Introduction

I don’t think iFi-Audio need much introduction on head-fi anymore, over the last few years they have amassed an array of products covering almost every need you could need for your music and headphones, all bar a DAP!

I’ve liked and owned a few of their products, like a lot of products I own, I don’t always keep things a long time bar a few longer term items that just stay in my cycle. The original Go bar’s fall into that category for me. I owned both the standard first edition and the limited edition Gold Go bar.

In my quest to find the ideal portable solution for my needs I sold my Gold Go bar when I bought the iFi Go Pods (wireless adaptors) thinking I was done with dongles. A few months on and as much as I love my Go pods I found myself still trying new dongles. This led me here to trying the new Go Kensei bar.

Disclaimer

iFi-Audio provided me this unit to review and return when finished or choose to buy. This was/is not a gift



Unboxing/Packaging

Usually with all of the other iFi products I’ve owned the packaging is pretty standard, nice enough but functional boxes with all the cables and adaptors that you will need to get listening. The Kensei is the exception, as well as the normal packaging it also comes in really nice engraved wooden box. The quality of this box is really good and is a nice touch.





Design and Features

Detailed tech specs are on this showcase page as well on the iFi page so I won’t go into them here


iFi-Audio make some really well designed products that are on the whole easy to use and the Kensei is no different.

The size is just right for a USB-C Dongle, it is a lot smaller than you think it is going to be. It is very weighty which I’m fine with as it adds to the overall feeling of a high quality product. The Kensei is a slab of solid steel which feels very sturdy. Some nice Japanese engraving on the steel body.

Side of the Kensei has a function button along with volume up and down buttons. There is also a selector for the inbuilt IEMatch. I don’t personally have any really sensitive IEM’s that require the use of this but it’s nice feature to have included.

3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced earphone connections adorn the bottom of the Kensei. On the back of the Kensei is a row of small LED’s which indicate various functions.

Overall this looks, feels and functions like a premium product should.





The Kensei features a list of different filters to allow the listener to adjust sound, however I tend to use the filter that keeps what is a fairly neutral profile. I did listen with the other filters and they all make very small subtle differences, none are detrimental to the sound.

The biggest factor that iFi have emphasised for the Kensei has been the inclusion of JVC’s K2HD technology, from what I can understand this a processing feature that JVC say enhances the sound of a recording. It is not a new format but merely a process. It seems to have been around for over a decade and was used for a period of time in the mastering of some CD releases. I tried it and will comment on how I found it.

In addition to this there is the Xbass and Xspace. Xbass is designed to add some low level thump to the bass response and Xspace to open up the sound. Lastly there is the Turbo mode which is essentially a high gain mode




Gear used

For testing I used the following

Earphones

Sony IER Z1R

Fir Audio Rn6

Custom Art FIBAE 5

Headphones

Sennhieser HD660s

Grado RS1X


Source was my Samsung S24 Ultra smartphone using a mixture of streaming from Tidal and Qobuz and the UAPP app. Battery drain considering the power that this dongle can achieve is quite impressive. I listen for maybe an hour to two at a time and notice my battery life take a small hit but nothing that worries me too much.

Selecting the filters and sound enhancements are easy to do with a press of the function for 1-3 seconds and a press of the volume button dependant on usage, not having a screen is really no issue with the Kensei or any of the Go bars.



Sound

The majority of my listening was with the earphones listed above with some light headphone use. I tend to use a set playlist of certain songs that I always use when trying new gear. Most of my music taste is of an indie/alternative nature but do also like some electronic music.


Although I tried the different filters and found very minimal subtle differences I used the ‘BP’ Cyan filter for most listening which is the bit-perfect most neutral filter on the Kensei

In addition for most listening the 4.4mm balanced connection was used.


Fir Audio Radeon 6 (Rn6) – These earphones are probably the best earphone I have owned and when using with my normal DAP/Amp combo of Cayin N7/C9 they are just simply stunning with very little that seems to compete. So I was keen to see how the Kensei would fare as the Hip DAC 3 fared well when I tested that a few months ago.

First thing of note was that the bass rumble on the Rn6 was still very evident with the Kensei, and the mids were still majestic, detail in the highs was also presented extremely well. The Kensei and Rn6 played through my playlist of Bowie, The Smiths and others with ease, producing excellent results. The Cirrus Logic DAC chipset retains what I always consider to be the iFi ‘house sound’ which is to my ears, neutral yet detailed and warm without you ever really thinking it too much of either (really hope that makes sense!).

On most tracks that I tried with the Rn6/Kensei combo, the ability of the Kensei to get very close to the N7 in terms of detail and smoothness is not be underplayed.

The same applies to the Sony IER Z1r, this earphone needs no introduction, an absolute classic that sometimes splits opinion. I was late to the party with the z1r, only getting them a few months ago used but they were worth the wait. Even after a few years they are rarely bettered (in my opinion) and produce a wonderful sound, which is even better when powered well. I wondered if the Kensei could provide that power and it does, needs quite a few notches over the Rn6 on the volume but the depth it gives is really good.

It’s a similar tale with the Custom Art FIBAE 5 and their dual planar drivers, on paper they shouldn’t need much power but they benefit from it and again the Kensei doesn’t disappoint.

The output power of 477mw through balanced is very impressive for this kind of dongle that takes it power from your USB-C device. Most that I have tried have been around the 230-300mw output power.

Xbass when I tried it does add a little low end into the mix and it feels well implemented but none of my earphones really need it so I didn’t really use it.


K2HD

What is it and what does it do?

I’m not going to lie and say that I knew what this was before and I’m not going to go into any kind of explanation as I won’t do it justice so here’s the link that iFi provide

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iFi_GO_bar_Kensei_K2HD_Tech_Note_2024_Mar.pdf

Does it work?

I’m going to say that for the most part it does seem to make a positive difference. I’m not normally one for using different enhancement options, I barely ever use Xspace or Xbass and haven’t really used anything in the past.

With the K2HD I used my normal test tracks along with a few others to see if I could hear a difference and I think that I did, and in a positive way. Notes felt a little more rounded and on some tracks there was more depth to the music, an example being a little more echo to the snare drum in the first minute or so of ‘I Know It’s Over’ by The Smiths. The drum is isolated slightly and the timbre/echo/depth seems better. I’d say the bass response on most tracks is also marginally more rounded. The one aspect that surprised me was that most of the tracks felt smoother with more of a natural feel however this is only to my ears and others might not experience the same.

I noticed small differences like this across most tracks and find myself having it turned on all the time.





Closing thoughts

Normally I would do some comparisons either from gear I still have or from notes on previous equipment.

This time I’ll just say that this is the best dongle I’ve tried to date, I can’t compare to the Gold Go but from memory and some notes I wrote they are much the same. I’ve tried a fair few dongles over the last 2-3 years and this one is by far (for me and my usage) the best I’ve used. It gets close to my main DAP at times but doesn’t surpass my Cayin N7 but I wouldn’t expect it to given they are different devices however if I had to give up a DAP and just have a dongle, the Kensei would be more than sufficient for my needs.

For the last month or so I’ve been using the iFi-Audio Diablo 2 DAC/AMP (D2 from this point) to put it through its paces with my small collection of IEM’s and headphones. Given the power on hand with the D2 I probably don’t have any real power-hungry headphones that fully test its capabilities however I do have ear/headphones that scale well with amplification.

Disclaimer – I was sent the D2 to review, if I keep it I purchase, it is not a gift. I'm also not one for technical data and tech speak, I just try and describe the sound I hear, I leave the tech talk to those with a better knowledge and understanding

A little background, for over 30 years I’ve had a variety of portable players from cassette Walkman's to minidisc players and for the last 15-20 years, DAP’s. In addition to this, since the growth of smartphones I’ve tried many different DAC/AMP products. I think the whole time I’ve been looking for that DAP or smartphone/DAC/AMP combo that I keep longer term.
My current kit is probably the longest I’ve had the same gear for a sustained period of time. DAP wise I’m using a Cayin N7, sometimes on its own and at other times paired with the Cayin C9 amp. This pairing is quite simply the best I’ve heard for its overall presentation of the music and its almost analogue sound.
In recent months I’ve also been using the iFi-Audio Go Pods for a wireless approach with a pair of my custom earphones.
The term portable in reality is different for all of us, when I first started this hobby i used public transport on a daily basis and was often looking for truly portable solutions however in the last few years I’ve leant to drive and no longer really need a pocket set up. This has meant that as is the case with my N7/C9 combo I’ve gone back to larger portable/transportable set ups that are used around the house or go on holidays and trips.

Enter the D2, I never got to try the original Diablo but have owned the Gryphon from ifi-audio and various other portable DAC/Amps from other companies. I was keen to see how this would fare against other products I’ve owned but also how it would perform against my DAP/AMP combo, with an outcome of possibly moving on my N7 if the D2 gets close or surpasses. Although to be honest and I’ll say this upfront I never expected it to be given the price difference. The D2 retails for £1299 compared to the £3000 or so it would cost to buy both Cayin products new.





