Astell&Kern Crowns Exceptional Year of Audio Innovation with Two Benchmark Launches
Astell&Kern crowns exceptional year of audio innovation with two benchmark launches...
Astell&Kern, a global leader in high-resolution audio products and accessories, is ending an extraordinary year of audio innovation with the launch of two new products: the small-but-mighty AK HC5 USB DAC, and STELLA, an all-new reference earphone created in collaboration with VOLK Audio and GRAMMY-winning mastering engineer, Michael Graves.
These two products represent Astell&Kern at its best - uncompromising engineering, exceptional materials, and a singular commitment to reproducing sound exactly as the artist intended.
AK HC5: Put flagship portable audio performance in your pocket for music, gaming and more.
UK SRP: £399 | US: $450 | EU: €499
The new AK HC5 USB DAC sets a new benchmark for portable audio performance, delivering stunning sound quality from a device small enough to fit in any pocket. With its combination of compact size, ultra-high performance and universal compatibility, the HC5 is designed to elevate every listening environment: from mobile phones and laptops to gaming consoles.
For the first time in this category, the AK4499EX DAC -previously reserved for Astell&Kern’s top-tier digital audio players - is paired with the AK4191EQ digital processor to cleanly separate digital and analogue pathways, dramatically reducing noise and preserving microscopic musical detail.
Borrowing engineering innovations from the flagship SP4000, the HC5’s High Driving Mode architecture and horizontal OPAMP layout deliver rich density, deep spaciousness and powerful dynamic expression far beyond typical portable DACs.
Astell&Kern has engineered the HC5 specifically for the challenges of less-than-perfect listening sources and environments. An amplifier stage with exceptional PSRR and CMRR ensures clean, stable power even from smartphones or laptops, suppressing input noise and maximizing DAC performance. Meanwhlie, to guarantee signal integrity, the HC5 features a Dual Noise-Shielded Cable, combining tin-plated copper conductors, aluminium film shielding, and an additional braided shield to eliminate electromagnetic interference.
The HC5 introduces premium usability rarely seen in this category:
· 150-step volume wheel using the same precision encoder as A&K’s DAP line
· 1.62-inch OLED display for instant access to playback and system information
· DAR (Digital Audio Remaster) upsampling with PCM 384 kHz / DSD256 capability
· Six DAC filters for personal sound shaping
· Dual support for UAC 2.0 and 1.0, enabling high-resolution listening and native compatibility with gaming consoles such as PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
· A premium protective case from Italian specialist Synt3 completes the package.
STELLA – Astell&Kern x VOLK Audio x Michael Graves
UK SRP: £3,899 | US: $3,900 | EU: €4,400
Developed in partnership with VOLK Audio and shaped through extensive sessions with five-time GRAMMY Award–winning engineer Michael Graves, the new STELLA earphones represent a new pinnacle of IEM precision within the Astell&Kern portfolio.
STELLA is built on a newly engineered 12-driver quadbrid architecture, integrating four transducer technologies with a proprietary 6-way crossover network and five precision-tuned sound tubes. Every component - mechanical, acoustic and structural - was created specifically for this project.
The project unites modern engineering precision from Astell&Kern, design and acoustic architecture from VOLK Audio under founder Jack Vang, the mastering expertise of Michael Graves, and calibration sessions at Osiris Studio in Los Angeles.
STELLA features a 6061-T6 aluminium shell with satin-black anodising for stiffness, resonance control and comfort; a stainless-steel faceplate frame machined to micron precision with integrated vent architecture; an optical-grade 9H sapphire crystal glass panel; and a central aluminium plate bearing both Astell&Kern and VOLK insignias. Its innovative driver architecture includes:
· LF-H Low-Frequency Hybrid System: VOLK M9-R 9 mm dynamic driver plus dual balanced armatures in a dual-stage chamber for powerful, controlled bass.
· Tri-Armature Midrange: Three armatures tuned for natural vocal presence, articulation and coherence.
· HF-H High-Frequency Hybrid System: VOLK MP-2 dual planar magnetic drivers combined with four electrostatic tweeters for extension up to 45 kHz.
· Each driver operates within its natural range with no artificial EQ or forced compensation, resulting in a sound signature defined entirely by acoustic integrity.
The included cable uses a hybrid conductor array of 5N LCOFC copper, 4N silver and 24K gold, with 12-strand Litz geometry, reinforced fibre core and 4.4 mm balanced termination.
Availability
AK HC5 and STELLA will make their public debut from 13-14 December at both the Potafes Akihabara in Japan and the 2025 Guangzhou Headphone Show in China. The products will be on sale at authorised Astell&Kern retailers from January 2026.
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