
Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: A melodious Robin
CONTEXT:
The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is an impressive portable DAC/amp and offers a significant upgrade for mobile devices. To bypass the limited audio processing of mobile devices, audiophiles always search for a faithful portable device to break that limitation and to enjoy the Hi-Res audio files to the fullest. And for those who are new in this journey, a DAC on a budget is a huge salvation. Robin falls in this segment of budget and with it’s build & performance, it will soothe the audio desire from beginner to enthusiast audiophiles. When the very first time I got it, I plugged my MP145 with this and literally blown away with its capability of delivering perfect melody. Though its not as open as my Fosi Audio DS1, it has its own character of fantastic instrument separation that will give you a sensation of wideness. I tested it with various IEMs from my collection for the last three weeks and found that it’s a true keeper.
TESTED WITH:
Sources:
POCO X3, Xiami MiPad 5Pro, PC
Files:
Spotify, local Hi-Res DSD & FLAC files
Pairings:
ɸ Hidizs MP145
ɸ Hidizs MP143
ɸ AFUL MagicOne
ɸ AFUL Performer 5
ɸ AFUL Explorer
ɸ Dunu Falcon Ultra (MT)
ɸ Dunu Titan S2
ɸ Ikko OH10
ɸ Ikko OH10S
ɸ SeeAudio Rinko
ɸ QoA Gimlet
ɸ QoA Adonis New
ɸ Aria 2
ɸ Moondrop LAN
ɸ BQEYZ Winter (modified with dense filter)
ɸ Tanzchim One
ɸ Tanzchim Zero
ɸ Tangzu Princess Chag-Lee
ɸ KBEar KW1
DISCLAIMER:
Hidizs was kind enough to send me ‘S8 Pro Robin’ to review. I am not affiliated with Hidizs and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this review are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary due to personal preference and physical differences like the shape & depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase (non-affiliated link), checkout Hidizs for their products and special offers.

TECHNICAL DETAILS (as per Hidizs official site):
● Dual 32-bit High-performance DAC Balanced Architecture - CS43131×2
● PCM Supports Up to 32bit/384kHz
● Native DSD 64/128/256
● 4.4mm Balanced & 3.5mm Single-ended Output
● CNC Aluminum Alloy Integrated Molding
● Practical Function Buttons (volume +-/filter switching)
● Sampling Rate Indicator
● 80mW+80mW@32Ω 3.5mm SE / 160mW+160mW@32Ω 4.4mm BAL
● Compatible with All platforms: Windows/Mac OS/iPad OS/Android/iOS/Harmony OS
● Hi-Res Audio Certification
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
● S8 Pro Robin
● Type-C to Type-C cable
● Type-A to Type-C adapter
● Type-C to iPhone/iPad adapter
● Some official papers

