Astell&Kern is ending its year with the launch of two new products. First up is the small yet mighty AK HC5 USB DAC, and secondly there’s an all-new reference earphone named STELLA.
The pocket sized AK HC5 is designed to elevate the sound of partnering mobile phones, laptops and gaming consoles thanks to its internal top-tier AK4499EX DAC that’s paired with the brand’s AK4191EQ digital processor to separate digital and analogue pathways.
Other features include High Driving Mode architecture and a horizontal OPAMP layout that’s borrowed from A&K’s flagship SP4000 player.
With a 150-step volume wheel (using the same precision encoder as A&K’s DAP line), 1.62″ OLED display, DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) upsampling with PCM 384kHz / DSD256 capability and six DAC filters for personal sound shaping, it comes packaged in a premium protective case from Italian specialist Synt3, and looks a bargain at just £399.
Developed in partnership with VOLK Audio and shaped through extensive sessions with five-time GRAMMY Award–winning engineer Michael Graves, A&K’s STELLA IEM earphones are built around a newly engineered 12-driver ‘quadbrid’ architecture, integrating four transducer technologies with a six-way crossover network and five precision-tuned sound tubes, housed in a stiff 6061-T6 aluminium shell with satin-black anodising.
The air-moving hardware includes a ‘LF-H Low-Frequency Hybrid System’ using a VOLK M9-R 9mm dynamic driver plus dual balanced armatures in a dual-stage chamber. A Tri-Armature Midrange (with three armatures tuned for natural vocal presence, articulation and coherence) and VOLK MP-2 dual planar magnetic drivers combined with four electrostatic tweeters complete the array.
STELLA’s wiring has also been considered too, with 5N LCOFC copper, 4N silver and 24K gold, with 12-strand Litz geometry all playing their part alongside a reinforced fibre core and 4.4mm balanced termination.
All this tech comes at a price of course, with the STELLA costing £3,899
