Tested: The AK HC2 has been certified to be Roon Tested, having been profiled by the Roon Labs for playing your music with the best possible sound quality with ease of setup and use.

Headphone Amp: Years of expertise in amplifier design helped in developing a headphone amplifier that can sufficiently drive high-impedance headphones. The tiny AK HC2 has a powerful 4Vrms output (Condition No Load).

Compatibility: USB-C connections can be found on the latest Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as Windows (Windows 10 & 11) and Mac (macOS) computers. With the included USB-C -to- Lightning adapter, the AK HC2 is now compatible with iOS devices (iPhone, iPad). The DAC Cable has no volume control of its own, so you should check the volume on your connected device before listening. A dedicated app designed for Android devices can be downloaded for detailed volume control. The device has no internal battery, and draws its power from the connected playback device, so you don't need a separate charger. The headphone output supports any headphone or earphone with a balanced 4.4mm connector. Any in-line controller or microphone features of TRRS headphones are not supported.

Note: The HC2 is not recommended for use with Astell & Kern digital audio players as an external DAC, because the output volume of the player will be fixed at the maximum setting and cannot be adjusted.

AK HC App: The AK HC app is designed to control the volume of the Astell & Kern USB DAC Cable in Android devices. The app features a 64-level volume control and mute function that are easy to operate. It also displays connected device information. The AK HC app is compatible with the AK HC2, as well as the HC1 (PEE51) model, and can be downloaded to Android devices 7.0 and up.

Specifications:

Sample Rate:
- PCM: Support up to 32-bit/384kHz
- DSD Native: DSD64 (1-bit/2.8MHz), DSD128 (1-bit/5.6MHz), DSD256 (1-bit/11.2MHz)
Frequency Response: ±0.011 (Condition: 20Hz - 20kHz); ±0.145dB (Condition: 20Hz - 70kHz)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 122dB (@ 1kHz, Balanced)
THD+N: 0.0004% (@ 1kHz, Balanced)
IMD SMPTE: 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Balanced
Output Impedance: 1.5Ω
Output Level: 4 Vrms (Condition No Load)
Input: USB Type-C (for Windows 10/11, macOS, Android smartphone/tablet, iOS devices with included adapter)
Output: 4.4mm headphone (Balanced)

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3 questions already asked

So in the car how would you get the highest quality audio from a high resolution player to your car; and would there be a noticeable sound quality difference between the high resolution player vs. using your iPhone with an Apple digital master track? Thank you

9thdegree Jun 18, 2024

1 answer

A DAC like this one will improve the sound output from the typical portable Hi-Res player or smart device. There are file formats with more detail in them than found in Apple Digital Masters files. I recommend contacting an advisor by calling 1-800-324-9695 to get a personal recommendation on gear to get you the best sound in your vehicle

jason Jun 19, 2024 (Staff)

Does this work with Tidal MQA?

jonathan Jan 04, 2023

1 answer

Greetings Jonathan, and thank you for your question. It can do PCM up to 384K, and DSD 256, but not MQA. AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt can do MQA, you just need a USB type C to female USB type A adapter. Parts list below https://www.crutchfield.com/p_703DFLYCBL/AudioQuest-DragonFly-Cobalt.html https://www.crutchfield.com/p_703DGTUSBC/AudioQuest-DragonTail-USB-C-Adapter.html

thomas Jan 04, 2023 (Staff)

Can you use this DAC with your home stereo or is it just for headphones?

arturo Dec 17, 2022

1 answer

You can use the Astell & Kern HC2 USB-C DAC with your home stereo, Arturo. You will need the 3.5mm to RCA cable in the link below, and a free line-level input on your home stereo gear. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_979CMR203/Hosa-Stereo-Mini-to-RCA-Adapter-Cable-3-foot.html

bo Dec 17, 2022 (Staff)

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