It’s that time of year again when our thoughts turn to gifts for loved ones. The new iFi hip-dac 3 portable USB DAC/headphone amplifier strikes me as an excellent idea for anyone who enjoys listening to high-quality audio on the move.
The hip-dac 3 is a battery-powered device that can play hi-res audio files streamed from a smartphone, computer or tablet. The hip-dac 3 has a distinctive look and resembles a classic hip flask for carrying whisky. The hip-dac was launched in 2019 and refreshed in 2021. Now, the maker has announced a third iteration of the hip-dac featuring a warm, subtle grey finish that changes its appearance under different lights.
The new hip-dac 3 has two USB-C ports: one for audio input and the other for charging its built-in battery. And now that Apple has dropped the proprietary Lightning connector on the new iPhone 15, this USB DAC/headphone amplifier can adequately be described as a universal for use across all new smartphones, tablets and laptops.
An additional switch on the hip-dac 3’s underbelly turns on something called IEMatch. This technology is a proprietary circuit that optimizes the amplifier’s output to match the sensitivity of any attached headphones or earphones.
When used with hard-to-drive IEMs, switching on IEMatch reduces background hiss while boosting details and the dynamic range of the music. Other changes to the hip-dac 3 include new metal film capacitors and further refinements that improve frequency response. The DAC section features upgraded GMT (Global Master Timing) circuitry, including a new crystal oscillator for reducing phase noise and offering a crisper sound.
Other than these changes, the hip-dac 3 is like the hip-dac 2. The DAC section uses a Burr-Brown chipset with True Native architecture. The design allows DSD and PCM audio files to use separate pathways to remain ‘bit-perfect’ in their native format through the analog stage.
The custom circuitry in the hip-dac 3 reproduces high-quality sound with most digital audio formats. One critical component is the XMOS chip that processes audio data from the digital inputs. The hip-dac 3 has a 16-core XMOS microcontroller, which optimizes sound quality and squeezes the maximum performance from the Burr-Brown DAC.
The hip-dac 3 supports hi-res PCM and DXD audio data at sample rates up to 384kHz, alongside DSD files ranging from 2.8MHz to 12.4MHz (DSD64, 128 and 256). There’s also full decoding of MQA files instead of the basic render of MQA. This makes the hip-dac 3 ideal for listening to MQA files on Tidal’s HiFi Plus tier.
On either side of the hip-dac 3’s rotary volume control, a pair of LEDs change color to show the type of audio file being decoded. Firmware can be updated so that features like digital filtering are kept entirely up to date as digital technology progresses.
The hip-dac 3’s analog amplification stage circuit is a true balanced (differential) design. iFi claims this is unusual in a DAC/headphone amp at this price. The amplifier reduces signal distortion. High-quality components throughout the hip-dac 3 include a custom iFi OV op-amp, precision low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments, and a high-quality analog volume potentiometer.
The amp stage of the hip-dac 3 delivers up to 400mW into 32Ω, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of headphones and earphones. Even high-impedance headphones can be used thanks to an output voltage of 6.3V into 600Ω.
The amp stage of the hip-dac 3 has a switchable gain feature called PowerMatch. This matches the level needed to drive the headphones by adjusting input sensitivity and signal strength. With high-sensitivity IEMs, PowerMatch at its lower setting ensures a silent and hiss-free background.
XBass is another user-selectable feature offered with the hip-dac 3. This sophisticated form of ‘bass boost’ enhances the low frequencies without muddying the midrange. XBass is particularly useful when driving open-back headphones that may be a bit light on bass. XBass operates entirely in the analog domain instead of processing the digital signal via DSP. It can be switched in or out of the signal path.
The hip-dac 3’s USB-C audio input can handle audio data up to 32-bit/384kHz and is asynchronous, meaning the data rate is regulated purely by the hip-dac 3’s specialized audio clock circuitry for accurate and jitter-free data transfer from the source device. By providing a separate USB-C port for charging the hip-dac 3, there’s a dedicated audio input for the purest signal path and you can use the hip-dac 3 while connected to a mains power supply.
There are two headphone outputs on the hip-dac 3: a 3.5mm socket for headphones with a single-ended cable/connector and a 4.4mm Pantaconn balanced output for headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the hip-dac 3’s differential amp design. In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietary S-Balanced circuitry, cutting crosstalk and distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone connections.
The hip-dac 3’s 2200mAh battery lasts for around 7-12 hours between charges, depending on the volume level and how power-hungry the connected headphones are. The device is bundled with a USB-C OTG (On-The-Go) cable, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to Lightning cable for iOS devices equipped with Apple’s proprietary connector.
Pricing & Availability: The iFi hip-dac 3 is available from selected retailers from 6th October 2023 and costs £199.
More info: ifi-audio.com
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