--- title: "Fancy a USB-C Dual DAC Cable to up your audio playback? Talk to Astell&Kern" id: "7759" type: "post" slug: "fancy-a-usb-c-dual-dac-cable-to-up-your-audio-playback-talk-to-astellkern" published_at: "2021-03-19T02:08:40+00:00" modified_at: "2025-12-05T03:12:45+00:00" url: "https://microwire.mbmx2.com/fancy-a-usb-c-dual-dac-cable-to-up-your-audio-playback-talk-to-astellkern/" markdown_url: "https://microwire.mbmx2.com/fancy-a-usb-c-dual-dac-cable-to-up-your-audio-playback-talk-to-astellkern.md" excerpt: "Editor’s brief: If you are a serious audiophile or enthusiast, you would know that what seems like a mundane or simple thing like cables do make a difference. The smallest things matter. In this case, an innocuous USB-C Dual DAC..." taxonomy_category: - "News" - "Reviews & Lifestyle" --- [https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://microwire.info/](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://microwire.info/) What To Know - The company’s years of experience in audio circuit and amplifier design enabled them to squeeze a complex and highly integrated circuit design into a chassis the size of a chewing gum packet (17mm x 50mm x 10. - A separate shielding treatment is applied to the cable to prevent distortion and digital and analogue signal noise from the playback device, and the addition of copper wire helps to affect a clear and rich spatial sound. Editor’s brief: If you are a serious audiophile or enthusiast, you would know that what seems like a mundane or simple thing like cables do make a difference. The smallest things matter. In this case, an innocuous USB-C Dual DAC cable from Astell&Kern may just be the “dongle” you need for your audio. Read more below. **[SINGAPORE](https://microwire.info/?mwire)**– With the introduction of the USB-C Dual Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) Cable, Astell&Kern, the undisputed market leader in premium portable high-resolution audio devices, has made it possible for music lovers to enjoy the highest possible quality audio from a computer or mobile device, regardless of where they may be. This ultra-compact audio accessory is the latest in the company’s line of award-winning portable digital audio players (DAPs) and headphones, and it will improve the sound quality of your Android phone, Windows 10 computer, tablet PC, or MacOS computer*. While many popular streaming services now provide high-resolution quality tracks, it is becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy high-quality music playback on the go or at the office as leading smartphone manufacturers continue to omit headphones jacks and include low-performance DACs. To remedy this, the USB-C Dual DAC Cable is a must-have component: Connect your device’s USB-C port to the dual DAC cable, plug in your headphones with a 3.5 mm jack, and enjoy the rich, dynamic sound. #### **Dual Digital-to-Analog (DAC)** The Astell&Kern USB-C DUAL DAC Cable is equipped with two Cirrus Logic CS43198 MasterHIFiTM DACs, allowing for high-resolution audio playback up to native DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz. The company’s years of experience in audio circuit and amplifier design enabled them to squeeze a complex and highly integrated circuit design into a chassis the size of a chewing gum packet (17mm x 50mm x 10.3mm). In addition, the audio circuit in Astell&Kern’s high-performance DAPs is optimized with custom-designed capacitors, which help to reduce power fluctuations and ensure stable operation and best-in-class audio performance despite the DAP’s diminutive size. To ensure that you hear your music exactly as the artist intended, we paired our dual DACs with a separate analog amplifier that can provide enough power to drive a wide range of headphones with impedances as high as 600 ohms at 2Vrms (Condition No Load). #### **Noise-shielded Cable** To ensure the purest sound quality, a custom-made, long-lasting 4-core cable is built to withstand the rigors of travel and minimise signal interference. To prevent interference from outside sources, a core of Technora aramid fiber is surrounded by a layer of thick silver-plated copper, and then a second layer of copper is spiraled around the first. A separate shielding treatment is applied to the cable to prevent distortion and digital and analogue signal noise from the playback device, and the addition of copper wire helps to affect a clear and rich spatial sound. #### **Astell&Kern Signature Aesthetic** The USB-C Dual DAC Cable, like all Astell&Kern products, features a gorgeous angled surface design that is based on the company’s signature ‘light and shadow’ aesthetic. The body is made of a smooth, polished metal zinc alloy, which gives it a high-end feel and provides indestructible protection on the road. *(From the vendor) * iOS-based devices, such as iPhones and iPads are currently not supported. A dual DAC cable requires more current to run than a single DAC cable. Current iOS devices limit the amount of current exported and do not provide enough current to power a dual DAC configuration.* #### **Technical Specifications** - Body material: Zinc Alloy - Body colour: Titan - DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198 x 2 - Input: USB Type-C Input (for Windows 10, Android Smartphone & Tablet PC, macOS) - Output: 3.5mm headphone - Dimensions: USB Plug: 12mm[W] x 20mm[H] x 8.2mm[D] ; 3.5mm Headphone: 17mm[W] x 50mm[H] x 10.3mm[D] - Weight: Approx. 25g - Frequency response: ± 0.030 (Condition: 20 Hz~20 kHz) - Sample Rate: PCM: Support up to 32bit/384kHz | DSD Native: DSD64(1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo / DSD128(1bit 5.6MHz), Stereo / DSD256(1bit 11.2MHz), Stereo - S/N: 118dB @ 1kHz, Unbalanced - THD+N: 0.0004% @ 1kHz, Unbalanced - IMD SMPTE: 0.0003% 800Hz 10kHz (4:1) Unbalanced - Output impedance: 2ohm - Output power or voltage: 2Vrms (condition no load) #### **Pricing & Availability:** The Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC Cable will be available in Singapore in May 2021 for a retail price of S$189 (including GST). The new cable can be found at AV One ([https://av1group.com.sg](https://av1group.com.sg/) ), Connect IT, E1 Personal Audio, Headphones.SG, Jaben, Stereo Electronics, and [Treoo.com](http://treoo.com/) . [https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_1-scaled.jpg](https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_1-scaled.jpg) Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC cable [https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_2-scaled.jpg](https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_2-scaled.jpg) Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC cable [https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_3-scaled.jpg](https://microwire.mbmx2.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ak_usb_c_dual_dac_cable_3-scaled.jpg) Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC cable (in use) ### Share [Dr. Phan](https://microwire.mbmx2.com/author/webediteur/) Dr Seamus Phan is head of content at Microwire.news (aka microwire.info), a content outreach and amplification platform for news, events, brief product and service reviews, commentaries, and analyses in the relevant industries. 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