Astell&Kern AK HB1 Wireless + Wired Portable DAC / Amp

The AK HB1 Bluetooth and USB Type-C DAC/Amp by Astell&Kern is a lightweight, portable device with a powerful built-in amplifier and a premium microphone that lets you effortlessly experience high quality audio wirelessly and through USB Type-C and Lightning connections.

The AK HB1 goes beyond simple Bluetooth playback, delivering outstanding, full high-resolution sound via USB DAC connection to PCs, smartphones, tablets, and more.

Supporting Native DSD256 and 32 bit/384 kHz playback, AK HB1 ensures compatibility with a diverse range of high-quality audio sources, providing Astell&Kern's signature premium sound quality. Additionally, equipped with a renderer function that supports MQA 8X, AK HB1 enables MQA playback without the need for external DACs or playback devices.

AK HB1 accommodates an extensive selection of codecs to deliver smooth playback of high-resolution audio through its compatibility LDAC and aptX HD codec as well as the more common AAC and SBC for PC and smartphones. AK HB1 is also equipped with Qualcomm’s CSR8675 Bluetooth for a consistently strong and stable connection.

HB1 introduces an exclusive AMP circuitry that supersedes the standard built-in DAC AMP. Its AMP enables a commanding 4 Vrms output (in Balanced connection) and dual connectivity options — 3.5 mm unbalanced and 4.4 mm balanced, catering to a wide range of IEMs and headphones.

The AK HB1 is built with a high-quality microphone to ensure crystal-clear voice quality and stability. Ideal for taking calls when working, gaming, or travelling, the Bluetooth DAC/Amp is equipped with Clear Voice Capture technology to suppress ambient noise while delivering clear vocals to the recipient.

Activate AK HB1's dedicated Car Mode to enjoy high-quality DAC/AMP sound effortlessly while at the wheel. Simply connect AK HB1 to your vehicle's AUX port, and its power automatically turns on/off based on your vehicle's ignition, allowing you to enjoy audio from your paired devices.

Features

• 3.5 mm / 4.5 mm Dual Output for maximum compatibility with a wide range of wired headphones and earphones.
• Supports LDAC + aptX™HD for High quality Bluetooth Sound from smartphones, tablets, PCs and portable gaming devices.
• Delivers outstanding, full high-resolution sound via Plug & Play USB DAC connection.
• Built-in high-quality microphone to ensure crystal-clear voice quality and stability, ideal for taking calls when working, gaming, or travelling.
• Dedicated Car Mode to enjoy high-quality DAC/AMP sound effortlessly while at the wheel.
• Simultaneous Support for UAC 1.0 & 2.0 for quality cross-platform gaming sound experiences on consoles such as PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

Specifications

• Model: AK HB1
• Colour: Shadow Black
• Body Material: Polycarbonate (Body) / Aluminium (Volume Wheel)
• Bluetooth Chipset: Qualcomm CSR8675
• Bluetooth Version: 5.0
• Bluetooth Codec: LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
• Bluetooth Profile: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
• DAC: ESS ES9281AC PRO
• Sample Rates:
• PCM: 8 kHz - 384 kHz (8/16/24/32 bits per-sample)
• DSD Native: DSD64 (1 bit 2.8 MHz), Stereo / DSD128 (1 bit 5.6 MHz), Stereo / DSD256 (1 bit 11.2 MHz), Stereo
• Output Level: Unbalanced 2 V RMS / Balanced 4 V RMS (Condition No Load)
• Input: USB Type-C (Supports UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0)
• Output: 3.5 mm (Supports CTIA standard 4-pole earphones/headphones), 4.4 mm (Only 5-pole supported)
• Dimensions: 39.8 x 68.4 x 16.5 mm (Including volume wheel)
• Weight: 40 g
• Feature Enhancements: Firmware upgrade supported (OTA with APP)
• Frequency Response: ±0.135 dB (Condition: 20 Hz - 20 kHz) Unbalanced │ 0.136 dB (Condition: 20 Hz - 20 kHz) Balanced
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 117 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 118 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced
• Crosstalk: -112 dB @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 112 dB @ 1 kHz, Balanced
• THD+N: 0.0005 % @ 1 kHz, Unbalanced │ 0.0005 % @ 1 kHz, Balanced
• IMD SMPTE: 0.0003 % 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Unbalanced │ 0.0003 % 800 Hz 10 kHz (4:1) Balanced
• Output Impedance: Unbalanced Out 3.5 mm (0.8 Ohm) │ Balanced Out 2.5 mm 4.4 mm (1.8 Ohm)
• Capacity: 600 mAh 3.8 V Li Polymer
• Charge Time: about 1.5 hours
• Playback Time: about 6 hours (Standard: AAC)

Included

• 1 x Astell&Kern AK HB1 Wireless & Wired DAC.
• 1 x USB-C to Lightning Cable.
• 1 x USB-C to USB-C Cable.
• 1 x Warranty Card.
• 1 x Quick start guide.

More Information

• AK HB1, by Astell&Kern