The D2 comes as quite a premium product in regard to the packaging and included accessories, there is a variety of cables for connection to smartphone as well 2 grey ‘stands/legs’ that attach to the D2 and can be used to stand it an angle, I guess to help keep it cool over extended periods of use. The only downside for me is the included carry bag, although there is plenty of room and it’s a nice addition it just feels a bit cheap to me (but that's maybe just my own taste showing)




The build quality of the D2 is second to none, I’ve found all of the iFi products I’ve owned or used to have excellent build quality and they always feel like a premium product, the D2 is no exception. Everything about the D2 oozes quality, the ridged body, the color and the overall finish are all excellent. Connections are all firm with no looseness, of note is the power/volume dial. This has a small switch/lever design that locks the volume wheel, I find this an excellent addition and adds a sense of reassurance that volume won’t be accidentally ramped up.
Connections are well covered with a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced headphone out on the front along with a 6.3mm connection. The front of the unit also has the gain selector with 3 settings – normal, turbo and nitro. I think I would’ve preferred it if iFi had just called these low, middle and high but that’s a personal gripe. There is also a xMEMS mode which is specific to headphones/earphones with this technology. I was hoping to buy some earphones to trial with this but could only find one set of earphones with MEMS and that wasn’t readily available.


The back of the D2 has 2 x USB-C, one for charging and one for OTG connection to smartphones. There’s a balanced output along S/PDIF connection. On the underside there is a selector switch for the inbuilt IEM Match, I never used this function so won’t be commenting on it.



For testing I used the following

Fir Audio Rn6
Sony IER Z1R
Grado Rs1x
Sennheiser HD660s
Mitchell and Johnson MJ2
Custom Art FIBA 5 and 7U
I used a mixture of wired connection to my Samsung S23 Ultra smartphone with Qobuz for streaming and the UAPP app for streaming and music stored on my phone.
I used Bluetooth on LDAC setting. Samsung don’t support AptX Lossless so was unable to test this.
I also did some comparisons with my Cayin N7/C9 pairing.

I was going to list some of the components, but it feels like there is a lot of parts to discuss or list so here is a link to the D2 page that describes in better detail than I could.

iFi iDSD Diablo 2 – Portable DAC/Amp for Tidal and Qobuz. (ifi-audio.com)

I’m not going to get into the discussion on review about stated power figures, iFi appear to have rectified the power description on their pages and all I would say is that for me and my usage it packs plenty of power but as a guide my Cayin C9 Amplifier provides stated 2600mW into 32 Ohm and the D2 is stated as 1760mW into the same 32 Ohm. There is a separate max power rating, but this has caused some controversy, so I won’t use those figures.

Onto the sound.
First to say that iFi’s continued use of Burr-Brown DAC pays off again, I’ve yet to hear a Burr-Brown that I’ve not enjoyed. The D2 is no expectation to this.
I tried my Sony Z1r earphones for the first few hours of usage with the D2 using a wired connection to my S23.
For me the sound is very open and airy, with a level of detail to the music that I’ve not heard from many DAPs or DAC/AMP combos that I’ve used before. I think the power from the amp section gives plenty of air and headroom to the z1r that it feels like they have a depth that I’ve only experienced with the C9 before. Those who have heard the z1r will know it has a wonderful sound signature with what I would describe as warm full bass with nice detail although maybe a slight recess in the mids, people often say they don't like this, but I like the sound from them, and they are still a popular earphone years after their release. The D2 has a fairly neutral sound with a slight lift in the mid-treble range, not excessive but enough to give the z1r a lift in the same area.
My Fir Audio Rn6 also fare well with the D2 although they don’t need much volume to drive them, the Sony’s I could easily dial the volume wheel a few notches but not with the Rn6. This is on low gain.
The Rn6 are a hard earphone for me to describe, I see others describe them as a ‘fun’ or ‘musical’ sound however I find them neutral with an emphasis on the bass, due to its kinetic bass, I also at times find them sharp on the treble and this is where the D2/Rn6 can be a bit too revealing on some tracks.
I had similar results with my Grado Rs1x headphones, the Grado sound has quite a crunch in the treble already and the D2 doesn’t tame this, it adds to it slightly but it’s not a bad combo as when the gain is increased it gives the Grado’s even more depth and air and brings out more bass. Some tracks like the Rn6 can be a bit sharp, not sibilant as such just sharp.
Where things change for me is when you use headphones with a warmth similar to the z1r earphone
I used the D2 quite a lot with both the Senn HD660s and the Mitchell and Johnson MJ2.
The Senns have a warm sound to my ears, nice bass with smooth mids but sometimes lacking in the treble region, the D2 changes this a bit and gives them a really nice lift in that area. I was able to listen for hours with the combo of D2/Senn 660s. Smooth, detailed and non-fatiguing especially on the turbo gain which adds more depth and headroom.
The MJ2 are a bit of a strange headphone, initially released at around £500 a few years but heavily discounted when I got them for £95 from Amazon. They use electrostatic and dynamic driver. I’ve always found them a little dark with rolled off treble but a pleasant sound when driven well. The D2 suit them really well, they give them a lift in the treble which they really benefit from.

Bluetooth
I tested Bluetooth most evenings and found it came very close to the sound from a wired connection, used LDAC when connecting to my smartphone. Never had any issues with dropped connection and noted that I was able to get good range around my house with no drops in connection.

Other points
I never had any background hiss or noise with any of my earphones or headphones, always a nice dark background. I never had any use for the IEM match feature but it’s good to know the D2 has it added in case you do have sensitive earphones.
The legs/stand are a good addition to the D2, I only used them a couple of times, but they fix on the ridges to give a stand that I guess some extra cooling.
Battery life is pretty much as advertised, charge time is quite long but can be used when charging.

Comparison
It’s almost an unfair comparison but I’m going to do it anyway.
The Cayin N7 DAP and C9 portable amp has been my go-to for the last 8 months and is probably the best combo I’ve used in many years. The N7 as a DAP is quite unique and gives a wonderful smooth sound quality that has had me hooked from day 1. Paired with the C9 and I have different options such as Class A/AB or Korg options. The C9 is also quite powerful as stated earlier.


In terms of raw power when using the C9 directly against the D2 using Turbo gain on the D2 and switching between low and high on the C9, there is not much difference in power, the D2 feels like it has more instant power whereas the C9 gives a nice steady increase in power which is more gradual.
So, in terms of power to drive headphones I didn’t see a great deal of difference despite a difference in figures.
However, the D2 can’t quite compete with the N7 in terms of sound quality, the N7 is smooth, detailed and almost neutral in its presentation and in reality, is a top-of-the-line DAP that when paired with the C9 takes it to Cayin N8ii levels of sound and power. That though costs over £3000 to achieve that whereas the D2 will only set you back £1299 and is very close in all aspects.
If you weren’t bothered in owning a DAP and wanted an all-in-one solution to connect to your phone either wired or wireless, I don’t think toy can really get any better than the Diablo 2.
Overall the D2 is a wonderful sounding DAC/AMP that beats many DAPs priced higher and is better than any DAC/AMP option I’ve tried before.

My wireless journey
I've never been totally convinced by wireless as for me it has always meant a big compromise compared to my wired options. I've tried various different wireless earphones and more often than not struggled with fit, the exception being my Samsung Pro Buds, although even they tend to slip out after a period of time.
I've also tried different DAC/AMP options to provide a wireless option, currently using the Shanling H7 but it's not something I take out and about with me. I've also currently got the Fiio BTR7 but again this doesn't leave the house.

The only time I now use audio equipment away from home is when cycling to work or leisure, which is around 3-4 days per week. My cycle is on an Ebike and on a cycle trail with only a 1-2 miles of road use each trip (total trip is around 12 miles to work). So far I've found my wireless earphones to be a bit awkward for cycling, often needing readjusting which then changes tracks or volume etc. I don't really want to use the Fiio or Shanling due to having to use wired earphones with them.

This is where the Go Pods seemed an ideal option for my use. The ability to use my custom earphones without wires made this a no-brainer to try out.

Disclaimer
iFi-Audio provided me the Go Pods to review. Once finished I will either send back or purchase.

The box and instructions

If you've bought or used iFi-Audio products before then the packaging is up to their usual high standards. Clear instructions with everythng required to get started with the pods.


Charging Case and Go Pods

The charging case for the Go Pods is on the large side but this is no bad thing as it means that it should be able ot accomodate almost any IEM that is connected to the Pods. I've had both sets of customs that I own and the Fir Audio Rn6 attached and they all fir the case with no issue.

The case has some nice LED's that light up for 60 seconds.

Charging is via USB-C or wireless, works perfect with my Samsung charging pad. iFi-Audio's claimed battery times of 7 hours for the Pods and 35 hours for the case seem accurate to me, maybe a tad under but not by much.










