TL;DR With improvements in its detail and separation, the iFi hip dac2 is a worthy upgrade to the original. Intro Back in January of 2020, iFi dropped a new battery-powered portable amp that was slimmer and lighter than anything they had released to date. It was called the hip-dac, named as such...

Audiophiles and music enthusiasts looking for a high-quality DAC and headphone amplifier will be impressed with the pocket-sized iFi AUDIO hip-dac2, a portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier designed to provide high-resolution audio at home on your PC/Mac, or on the go, when playing or...

The Low Down While the good looks, quality build, and reasonable price may get them in the door, the Sivga SV021's ($149) sensational comfort plus detailed and expansive presentation keep them hanging around. These nice closed-back dynamic headphones have a naturally open sound that makes them...

Summary Shanling Audio has done some good stuff when it comes to DAC/Headphone Amp combos, both portable and desktop. Their BA1 Bluetooth Desktop DAC Amp scored high marks when we reviewed it earlier this year, providing a nice balanced sound for both headphones and hi-fi. They also have the...

- Advanced model of UA line - Interchangeable cables, using USB-C connector - Special mode offering compatibility with Nintendo Switch - 3.5mm Single ended & 2.5mm Balanced output - ESS ES9038Q2M DAC & Ricore RT6863 amplifier - Up to 195mW@32 output...

Thanks for the Edit, I meant to say Carbon!! LOL

Summary Yes, the Dongle DAC/Amp market is super crowded right now, but that hasn’t stopped Periodic Audio from dropping their own branded dongle DAC at a reasonable price of $49. It’s called the Periodic Audio Rhodium DAC, and it has 32bit/384kHz high-res PCM decoding, along with 30 mW of...

Giving You The Low Down On The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $200! About a year and a half ago, UK-based Cambridge Audio introduced its first True Wireless Earbuds, the Melomania 1. They are still amongst the best TWS earphones under $100, as chronicled in our story, “Best Buys: Our Picks...

Award-Winning Great British Sound on the move - 50 years of audio expertise in every pair More time with your favourite artists - Up to a massive 50 hours battery life Designed for you - Discover your perfect fit Melomania App compatible - Your soundtrack, your way Transparency mode - Let...

Helm Audio has been on a tear lately, producing an uninterrupted run of innovative portable audio gear for the last two years. They constantly seem to get the features/performance/price mix of their products right, making them attractive. A couple of months back, I took a look at their $199 HELM...

Plug & Play on Your Favorite Mobile Device for Incredible Studio Quality Audio THX Certified - Plays All Music Files: MP3 to MQA and Hi-Res MQA Stream Unfolding and HD Support on the Top Hi-Rez Streaming Services Industry Acclaimed Design & Technology Delivers the Purist Audio Signal Works with...

Remarkable Wireless Sound For The Money! It wasn’t long ago, the phrase “Hi-Fi Bluetooth Receiver” would’ve been considered something of an oxymoron. Even a couple of years back, the sound quality of Bluetooth was pretty poor, and most audiophiles would’ve scoffed at the idea of "Hi-Fi...

Hi-Fi Sound By using dedicated Hi-Fi ESS Sabre ES9218P DAC and amplifier, BA1 offers an impressive sound quality and will be an equal partner for your speaker or headphone rig. Ultimate Bluetooth Connectivity Combining the Bluetooth 5.0 with the support of high-quality Bluetooth codecs, BA1...

Overview The portable DAC/Amp market is a crowded one. I’ve reviewed a bunch of them, and I have a couple on deck waiting for evaluation. To make noise in this product category, you have to come up with something special. Enter THX and their new THX Onyx, a $199 DAC/Amp that happens to be...