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Disclaimer:

• - Hidizs sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• -I have not tested this with MQA files or MQA streaming since I don’t use MQA at all.
• -The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• -No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• - I have only tested this with earbuds and IEMs and earbuds.
• -Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 10 days.



IEMs/Earbuds/Source used:

• -Etymotic ER3SE
• -Simgot EM6L
• -Simgot EA500 LM
• -Letshuoer DZ4
• -Tanchjim One
• -Temperament X6
• -QKZ X HBB Hades
• -Sony Xperia X Compact
• -Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• -Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96)
• -Desktop PC, Laptop.
• -Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

Setup configuration: Hidizs S9 Pro paired with phones/laptop/pc.

Essential Product Specifications:

• DAC: ES9038Q2M
• DSD native DSD64/128/256/512
• PCM support up to 768kHz/32Bit
• Build quality: CNC aluminium alloy integration (black, silver)
• Transmission interface: Type-C
• Rated output power (SE): 100mW@32Ω
• Frequency response (SE): 20-50kHz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) (SE): 120dB (@32Ω)
• Channel Separation (SE): 80dB (@32Ω)
• Total harmonic distortion+noise (SE): 0.0012% (@32Ω)
• Rated output power (BAL): L&R 200mW@32Ω
• Frequency response (BAL): 20-50kHz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) (BAL): 119dB (@32Ω)
• Channel separation (BAL): 118dB (@32Ω)

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Sound signature:

• In Hidizs fashion, the S9 Pro exhibits a neutral, near-transparent, analytical sound rendition. This also means that this dongle will render the setup’s very best (or worst) sound it can produce. As for the technical performance, it does render things nearly transparent, with the exception of the soundstage and layering due to some mild added depth and separation to the sound with a nice, clean, pitch black background, making it somewhat “pseudo-immersive” to my ears. It can be a bad thing for purists, but not for me because it doesn’t “color” the sound that much and will only be noticed when compared with a transparent-rendering dongle side-to-side.

Build Quality:

• Hidizs always love crafting their products with sleekness and elegance, and it shows here in the S9 Pro. It is basically a glass sandwich with an aluminum chassis, making it a light dongle compared to what it seems. There are no physical buttons in this dongle, LED indicator is shown within the dongle’s logo and lits up in different colors depending on the file type played with it. BAL and SE ports are placed up top, but the BAL port is utilized with a 2.5mm female port, which is quite unusual in today’s setting. However, a BAL port is a BAL port, which is nice to have for those cases where it is needed.

Device Compatibility:

• Just like the recent dongles I have tested and owned, This dongle is plug and play - no apps and requirements needed. The simplicity of this area also means that this doesn’t have any bit-perfect mode, sound filters, EQs, and presets. I personally prefer it to be this minimal while sounding in its optimal state, but you do you. 100mw is also the base power output of the SE port, and is more than enough for all the IEMs I have tried and tested with this dongle, while maxing out on 200mw with the 2.5mm BAL port used.

Battery Consumption:

• This dongle is slightly high in terms of battery consumption. It drains about 20% of battery in an hour when paired with a smartphone at most, depending on the file type and gain that you are using. It drains around 30% when used with the 2.5mm port. Due to its high battery consumption, I prefer using this DAC with my laptop.

Power and volume:

• The Hidizs S9 Pro is based on my tests and experience, more than enough for all of the IEMs I have owned and tested, despite it having low number in specifications on paper (others have 240mw of power in BAL mode, to give you and idea) Here are some IEMs and earbuds I have tried with their respective listenable/ enough volumes (do take note that this dongle does not have any independent hardware volume buttons and relies on the smartphone/laptop’s software/hardware volume (100% = 100% max software volume):

• Etymotic ER3SE - 30/100
• Temperament X6 - 30/100
• QKZ X HBB Hades - 35/100
• Simgot EM6L - 12/100
• Tanchjim One - 15/100
• Letshuoer DZ4 - 15/100
• Simgot EA500 LM - 12/100

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Pros:

• Neutral, analytical-sounding USB DAC!
• Nearly transparent rendition.
• More than enough for all IEMs I have tested in terms of power output!
• “Pseudo-immersive” soundstage and layering rendition.
• Sleek, minimal design.
• No need of any drivers and app to sound optimal!
• Jacked up file format/type support (DSD512)
• Lightweight!
• SE and BAL outputs!
• Well-thought LED design!
• Very good amount and quality of included accessories!
• Noise-free, “pitch black” background.

