‘Digs respectably deep, but it doesn’t hit as hard as is ideal’: Astell & Kern’s bijou new smartphone DAC is as detailed as you could ever want, but it lacks a weighty bass snap
No, it’s not perfect. But by prevailing portable headphone amp/DAC standards, the Astell & Kern HC5 is very competitive in most respects — and it’s a lovely device to look at and to hold, too. With a little more low-frequency presence and positivity it could make the leap to a full five-star recommendation.
Pros
- +Spacious, detailed and energetic sound
- +Great specification matches the standard of build and finish
- +Far more portable than its most obvious price-comparable rivals
Cons
- -Sounds slightly underwhelming at the bottom of the frequency range
- -Physical controls feel a little imprecise
- -Goes without EQ adjustment
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Astell & Kern AK HC5: two-minute review
Astell & Kern builds some outstanding digital audio players,...
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