Charging lights are on the left side of the case. The felt like material inside is a bit of a dust magnet but can't be helped and is easilly cleaned. The pods connect easily with the charging points and I've had no issues with charging.

The pods themselves are very light, 12g according to specs and they do feel light, I can't feel them once they are behind my ears. They never slip or move out of place.





Pictures of the Pods connected to my Custom Art FIBAE7U, these are the main earphones I've used in the 3-4 weeks I've been using them.

Somebody asked in the main thread about fit behind the ears, here's a picture with it on my fat head! (excuse the dry skin, have an allergic reaction to medication)



Bluetooth Connection and Controls

Connecting to my Samsung S23 Ultra has been no issue, set up was easy and they connect every time with no problem. LDAC is my default on the Samsung's bluetooth setting menu, from the advanced developers options I choose the medium LDAC rate 660. I've not tried any other codecs, however I have had no connection issues with LDAC at any of the rates. When using the highest rates I get some dropouts at around 15 feet away from source and that is in a different room. This is better performing than say my Sony wireless earbuds which drop connection at around 10 feet on highest LDAC setting. On the middle and adaptive settings I can more or less wander around my hosue with no conneciton issues.
Controls work really with everything controlled via the touch pads on each pod, they are easy to reach behind/above the ear and are simialr in operation to all other wireless earbuds I own.


Sound and Comparasions

Now this is a tricky part to write as I wasn't really intending to compare to my other bluetooth products, mainly because the other products don't really do what I want them to do when I'm cycling. Wires mean the Fiio BTR7 is not useable and my wireless earphones/buds don't have great fit when cycling, plus the sound quality just doesn't come close to my wired options.

This is where the Go Pods excel. My F7U custom earphones fit my ears and stay in with no need for adjustment. I have more volume if I need it witht he Go Pods rated 120mw @ 32ohm which is quite an increase on my wireless earbuds.

My custom earphones don't sound markedly different to when I use them wired via the Fiio BTR7, the Fiio has more power but I wouldn't use it's extra power when cycling. If I was pushed to make a comparasion between the two I would say the Go Pods are more neutral sounding than the Fiio BTR7 with maybe just a wee leaning to the warmer side of things (I find this with most iFi products, to my ears anyway). The Go Pods do mean that I'm unlikely to use the BTR7 due to excellent form factor and sound.
When using the Pods with the Fir Audio Rn6, the bass remains impactful and they don't suffer from not being paired wired to my primary DAP.


This review might not meet other people's need for direct comaprasions but for me the whole attraction of the Go Pods is the ability to use them as a true wireless product with my earphones that are normally restricted by wires. Obviously they don't match the sound quality and depth I would get from using my normal DAP wired or from the Shanling H7 Bluetooth AMP/DAC or even iFi's own Gryphon however they still need your earphones to be wired to them.

Conclusion

Are they worth £400? - For me, yes they are. They meet a cetain requirement for me, I've used them for a fair few miles when cycling, they dont interfere with my helmet, my glasses aren't affected by them and they give me the excellent sound quality I'm used to from my earphones when used wired.
The lack of an app to use alongside the Pods needs addressing, an app would make firmware updates easier and other functions. Not a deal breaker for me but would be a welcome addition.

All in all another great product from iFi-Audio that for me just might be there best to date in regards to bluetooth products.

Background
The Shanling H7 is Shanlings foray into a market which seems light on options but there does appear to be a growing demand for these types of products. In the last year we have seen the iFi-Audio Gryphon and the Fiio Q7.
These products are larger and more powerful than your normal USB DAC/AMP Dongles, more expensive and generally can and do compete with DAPS from the mid tier (in my experience).

Where the Shanling differs is in it's additon of a SD card slot, this gives the option of playing direct from the unit or via an app on smartphone (more on that later). Similar to the Chord Poly which of course has been around for a number of years.

For this review I will compare to my current kit - Cayin N8ii, Fiio BTR7 and make some comparsions to the Gryphon although this will be from memory and from extensive notes from when I owned it.

H7 Specs at a glance (Shamelessly taken from Shanling site)
- New Flagship AK4499EX DAC chip from AKM, with its matching AK4191 Modulator

- Extra powerful amplifier offering up to 1.2W @ 32 Ohm

- 3.5 / 4.4 / 6.35mm headphone outputs and rear RCA

- Xmos USB input supporting Hi-Res playback, including MQA

- Combined input for Coaxial and Optical SPDIF

- Bluetooth receiver module with LDAC support

- DSD512 32bit/768Khz

Full spec and product details - https://en.shanling.com/product/427



Gear and Music used
Custom Art Fibae 7U
Custom Art Fibae 5
Effect Audio X Elysian Gaea
Sennheiser 660s
Grado RS1x
Oppo PM3

Music used varies but mainly alternative/indie guitar driven music. Also some EDM and other electronic music used.

Primary tracks

David Bowie - Starman, Wild is the Wind, Rock and Roll Suicide
The Smiths - I Know It's Over, Well I Wonder and Barbarism Begins at Home
New Order - The Age of Consent and The Perfect Kiss
Morrissey - The Loop, Disappointed
The Fall - Various tracks
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes, Oh Sweet Nuthin and Rock and Roll
Lou Reed - Street Hassle, Kill Your Sons
The Wedding Present - Various tracks
Pet Shop Boys - Various tracks
Kraftwerk - Various tracks

The Shanling H7 - Boxing and accsessories/Build Quality
This is the first Shanling product I have owned or tried so I had no expectations as to what to expect.

Not disappointed with the whole package. Boxed as a premium product should be, nice sturdy cardbaord box, comes with a small carry pouch and a couple of cables. I bought the Shanling case which is really nice and fits snug but would have been good to include one.

The build quality and finish of the H7 is excellent. The casing is like brushed metal, smooth but not a finger print magnet, I choose the black/titanium model. Edges are rounded with no blocky sharp edges. The 2 dials are well built and not loose with no rattle. Their is a small 1.44 inch screen that is easy to read.

Ease of use/Controls
All controls are accessed by the 2 wheels on the front of the unit. These are pretty easy to use after a few minutes of getting used to them. The right wheel controls the volume and the power. The left wheel is multifunctional and works well for my useage.

H7 is powered up and ready to use within a few seconds of powering up. Bluetooth is quick and easy to connect to smartphone and I've had no issues with dropped connections.

Size wize, I don't really take my devices in my pocket anymore, as a 51 year old most of my listening is at home or when away from the house such as on short breaks etc. When I'm cycling I use TWS for ease of use and functions. The H7 is big, simialr size to Gryphon and my N8ii. It could be portable but would be better in a coat pocket rather than jeans pocket.

Battery life has been as advertised for me with around 8 hours for balanced use.

Input/Output and Sound Quality
Bluetooth - 5.0 is the bluetooth standard on the H7 and supports LDAC/AAC. Connection is straightforward and I've found the range to be better than previous models I've tried such as the Gryphon/Go Blu and Fiio's BTR7. I test this by the distance from my bedroom to bathroom! The previous devices would drop connection to my Samsung S22 Ultra when using LDAC whereas the H7 keeps the connection and I can actually go a few feet further.

Sound quality from Bluetooth is excellent and is very close to the wired connection when using as a USB DAC.
There is also no lag when watching Netflix etc when using Bluetooth

USB DAC - I've only tried the USB DAC with my Samsung S22 Ultra, it's the only source I will need for the USB. No issues with connection using the supplied USB-C to C cable which seems to be of a simialr high quality as the one iFi provide with the gryphon.
I've used the DAC both with UAPP and direct to streaming services such as Qobuz and Amazon.

The sound quality when using the wired connection is marginally superiour to the Bluetooth connection but it's not night and day to my ears. The main differences area bit more depth to the sound with a little more detail, this is also what I found with the Gryphon.

In terms of sound quality when wired-

I find the H7 to be quite detialed and transparent in it's delivery of my music. When using wired or bluetooth there is a level of detail that is very accurate but not fatiguing, there is a musicality that remains that prevents the H7 from being to fatiguing or shrill. I'd say in some respects the H7 is simialr to the Gryphon in it's presentaiton of the sound, I always found the Gryphon to be fairly neutral with just a slight bit of warmth to the overall signature.
I don't think the H7 has quite the same level of warmth as the Gryphon but it's very close however I would say I find the overall sound to be more pleasing on the H7. This is in part due to the transparency of the mids and highs, bass feels tighter than it did on the Gryphon. However bear in mind that this in not a direct comparsion but by memory and written notes.

In comparsion to my Cayin N8ii? It's almost unfair to compare as they are so far apart on price and function (H7 - £800, N8ii - £2700) however I will.

The N8ii is overall more detailed, more soundstage and more musical in almost an analouge type manner compared to the H7. But they use different DACs, different AMP sections and the N8ii has more options ot change the sound such as the Korg vacum tubes.