UNBOXING & BUILT:
Unboxing the S8 Pro is a very straight-forward business. It comes with a hard plastic box, which I really appreciate and the DAC nested on a tyro foam. Underneath the tyro foam, inside a paper box, you will find the USB C to C cable, a USB A to C converter. As this is a review unit, I’ve got the iPhone converter in the package, which you will need to purchase separately. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated!
The built quality of Robin is fantastic. It’s a beautifully crafted dongle DAC that's made of CNC-machined aluminum and feels sturdy in hand. On the front and the back, it features glossy glass panel that not only enhance its sleek look but also give it a premium feel. But this also creates a problem as it is very prone to fingerprints and dust. The design reflects its namesake, with “wings” on the sides that protect the volume and play/pause buttons (that round button mistakenly appears as volume knob), making it easy to operate without accidentally pressing them. Though made of metal, it’s a light-weight DAC to carry around.
DAC CHIP ARCHITECTURE:
The DAC architecture of the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is built around dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips, a well-known choice for high-quality audio. Each chip is equipped with an integrated headphone amplifier, providing power output of up to 80mW at 32Ω from the 3.5mm single-ended port and 160mW at 32Ω from the 4.4mm balanced output. This dual-DAC setup allows for excellent clarity and resolution in audio playback. The architecture supports various audio formats, including PCM (up to 32-bit/384kHz) and DSD (up to DSD256), offering flexibility in high-resolution audio playback. With six selectable digital filters, such as NOS (no oversampling), high-pass, and phase-compensated modes, the S8 Pro Robin offers users a personalized listening experience, making it a strong contender in its category.
DIGITAL FILTERS:
The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin comes with six digital filters that offer subtle variations in sound, allowing users to tweak the audio based on their preferences or gear. Here’s a breakdown of the filters and how they influence the sound:
● NOS (No Oversampling) (Green Light): This filter provides a slightly forward vocal presence and extended high frequencies with reduced resonance. It offers a more neutral sound, making it a go-to for those who enjoy clarity without much alteration.
● High Pass Filter (Red Light): This filter enhances the treble, bringing a crisper, cleaner sound. It’s ideal for those who want more analytical performance with a sharp focus on detail and precision.
● De-emphasis Filter (Blue Light): Focused on enriching harmonics, this filter adds a touch of warmth and fuller low frequencies, making the sound feel more relaxed and natural, especially with added reverb.
● Fast & Slow Filter (Yellow Light): A balanced option, this filter offers moderate tuning across the spectrum. It’s a good all-rounder, delivering smooth and even sound without emphasizing any particular frequency.
● Low-Latency & Phase-Compensated Filter (Purple Light): This filter focuses on delivering a forward and clean sound, ideal for tracks where precise timing and phase are essential.
● Wideband Flatness Filter (White Light): A softer filter that smooths out the sound while enhancing detail. This is perfect for listeners who prefer a more laid-back sound without losing clarity.
While the differences between these filters are subtle, they do allow for some flexibility, letting you tailor the sound to match your IEMs or headphones. Many users find themselves gravitating towards the NOS or De-emphasis filters for their balance between warmth and detail.

COMPATIBILITY:
S8 Pro Robin is a plug-and-play type of DAC dongle that is compatible with Windows, Android, & iOS systems. When you plug it with Android or iOS, the DAC will take over the device's volume control, as it has a physical volume up-down button. With Windows (I use Win 11), just plug it in, and the operating system will automatically recognize it. There is no need to install any app to operate it, which is positive and negative at the same time. There’s a lot of users out there who love to control their DAC dongle through an app, and some don’t like it.
SOUND SIGNATURE ANALYSIS:
The sound of the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin leans more towards a balanced profile. What I mean is, it keeps a nice balance between the bass, mids, and treble, with no part of the sound really overpowering the others. It’s not super detailed and clinical like the Questyle M15, nor is it as warm and analog-sounding as something like the iBasso DC04 Pro or Cayin RU7. Instead, it leans more towards a natural, organic sound with a realistic timbre. Now, if I had to nitpick, I did notice a slight bit of coloration in the upper frequencies when I paired it with hybrid IEMs that have both a dynamic driver (DD) and balanced armature (BA) driver, like the Ikko OH10/10s or Aful P5. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something to keep in mind. Interestingly though, I didn’t run into this issue when using single BA IEMs like the MagicOne or even with single dynamic driver IEMs. They sounded clean and natural across the board.

