Sound-wise the hip-dac is a bit warmer than neutral with a good sense of space and resolution. Its SPDIF and USB inputs make it a fearless beast unafraid of flexing its muscle. Thereâs a good sense of scale and focus to the sound, with the hip-dac able to convey the majesty of the piece well. Dragonflies don't come with USB decrapifiers and are volume controlled by DSP, which does terrible things for the dynamic range of the tracks you're listening to. If you leave it plugged into the computer, it will go off when the computer does. False Claims: Battery Life of 8-12 hours. It looks like the Zen DAC is a bit less powerful, but what about the PowerMatch Gain settings? ), Awesome! There was no harshness on the top end like you get with a lot of inexpensive DAC/Amps. These Affordable True Wireless Earbuds Are Cheaper Than Ever! Product Of The Year 2019-Loudspeakers: The Marvelous TRIANGLEâ BOREA BR03 Bookshelf Speakers Review. save. (2021), HI-FI Trends Product Of The Year Awards 2020: Best DAC, Headphone Amps, Portable Music Players, Outstanding! Is the True Bass or XBass better, quality and/or quantity? Klipsch, View hifitrendsblog’s profile on Facebook. View hifitrendsblog’s profile on Facebook. Best Buys: 5 Marvelous MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) DACsâ¦$99 to $799! While the hip-dac doesnât come with a lightning adaptor for use with Apple devices, it does come with USB-A male to USB-C adaptor for connection to Android smartphones, and a USB-A male to USB-A female cable for use with a laptop. The iFi ZEN DACâs packaging is different from iFiâs usual one: the box is still predominantly white, but it has much more colour than usual and a picture of the device on the cardboard sleeve. I liked the synergy with the Focal Elear a little better than with the Mr. I still have an iFi nano iDSDâ LEâ (currently $139 on Amazon) that Iâ purchased eons ago, and Iâ have heard just about every one they have put out since then, including the nano iDSDâ Blackâ Label, and the xDSD. Keep in mind, the hip-dac has several features the nano iDSD LEâ doesnât have, like Xbass, Gain Control, Balanced out, etc. With a protruding volume knob, it bears a strong resemblance to a small hip flask for booze, which might be the inspiration for its name. What we love: If you’re looking for a top-notch hi-fi MQA DAC under $1000, then the $799 Topping D90 MQA DAC is the one to look at. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; It’s shaped like a liquor flask, except smaller, and itâs constructed of teal (iFi calls it Petrol Blue) aluminum with a copper analog volume knob. Watch out for: Thereâs no marking on the volume knob for reference. The unit has support for most major hi-fi audio formats as well as balanced connections, which ⦠There’s also no carrying case or bag included as there was with past iFi products. That means you have to power it from your laptop’s USB port. The iFi Zen DAC costs less than £130 and can reproduce these tracks to a level that is at least on par with my CD player. (However, they do include the USB-C adapter, which they didnât before) No dedicated line output. David Holland's "Spheres" (Emerald Tears, ECM) plays via the iFi hip-dac and the FiiO FH5 duo. Award! Speakers Aeon Flow Closed, and it pushed all three to ear-splitting volumes even while set to low gain. When Iâ first took it out of the box, I couldn’t believe how thin and compact it was. (TIDAL, Spotify, Etc. This thing will power just about any headphone out there, even the substantial Audeze LCD cans. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. From my experience, it has no problem driving most full-sized headphones. The hip dac is a very solid device in hand with all metal construction. Watch out for: There are no markings on the volume knob for reference. Listening to the iFi hip-dac. Iâve always loved the way iFiâs portable DAC/Amps sound. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; I wasn’t inclined to slip an iFi DAC in my pocket and run down to Starbucks. amzn_assoc_linkid = "5d2288dcec0062143b273614395012d4"; iFi has made some claims with regard to the Hip-DAC that are either false or misleading. The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $500 (2021). amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; ⦠Click on the desired image to enlarge it; Press âAltâ or âOptionâ and click the enlarged image; Select âSave image asâ Click Save; Windows Like most iFi DACs, it’s warmish sounding, but still balanced, not overdone at all. (2021), HI-FI Trends Product Of The Year Awards 2020: Best DAC, Headphone Amps, Portable Music Players, Outstanding! And with MQA available on Android, and hopefully soon for iOS, the xDSD is revolutionising ⦠As Iâ already said, the hip-dac is slim and lightweight, with a length/height/width of 102 x 70 x 14 mm. It’s