Saying that though the H7 does get close to the N8ii in the way the highs are presented, there is a level of detail that is not too far apart. From a power persepctive they are very similar, in high gain the H7 has specs of 1.2mw into 32ohm which is similar to the N8ii in P+ mode and high gain. It shows as well, the H7 able to drive my 660s to similar comfortable levels as the N8ii.

When comparing to the Fiio BTR7 the same considerations must also apply, the H7 is around 3 times more expensive however ther eis a sizable gap in my opinion. The Fiio is good, I still own mine but it doesn't really get close to the H7 in it's sound quality. The H7 presents music more detailed and has a musicality the BTR7 doesn't have.

RCA Output/Coaxil input - I have not used and I am very unlikely to do so.

SD Card - This is the surprise part of the package. Not a first as Chord Poly has the same abilty however I've not seen a product other than the Poly use this.

There are 2 ways to use the SD card slot. First is just selecting the TF card option on the multifunction wheel and letting the H7 paly through the card with basic next track/last card options. I tried this and works as it says on the tin really.

The 2nd option is to use an app from Android/IOS named Eddict Player. This sits on your phone and accesses the card for control via your smartphone.
At a basic level it works however the app needs a bit of work in relation to album art, it currenlty access the internet for this and for me it's been terribly inaccurate. However Shanling say the app will be updated on a regular basis (3rd party app I think), hopefully this will happen as it's a nice feature but has a few little niggles that need ironing out.


Headphone/IEM matchup -

For all my IEM's/Headphones and earbuds (bar one) the H7 paired well, I can't much about this really as we all have our own preferences but the sound qualities I mentioned before were present across all my gear, detailed musical presentation that has a little warmth but not as much as my DAP or other options such as the Gryphon. However my Grado RS1x didn't pair very well, they were quite harsh on certian tracks but I expected this due to the overall treble response of Grado headphones.
With the Sennheier I'd say that I preferred they way the H7 sounds with them compared to my N8ii, this maybe because the N8ii is warmer overall whereas the H7 just lifts the 660s a liitle.

The Gaea which are a little bright in the upper ranges I expected them to be too bright with the H7 but they are not, they sound excellent with the H7, I'd say the H7 lifts the bass in them a little but agian this could just be my ears hearing this.

Functions compared to Gryphon
I think some may be looking at this alongside the Gryphon and wondering which to buy. From sound quality alone, there is nothing in it really and will come down to personal preference, for me the H7 is just as musical as the Gryphon with maybe just a slightly brighter more detialed presence inthe mids and highs. However where the Gryphon has it's advnatages is in the Iematch and xbass functions. That said I'm not sure the H7 will need Iematch type function, for my gear I heard no backgorund noise.

The H7 is also a little bulkier than the Grypon, size wise they are both similar size in the hand but the H7 sits a bit thicker and weighs a little more.

Final thoughts
The Shanlong H7 is an excellent entry into this segment of the marker for Shanling. From sound quality and function perspective it is very very good. It will pair with everything from PC/Tablet/Smartphone to Nintendo Switch and Playstation consoles.
It competes with DAPS in and around and probably higher than it's price range. I wouldn't go as far to say it beats those TOTL efforts from IBasso or Cayin etc however I think it does match those just below that level.

If you are in the market for a mid-level DAP but are undecided and are looking at the H7, take the plunge, paired with a smartphone and using bluetooth or wired then you can't really go wrong. Shanling have produced an excellent powerhouse and great sounding device.

The H7 sits nicely alongside the N8ii for my useage. Bluetooth will be it's main puprose. The Bluetooth performance is nothing short of excellent.

I received the standard version of the Go bar from IfI-audio for the purpose of reviewing the product. This was not a gift and will be returned after the review is written. The Gold version I bought after a few days of listening to the standard version. This was bought full price from a UK retailer.


IfI-Go bar standard version

IfI-Audio are a company on a bit of a roll over the last few years, releasing some excellent products that appeal across the board, other than a DAP they seem to have most bases covered, even more so now that they have released this the Go Bar, their first USB DAC/AMP dongle. The market for these has exploded over the last couple of years. I've tried and owned a few different ones myself however they never seem to totally satisfy my need so I normally head back to a fully featured DAP or products like the IFI-Audio Gryphon or Fiio Q5s series.

I've tried and owned a few IfI-audio products, the Zen can/dac signature edition, Gryphon, Go Blu, the Hip DAC and idsd black label, these have all been in my possession at some point and some still are. I like the IFI sound, to my ears their products give a detailed sound but with just a wee bit of warmth that keeps them musical. So when I read about this dongle I was immediately interested.

I'd also read about the Gold limited edition, initially I wasn't that bothered and was keen to try the standard however after a few days of the Go Bar I found a UK retailer with the Gold in stock so ordered it, the Go standard had been so good that I needed to try the Gold.

I'm going to write about both together with some comparisons, I don't write in a very technical way, I just try and describe the sound in what I consider layman's terms.

Boxes and other pictures





Sound and features

The Go Bar has a load of features and tech specs that I'm not going to list or go into too much other than the basics of their is a 3.5mm output along with a balanced 4.4mm connection. The 3.5mm uses IfI's s-balanced technology.

The balanced output has very impressive 475mw into 32ohms however I am going to link to all the tech details - https://ifi-audio.com/products/go-bar/

I've used both Go bar's with my Noble Audio Sultan Damascus Edition, Senn IE900 and Etymotic er4sr and while typing/editing this, I'm using the Custom Art Fibae7u custom earphones which arrived earlier today.
First thing to say is that the Go drives everything with total silence, no background noise on any earphones I've used. None of my IEM's are difficult to drive but the Ety's and the Senns do benefit form the extra power that this dongle provides, giving them a bit more depth and headroom in their sound compared to other dongles I've used.

I also used my Senn HD660s for some listening and over the last week have also been trying out the Grado RS1X, again the Go has no problem driving both these headphones. With the 660S I can't go much above 70% of the maximum volume, which speaks volumes for the power on tap from this dongle.

The only hardware used was my Samsung S22 Ultra Android smartphone. I do intend to use the Gold with both my tablet and laptop at some point but didn't for this write up. No issues when using with phone. Set phone volume to 100% and all volume is controlled by the side physical buttons on the Go Bar.

From a sound perspective the Go Bar retain what I consider to be the IfI-Audio house sound. I find their products to reproduce music with detail but a great musicality to the sound, deep and engaging with a texture especially from this device that other USB dongles to my ears just can't match. A little example would be the Bowie album Ziggy Stardust, this an album I use when testing new gear as it encompasses all aspects that I want from an album, by this I mean that there are slower soft passages but also faster more detailed segments that often tests my audio equipment. The tracks Five Years is a great example of this with its slow drum intro, the Go Bar is silent in the background, no noise just the build up of the snare and foot drums on the intro. the finale of Rock and Roll suicide with perfect reproduction form the Go Bar.

The musicality of this dongle is the element that impresses me the most, every other dongle I've tried or owned has had good aspects but none has matched the musicality of this, or the detail. The Go bar never gets fatiguing when listening for extended periods, I used to struggle with dongles like the cobalt which seemed to pierce my ears after a couple of hours, not so with the Go Bar. It's like velvet over long periods of use.

There is also no EMI interference either, some dongles pick up interference when streaming.

Then we have the Gold version which does all of the above but somehow takes it up a level, in part I guess due to the copper chassis but also I believe due 3 extra components in the amp section (according to pictures online)
The gold version is also heavier than the standard Go, quite a bit heavier. The Gold version has more texturing and layering to the bass, not steps ahead but subtle changes that you notice a little bit more each time you listen, there is also more detail in the highs, with maybe just a tad more depth to the music as well.

There is one drawback with all this power on tap is that it affects the battery life of your source, I've noticed my phone battery draining a lot quicker, I listened to a 40 minute album earlier and I think the battery depleted around 12% on my phone, not a 100 % accurate figure but certainly drains quicker than other dongles. However to me it is worth it, the sound quality alone sets both models aside from the others and makes this battery hit worthwhile.

A small word on the accessories. There is a really neat little leather case which holds the Go and the cable for carrying/storage purposes, useful for the finger print magnet the Gold Bar is. The included USB cables are very good quality as well.
The build and finish of both Go Bars is second to none.

The standard Go bar is made from a metal (not sure which) and feels sturdy, no rough or sharp edges, the Gold as mentioned earlier is made of copper and also has the same high quality finish.

Conclusion

I would easily highly recommend either of the Go Bars to anybody considering buying a USB DAC/AMP, the sound quality from both is nothing short of outstanding for the price, the standard Go bar is by far the best sounding USB DAC/AMP I have heard, the Gold Go bar with it's incremental improvements make it closer to the Gryphon, in some respects I prefer it to the gryphon, to my ears and others will disagree but I find it more engaging overall in it's sound presentation. Although obviously the Gryphon is packed with more features such as Bluetooth etc.

Disclaimer - I was sent this by Ifi-Audio for my honest opinion, it is not a free sample. I will either send back or purchase after review period.