Cons:

• Near-transparent rendition of sound is always a double-edged sword.
• No physical volume control.
• 2.5mm BAL in this hobby full of 4.4mm users seems unusual.
• No app and filters designed for this DAC may not favor those who want customization (not me tho, so it’s subjective)
• Higher than usual battery consumption.
• Physically warms up earlier than usual compared to the dongles I have used and owned.
• It can be a hassle for novice users because the included cable only works when the other end with the brand’s logo is connected to the laptop/smartphone/DAP (might be an isolated case, but there’s that)

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Despite being released for a while now, the Hidizs S9 Pro held up well in today’s “audiophile” market! Not to mention it is greatly reduced in price, which makes it more competent when compared to the dongles existing within the 150 usd and below segment. This is no surprise to me because Hidizs has been always known to be one of the go-to brands for very good quality USB DACs and DAPs for the past years. However, not all DACs are perfect and this has tiny quirks I have mentioned that is up for you to embrace, or avoid. In a nutshell, I find the Hidizs S9 Pro to be my daily driver USB DAC for my laptop. Good job, Hidizs!

Who is the Hidizs S9 Pro for?

• For those people who want an analytical, neutral sound.
• For those people who want a noise-free listening experience.
• For those people who wants a dongle with a detachable cable.
• For those people who want a very lightweight usb dongle on-the-go.
• For those people who do not want to mess with any app or setting just to achieve optimal sound quality.

Why should you not buy the Hidizs S9 Pro ?

• If you don’t want a minimalist design.
• If you don’t want a neutral sounding dongle.
• If you need physical volume controls.
• If you don’t want a battery-depleting dongle.
• If you need a 4.4 BAL port.
• If you are a purist who wants pure transparency.
• If you need extra features such as filters and modes.
• If you need MQA support.
• If you don’t like physically hot USB DACs.

Thank you for reading!

Non-affiliated link here!: https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...nded-mini-hifi-dac-amp?variant=44441371443387

Disclaimer:​

I’m always grateful to Hidizs, who has contributed the most to my hobby. Thank you very much to Zoie for kindly sending me this Hidizs S9 Pro!

Though I’m still not as skilled as the most knowledgeable person you can find online, I’m starting to acquire an intriguing amount of Dac.

The review, as always, will be completely unbiased and uninfluenced.

I would like to remind you that I am just a person who enjoys trying out new items and listening to a lot of music; I am not an expert.

My opinions are obviously subjective.

Hidizs S9 Pro Tech Specs:​

• Hi-Res Audio Certified
• ESS9038Q2M DAC
• PCM: Up to 32bit768kHz
• Native DSD Supports Up to 512
• Single-ended 3.5mm + Balanced 2.5mm
• One-Piece High-Density CNC Aluminum Body
• Sampling Rate Indicator Light
• Powerful Drive Ability. 200mW BAL / 100mW SE
• Compatible with Windows/Android/Mac OS/iOS/iPad OS System
• Support Apple lossless audio
• DIscounted at 59USD (great deal)

Hidizs S9 Pro Packaging:​

The Hidizs S9 Pro comes in a black and sturdy well made carton package, quite simple and standard.

Once opened inside, we find the dac embedded, below we find the accessories:

• Type C to type C cable (a little bit short)
• Sort of hard case + clip
• Type C to USB
• Manual + warranty

Hidizs S9 Pro Build quality/First impressions:​

The Hidizs S9 Pro is built with the same quality as the Hidizs XO, but because of its design, it seems stronger and so of higher quality. As you can see from the pictures, there is an aluminum frame with two glass (maybe plastic) faces, and an LED beneath the mark indicates which sample of music is now playing. Sadly, the balanced output on this device is just 2.5mm. The 4.4mm is far more widely used, cozy, and sturdy.

Hidizs S9 Pro Power:​

The Hidizs S9 Pro is not a power monster but it is still perfect for most IEMs on the market. It slightly exceeds the Hidizs XO having 100mw on SE and 200mW on balanced.


I tested it with Bqeyz Topaz and I have to say that it has no kind of power problem, with 3 heels of volume out of 16 the sound pressure is already excellent. On balanced output instead I tried the Letshourer S12 Pro and also had great performance.




