AK HC2 Dual DAC Cable

Head-fi sonic upgrade
 
  • Supports 4.4mm balanced output for improved channel separation and reduced noise
  • Powerful 4Vrms output to drive a wide variety of headphones
  • Equipped with a CS43198 Dual DAC to deliver a hi-fi grade sound
  • Dual Shielded Cable minimises distortion and signal noise
  • Compatible with iOS and Android devices
  • Optional Android app to enable detailed volume control
Sale price£169.00

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Mobile Hi-Fi sonic upgrade

 

Introducing the AK HC2 Dual DAC Cable, an uncompromising and ultra-compact way of transforming the audio of your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet and Windows or Apple laptop computer. Following on from the AK HC1 (PEE51), this portable DAC arrives with a 4.4mm balanced headphone connection so audiophiles and music fans can seamlessly drive their high-resolution headphones of choice and experience original studio-quality sounds, whether on-the-move or listening from a desktop.

 

Balanced audio for mobile devices

Despite measuring just 17mm x 50mm x 10mm, the AK HC2 USB-C Dual DAC is packed with cutting-edge features, carefully designed to deliver high-quality, low-noise sonics via its 4.4mm balanced headphone output. Ultra-fine audio technology means Astell&Kern has been able to incorporate circuitry, components and power management in a supremely portable device without concession.

Superior dual DAC

At the heart of the AK HC2 Dual DAC Cable are two Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHiFi DACs - high-performance DACs that feature in Astell&Kern’s award-winning A&norma range of digital audio players, and support hi-res playback up to native 32bit/384kHz and DSD256.

DAC smarts

Most USB DAC products have the DAC positioned in the USB terminal connected directly to the device to process and output audio. However, with the AK HC2, digital signals from the device pass through the dual-shielded cable to the audio circuit before being converted to an analogue signal by the DAC. By processing the digital signal at a later stage, the sound performance is superior and noise-free sound compared to other USB DAC products.

Drives any headphones

The dual DACs are paired with a high-performance analogue amplifier, powerful enough to drive even high-impedance headphones without difficulty - and the 4.4mm balanced output means lower noise, higher output and clearer channel-separation every time.

Noise-free cable

A dual-shielded cable is designed to minimize noise interference and deliver a transparent sound as possible. The copper core wire is coated with tin to prevent corrosion and strengthen tensile force for enhanced durability, while the woven cable is wrapped in an aluminum film to help block unwanted noise.

   

Included in the box

 
  • 1x AK HC2 Dual DAC cable
  • 1x Lightning adapter
  • 1x Quick start guide
whats in the box
General Specifications
Model
Model AK HC2
Body Material
Aluminum
Body Color
Dark Silver
DAC
CS43198 Dual
Sample Rate
PCM: Support up to 32bit/384kHz / DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo
Input
Input USB Type-C Input(for Windows 10,11, Android, iOS smartphone & Tablet PC, macOS)
Output
4.4mm balanced out
Dimensions
Dimensions USB Plug: 12 x 21 x 6.5m
4.4mm Headphone: 22.8 x 60 x 12.1mm
Weight
About 29g
Audio Performance
Frequency Response
±0.011dB (Condition: 20Hz~20kHz) Balanced
±0.145dB (Condition: 20Hz~70kHz) Balanced
Signal to Noise Ratio
122dB @ 1kHz, Balanced
THD+N
0.0004% @ 1kHz, Balanced
IME SMPTE
0.0003%, 800Hz 10kHz (4:1), Balanced
Output Impedance
4.4mm (1.5ohm)
Output Power or Voltage
4Vrms (condition No Load)