Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
T3
T3
Technology
Simon Lucas

Astell & Kern AK HC4 review: does fourth-gen DAC bring the finesse?

Astell Kern AK IFI AKM AudioQuest
Astell & Kern AK HC4 review.

Astell & Kern has been a portable digital audio hero for quite some time now, and if you're not quite ready to drop a chunk of money on one of its dedicated digital audio players the company has a plan to turn your smartphone into a valid source of music instead by making some of the best headphone DACs available. 

The AK HC4 on review here, as the name strongly implies, is not the company's first attempt at a portable USB DAC-meets-headphone amplifier, but it's definitely the most thorough yet.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Khloé Kardashian's 'Watch Until the End' Message Targets Criticism of the Family's AI Season Opener
Khloé Kardashian has defended The Kardashians' unusual season-eight opening, urging critics to watch the full AI-themed sequence before judging its satire about technology and authenticity.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Kelly Clarkson Slams Brooklyn Store Clerk Who Allegedly Used a 'Condescending Tone' Over $15,000 Item
Kelly Clarkson and Brooklyn boutique Art of Play have offered conflicting accounts of a disputed encounter involving a $15,000 mechanical singing bird and claims of rude treatment.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Dan Levy hits out at Shane Gillis over ‘misogynist’ comments in SNL monologue
Stand-up Gillis, who was fired from the comedy show in 2019, branded women at the gym ‘wh***s’
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
TV Star Breaks Silence On Social Media Frenzy After He Accidentally Exposed Himself To Fans
‘Smallville’ star Tom Welling meant to share a view of the New York City skyline, but accidentally exposed much more than he intended.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
‘We’re in a brotherhood now’: the Bill Pickett rodeo – photo essay
For several years, Chloe Kerleroux has been photographing African American cowboy communities in the southern US. Her work has mainly focused on trail rides: large gatherings where horses, music, dancing, family and community life come together. This year, she explored rodeo culture including at the Bill Pickett invitational in Atlanta
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Is your name still common? What Canadian baby names reveal about how we’ve changed
A given name holds the spark of identity. It is ours — we wear it — yet it is also the primary label by which others know us. Names are inherently both personal and public.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play