The high-quality mic in Astell & Kern’s new USB-C DAC dongle is ideal for PC gamers

Korean firm’s new audio booster also brings a headset input

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Dongle-style DACs are becoming more and more common, but a new gamer-friendly feature on Astell & Kern’s newly unveiled HC3 may set it apart from the pack.

As well as allowing higher quality, hi-res playback from portable devices and PCs, the HC3 has a trick up its sleeve with microphone connectivity built in, allowing for crystal clear talkback for online gaming as well as boosting the fidelity of those fragging sound effects.

The unit boasts a pair of highly-regarded quad DAC ESS ES9219MQ chips, which deliver high-quality sound, while still managing low power consumption.

There’s support for audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, native DSD256, and fullMQArendering, allowing you to listen toTidal’s HiFi Plus, plus a reassuringly wide frequency response of 20Hz to 70kHz.

The 3.5-mm plug for earphones can take 3- or 4-pole jacks, allowing headset microphone, as well as in-line controllers to be used, while a colour-coded LED light at the rear of the device displays what type of file source is being processed.

Connectivity comes via your device’s USB-C port, with a USB-C to Lightning adapter thrown in for those using the HC3 with an iOS device, but note that there’s no onboard battery – the unit derives power from your source device.

The HC3 is priced at £199, and is available now on theAstell & Kern website.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

Analysis: Mic pass-through feature makes this more than a run-of-the-mill DAC dongle

Korean brand Astell & Kern has built up a solid reputation for its high-end and high-priced digital audio players, but this hi-fi dongle marks a welcome move into more affordable territory.

It’s nevertheless still quite a hefty asking price when lined up against the recently announcediFi Uno, but that unique microphone input will likely be enough to send gamers and conference callers A&K’s way.

We can’t wait to see how it performs, but in the meantime, you can find out how to up your audio game with our current list of thebest portable DACs.

Kevin Lynch is a London-born, Dublin-based writer and journalist. The author ofSteve Jobs: A Biographic Portrait, Kevin is a regular feature writer for a number of tech sites and the former Technology Editor for the Daily Mirror. He has also served as editor ofGuinnessWorldRecords.comand has been a member of the judging panel for the BAFTA British Academy Video Game Awards. Alongside reviewing the latest AV gear, smartphones and computers, Kevin also specialises in music tech and can often be found putting the latest DAWs, MIDI controllers and guitar modellers through their paces. Born within the sound of Bow Bells, Kevin is also a lifelong West Ham fan for his troubles.

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones fall back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

Austrian Audio Hi-X20 review: wired over-ear headphones that sound so good, the price tag must be a misprint

AMD just outsold Intel in the data center space for the first time ever