Astell&Kern’s DAPs are known for having some of the best sound quality in the world. The brand’s combination of high-quality components and careful engineering provides for sound quality that rivals the best full-sized desktop systems in a pocketable, all-in-one, format. With AK HC5, Astell&Kern seeks to deliver the same sort of sound you get from their top-tier DAPs in an even smaller phone dongle-sized format. With some of the same components and engineering principles as the flagship SP4000, can HC5 deliver a truly impressive portable audio experience?

Build, Design, and Features

In terms of design and features, dongle DACs can range from absolutely dirt simple, with no knobs, buttons, screens, or indicators – to highly complex designs with app integrations and advanced feature sets. AK HC5, priced at $489, is on the more complex end of things, featuring a monochrome OLED display, a volume wheel and a single button that’s used to configure DAC filters, screen settings, gain levels, and Astell&Kern’s Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) upscaling feature.

The device itself is about an inch thick and just 2.5 inches long, meaning it’s larger than many ultra-portable devices, but still small enough to unobtrusively fit in your pocket next to your phone. Internally, HC5 uses the DAC combo of AKM AK4191EQ + AK4499EX: the same chipsets as the SP4000, with the difference being that SP4000 features four each instead of just one for HC5. It includes a USB-C to C cable and USB-C to Lighting cable that you can use to connect to your phone, tablet, computer, or other device. Among the selectable options on HC5 is UAC 1.0 support, which trades some level of fidelity for compatibility with older or more esoteric devices. As an example, you can use UAC 1.0 more to connect HC5 to a Nintendo Switch, and enjoy the maximum possible audio fidelity while playing Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the go.

Visually, the device isn’t as inspiring as Astell&Kern’s flagship DAPs, but the materials and general tactile quality are very high. The included leather slip case provides good protection for the device, and also the high quality feel of a luxury device. All together, HC5 boasts the sort of build, design, and features you’d associate with a high-end HiFi device. Does the sound match the rest?

Sound and Performance

Matching the level of quality delivered in Astell&Kern’s flagship DAPs in an ultra-portable form factor is certainly a tall order, but the first thing you’ll notice when you listen to music with AK HC5 is how much it captures the core sonic character of Astell&Kern’s best DAPs. Astell&Kern signature sound blends pinpoint accuracy and incredible detail with just a touch of romantic warmth and smoothness. It’s a reference sound that never feels clinical or harsh, instead offering a clean, musical presentation.

HC5 doesn’t emphasize any particular part of the frequency spectrum over another, offering a natural, balanced timbre. In addition to offering a strong blend of detail and musicality, HC5 delivers a wide soundstage and strong imaging performance. HC5 offers a tactile, physical weight to instruments and presents clear, lifelike vocals. The sense of separation and placement provides for an immersive, three-dimensional listening experience.

HC5 delivers strong performance across a range of headphones and IEMs. It offers a black background and extremely low noise floor with IEMs, while also providing decent power for over-ear headphones. HC5’s three gain modes let you adjust the power based on your headphones, but upping the power and volume will also increase the drain on your phone or other connected device. At max power, you can get pretty decent output from fairly hard to drive headphones: whether high impedance models like the Sennheiser HD660S2 or lower sensitivity planars like the HIFIMAN HE1000 Unveiled.

Comparison: iBasso DC-Elite

If you’ve heard some of the better budget-priced portable DACs, it would be easy to listen to AK HC5 and imagine that this must be the absolute best that any device in this category could ever sound, and while that’d be pretty close to the truth, there is a reigning king of sound quality in this category that HC5 is up against: the iBasso DC-Elite.

At first glance, HC5 looks kind of like a slightly smoother version of the DC-Elite. However, in use, there are a few big differences. For starters, DC-Elite’s volume knob is a fully analog 24-step attenuator, while HC5 uses a digital control with 150 steps of volume control. The single button on DC-Elite is used for volume fine tuning or switching to Coax output mode, while on HC5, the button is for controlling various device settings using the screen – and DC-Elite also lacks a screen.

In terms of sound, the two are very close in terms of sound quality and presentation, with the subtleties making all of the difference. DC-Elite is a bit sharper and more incisive, but also a little more detailed with stronger resolution. HC5’s slightly more musical sound sacrifices that slight bit of detail, but leaves you with a sound that’s more natural and organic. Where DC-Elite can squeeze that last bit of detail out of your music, it can sometimes deliver sharp notes or harshness in the treble.

The absolute purists will likely prefer the simplicity and slightly stronger technical quality of DC-Elite, while those who are treble sensitive or just looking for a more organic sound will prefer HC5. In addition, HC5’s significantly larger feature set provides a notable improvement if you’re looking for the ability to tweak your sound to a larger degree.

The Bottom Line

By using familiar flagship components, Astell&Kern delivers genuine sonic excellence with AK HC5. The features and sound quality aren’t just top of the line for a portable DAC, they deliver something that’s competitive with DAPs that cost 3-4x as much. If you’re looking for top of the line sound on the go, AK HC5 is pure portable audio magic.