a DAC only, so unlike the other options on this list, you need to pair it with a quality headphone amp like the matching Topping A90 or the Headamp Gilmore Lite mk2 to do a headphone setup. Andover Audio Songbird Music Streamer Review: The Best Music Streamer For The Money! But just like a good Sugar Ray song or the best currywurst, one tiny mistake can derail the whole experience. I’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. Buy Here: AMAZON-iFi Hip-dac Portable DAC Headphone Amp Balanced for Android, iPhone, amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hifitrends-20"; On the other side of the knob are two output jacks, one 4.4mm balanced and one 3.5mm single-ended. It only weighs about four and a half ounces, a lot less than my cell phone. As far as power ratings go, hip-dac has a nominal or constant power rating of 400mW, then up to 700mw from the balanced output depending on headphone impedance. This thing makes for the perfect portable solution for me. edit: perhaps I missed it in the tech postings, but what sort of filter does the hip-dac apply @iFi audio? Chord Electronics has had wild success with the compact and futuristic Mojo DAC / Amplifier. Verdict. Check Out The Euclid, Audeze’s Extraordinary New In-Ear Planar Magnetic Headphone. Iâ also tried the Sennheiser/Drop HD58X Jubilee, and it also sounded great with the hip-dac, almost on par with the AFC. It wasnât as detailed or transparent as the Elear, it had a natural, liquid sound that was very enjoyable. It also comes with a mini USB-C for charging. 7 hours, 35 minutes is the max on the absolute lowest volume setting out of the 3.5 mm jack. iFi NEO iDSD Review: A Headphone Amp/DAC Combo With Captivating Sound! Like the majority of iFiâs portable DAC/Amps, the hip-dacâs DAC section is based around a Burr-Brown chip with True Native design for bit-perfect handling of PCMâ and DSD. Review: iFi Audioâs Hip-Dac Is The First-Class Portable Dac-Amp Youâve Been Waiting For! I suggest the Meze 99 Classics or Neo. Reserved for family treats (i.e birthdays and the like), a trip to âthe Boldâ would see a swarm of waiters darkening your table. Aside from the form factor and line out, is there any reason at all to get the Zen DAC over the Hip DAC?  Also, flanking the volume knob are LEDs that change color to indicate the format and sampling rate of the digital file that is playing. This Week’s Hi-Fi/Audio Best Buys: Best Speakers, Best Headphones, Best Stereo Systems feat. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. Also, like the ZEN DAC, the hip dac has a bass boost circuit. My thirst for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today. Speakers headphones. As an Amazon Associate, Hifitrends.com may earn from qualifying purchases via links placed throughout the site…this helps us keep the website going! The buttons (Power Match and Xbass) next to the knob also feel good and press in with a satisfying click. The iFi hip-dac is smaller than most smartphones, measuring 4.0 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (LxWxH) and weighing only 4.4 ounces. The detail throughout the audioband is excellent. Equivalent? We also wish the ZEN DAC had a power button. (TIDAL, Spotify, Etc. Highly Recommended! If you want top-notch MQA sound, but don’t have a lot of room on your desk, or want something to cart to the local Starbucks, this is the ticket. Iâ was first amazed at how smooth and crisp the hip-dac sounded. High for full-size headphones, and low for IEMâs and the like. Iâ also got the TIDALâ app to work with it, but Iâ didnât get the final MQAâ unfold as Iâ did with UAPP. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). The male port is said to be sturdier than a female connection, and it also accepts Appleâs Lightning to USB Camera Adaptor (not included) directly. Save Aâ Fortune On These âAward-Winningâ Bookshelf Speakers-$40 off w/ Coupon! A stand-alone DAC devoted to the Bluetooth standard, Paul Rigby looks at iFiâs Zen Blue Who knows? 4 4. comments. If youâre looking for a high quality portable DAC, this iFi is well worth a place on the shortlist. Itâs flexible, full of features and priced at just under $550. It’s also super slim and lightweight, being not much larger than the headphone dongles included with some smartphones. Iâ tested the hip-dac with my HP Envy X360 laptop using Tidal and Roon to playback MQAâ and 24-bit files from my NASâ drive. It was the first time receiving a product from a company where I thought, âTechnology is truly advancing at an almost alarming rate.