Its power is fine for almost all headphones and iems , however compared to other dacs in my possession it definitely has more juice.

The 3.5SE port is already similar to the power of the balanced port of the Hidizs XO.

It would have been nice to have more volume steps for very sensitive headphones but actually the volume steps are so well made.

Obviously in balanced mode the power is ridiculous!

Hidizs S9 Pro Sound Signature:​

Let’s analyze the sound of it! A great ESS9038Q2M chip that was previously tested on the F.Audio KS01 is present on board. This has a natural, balanced, and analytical nature, just like other ESSs I own. Unlike the dacs with Cirrus, which sound more warmer there is no emphasis.

The details are really clear, almost exactly as in the Hidizs XO and LessFox DA1 with AK.

Totally no hiss sound in both ports also in high gain mode surprised me.

For the price at which it is now also offered in various bundles this Dac is really excellent. At 59USD should be seriously considered above all those who are indecisive about their first DAC to buy and love to keep the sound as neutral as possible.

Fast Comparison:​

vs Hidizs XO




From my point of view we are very close as a result in sound terms but the S9 Pro removes all the superfluous that is found on the Hidizs XO as leds and buttons (these latter would have made it convenient to keep them). If we consider that S9PRO costs 20USD less you already know which one I would recommend..


vs F. Audio KS01




Here the battle is really tough! The F.Audio KS01 is a monster of features and power considering the price. It’s given as 280mw but I honestly think it’s about like the S9 Pro, maybe slightly more powerful. In terms of sound maybe slightly brighter. I recommend you to read my review about it, as this dac is very special.


vs LessFox Da1




This is currently my favorite! Even if it has only the 3.5mm output its AK4493 satisfies me with any headphones. They’re about as similar as power in fact I don’t feel any big differences. The DA1 seems to give a very slight boost to the soundstage and image but it could be just an impression of me. They’re both great Dac.


vs Creative SFXi (old version)




The Creative DAC is certainly a powerful beast and for what it costs it offers exactly everything you need with much higher support (firmware updates + Apps). Its sound is definitely different from the classic AK4377 but you feel that Creative’s experience has added something enjoyable to the sound. Independent volume is a plus! The SFXi however is very light and robust! Ideal for portability!

Who do I recommend this DAC to?​

If you are an audiophile or audio enthusiast on a budget this could be a great option for your pockets.


The Hidizs S9 Pro was already considered great when its price was full, so now that it is discounted at 50% it is definitely a best buy! It is good both with headsets of hot and cold shade.


The only defect that I personally think to mention is the lack of buttons and the choice to put a balanced output of 2.5mm. We can also mention the extent of an app, but it is not strictly necessary. There are also problems with much more expensive DACs. If you need more power, however, you will have to look at some dual CS43131 like the EPZ TP20 or the Moondrop Dawn Pro.

Where to buy:​

Actually discouted at 50 USD
Hidizs S9 PRO Balanced & Single-Ended Mini HiFi DAC & AMP

Among all the reviews I have written, the one you are reading is one of the hardest for me to write.

Why?

Well, you see, I'm a stubborn guy. When I started the head-fi hobby, Internet people told me that all modern audio sources sound the same and amplifiers are unnecessary for portable gear. I held onto that belief for the longest time and repeated the dogma, "Apple dongle is all you need."

However, my belief began to waver as I experienced more pairs of sources and transducers. The little dongle DAC/AMP we discuss today might be my tipping point. Let's talk about Hidizs S9 Pro.

Preambles:

• This review is based on a review sample provided by Hidizs (Thank you!) I have no financial interest in Hidizs or the success of this product.
• The Hidizs S9 Pro can be found on the manufacturer's website (Non-affiliated link). The unit costs $119 USD ($188 AUD) at the time this review was published.
• I use the term "source" to denote a DAC + Amp combo.
• When I talk about the "sound" of a source, I talk about its impact on the sound of headphones or earphones connected to it. For example, a source is "bright" means it makes earphones brighter than other sources.
• A source is rated based on A/B tests. If one source sounds not as good as the other, I would bump up the volume and give it another try before concluding. This practice aims to mitigate the "louder is better" problem.
• I consider the Apple dongle a benchmark (3/5 - adequate) because it is good enough and familiar to almost everyone.
• Improvements from sources are primarily minor and nuanced, despite my textual descriptions. If you are beginning your head-fi journey, getting different IEMs or earphones would yield more benefits. If you know your gears very well, improvements from sources can be delightful