OK, let’s dive into the analysis. Here's a breakdown of its sonic characteristics:
LOW FREQUENCIES:
The lower frequency performance of the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is generally robust and well-defined, especially for its price. It delivers a strong and controlled bass response without being overly dominant. When paired with good-quality IEMs, it offers a deep, satisfying rumble. The bass is punchy and impactful, and the extension is also impressive, allowing you to feel the depth and weight in bass-heavy tracks. There's a hint of warmth added to the lower end, which gives it a slightly colored, but still pleasant sound. This subtle warmth adds to the organic nature of the S8 Pro Robin's overall sound signature, making it an enjoyable listening experience, especially when listening to genres that benefit from a rich, deep bass response.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange performance of the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is where its balanced and organic sound signature truly shines. It delivers a clear and natural midrange, with a pleasant warmth that adds richness to vocals and instruments alike. Whether you’re listening to male or female vocals, the S8 Pro Robin offers a well-rounded presentation that feels full and lifelike without being overly forward or recessed. There’s a smoothness in the mids that makes long listening sessions enjoyable, especially with acoustic tracks, where guitars and pianos sound especially resonant and rich. When paired with well-tuned IEMs, the details in the midrange come through beautifully, without harshness or sibilance. Tracks with layered instruments, like rock or jazz, maintain a sense of separation and clarity, allowing you to pick out individual elements without feeling congested. For those who enjoy genres that are midrange-heavy, like classical or vocal jazz, the S8 Pro Robin handles these with finesse, letting the soul of the music come through in a natural and engaging way.
HIGH FREQUENCIES:
The high frequencies on the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin offer a clean and smooth experience, leaning towards a balanced representation rather than a bright or harsh treble. The treble is well-extended but avoids becoming piercing, maintaining a certain softness that enhances the overall listening experience, especially during long sessions. One of the standout characteristics of the treble on the S8 Pro Robin is its sense of control. Instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and string instruments have a natural shimmer without sounding too forward or sharp. For those familiar with more analytical DACs, like the Questyle M15, the treble here might feel a bit more relaxed, but it still holds enough sparkle to keep things engaging. While it handles most genres well, it pairs particularly nicely with smoother-sounding IEMs or headphones. But if paired with overly bright or treble-leaning earphones, the S8 Pro Robin can occasionally bring out a slight edge in the upper frequencies, particularly with hybrid IEMs. For single BA or DD IEMs, the treble feels more cohesive, offering a consistent and enjoyable high frequency response.

INSTRUMENT SEPARATION:
The instrument separation on the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is one of its standout features, especially considering its price point. Thanks to the dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips, this dongle offers impressive clarity and precision in separating instruments across different frequency ranges. When you listen to complex tracks, the instruments don’t feel cluttered or muddled. Instead, each note and sound occupies its own distinct space, allowing for a well-layered presentation. Whether you're using warm, bright, or nutral IEMs, the S8 Pro Robin's ability to maintain clean separation and imaging means that vocals, strings, and percussion are clearly positioned within the soundstage. This makes it particularly enjoyable for tracks with rich instrumentation or for those who enjoy detailed listening. The balanced output, especially through the 4.4mm jack, enhances the depth of the stage, adding to the realism and space between instruments.
DYNAMICS & SPEED:
The S8 Pro Robin offers excellent dynamic range, allowing it to handle both subtle and loud passages with ease. It delivers a lively and engaging sound, ensuring that the softer parts of a track are still full of detail, while louder sections come across with energy and punch. This helps to bring out the nuances in music, making it feel more immersive and expressive. In terms of speed, the S8 Pro Robin excels at handling fast transients. Whether it's quick drum hits or fast-moving guitar riffs, the Robin keeps up without sounding sluggish or muddy. This fast response ensures that instruments maintain their clarity and separation, even during complex and busy tracks. The bass, for instance, is tight with a quick decay, avoiding any bloated or lingering low-end.
SOUNDSTAGE:
The soundstage performance of the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is a solid blend of natural openness and balance, providing a sense of. When you listen to tracks like "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd, you can sense how the DAC opens up the sound field, creating a well-rounded and realistic stage. Instruments and vocals have their own dedicated positions, with depth and width that offer immersion, but the soundstage doesn’t feel overly wide or artificially large. The overall experience is more intimate, especially compared to DACs that create a larger, more expansive stage, like the Questyle M15, the Cayin RU7, or the iBasso DC04 Pro. That being said, it never feels too closed in or congested either. The placement of instruments feels precise, and this precision makes the soundstage more enjoyable. But the vertical depth may not be as pronounced as some may prefer, especially for those who like a more 3D holographic presentation. In orchestral or live recordings, you can pick up on the placement of different instruments with ease, though it might not offer the grand, open theater-like sound that some high-end DACs might provide.

