Astell&Kern has announced a new portable DAC that improves the sound quality of lackluster PCs, Macs, and some Android phones. designed to replace the device's internal audio decoding to produce better sound. Priced at $149 / £109, it is expensive for a dongle, but it will be worth paying.

The A&K DAC is powered by Cirrus Logic's CS43198 digital analog chip. And this is a key part of the value of this device. If you've spent a lot of money on headphones, you may need a better amplifier to actually drive them.

The A&K DAC is capable of 32-bit, 384 kHz high-resolution audio playback. Skeptics may find this a bit much, but the support for higher resolution audio will delight audiophiles.

It is secured with a sturdy cable, which A&K claims "improves sound." Since this cable is before the DAC stage, the signal is still digital at that point, and any interference would simply render the audio nonfunctional. However, with a decent cable, this is less likely to happen. Also, the DAC will last longer than with a low-quality cable.

According to A&K, when audio goes from digital to analog, a proprietary amplifier boosts the analog signal without distortion, giving the listener the sound quality intended by their favorite artist. This should allow users to drive high-impedance headphones without problems, and even a pair of expensive Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC's should sing as intended.

Interestingly, the spec sheet for the AK USB-C Dual DAC states that iPad Pro users are out of luck. This is because the DAC consumes more power than Apple allows in the port. However, it may be possible to improve the sound quality of the iPad Pro by using an external USB-C hub to provide power.

The A&K USB-C Dual DAC will be available in April in the UK and May in the US