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Astell&Kern AK HC3 Dual DAC USB Cable
£149.00
✓ 2 Year Warranty included
✓ Authorised UK Dealer
The Astell&Kern AK HC3 is a compact USB DAC and headphone amplifier designed to improve audio playback from compatible smartphones, tablets and computers. Its dual ESS ES9219MQ DACs support PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD256, while MQA 8X rendering provides support for compatible MQA content. The dual-shielded cable helps minimise interference, and the 3.5mm headphone connection supports compatible headsets with built-in microphones and controls. With a lightweight aluminium housing and no separate battery required, the HC3 is an easy addition to a portable listening setup.
More Detail from Your Music Collection
Inside the AK HC3 are two ESS ES9219MQ DACs, selected for their audio performance and low power consumption. The design supports PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD256, allowing compatible playback software to deliver high-resolution music to your headphones. MQA 8X rendering is also supported when used with suitable software and compatible content.
Designed to Reduce Audio Interference
The AK HC3 uses a dual-shielded cable designed to minimise electromagnetic interference before the digital signal reaches its DAC circuitry. Its full aluminium housing provides a durable finish, while the rear-output architecture helps separate the audio conversion stage from the connected device. A built-in LED indicates operating status and the type of audio signal being played.
Connect Headphones, Headsets and Compatible Devices
The USB-C input works with compatible Windows PCs, Macs, Android devices and tablets, with an included USB-C to Lightning adapter for compatible Apple devices. Its 3.5mm output supports suitable three- and four-pole headphones, including compatible in-line microphones and controls, making it useful for gaming, video calls and watching films as well as listening to music. The HC3 draws power from the connected device, so there is no separate battery to charge.
General Specifications
Model: AK HC3
Body Material: Aluminium
Body Colour: Dark Grey
DAC: 2 × ES9219MQ (Dual-DAC)
Weight: Approx. 20g
Supported Audio Formats
PCM: Up to 32-bit/384kHz
DSD Native: DSD64 (1-bit, 2.8MHz, stereo); DSD128 (1-bit, 5.6MHz, stereo); DSD256 (1-bit, 11.2MHz, stereo)
Connectivity
Input: USB Type-C
Compatible Devices: Windows 10 and 11, Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and macOS
Output: 3.5mm headphone jack (supports CTIA-standard 4-pole connections)
LED Indicators
Standby: White
PCM: Red
DSD: Blue
MQA: Magenta
Audio Performance
Frequency Response (20Hz–20kHz): ±0.013dB
Frequency Response (20Hz–70kHz): ±0.020dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (1kHz): 118dB
Crosstalk (1kHz): −130dB
THD+N (1kHz): 0.0005%
IMD SMPTE: 0.0002% at 800Hz/10kHz (4:1)
Output Impedance: 2Ω
Output Voltage: 2Vrms (no-load condition)
Dimensions
USB Plug (W × H × D): 12.5 × 21 × 8.7mm
3.5mm Headphone Section (W × H × D): 18.2 × 59 × 11.5mm
How will you send my item?
We ship to addresses within the UK using Royal Mail and DPD couriers.
How much does delivery cost?
Standard 2–3 working day delivery is FREE on orders over £50. Next working day delivery is available from £5.99, and is FREE on orders over £200.
For orders to UK non-mainland and international destinations, additional charges will apply at checkout. Please see below for more information.
How long does delivery take?
Depending on the delivery service you choose, delivery usually takes between 1-4 working days to mainland UK from the moment we despatch your order. Orders to UK non-mainland and international destinations can take longer.
When will you despatch my order?
Orders placed before 3pm are processed and despatched the same day (excluding bank holidays and weekends). Orders placed on weekends will be processed and despatched the following working day.
*Please note that international orders may require extra checks before we are able to despatch your order so timescales may vary.
Can I track my delivery?
Yes - Order tracking is offered as standard on all items, whether they are shipped via DPD or Royal Mail. You will receive your tracking information via email once we have despatched your order.
UK Non-mainland and International destinations.
Post Brexit some of our delivery partners have changed the way we ship to international and offshore destinations. This means that the cost of shipping to some locations has increased significantly and additional paperwork may need to be completed for some international orders.
Shipping for all items to UK Non-Mainland and International destinations will incur a charge at checkout. This charge is not final and additional postage may be required. Furthermore, this may incur additional delivery delays and also local customs charges which the buyer is responsible to pay.
Shipping to international destinations may require further security checks and I.D. to be provided by the cardholder. We reserve the right to cancel any orders where an order does not pass our security checks or the additional postage is not paid.
To avoid any confusion we would advise that you contact us before making your order.
What do you class as UK Non-mainland?
Rep. Ireland, N. Ireland, Channel Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man and Scottish Highlands. If you are unsure whether your address is classed as UK Non-mainland please feel free to contact us and an advisor will be happy to help.
For any further enquiries with regards to your delivery please contact us on 020 8561 9845 and one of our adviser's will be happy to help.
If you're not happy with your item or you've changed your mind.
Even though we're sure you'll be happy with your purchase, it's important that you are aware of how we deal with returns in the event that you need to send something back.
We understand how inconvenient it can be when you buy a product and aren't 100% satisfied with it. For this reason we have designed our returns policy to prevent any further inconvenience to you in these instances.
Under 30 days
- You can return your goods for a full refund or exchange as long as you inform us of your intention to return the goods within 30 days of receipt, starting from the day after you receive your goods (Exclusions apply, see below.)
- All return costs are down to the buyer and it is recommended that you return your items using a trackable method with appropriate insurance (if required).
- Once we have confirmed your return, please ensure that you return the item within 14 days.
- If a returns number is provided then please ensure that the parcel has this clearly marked.
- Items need to be returned in "as new" condition in their original packaging. We don't mind if you open the product to check it, however any used or damaged products will be subject to a 25% handling fee so please take care when opening your items.
After 30 days
- We will not offer a refund after 30 days of you receiving your delivery unless your product is faulty.
Exclusions from our returns policy
As we're sure you'll understand, there are some products that we can't offer returns on due to their nature. These include:
- Special order items and cables cut from a reel (priced per metre). These items will be clearly identifiable.
- In-Ear headphones due to health and hygiene reasons.
- Products that include software which require activation.
Please note : that these exclusions do not apply to items that become faulty.
If your product becomes faulty
We endeavour to get your items to you in fully working order, however in the event that your items do become faulty, please read below on what you should do next.
In a lot of cases with some products, faults can be fixed by performing some basic troubleshooting, so to prevent any further inconvenience to you we advise that you contact our Customer Service team who can guide you through some basic troubleshooting before sending items back.
Under 30 days
- If your items become faulty within 30 days of delivery you are entitled to a full refund or exchange. Please contact our customer service centre who will provide necessary returns details.
- Please send the items back with a cover note including a description of the fault and your original order number.
- Once we have fully tested the item and confirmed the fault, we will process the refund or exchange including cost of carriage back to us (within reason).
- If during our testing we cannot find a fault, no refund will be given and you will be charged for delivery of the item back to you.
After 30 days
- After 30 days you will still be able to get your faulty items repaired or replaced within the manufacturers warranty and we will be happy to assist you with this. Please contact our customer service team to find out the best way to get your items repaired or replaced. Please be aware that after 30 days we will not cover you for any carriage costs.
