Astell & Kern HC5 Review: Portable Hi-Fi Just Got Classier

Astell & Kern, known for making top-of-the-line digital audio players, also has quite the lineup of portable DACs that people can use for their headphones and IEMs. Their latest release, the HC5 USB DAC/Amp, is a great addition that audiophiles have been loving as a compact upgrade with great sound quality. What does this $450 device do for your sound? In this review, we take a look at all the features that make the A&K HC5 a great upgrade. 

The HC5 follows Astell & Kern's previous trend of keeping their accessories sleek and stylish. The satin silver body is made of aluminum and is lightweight in your pocket. With the spin dial on the side, it kind of resembles a lighter, curving inwards for a more ergonomic feel in your hand. It sits nicely on a desk, and with the soft leather case, you are able to take it on the go without fear of it being scratched or damaged. Astell & Kern includes two cables for wired listening: one USB-C to USB-C and the other USB-C to Lightning. This ensures high-fidelity listening, regardless of the device you have, whether it's an old-generation iPhone or the latest Samsung. 

Instead of just plugging in the DAC and trusting that it's on, the HC5 comes with a small screen that allows you to see the controls and filters you put on the DAC. The dial allows you to see the adjustments you make and make sure you are listening exactly how you like. There is a small button on the side as well, allowing you to access and change some of the features that are included on the HC5. 

In terms of features, the HC5 doesn't have too many extravagant features to make it stand out amongst the rest. Its power and slim shape are great features for people who like ultra-portability, making it easy to take with you wherever you may be listening. The HC5 doesn't have any Bluetooth capabilities, so you may find the need for a wire to be cumbersome if you prefer compact setups. Still, the way the shape fits against devices on a desk is very sleek and stylish, and it doesn't take up much space as an easy addition. 

The HC5 allows you to listen to music in two different modes with DAR technology. This Digital Audio Remaster technology uses upsampling to clean up your music and get the most clarity out of your music. You can listen in PCM or DSD, allowing you to get the most out of your music and adapt to your source material. Both modes are easy to turn on and off, and paired with one of the six DAC filters, you are set to listen at the highest resolution. The six DAC filters you get with the HC5 are as follows: 

• Super Slow Roll-Off: Natural sounding, produces no echo, and has a very sharp edge
• Short Delay Slow Roll-Off: More acoustic sound that has a small echo that imitates a closer original sound
• Slow Roll-Off: Traditional sound that has a small echo as well, good for natural and clean sound
• Low Dispersion: Harmonic sound with a short echo, reproducing natural sound with clarity
• Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off: Acoustic sound, post echo makes the bass pop with sharp edges
• Sharp Roll-Off: Traditional sound with pre and post echo, enhancing bass and overall power through the signature

These filters can be accessed through the main settings menu, which you get by holding down the one button on the side. It's easy to cycle through these filters and see which one is best for your listening and the type of music you listen to. With a 150-step volume ladder, you're able to get to pretty high volumes and push a decent amount of power through even the toughest to drive headphones. 

When listening to the HC5, I used a large collection of headphones and in-ear monitors to test out the sound you get from the DAC. The different filters and listening modes were interesting to use. For my testing, I used the following: 

• Hifiman HE600
• Sennheiser IE 600
• 64 Audio U4s
• Dan Clark Noire X
• Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MKII
• ThieAudio Monarch MKIV

In all of these sound profiles, you could hear how the HC5 kept sound signatures honest and natural. I wasn't met with a completely different-sounding headphone or IEM when I added the HC5 to the signal flow. I liked how the HC5 was perfectly adaptable to headphones or IEMs, matching in power requirements with ease. When pairing it with some 64 Audio IEMs or the ThieAudio Monarch MKIV, I was able to get a really good image. Profiles were sharpened and made to be a 

With headphones, I appreciated how the sound signatures were kept honest but still given some natural color. Bass responses were made punchier and more direct, and the brightness opened up the profile and soundstage to be more open and spacious. Headphones that had a more natural sound reproduction, like the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MKII, got a little more dynamic flair, but they still stayed honest and could be used for reference listening. Details were sharpened across the sound signatures to make listening more precise and immersive. The HC5 was great as a complement to the host of devices I paired with it. 

What competes with the HC5? Astell & Kern has made quite a few DACs already, including the HC4 wired DAC and the HB1 Bluetooth-enabled device. The HC5 takes the smooth sound that you'll get with these previous devices and cleans it up, creating an even smoother profile that makes color and clarity the top priorities. The screen on the HC5 makes it easier to use than its predecessors, as well as pushing more power to be compatible with more popular headphones and IEMs. If you're someone who uses Astell & Kern DACs and is looking for a power upgrade, the HC5 will definitely prove to be a worthy addition to your collection.

Some of the most popular portable DACs are made by FiiO and iFi, with some standouts by Chord Electronics on the higher end. How does the HC5 stack against them? The HC5, being a strictly wired device, has its limitations that the FiiO BTR17 or the iFi Gryphon don't face. Its capability only puts it more in line with the FiiO QX13 or the iFi GO Bar Kensei. Unlike the wired competition, the HC5 excels in its adaptability between headphones and IEMs. The GO Bar Kensei is better as a strictly IEM DAC, and the QX13 still has it spower limitations with tougher to drive headphones. If you look at the CHord MOJO 2, you'll find it matches the HC5 in power output and device adaptability. The MOJO 2 has more sound customization options with the 6-band EQ, which the HC5 does not have. Depending on what kind of features you look for in a DAC, you may find better use for the MOJO 2 or the HC5. 

The Astell & Kern HC5 USB DAC comes in as a great upgrade for audiophiles who listen everywhere. Its ultra-portable build makes it ideal for people who like to keep their pockets light, and the protective case gives you comfort knowing the DAC is safe. The HC5 is great for both headphones and IEMs, so you'll be able to pair this with a large selection of audio gear you may already have. Although it doesn't have customizable features and wireless capabilities that some other portable DACs have, you still have great power in a small package that is a perfect complement to any setup. The HC5 offers premium value for $450, and it is good competition for some higher-end DACs. 

You can get the Astell & Kern HC5 at Audio46.