Background

The Gryphon is IFI-Audio's newest addition to their portable range of DAC/AMPS that can be used either with Bluetooth or wired to a source. My usage has been exclusively with my Samsung S21 Ultra smartphone (UK model). I haven't tested with either of my laptops as I already have options I use with them one being the excellent IFI Senn Signature AMP/DAC duo.

I recently reviewed the GO Blu from IFI and really love the little device, works flawlessly from my phone and drives my IEM's with ease. Liked it so much I bought and found myself using my DX300 DAP less and less, not because the Go Blu was better but just so easy to use and cracking sound quality for the price. I had high expectations for the Gryphon.

Like many others on Head-fi I seem to search for what I consider to be the ideal solution for a source. I always like the idea of a DAP but they inevitably end up disappointing me due to the majority having a reliance on Android, although this always seems appealing I find myself being disappointed due to them not being able to compete with my mobile phone in regards to ease of use and speed of the operating system, I also find that I have issues with the apps that I use for streaming. This always brings me back to the idea of using a DAC/AMP solution with my handset. Over the years I've tried various different options both wired and bluetooth but always find them lacking in some respect, either due to interference issues, sound quality, poor build or various other reasons.

For the last few months alongside the go Blu I had been using a DX300 which I loved the sound quality from but again found issues with Android and software/apps.

The Gryphon

Comes nicely packaged with a little felt like carry case and a usb-c to c cable for connecting to smartphones (Android), and a USB-C to USB-A cable is also included.

The Gryphon itself is a lovely looking unit and very tactile with its ridged body, has a narrow OLED screen that runs the length of unit, this shows sample rate, volume and battery level etc. Buttons and connections are well laid out, 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm balanced on the front of the unit and two usb-c connections on the back, one for charging and the other for connecting to source. There is a S/PDIF connection as well as 4.4mm and 3.5mm analogue connections.
I only used the USB-C connection and Bluetooth so can't comment on the other connections.

Here is a list of the Specification taken from IFI-Audio's product page at https://ifi-audio.com/products/xdsd-gryphon/



Ease of use

There really isn't much to say here, for my purpose it was easy to set up and had no issues with the process, pairing was quick and simple, found my phone with no issues, the whole time I have been using it has held a constant LDAC codec at highest audio setting.
Wired connection with the Samsung S21 Ultra was a little problematic initially due to Samsung's poor implementation of USB Audio drivers and limited sample rates (that's my basic understanding of this). This means that you often hear pops and crackles when playing some tracks from streaming services, Audioquest (similar issue with Cobalt) explained to me that it is a limitation of Android and Samsung that causes this. I've had various DAC/AMPS that have struggled with this if they don't use their own driver.
Using USB Audio Player Pro app is a good workaround, it uses it's own audio driver and can now be opened as an app then it will use it's driver while you use apps such as Apple Music or Amazon that are not supported within the app.

Sound Quality - Wired

Equipment used

Etymotic EVO
Fiio FD7
64 Audio U6T
IMR Elysium
Sennheiser 660s
Mitchell and Johnson MJ2

Some comparisons with Ibasso DX300, IFI Audio Go Blu and very briefly with Astell and Kern SP2000T

Selection of tracks used including

Mogwai - Mogwai fear satan
Mogwai - My Father My King
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album
The Smiths - I Know It's Over
The Smiths - Well I Wonder
The Velvet Underground - Oh Sweet Nuthin
Lou Reed - Waves of Fear
The Wedding Present - various tracks
Belle and Sebastian - various tracks
Pet Shop Boys - various tracks
New Order - various tracks
Martin Rossiter - Three Points on a Compass and Drop Anchor

Most tracks were streamed in their possible quality from either Amazon HD, Tidal or played from memory on the handset.

Low/Bass response - The Gryphon does a really good job of pairing well with all of my earphones to produce accurate bass that is never overwhelming but will give a kick when the track requires, an example of this being the two Mogwai tracks, Mogwai's music to me has a constant low frequency rumble especially when listening to live versions of the tracks, the gryphon reproduces with great accuracy and depth, bass is detailed and layered with excellent sub bass response.
Bass on electronic tracks from Pet Shop Boys and New Order is snappy and again very accurate.

Mids - These are probably the stand out for me, smooth and detailed which is how I like my mids to be on any device. In a similar vein to the bass response the mids are very accurate and never feel forced or unnatural. They don't sit far forward in the mix either, on the Martin Rossiter tracks which are just vocal and piano the mids are simply stunning, the emotion in his voice coming through wonderfully.

Highs - Starting to sound repetitive but again these are wonderfully presented and don't stray from the natural sound of the rest of the frequencies, guitars on Wedding Present songs have the crunch and snarl I would expect from them and the punch of guitars from Mogwai on their quiet/loud presentation is again stunning. The highs don't add anything extra that they shouldn't, if anything they may be slightly laid back compared to the other two but that maybe just to my 50 year old ears, and when I say slightly laid back that is a mere smidgen, if anything I probably hear this on all of the IFI equipment I have owned/tried. I always consider them to be a fairly natural sound with an excellent musical presentation and it's maybe this slight laid back approach of the highs that create this sound.

3.5 S-Balanced and 4.4mm connections both sound excellent to me, I had no issues with any hiss or background noise, clean signal at all times to my ear and headphones. The 4.4mm connection is the one I probably used most and it provided plenty of headroom and power to my Senn 660s. Never had to go above 70-75% on either connection, Etymotic EVE sounded wonderful from the 3.5mm, as is usual with Etymotic, the more power you give them the better they reward you and the Gryphon was no slouch with them.

Soundstage and depth is very good, competes with my DX300, maybe not quite as depth but not far off.

Features such as IEM match, Xbass and Xspace I only briefly tried. Probably not enough to really comment, xbass gives a little boost to the low end but I never felt I needed to use it.

Wireless

As can be seen from the specs the Gryphon supports a wide range of Bluetooth codecs, my use was with the LDAC codec and it never skipped a beat. Connection was reliable with no drop outs even when going into a different room, a lot better than my Go Blu that can drop out at times when using LDAC.
Sound quality from Bluetooth is virtually identical to wired, there is a difference but it's barely noticeable unless you are really scrutinising. It is by far the best wireless sound quality I have heard from a device.
There isn't much I can add to the wireless thoughts really, it is quite simply stunning.

Brief comparisons

IFI-Audio Go Blu - Different level really, don't get me wrong the Go Blu is an amazing device for the price but it can't compete either wired where it's support for higher sample rates is limited and although it is excellent as a bluetooth device it doesn't sound as good as the Gryphon, less power and not as detailed and less depth to the overall sound.

Ibasso DX300 - Now this is really interesting and there will be people who won't believe this but in many respects the Gryphon is as good as the DX300. The level of detail in the mids and highs competes with the DAP, the bass response is also more natural to my ears but maybe not as deep as the DX300. Overall soundstage and depth goes to the Ibasso but I found myself reaching for the Gryphon more as the weeks progressed, partly because it's a snappier experience with the high end smartphone but also because it just sounds so good and despite being half the price it runs the Ibasso close.

Astell and Kern SP2000T - Now this is very brief as I've only had it a few days but again like the Ibasso the Gryphon does a good job against a player that is 3 times its price however I think the gap is bigger. The AK SP2000T with it's tube/hybrid amp mode gives it an edge that neither the Gryphon or DX300 can match. The level of detail in the mids and highs on the AK are a different level of stunning, however this is probably not a fair match up.


Reported issues

There has been some reports on the Gryphon thread of issues with build quality around buttons (only 2 users i think) and volume spikes when using Tidal.
I've had no issues with build or quality control, it is built like a premium product and feels like it, buttons are excellent with no rattles etc.
I did experience the volume spike once when starting Tidal but never between songs or during songs. It happened when I connected in a certain way, never happens if I connect in a slightly different way and it hasn't happened since latest firmware update.
Some mis reporting of sample rates on the Amazon HD music app however this is something that happens on my DAPS and on smartphone, seems to be an issue with the Amazon app which is a truly terrible app.
No issues with Apple Music (only briefly tried) or Tidal (since update)

Overall impression

I've really enjoyed my time with the Gryphon, to me it is a potential replacement for those who don't want to use DAP's especially if you are mainly a music streamer. The sound quality and ease of use was was enough to make me sell my DX300, not because it was better but because for a fraction of the cost I could get within a certain percentage of the sound quality. Despite this I did buy the AK as I was curious about the triple amp system, I will keep the AK and need to decide if I will buy the Gryphon....Chances are I probably will, it gives me enough of a different sound experience and I'm more likely to use it outdoors than the AK so it will serve me well in that respect.

The Gryphon is another great product from IFI Audio that ticks all the boxes in regards to build, ease of use and most importantly excellent sound quality

Pictures -

Disclaimer - I was sent this by Ifi-Audio for my honest opinion, it is not a free sample. I will either send back or purchase after review period.




