{"id":2188142,"date":"2025-12-05T14:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T14:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2188142"},"modified":"2025-12-05T14:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T14:51:09","slug":"this-tiny-new-dac-gives-your-phone-laptop-or-games-console-the-audio-skills-of-the-worlds-best-hi-res-music-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/this-tiny-new-dac-gives-your-phone-laptop-or-games-console-the-audio-skills-of-the-worlds-best-hi-res-music-player\/","title":{"rendered":"This tiny new DAC gives your phone, laptop or games console the audio skills of the world&#8217;s best hi-res music player"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<hr id=\"d364020b-04a9-455a-9e6b-84db15e30c60\"\/>\n<ul id=\"f146e23f-ff26-45e7-8a91-b0dacd61ef57\">\n<li><strong>Astell &amp; Kern HC5 DAC is designed for phones, laptops and gaming<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Includes the DAC and processing from A&amp;K&#8217;s flagship SP4000 music player<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>January 2026, \u00a3399 \/ $450 \/ \u20ac499 (about AU$800)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr id=\"c9969787-3171-4571-bce8-3285d55ffa6c\"\/>\n<p id=\"16f6c5d2-c5b0-434a-9b68-df7716f5ab83\">Astell &amp; Kern has launched two new products: a diminutive DAC and a new set of reference in-ear monitor earbuds.<\/p>\n<p>The AK HC5 is the size of a lighter but there&#8217;s nothing small about its specification. It pairs the AK4499EX DAC, previously used in the elite <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/portable-media-players\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp4000-portable-music-player-review\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/portable-media-players\/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp4000-portable-music-player-review\">Astell &amp; Kern SP4000<\/a> Hi-Res Audio player, with the AK4191EQ digital processor to separate analog and digital pathways. reduce noise and preserve even the smallest musical details.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"16f6c5d2-c5b0-434a-9b68-df7716f5ab83-2\">The HC5 connects via USB-C to a wide range of devices including phones, laptops and gaming consoles, and has been designed to work with what Astell &amp; Kern describes as &#8220;less than perfect listening sources&#8221; by utilizing a very clean, stable amplifier stage that suppresses noise and maximizes the performance of the DAC. It also has the same digital audio remastering tech as A&amp;K&#8217;s more premium DACs, which is capable of upsampling to PCM 384kHz \/ DSD256.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-3 pb-4 mb-4 border-solid border-y border-neutral-300\">\n<span class=\"font-article-heading block pb-3 !text-base font-bold uppercase sm:text-sm text-[#333]\"><br \/>\nYou may like<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>It basically means that you can attach this to your device, load up some really high-end music, and get a similar kind of audio performance to A&amp;K&#8217;s far-more-expensive portable players.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a very different (and to my eyes, much better-looking) design than its predecessor, the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/hi-fi\/astell-and-kern-hc4-review\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/hi-fi\/astell-and-kern-hc4-review\">Astell &amp; Kern HC4<\/a>, which we reviewed in 2023. However it&#8217;s also more expensive: where that launched at $220 \/ \u00a3219 \/ AU$399, the HC5 is \u00a3399 \/ $450 (about AU$800). You&#8217;ll be able to buy it from January 2026.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"3b310797-f68e-40e4-95d6-b9b66614bf41\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:2048px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3yodCkaSiMWFEX68vdZZhd-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Astell &amp; Kern)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" id=\"elk-acd0b5d3-2f21-45d8-b5c7-1902cca12dcd\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"astell-kern-stella-earphones-key-features-and-pricing-3\">Astell &amp; Kern STELLA earphones: key features and pricing<\/h2>\n<p id=\"465588b3-e7c6-4a91-806e-e1ca852527cb\">If you&#8217;re looking for a set of high-end earphones to go with your new DAC, Astell &amp; Kern has you covered: the new STELLA earphones have been created in partnership with VOLK Audio and in collaboration with multiple Grammy award-winning engineer Michael Graves to create &#8220;a new pinnacle of IEM precision&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The earphones feature a newly designed 12-driver architecture with four different kinds of transducer (9mm dynamic drivers, balanced armatures, planar magnetic drivers <em>and<\/em> electrostatic tweeters), a custom 6-way crossover network and five tuned sound tubes, with every component created specifically for these headphones.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-dcmKwVCGq8TZJcBhY8Qu5J\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-dcmKwVCGq8TZJcBhY8Qu5J slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A&amp;K says that there&#8217;s no artificial EQ or forced compensation; the sound signature is &#8220;defined entirely by acoustic integrity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The STELLA are made from a 6061-T6 aluminum shell with satin-black anodising; a stainless steel faceplate with integrated vents; a sapphire crystal glass panel; and a central aluminum plate with the Astell &amp; Kern logo in one earphone and the VOLK Audio one in the other.<\/p>\n<p>These are premium earphones with a premium price: \u00a33,899 \/ $3,900 (about AU$7,845). Like the HC5, they&#8217;ll be available from January 2026.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-person-dcmKwVCGq8TZJcBhY8Qu5J-fhISxziGFsgARMFbcekEycOPFNxTtH6X\" class=\"slice-container person-wrapper person-dcmKwVCGq8TZJcBhY8Qu5J-fhISxziGFsgARMFbcekEycOPFNxTtH6X slice-container-person\">\n<div class=\"person person--separator\">\n<div class=\"person__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:none\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\">\n<div style=\"display:contents\"><picture data-hydrate=\"false\"><source class=\"person__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\"\/><source class=\"person__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" alt=\"iFi Go Link Max\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" class=\"person__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" loading=\"lazy\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"person__heading\">\n<p><span class=\"person__name\">The best headphone DACs for all budgets<\/span><\/p>\n<aside class=\"person__role\">Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"d6ae7c15-2625-4b17-a4cd-15e68bab475f\"><em\/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJsWTJoeVlXUmhjaTVqYjIwb0FBUAE?hl=en-GB&amp;gl=GB&amp;ceid=GB%3Aen\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJsWTJoeVlXUmhjaTVqYjIwb0FBUAE?hl=en-GB&amp;gl=GB&amp;ceid=GB%3Aen\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\"><em><strong>Follow TechRadar on Google News<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and<em> <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=techradar.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=techradar.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\"><em><strong>add us as a preferred source<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em> to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>And of course you can also <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@techradar\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@techradar\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\"><em><strong>follow TechRadar on TikTok<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em> for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Va6HybZ9RZAY7pIUK12h\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Va6HybZ9RZAY7pIUK12h\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\"><em><strong>WhatsApp<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em> too.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.techradar.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Astell &amp; Kern HC5 DAC is designed for phones, laptops and gaming Includes the DAC and processing from A&amp;K&#8217;s flagship SP4000 music player January 2026, \u00a3399 \/ $450 \/ \u20ac499 (about AU$800) Astell &amp; Kern has launched two new products: a diminutive DAC and a new set of reference in-ear monitor earbuds. The AK HC5 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2188143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2188142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/This-tiny-new-DAC-gives-your-phone-laptop-or-games.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2188142"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188144,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188142\/revisions\/2188144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2188143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2188142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2188142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2188142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}