A high-resolution portable battery-powered headphone amplifier/DAC is adorned in the Titanium Shadow shade, exuding timeless elegance with a touch of modern sophistication. The transformation extends beyond aesthetics. The hip-dac 3's sleek aluminum casing houses new features, designed to enhance your audio experience.
Two USB-C ports simplify cable management: one for audio and one for charging. A switch on the bottom activates iFi's iEMatch technology, which is optimized for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, making it especially beneficial for your in-ear monitors (IEMs).
Inside, the device features circuit improvements, including new metal film capacitors for better frequency response. Plus, an updated version of iFi's GMT circuit, along with a new crystal oscillator, further reduces phase noise and gives you purer sound.
With its sleek, robust aluminum casing, the portable hip-dac 3 fits discreetly into a pocket or bag. Replaces the poor DAC and amplifier in smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs. Simply connect via USB-C, plug in your favorite headphones and enjoy rich, dynamic sound.
iFi's expertise with the Burr-Brown chipset ensures optimal performance. However, a higher DAC stage involves more than just the DAC chip. A crucial element is the XMOS chip for processing digital audio inputs. The hip-dac 3 features a 16-core XMOS microcontroller, programmed by iFi's in-house team to optimize sound quality and ensure seamless high-resolution pairing with the Burr-Brown DAC.
The hip-dac 3 features a truly balanced circuit design, rare in its price range. This design minimizes signal distortion, resulting in purer, more captivating sound for your headphones.
The circuit incorporates high-quality components, including a custom iFi OV operational amplifier, a Texas Instruments low-noise power supply IC, and a premium analog volume potentiometer.
The amplifier stage can deliver up to 400 mW into a 32 ohm headphone load, making it compatible with a wide range of headphones. Additionally, it efficiently drives high impedance headphones with an output voltage of 6.3V at 600 ohms from the balanced output.
The amplifier stage has switchable gain, called PowerMatch, to ensure optimal power for the headphones you are using.
A switch on the bottom activates iFi's iEMatch technology, optimizing the output for high-sensitivity headphones, especially in-ear monitors (IEMs). Reduces hiss, improves details and dynamic range, and improves volume control range.
XBass is a user-selectable feature that boosts bass without muddying the midrange, ideal for your headphones and open-back headphones. It works in the analog domain, avoiding alterations via DSP.
High-resolution PCM and DXD audio data are supported at sample rates up to 384 kHz, along with DSD from 2.8 MHz to 12.4 MHz (DSD64, 128 and 256).
Also supported is full MQA decoding, the high-resolution streaming technology, used by Tidal's 'HiFi Plus' tier, which performs the entire 'three-deploy' decoding process (rather than just the final display at the way of an MQA). renderer').
On either side of the rotary volume control are a pair of LEDs that change color to indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio.
The hip-dac 3's USB-C input supports up to 32-bit/384kHz audio, backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. Its asynchronous design ensures jitter-free data transfer. A separate USB-C charging port allows use while charging, preserving a pure audio signal path.
The hip-dac 3 provides two outputs: a 3.5mm jack for single-ended headphones and a 4.4mm balanced output for those with balanced connectivity, taking advantage of the device's differential amplifier design. The 3.5mm output uses iFi's S-Balanced circuitry, minimizing crosstalk and distortion for single-ended connections.
The hip-dac 3's 2200 mAh battery offers up to 12 hours of playback, depending on the volume and power needs of the headphones. Includes a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
The hip-dac series features a 102x70x14mm durable aluminum housing. For added protection and a suede-like touch. Includes a hip case in dove gray synthetic suede, it is perfect. Fits perfectly on all hip-dac models without compromising function.
The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or “bit-perfect.” This means you are hearing music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded. This chipset has been selected for its natural sounding “musicality” and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to get the most out of it.
This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly improved processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC offers twice the clock speed (2000 MIPS) and four times the memory (512 KB), as well as the latest USB SuperSpeed standard.
Characteristics:
- Portable headphone amplifier with DAC.Input: USB-C
- Burr Borwn DAC compatible with DSD256, PCM384kHz and MQA.
- USB-C audio input.
- Balanced 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm minijack headphone outputs.
- Power output: (4.4mm) 400 mW at 32 O; 6.3 V at 600 O and (3.5mm) 280mW @ 32O; 3.2 V at 600 O / SNR (4.4mm)
- DNR (4.4mm)
- THD+N (4.4mm)
- Frequency response: 20 Hz to 45 kHz (-3 dB)
- Energy consumption:
- Battery: Lithium-polymer 2.200mAh up to 12 hours.
- Power system: Charge via USB-C, compatible with BC V1.2, up to 1000 mA charging current.
- Dimensions: 102 x 70 x 14mm
- Weight: 135 grams.