BACKGROUND

The Go Blu is Ifi Audio's latest product, this company feel like they are on a bit of a roll over the last 18 months or so with a steady stream of releases across the market. I already own the Zen Can/DAC Sennheiser Signature pack and I really like the sound quality and function from the duo. I also previously owned the Micro Black Label DAC/AMP and again really enjoyed the sound from that device. I find that Ifi products seem to have a certain house sound, detailed yet musical and very natural sounding. Was really curious to hear the Go Blu as it uses a different DAC chip to most of their other products.

The box as can be seen is small and compact, comes with the Go Blu, little pouch and a usb to c cable. Instruction card also included

In terms of bluetooth devices similar to this I owned the Fiio Q5 a while ago and although very impressive it did have it's issues for me such as size and some interference when near mobile phone. I also tried the Ifi audio Xdsd, this was a very good device but again a bit larger than what I was looking for in a bluetooth option.

Over the last year I've been trying a few different wireless options and although most are very good they still don't match my wired earphones.
I've been looking for a while at options such as the Fiio BTR5 and the Qudelix 5k. The latter has been more or less impossible to source here in the UK. I've been using a few different USB dongles and settled on the L+P W2 which is a fantastic device with excellent sound quality.

I received the Go Blu in the hope that it might come close to the W2 in terms of sound quality, I knew it wouldn't match my Ibasso DX300 but then that costs around 5 times the price.

Use and impressions

Out of the box the Go Blu is very easy to set up with Android. Paired first time with my Galaxy S21 Ultra handset. Phone settings automatically chose LDAC as preferred codec. On startup the Go Blu has nice little voice to tell you what codecs are available with the connected device.

I've been using the Go Blu with Sennheiser 660s using 4.4mm connection, Fiio FD7 with same connection, I've also sporadically tried Grado Hemp (3.5mm SE), Etymotic er4sr (3.5mm SE) and IMR Elysium (4.4mm)

The Go Blu has plenty of power to drive all of these with no issue, the 660s and Fiio FD7 are my earphones/headphones that benefit most from power, when using the W2 they require volume above the 50% mark to et the best out of them.
Compared to my DX300 they don't get quite the same depth of sound as a more powerful amp section however the Go Blu is no slouch, it competes with the wired W2 in terms of power delivered to the headphones.

From a sound quality perspective the Go Blu is really rather very good at this price point. It retains what I regard as the Ifi house sound, detail is present across the spectrum with what I would describe as a musical textured presentation to the mids. There is detail in the highs but not the sharpness that the W2 has. The W2 probably has slightly better separation to instruments, the W2 also feels a little more set back in the way music is presented, the Go Blu feels like you are closer to the stage (if that makes sense).

From a practical point of view, I've seen a few people feel that a shirt clip should be included, I'm not too bothered either with this, it's not something I would use however can see the benefit.
Lack of an app is another complaint aimed at the Go Blu, again I'm not too worried about this, the Go Blu is a doddle to use and for me doesn't need an app however I can understand that some might like more control over EQ etc.
On the subject of EQ, the Xbass and Xspace work really well, very small subtle changes that just improve certain tracks and albums. Never overpowering though.

Battery life seems good at around 8 hours although I haven't fully run the unit down so not 100% certain on this.

On the whole I have really enjoyed the Go Blu, sound quality is very good, it is easy to use and I can see me using this over wired USB dongles, although it doesn't support sample rates as high as the W2 it is very very close in SQ to the W2 and is some respects I find it more engaging musically.

Slight downsides are that Bluetooth range is not great, often signal start to drop after a few metres, I'd expect a little more but not a deal breaker. Other slight issue is volume control, the volume wheel is really well designed with normal turns controlling volume and the button within controlling track etc however the volume on the phone moves in larger increments than the Go Blu's finer adjustments. Not really a fault of Ifi, more linked to the Android system and again by no means a deal breaker.

Cost is greater than Fiio and others and I haven't heard them to compare however I'd buy the Go Blu, it serves a function very well with excellent sound quality and is also very well constructed.

About me:

I've been using various DAP's, portable DAC's/Amps and earphones for around 20 years, over the last 2 years I've been exploring full sized headphones. Grado's and Sennhesier have been my headphones of choice so far paired with an iFi-Audio Black label Idsd micro DAC/Amp.

This is my first foray into a desktop solution.

Disclaimer - iFi-Audio sent me this pack in exchange for my honest opinion, pack will be bought by me if I decide to keep.

Specs:

Full technical specs links and product pages

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-can-signature-6xx/

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac-signature/

Gear used:

iMac 27 - Source for connection.
Sennheiser HD660s
Grado Hemp
Etymotic er4sr
Custom Art FIBAE 4 custom earphones

What's in the box?:

iFi-Audio have put together a very nice package with this Zen Signature edition pack. You get both the Zen Signature DAC and the Zen Can Signature 6xx with ipower supplies for both, but I guess the deal breaker is the inclusion of the 4.4mm balanced cable which normally retails for around £90



Each unit also comes with RCA cables, the Zen Dac Signature also comes supplied with a USB-A cable for connecting the DAC to PC/MAC

Build Quality:

A quick word on the design and build. The Zen duo here are nothing short of excellent for both their design and build quality. The materials used feel really good, brushed metal effect on the front, all buttons and dials feel sturdy.

Set Up:

Set up is pretty straight forward, connecting DAC to Mac with supplied cable, DAC to AMP with suppled 4.4mm to 4.4mm balanced (cable feels excellent quality). Sennheiser 660s to 4.4mm balanced output on the Zen Can. DAC is powered automatically by the Mac, no power switch, this might be a liitle bug bear for some but no issue here. Zen Can does have a power button on the front.
I left the volume set to fixed on the Dac, the volume is then controlled via the Zen Can only.




Sound:

I used a selection of tracks and albums to try this combo, most of my music is indie/alternative guitar based however I also listen to quite a selection of electronic music.

Most of my testing was done using the Sennheiser 660s and for the most part I used the ActiveEQ option for the 6xx


Main albums used over a two week period were:

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust, Low and Station to Station
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead and Meat is Murder
Mogwai - Come on Die Young and As the Love Continues
Pet Shop Boys - Introspective
New Order - Retro (5cd edition)
The Wedding Present - Seamonsters
British Sea Power - The Decline of BSP and Do You Like Rock Music?
The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
The Fall - Various albums

Bass - The bass is well controlled from the Zen Dac, it is well defined and layered in it's presentation, the bass response never feels like it is bleeding into other frequencies. It has good impact and when the track requires bass the Zen delivers. I'd say that overall the bass has a slightly warm feel to it but I like this and feel it benefits the sound overall, stops it sounding cold and clinical.

Mids - The midrange is smooth and detailed without ever sounding congested, vocals are delivered smoothly and not too far forward in the mix, there is a certain laid back feel to the mids, not warm but reminds a little of some the music systems I experienced as a youngster in the late mid 80's at family members houses, mainly Sony equipment.

Highs - Similar to the mids in regards to the fact that they are smooth and detailed however never aggressive in their presentation, snares and cymbals have a snap and presence of the track requires. Guitars in the Mogwai albums have the crunch that they are meant to have without overpowering other aspects of the sound. No treble peaks present on any of my tracks.

Pairings:

Sennheiser 660s - This duo from iFi was designed in part to be used with the 6xx series from Drop, however there was also a reported benefit to other models in the 600 range.
I tried most tracks with some A/B ing between the two different modes, the 6xx option certainly changers the sound of the headphones to a degree, to my ears it lifts the bass slightly, makes it more defined and refined than when the ActiveEQ is not employed. Don't get me wrong the headphones sound great anyway however the EQ does seem to enhance them a little more, it's not a night and day difference, more of a subtle change to the bass and maybe just a slight uplift of the treble response.
Other than that the combo of the two gives an excellent detailed yet laid back musical sound which I've found myself lost in for hours with no fatigue. Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album on Tidal Masters sounds blissful with this combo, detailed yet as already mentioned warm and non fatiguing. However when required on tracks such as Mogwai Fear Satan by Mogwai it has all the energy and precision required for the passages when the guitars kick following a quiet passage.



Grado Hemp - The Grado Hemp have a slightly warmer tone compared to my Grado 325's however they do still have that Grado treble sound to them, they actually pair really well with the Zen Dac/Can Signature combo. The 6xx EQ probably doesn't work quite as well on them however with the option off or using the Xspace EQ option they pair really well. The Xspace option is described as giving a more spacious and speaker like experience. It certainly gives the ,music more space with the Grado's.

I also tried a couple of IEM's with the combo which wouldn't be my intended use however this changed when trying my Etymotic er4sr. Over the years I've only ever really used the Ety's with DAP's or portable map solutions. I was quite shocked at the difference the power the Zen Can gave to the Ety's, they retain their lovely presentation however the depth and soundstage achieved with the Zen Can means that I've been using these quite a lot over the last few days, it has given my Ety's a new lease of life.