Specs:

• DAC Chips: ES9219C x 2
• Output ports: 3.5mm (Single-ended) and 2.5mm (balanced)
• Single-ended output power: 100mW@32ohm per channel
• Balanced output power: 200mW@32ohm per channel
• Recommended impedance: 8 - 300ohms

Handling and Usability:

S9 Pro is a tiny stick of aluminium sandwiched by glass panels. It is narrower and thinner than my KA3, which is already smaller than an average USB memory stick. The Hidizs logo lights up upon connection to indicate the audio quality being played.



Using S9 Pro is straightforward: plug-and-play. However, there are some gotchas:
- The included cable is unidirectional. You must connect the plug with the logo to your phone or laptop. Otherwise, the dongle does not work. I have no problem with other cables.
- You need to use the lightning cable from Hidizs if you want to use S9 Pro with iPhone. My USB-C to Lighting cable from Fiio does not work. The phone recognizes S9 Pro, but the sound does not come out.

The S9 Pro is entirely devoid of physical buttons for volume and playback control. I prefer this design because I don't have to worry about any hidden volume level that might give my ears a nasty surprise.

S9 Pro is also free of software settings. As far as I know, there is no app to change the gain, filters, or EQ.

Sound Performance

Rich, deep, refined.

If I must describe S9 Pro as fast as possible, those are the adjectives that I would use. This dongle makes music pop more than other sources in my current collection. Bass drums kick a bit stronger, snares sound tighter, and vocals have more nuances and air.

At the same time, higher-pitched instruments like violin, trumpet, cymbals, and hi-hats are a bit *rounder*. For example, let's imagine a series of fast cymbal clashes. With most dongles in my collection, I would hear loud splashy sounds that mesh together and mask other details, such as stick impacts the subtle room reverb. With S9 Pro, the splashes are slightly rounded off and separated so I can hear stick impact and the reverbs.

Another good thing about S9 Pro is the pitch-black background. Thanks to the impactful low-end and refined top-end, instruments are a bit more separated from each other, with a darker background between them. The contrast between instruments and background does an excellent job of making the soundstage feels deeper.



Where do these sound characteristics come from? At first, I thought there were some tuning tricks baked into S9 Pro, such as a subtle bass boost. However, measurements by folks at Hi End Portable show a flat frequency response between 20 and 20000Hz, just like any other dongle in my collection. Since there is no tonality shift, I must attribute the great sound to the DAC implementation and powerful amplification of the S9 Pro.

Speaking of amplification, the output power of this little dongle is *strong*. It drives a full-sized HD800S to a respectable performance via single-ended output from an Android phone. At the same time, it is pitch-black when pairing with super-sensitive IEMs like Andromeda 2020.

This output power's only drawbacks are battery drain and heat. Your phone will feel the heat of the S9 Pro, figuratively and literally. Therefore, despite the noticeably improved sound quality, I cannot use the S9 Pro with small devices like my Hidizs AP80 Pro X music player.

Some listening notes

Let's clarify the points about the S9 Pro with some concrete music, shall we?


Bach: Violin Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin performed by James Ehnes quickly becomes my favourite rendition of the famous violin solos. Exquisite violin tone, superb control over dynamic, and high recording quality. This album has everything. This album is also excellent for showcasing the beautifully refined upper frequencies and pitch-black background of the S9 Pro.

Let's take Presto movement from the first Sonata as an example. With my test gears, I hear Ehnes's violin right in the middle of the soundstage, crisp and focused. I can hear articulations (bow catching on the string) and the sympathetic resonance of the violin. I can also hear the reverb of the violin around the "room". The main improvement of the S9 Pro is the separation between the violin and the slight background reverb, which triggers the illusion of depth. This "depth" is the main draw of the S9 Pro compared to other sources in my collection, including the venerable Fiio KA3.




New Levels New Devils by Polyphia is a new discovery, introduced by my good friend @JAnonymous5150. It still baffles me that this synthetic-sounding album is not generated by a computer but performed by musicians in a studio.