â Times are much different now. I also connected the hip-dac to my LG V40âs USBâ-Câ port and was able to play files from the USBâ Audio Player Pro app with no issue. Like itâs big desktop brother, the ZENâ DAC, it has the PowerMatch switchable gain, with its two-position high-low setting. The pics donât do it justice. BTW, since this is an iFi DAC, you also get support for MQA, which unlocks access to TIDALâs âMastersââ content. For only $200 you can get the iFi iDSD Nano BL which is, IMO, the best mobile DAC/amp at the price point by miles. The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $500 (2021). amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; As far as listening goes, it has that beautiful warm, detailed sound iFi is known for. That should make the iPhone fans happy. If you use TIDAL as your music streaming service, then you should really be interested in MQA since they use it to power their Tidal Masters tier. R+R=NOW + 13 Other Artists! You also get some non-slip rubber feet for placing the hip-dac on a desktop or similar surface. USB and IIS (HDMI) inputs support up to PCM32bit / 768 kHz and DSD512 Native. There are many great ones at many different price points, so we have rounded up the ones we really love and use regularly. My only issue is they were somewhat bulky. My thirst for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today. After purchasing the amazing iFi Zen for my work AMP/DAC I found myself wanting to carry it around to use when I was hotdesking or working in a cafe etc. amzn_assoc_asins = "B0842W67F1"; Iâ was first amazed at how smooth and crisp the hip-dac sounded. share. Itâs the only one that sounds natural to me. The sound was more three dimensional and dynamic on the Elear; it was an ideal match. #NewMusicFridayâ¦New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. No longer does it require your kidney to achieve great sound, whether in setting up a small home studio or just simply ⦠It has the most power, the cleanest sound, and it’s also the smallest, lightest one ever (thanks to a flagship ESS DAC Chip). Awards are by far the most commercially important awards in the industry in the UK and beyond. Now That’s A Good Question…Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi Music Streaming? The Best Integrated Amplifiers Around $1000 (2020). If I had known then what I know now, I would have been even more excited to get my hands on the IFI Zen DAC. Now That's A Good Question...Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi Music Streaming? Those familiar with the X series products will recognize the form factor as the Hip is roughly the same height and width but slightly thinner by comparison. Even despite my complaining every time a DAC hits the market (and for good reason), it truly is a good time to be alive. Andover Audio Songbird Music Streamer Review: The Best Music Streamer For The Money! Now they also claim input from John Curl of Parasound fame, which can only be a good thing, understanding his profound influence on amplifier design. The iFi Zen DAC is an excellent DAC and amp for the price. It also suffers from the brightness exhibited by lower-end ESS DAC chips, but match it with the right headphone, and it can be magic. The Best Audio And Hi-Fi Sales Weâve Found This Weekâ¦ELAC, Kanto, Music Hall, Koss, PSB, Sennheiser. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). If you’re looking for a low-cost desktop amp/preamp with MQA, there is no better option out there. Copyright © HI-FI Trends 2018 All right reserved. Nubya Garcia +11 Other Artists! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Enter your email address and subscribe to our newsletter. The iFi hip-dac's bass (with XBass engaged) is, as mentioned ⦠The latest addition to the acclaimed Audioquest Dragonfly line, the $299 Dragonfly Cobalt is the best yet. iFi Hip DAC. We love its ability to drive full-size headphones with enthusiasm, and we also love the crisp, wide-open, transparent sound. On the reverse side of the hip dac is a USBâ 3.0 Type-A male port which functions as a digital input and a USBâ C port solely for charging the internal battery. The Best Integrated Amplifiers Around $1000 (2021), How To Get The Best MQA Audio With TIDAL and Your iPhone (Plus A Word Regarding Android). The Zen DAC is warmer in sound in just about every way. Awesome! Chord Mojo Chord Mojo portable headphone DAC / Amp. Belonging to the group AMR (Abbingdon Music Research Group), which is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the UK, iFi audio is a manufacturer of several DACs and amplifiers, as well as other accessories for computer & home audio. Prices are subject to change at any time. If youâre looking for a high quality portable DAC, this iFi is well worth a place on the shortlist. Tidal Masters streams hi-res files to your phone or laptop and we think you’re not experiencing the service fully if you’re not using MQA. I love its ability to drive full-size headphones with enthusiasm, and Iâ also love the crisp, wide-open, transparent sound.
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