Comparisons:

These are only brief comparisons as I don't have a comparable desktop system to compare.

Ibasso DX300 - The Ibasso is a fantastic piece of hardware for using on a more portable basis, the DAC implementation of quad Cirrus gives the DX300 a very analogue sound that not dissimilar to the Zen combo is both warm and detailed, I'd say that the DX300 is maybe marginally more detailed in the highs and lows but they are very close. I think the Burr-Brown Dac chips of the Zen Dac produce a similar sound. To my ears the mids sound smoother on the Zen Dac however the DX is only a few hours into it's burn in time so this may change. Power wise the Zen Can provides more power which you would expect form a dedicated Amp. It's worth bearing in mind that this isn't really a fair comparison as they are totally products aimed at different aspects of the market, there is also quite a price gap between the two. the DX300 is currently around £1100.

iFi-Audio Idsd Black Label - This is probably a fairer comparison although the idsd is more of a portable/transportable model, however they both share Burr-Brown DAC's. I'm not sure if they are same DAC's but the sound is similar between the two. I'd say that the Zen DAC/Can combo is more detailed and more musical in it's presentation but not by much.

Conclusion:

I haven't really gone into specific detail on the separate components on offer here from iFi-Audio. My aim was to give thoughts on the combo of the two units. This is my first foray into desktop equipment for my headphones/earphones specifically the Sennheiser 660s.

Overall I feel this an excellent pack from iFi-Audio. The separate units retail for £249.99, so a total of £500 and that's without the 4.4mm cable. The £500 for the pack means a saving of around £90 is made on buying separate. The included iPower X supplies with the pack also add to the value.

From a sonic viewpoint, I am pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference this combo has made to my listening experience, the DAC section of the combo is detailed yet warm and musical, very non fatiguing. The amplifier section of the Zen Can is what I'm really impressed with, the power it gives to drive my Etymotic earphones and some of my high Ohm rated earbuds has added a new level to music listening.

Firstly many thanks to IFI-Audio for the opportunity to sample and review the Hip-Dac.

Unboxing and contents

The Hip-Dac comes in a nice little box that is quite minimalist in it's packing (not sure about retail version), no little wasteful plastic bags for cables etc. The demo version came with a couple of usb cables to connect to smartphone and a usb input for connecting to PC/Mac.
Build quality is very good. No movement or wiggle on the headphone sockets. Volume pot is sturdy with good smooth movement, would have been nice to have had a volume marker but not a massive issue.





Tracks and gear used.

To get an idea of the Hip-Dac's capabilities I used my Sennheiser 660s with it's 4.4mm balanced cable. I also used the Etymotic er4sr, IMR RAH and couple of sets of earbuds.

I also compared it to my IFI-Audio Black Label Micro Idsd. This is a bit of an unfair comparison due to spec and price difference however I feel it gives an idea of where the Hip-Dac sits. I did some comparison to the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt, however this was very brief as I received this the day I was sending the Hip-Dac back to Ifi-Audio. As well as these I have also included some thoughts in comparison to the TOTL Fiio M15 DAP

I tend to use a certain mixture of tracks when I'm trying out new audio gear, these are usually a mixture of flac files and a few higher resolution files from Qobus.



Tracks

David Bowie - Starman and Rock and Roll Suicide
The Smiths - Well I Wonder and I Know It's Over
British Sea Power - Bear
The Wedding Present - Bewitched and Kennedy
Mogwai - Mogwai Fear Satan and Don't Believe the Fife
New Order - Elegia and Your Silent Face

These tracks are chosen for various reasons, that for me cover all aspects of what I want to hear done well from a set of earphones, DAP or in this case a DAC/AMP.



Sound

The first thing I noticed with the Hip-dac is that it has a really nice clear crisp sound signature to these 49 year old ears. There isn't any added colouration to the sound, it presents as fairly neutral across the spectrum.

Bowie's Starman is a track I often choose when trying new kit as the first minute of the song provides a good test of depth and separation for new earphones or source.
The Hip-Dac had no issue here and when the first drum beat kicks in the separation and movement between the left and right was as I believe it should be. For example when using a smartphone the detail in separation is not of the same standard and often blends into one. The acoustic guitar in the first bars of the track are also well defined and have a really clear sound.

In comparison the Idsd Black Micro adds a bit more of everything to the equation, a little more detail on the track and a real kick to the bass drum when it kicks in, however at £600 compared to the £150 of the Hip-Dac this is to expected.

The thing that impressed me when listening and switching between the two units is how close the sound signature is between the two, I don't know if IFI are using the same DAC or a very similar version but the Hip-Dac definitely shares some of the same sonic qualities as it's big brother.

Kennedy by The Wedding Present is a track from the early nineties with what I would call a closing 1 minute 30 seconds of fast jingly jangly guitar riffs, it's a track that has no special deep bass line or drum sounds to pick out of the mix, it's just a lovely bit of fast British indie music. The Hip-Dac again does a sterling job with the track, it doesn't add anything to the mix in terms of increasing the treble response or being weighted towards the mids. It's accurate, crisp and overall musical. When paired with the Etymotic er4sr the guitars have a really nice crunch to them.

I could go on about each track I tried but to be honest there is no need for two reasons, 1 - I'm not as gifted as some at being able to describe the finer details in technical terms and secondly the Hip-Dac sounded stunning with every track I used and it had no issue in driving any of the earphones or headphones/earbuds that I tried with it.

Brief Comparisons

As mentioned I also own the IFI Black Label Micro, this is stunning piece of audio hardware and has been one of my best buys over the years. The sound quality it produces form the dual Burr-Brown dacs is excellent and the power it provides comfortably drives my collection of head and earphones.
The Hip-Dac in comparison as can be seen in the picture is less than half the size but despite this size difference it does a very good job of competing with it it's older stablemate.

Don't get me wrong the Black Label Micro is the better piece of audio hardware but I'd say the rule of diminishing returns plays a part here. If your looking for a solution to pair with just a laptop or smartphone and don't need the power in reserve the Micro gives, then the Hip-Dac will fit the bill.

The Hip-Dac shares the same signature sound, the main difference to me is that the Micro just does everything a bit better, a little more detail in the music, more headroom when listening to harder to drive headphones/earphones and more depth to the bass response.

Listening to my Sennheiser 660s through the 4.4mm balanced was very good, it drove them with no issue, I'd say the main difference was that the Micro just gives more depth feels like it drives them easier at lower volumes.

I also briefly compared to the Fiio M15 which is a little unfair as the Fiio is £1300 compared £150, again though the Hip-Dac competes well. Different sound signature and less power than the Fiio however it doesn't shame itself up against such a highly priced DAP. Similar to the Black label micro, the Fiio M15 just has a bit more of everything but you would expect that with the price difference.

Lastly I briefly compared to the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt. Both are very good at what they do, the Cobalt has plenty of power to drive the same earphones that I used with the Hip-Dac, the Cobalt to my ears has a slightly warmer presentation with a little more emphasis on the bass response however I would say the mids on the Hip-Dac are more fluid, the highs are very similar.

In all testing I only used my Samsung S20 Ultra with the USB OTG cable, no issues at all. I used the USB Audio Player Pro App which worked as it should with the Hip-Dac.
I only briefly tried the bass boost which does what it says, it's not an option I use on equipment. The Power Match also worked well, giving the Hip-Dac that little extra power if it needs it.

Final Thoughts

The Hip-Dac is a stunning DAC/AMP at a stunning price, I've heard similar products at twice the price that are not as good as the Hip-Dac.

Would I buy it?

Well if I didn't already own the Black Label Micro and the Cobalt then I would. The Cobalt is not better musically but where I do prefer it is in it's form factor. I often lie in bed with either DAP for music when reading or smartphone for watching a movie or music. The Cobalt is just easier due to its smaller size for this use. I know that sounds a bit shallow but thats the reality for me. I use the Black Label with my Mac, it never unplugs from that. If I didn't own that then I would probably plump for the Hip-Dac, it really is that good.

My earphone tastes
 
I usually prefer an earphone that gives a smooth nuetral presentation with maybe just a wee bit of impact on the bass but not overly so, like my mids and highs to be lush.
I never really keep any more than 3 or 4 earphones at one time, I tend to sell products if I prefer a new purchase over current models I may own.
At the moment I possess the Fischer Amps FA-4 xb, Flare Audio R2pro and have just recently bought the Fidue Sirius A91.  Recently I have sold the Etymotic ER4sr, Senn IE800 and Aurisonics ASG 2.5.
Over the last few years I have tried and owned some wonderful earphones from many different companies but am happy with my current line up.
 
 
Testing equipment and music used.
 
Pretty straight forward here as I only used my recently bought Cayin I5 and my Samsung S7 smartphone.
 
Music was a selection of tracks in Flac or MP3 320 that I have used over the years when testing out new earphones and players.  Mainly alternative/indie guitar based music with a few bits of electronic and other stuff thrown in.  I use certain tracks to test the stereo separation, speed and depth of bass and treble respone and overall just a musical response that suits my hearing!   I don't use or read charts of measurements, nothing against it but if I'm honest I don't always really understand them!!
 