POWER CAPABILITIES:
The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin offers solid power output capabilities for its compact size, making it a great option for most IEMs and many headphones. It features two different output options:
● 3.5mm Single-Ended (SE): This provides 80mW of power per channel at 32 ohms, which is suitable for lower-powered IEMs and efficient headphones. While not the most powerful in its class, it's enough to handle most in-ear monitors and moderately easy-to-drive headphones without issues.
● 4.4mm Balanced (BAL): The more powerful option, the balanced output delivers 160mW per channel at 32 ohms, which provides better headroom and is ideal for more demanding headphones. This gives you a cleaner and more robust signal, especially for balanced headphones or IEMs that benefit from the extra power.
The S8 Pro Robin's power output is competitive for its price range, offering enough juice for most portable setups while still maintaining a clean, distortion-free sound even at higher volumes. But compared to some competitors like the Fosi DS2, the S8 Pro Robin might not reach the top in terms of raw power.

Who should grab it:
1. Portable Audio Enthusiasts: If you need a powerful yet pocket-sized solution for high-quality sound on the go, the S8 Pro Robin is ideal. It’s lightweight (17g) and compact, making it easy to carry around with your phone or laptop.
2. Users Who Value Sound Customization: The S8 Pro Robin offers six digital filters, allowing you to tweak the sound signature based on your preferences. Whether you want more clarity, warmth, or balance, this dongle gives you the flexibility to switch between different tuning modes.
3. Balanced Sound Lovers: If you're looking for clean, neutral sound with a touch of warmth, this dongle delivers. It is known for its transparency and detailed presentation, making it a great fit for those who prefer a balanced, natural tonality without excessive coloration.
4. Budget-Conscious Audiophiles: Priced around $79-$99, it offers excellent performance for its cost, competing with more expensive DAC/AMPs. If you want a budget-friendly option with great sound quality and features like native DSD256 support, this is a great pick.
5. Tech-Savvy Users with Multiple Devices: If you frequently switch between different devices, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, the plug-and-play functionality and wide compatibility with Android, iOS, and Windows make it an easy choice.

Look Elsewhere:
1. Power-Hungry Headphone Users: If you use high-impedance or power-demanding headphones, the S8 Pro Robin’s 80mW (3.5mm SE) and 160mW (4.4mm BAL) outputs may not suffice, leaving you wanting more power for optimal performance.
2. Analytical Sound Lovers: For listeners who enjoy an analytical, highly detailed sound, the S8 Pro Robin’s smooth and warm character may not be precise enough. It lacks the sharper, ultra-detailed presentation that some audiophiles look for in analytical listening setups.
3. Those Seeking App Control or Gain Switch: The absence of app control or a gain switch can be a limitation for users who prefer more refined control over their audio output, especially with different headphones.
4. Users Needing Independent Volume Control: The S8 Pro Robin’s volume buttons control the source device’s volume, not the DAC’s, which can be inconvenient for those who want independent volume control.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
With its dual CS43131 DAC chips, the S8 Pro Robin delivers a clean, detailed, and neutral sound signature that can satisfy a wide range of listeners, from casual users to more discerning audiophiles. It’s clear that Hidizs packed a lot into this tiny device, making it a strong contender in the sub-$100 category. One of the standout features of the S8 Pro Robin is its six digital filters, which allow users to fine-tune the sound to match their preferences. The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is a fantastic option for those looking for a portable, powerful, and customizable DAC/AMP that delivers a clean and detailed sound. It’s not the most powerful option out there, but for its size and price, it offers excellent value. If you’re someone who appreciates versatility and sound customization without needing extreme power, this little dongle could easily become your go-to audio companion.
