 |
The ifi hip-dac is an excellent little piece of equipment for the price. It features a solid brushed metal body with a metal volume knob that are shaped to resemble a drinking flask. Maybe the connotation is that you can dial up how drunk you want to get on the sound, but I digress. It’s fairly lightweight and since it is designed for portability, it’s easy to carry around with you for that purpose. It’s a little more difficult to slide in your pocket for a walk since you can easily bump the volume knob that way, so it’s better off sitting on a desk. You can purchase scotch restickable dots or Velcro patches to place on the back side of your device case and the DAC so you can attach them to keep them from moving about. It has usb-c charging, a usb male port for connectivity, and a balanced and unbalanced jack for whatever equipment you might have that requires it. The are several lights, one to denote the file type that is being played (differentiating between MQA, DSD, 44 etc.) and one that signals battery life. It also features a x-bass button for an extra boost in the low end and a power match button that matches impedance for a pair of headphones (although too powerful for an IEM). The sound is, simply put, incredible for the size and price of this device. I highly suggest you take a track you know well and compare with it on and off, and you’ll see that this DAC has a lot of capability. The sound is much fuller and rich, highlighting intricacies of a recording and breathing new life into spaces where your headphones might lack a little oomph. It’s more than just added gain - trebles are much sharper, mid range has more pronounced body and the low end receives much more recognition without getting carried away. I certainly prefer it with the X-bass on. This isn’t like a typical bass booster that turns the volume up on the low end and invades the rest of the track. It gives bass much more definition without overdoing it in any instrument or voice. You can hear more of the body of an acoustic guitar or a violin, which gives the recording more characteristics than might normally hear it as. Of course, this depends on your equipment. If you’re going to pay for the DAC, it’s best to enjoy it with nicer headphones or IEMs. That’s where you’ll hear what this DAC brings to the table. As an on the go for the plane or at your desk, this works really well. The battery life is a few hours shy of what’s advertised, but this will depend a bit on what headphones your driving and what your usage looks like, but it charges fast enough. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to add another element to your secondary hi-fi setup. This certainly punched above its weight class and is a solid performer at this price level. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
New to the audio game - purchased this because it supported MQA - so I could get the most use out of my Tidal subscription. Definitely tell the difference!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Amplifiers & Preamps
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Amplifiers & Preamps
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