Tracks
David Bowie - Starman and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide
The Smiths - Well I wonder and I know it's over
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the devil
British Sea Power - Bear and Lately
New Order - Perfect Kiss and Blue Monday
The Wedding Present - Kennedy and I'm not always so stupid
The Velvet Underground - Oh sweet nuthin and What goes on
Lou Reed - Waves of fear
Belle and Sebastian - A century of fakers
Malcolm Middleton - Choir 
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Never understand
 
 
Vibro Labs Maya 
 
The tour package arrived with a pelican case and numerous comply tips to play around with.  
 
The first thing that struck me was the fantastic build quality of these earphones, my attempts at photos don't do them justice so I havn't uploaded them, it's better to look at Jackpot77's pictures on his review, they show them better than my pictures did.
The build is top of the line standard, smooth finish that feels like it could survive a few falls if it needed to.  Cables are good quality and it's nice to see the 2 pin connectors still being used on new earphones.  
 
The fit of these earphones is also excellent, the body of the unit is a nice snug for for my ears which are probably medium sized.  The nozzle sits nicely in the canal without going to far but far enough to feel like you a nice seal.  Earphones are light and after a few minutes it's easy to forget they are in place, the light cables also help with this. 
 
Soundquality from the Maya is joy, a real pleasure to listen too that never fatique''s or grates on the ears.
 
The highs are very well detailed with a nice sharp snap to cymbals and snare's in the percussion.  Despite this snap and detail they don't grate as some earphones do when reproducing the percussion.  Speed in the percussion is also very accurate and doesn't intrude or overbear after long listening.  In Joker77's review he talks about the guitar and how the Maya does an excellent job, can't disagree with him on this.  Listening to Kennedy by The Wedding Present is often spoiled by earphones when they struggle to reproduce the speed and attack of Devid Gedge's riffs, not the Maya's, they handle it with ease and never gets cluttered.  
 
Vocals are also quite smooth although I found them to sit back a little in the mix but this could be more to do with the other iem's I have become used to recently.  Again as with the percussion and guitars on songs, the Maya never seems to struggle with vocals, displays the emotion that is intended when it is required by a track.  An example of this being Bowie's Rock 'n' Roll suicide, the Maya captures the closing vocals by Bowie in a way which only a few of the iem's I've owned over the years can manage.  It is able to show great separation in these passages, nothing gets congested and it's easy to pick detail out of each track.  Like Joker77 states in his review, it's that feeling of hearing the music from all corners of a room that Maya excels with.
 
Bass is where the Maya might lack for users, not for me though. I found it to be accurate and have a depth to the note that some so called bass lovers Iem's don't display.  The bass line and drum on Blue Monday and Well I wonder were reproduced in a very accurate and musical way.  What might lack for some people is there is no thud or impact to the bass compared to some earphones.  This is not exactly a bad point but some people may miss this aspect.  I personally found that listening to more New Order tracks and Peter Hook's sublime bass playing was really good on the Maya, has a certain subtleness that some might not appreicate.
 
Soundstage is perhaps a little narrow compared to some of the previous iem's that I've owned but that is a little unfair as the sense of placement these display more than makes up for what I perceive to be a slightly narrow soundstage.  That might not make sense and is difficult to explain but despite the feeling of the music coming from different directions the Maya doesn't have that deep and wide staging of say a Senn IE800 but that's not a bad point against the Maya just a difference in sound.
 
The thing I loved about the Maya overall was it's ability to sound musical, some iem's are too harsh or detailed and may sound technically good but they often lack a musical know how that the Maya has in abundance.  It's this musical delivery and it's detail that I loved more than anything about the Maya.
 
Comparasions
 
Difficult to compare the Maya's to my current earphones, the Fidue A91 is a different type of iem for me with it's 4 BA driver and 1 dynamic driver set up, from the onset it has more soundstasge and gives that impact to the bass that the Maya does not have.  If I had to choose it would be the A91 as it does everything the Maya does but with a little bit more detail and lushness in the mids and highs as well as a bigger soundstage.
 
Comparing them to my Fischer Amps FA4-AE xb is more of an even match, the Fischer has been one of my mainstays for waht seems like around 3 years now, maybe longer.  The Fischers are light, sound excellent and are excellent value for money that have stayed with me when earphones treble their price have been sold on.  The Maya's in some respect are simialr to my ears, they both have a musical, nuetral but detailed sound and are around the same kind of mark when it comes to bass, maybe the Maya's edging it overall with that lovely musical reproduction of music.
 
Conclusion
 
I've loved using the Maya's and really wanted to buy them as a possible long term replacement to my Fischers which are starting to show their age a bit.  However for us UK buyers there is an issue.  Since the crash of the pound when the stupid 52% of our nation decided to leave the EU this means that with current rates the Maya would be £575.  As good as they are that puts them in the price range of the Senn Ie800 and only £140 less than the Fidue Sirius A91.  For me that makes them a bit pricey as I can try the Fischer models for almost £200 less.
This is no fault of Luke or Vibro Labs though, or a downside to buying the Maya which overall is one of the best earphones I've heasrd in a few years.

Disclaimer
 
I received the X7 as part of the UK/EU tour and used for the best part of 10 days before sending on to next person in the queue.  Many thanks to Joe Bloggs and Fiio for the opportunity to preview the X7.
 
Introduction/About me
 
I am 44 and have been listening to portable audio since around 1985 when I started out with a Walkman, used cassette walkmans until around 1999/2000 when I bought the Rio 800(think it was this model) and so began a journey of many different DAP's from the early Ipods, Iriver H100 to many different Sony players and others that I've forgotten about.  In recent years I've swapped between dedicated DAP's, DAP's with  external DAC/Amps and various smartphones alone and with DAC's. For the last few months I've been using first an android phone with the Oppo HA-2 and now a Chord Mojo with either my Blackberry Priv Android phone or the AK 100mkii as a transport.  
 
For testing the Fiio X7 I compared to the Mojo/Ak100 and Priv with and without Mojo.  
Earphones used were AK Angie's, Sennheiser IE800 and Fischer Amp FA-4e-xb.
 
 
Build Quality and Software
 
I've always liked Fiio's build and finish on there products, the X7 is again a well built unit, feels solid in the hand as well as looking and feeling like a high end product.  The brushed metal has a comforting cold feel in the hand.  It also has a nice weighty feel to it, buttons are well placed and easy to operate with one hand.  The screen although a lower resolution than current smartphones is more than sharp enough for a DAP and is responsive to the touch.  
 
Those familiar with Android will know what to expect here, I've been using Android for a few years now and this is a good implementation of the software, responsive with virtually no lag.  I only really used Spotify separate from the Fiio music app and had no issues with Spotify.  The Fiio music app itself was easy enough to use once I got used to it, I did consider downloading one of the other music players i use but to be honest once I sussed the Fiio app there was no need.
 
Sound Quality
 
I've always felt that Fiio products sound a little on the warm side, they have always reminded me of a Nad amplifier I had that had a similar warm tone to the music.  I do prefer my music to be a little more neutral but I've never minded this slight warmness to the Fiio sound, others may hear it different though.
 
Sound quality is a little hard for me to judge fairly as I've been spoiled for the last few weeks by the Chord Mojo.  As good as the Fiio X7 sounds it can't quite match the Mojo for overall detail and quality to my music.  The advantage the X7 has of course is that it is a one box unit, when paired with my Angie's it did at times give my Mojo/Ak100 pairing a run for it's money, but just can't reach the level of slam and detail that the Mojo creates.
 
Putting the Mojo to one side though the X7 does sound good, mids esp vocals sound stunning.  Treble detail is very good, the intro to Starman from the Ziggy Stardust album is a track I often use when trying new gear as it can for me separate good iem's from the not so good the Fiio had good separation of instruments through this little test.  Bass response was also very good, nice detail and kick when tracks require it.  Soundstage was good, maybe a little more depth than the Mojo combo.  The power to drive my iem's was good, had to go to around 95 for the IE800 on the volume.  
 
Conclusion
 
Overall Fiio have once again produced another great product at a great price when compared to others on the market.  I have a degree of sympathy for Fiio though as they are releasing at a similar time to Pioneer and Onkyo's offerings although i would imagine that there may not be much between them from reading early opinions on both those models.  I think the biggest drawback for me with the Fiio is the presence of the Mojo.  If you don't mind carrying a small stack then for me there is no competition for the Mojo.  I did try the X7 in USB otg to the mojo but that has not been added yet.  This may be something I would consider if it was added at a later date as it would take away my current need to swap between AK100 and Priv with the mojo if I want to use Spotify etc.  It would also have been nice to have everything in one module in terms of IEM and balanced.
 
I've enjoyed my time with the Fiio and could see myself buying it in the future.