Astell & Kern's new hi-res USB DAC has microphone connectivity and a reasonable price tag

(Image credit: Astell & Kern)

Astell & Kern is best known for its high-end portable audio players, so imagine our surprise – and delight – when it unveiled a USB DAC with a reasonable price tag. The A&K HC3 costs £199 / $190 / AU$299.95 – which looks like a bargain, considering what it can do.

But not only is it reasonably priced, it's sensibly named too, unlike Astell & Kern's unpronounceable audio players (A&norma SR25, anyone?). Astell & Kern, is everything alright?

But we digress. The HC3 is the South Korean firm's follow-up to the HC2 – it's billed as a hi-fi-grade USB DAC with microphone connectivity, so as well as music listening, it can be used for shouting at opponents while gaming online, or for video calls (though hopefully with less shouting). Inside is the ESS ES9219MQ DAC, which has a reputation for high-quality audio with low power consumption.

It works with any 3- or 4-pole 3.5-mm plug earphones and headsets, as well as the in-line controller and microphone features of 4-pole earphones and headsets. And thanks to the USB-C port, it will connect to any modern computer or mobile device (there's a USB-C to Lightning adapter for iOS devices). It doesn't need an external sound card, AMP or DAC, or a power supply – it derives power from the source device, so won't run out of battery either.

However, it will prove a drain on your source device's battery.

Read our Astell & Kern A&norma SR15 review

Joe has been writing about tech for 20 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine (now defunct), Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more. His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.