Let's take G.O.A.T. as an example. I hear the better separation between guitars and other instruments in the higher frequencies. S9 Pro also imparts a greater sense of depth by separating and pushing background elements further to the back. This impression applies even to IEMs that do not convey depth very well, such as my Blessing 2.

Low-impedance, high-Sensitivity IEM

Tested gear: Hidizs MD4 (8ohm@1kHz, 102dB/mW@1kHz)

The difference between S9 Pro and the Apple dongle is startling in A/B tests with G.O.A.T. as the test track. In this case, the Apple dongle outright reduces the sound quality of the MD4. It makes everything more closed in and less separated. For example, the bass drop at around 0:35 sounds inside my head with the Apple dongle but slightly outside my ears with S9 Pro.

The difference between S9 Pro and KA3 is also noticeable in the same A/B tests. KA3 sounds noticeably brighter and thinner at the same time. It means high-pitched instruments are more splashy and less separated, whilst the bass lacks a bit of weight in comparison. KA3 renders G.O.A.T. as a wall of sound in-your-face rather than a complex 3D stereo image painted by S9 Pro.

Average IEM and earphones

Tested gears: VE Monk+ (64ohm, 118dB/mW), Moondrop Blessing 2 (22ohm, 117dB/Vrms), Sennheiser HD560S (120ohm, 110dB/Vrms)

First, let's talk about A/B tests with VE Monk+ and Blessing 2. The story is similar to the low-impedance, high-sensitivity IEMs. S9 Pro sounds noticeably more contrasty and crisp, airier and micro-detailed with a stronger sense of depth compared to the Apple dongle. These differences can be heard clearly from the bass drop from around 0:35.

The KA3 and S9 Pro gap narrowed slightly with VE Monk+ and Blessing 2. However, KA3 is still noticeably brighter and splashier. For instance, all cymbal crashes from around 0:40 are louder and harsher. Even when I boost the volume of the S9 Pro to be noticeably louder than KA3, the tonality of the S9 Pro is still less splashy and bright compared to KA3. S9 renders the low-pitched "brrrrm" sound a bit stronger and more textured.

Before we move on, I want to talk about Sennheiser HD560s because the results were interesting. Surprisingly, the difference between S9 Pro and the Apple dongle is relatively small. If I pay careful attention, I can hear slightly more treble air and more crispy and textured bass notes with S9 Pro, but not day and night. I hear no noticeable difference in dynamic, clarity, fairness, and soundstage between S9 Pro and KA3. Is HD560s not that sensitive to sources?

Low-impedance, low-sensitivity IEM

Tested gears: Final Audio E5000 (14ohm, 93dB/mW)

Final E5000 is the bane of most portable gear. If you have only heard E5000 with an Apple dongle, you haven't heard E5000. That's all I can say about how "well" the Apple dongle works in this scenario.

A/B tests between S9 Pro and KA3 show that both dongles drive E5000 satisfactorily, especially via balanced output. The difference between S9 Pro and KA3 is how they are tuned rather than their power output. I hear harsher cymbals, thinner bass, and more "wall of sound" effect on the KA3 than on the S9 Pro.

High-impedance IEMs, earphones, and headphones

Tested gears: HD800S (300ohm, 103dB/Vrms)

Hidizs claims that S9 Pro can drive 300ohm headphones. Is that true?

To answer that question, I borrow an HD800S and a Modi + Magni stack from my local hi-fi store for A/B tests. Since I do not have a balanced cable for HD800S, all tests were done with single-ended outputs.

Results? Very close. The overall presentation is similar, but the stereo image with S9 Pro is a bit less separated and slightly fuzzier than the Schiit stack. I suspect the gap would be much closer if I could use the balanced output of the S9 Pro. Still, based on what I heard in my tests, the desktop stack is slightly ahead.

Conclusion

Let's face it. Sources are a commodity (read: interchangeable) nowadays. Decent ones are affordable and sound very similar at a glance.



Yet, I still gravitate towards the S9 Pro more than anything else in my collection. In fact, I even upgraded my IEM cables to balanced and got a 4.4 to 2.5 adapter to use the S9 Pro more. This dongle soundingly outperforms both of my benchmarks, the Apple dongle and Fiio KA3, in most A/B tests. It can drive full-sized cans competently. Therefore, Hidizs S9 Pro receives a high recommendation from this reviewer, especially if you need a new dongle DAC/AMP in your collection.