[alterndog]

Hello I am looking to get a battery powered amp/dac combo for my iPhone 11 Pro for around $150. I don’t need Bluetooth. I am leaning towards either the iFi hip dac or the Fiio Q3. I would primarily be using my Focal Elegia, Ety Er4xr, and FutureSonic G10 with the setup. Anyone have any suggestions on which might be better?

 

[conceptcar3]

Hello I am looking to get a battery powered amp/dac combo for my iPhone 11 Pro for around $150. I don’t need Bluetooth. I am leaning towards either the iFi hip dac or the Fiio Q3. I would primarily be using my Focal Elegia, Ety Er4xr, and FutureSonic G10 with the setup. Anyone have any suggestions on which might be better?

Just wondered if you ever settled on one and how you like it. I am on this same quest now

 

[alterndog]

Just wondered if you ever settled on one and how you like it. I am on this same quest now

I first got the Hipdac, but returned it as it kept skipping during songs in Tidal. Neithe to nor iFi could figure it out. I returned it and got the Q3. I like the 2.5m balanced output for my Elegia and also that it can plug directly into the iPhone with provided USB-C/Lightening cable. I’ll be honest, the bass boost on the Q3 sucks compared to the iFi, but overall happy with the Q3 sound otherwise.

 

[conceptcar3]

I first got the Hipdac, but returned it as it kept skipping during songs in Tidal. Neithe to nor iFi could figure it out. I returned it and got the Q3. I like the 2.5m balanced output for my Elegia and also that it can plug directly into the iPhone with provided USB-C/Lightening cable. I’ll be honest, the bass boost on the Q3 sucks compared to the iFi, but overall happy with the Q3 sound otherwise.

I got the q3 today and am very very happy. I using my thieaudio clairvoyance with them and wow what a great sound! It’s end game for me

 

[iFi audio]

I first got the Hipdac, but returned it as it kept skipping during songs in Tidal. Neithe to nor iFi could figure it out. I returned it and got the Q3. I like the 2.5m balanced output for my Elegia and also that it can plug directly into the iPhone with provided USB-C/Lightening cable. I’ll be honest, the bass boost on the Q3 sucks compared to the iFi, but overall happy with the Q3 sound otherwise.

Thanks for giving our hip-dac it a try, though. And if I may ask, can you please elaborate a bit how its bass was versus your Q3?

 

[Deleeh]

Hello,
I am satisfied with the Dac Dongel Nuprime Hi mdac.
You just need the kamaera adapter for it, but otherwise it's quite good.
It also doesn't eat up too much of the internal battery.

Otherwise there are the inexpensive Hidsz, which are not bad.
If you didn't like the Hip Dac, it's a bit difficult to recommend something for your budget, because better ones simply cost a bit more.
There's also the Quedelixs, and maybe the Fiio K 3 or 5 or whatever it's called.

 

[alterndog]

Thanks for giving our hip-dac it a try, though. And if I may ask, can you please elaborate a bit how its bass was versus your Q3?

The bass boost made the bass feel a little richer on the Hipdac. I don’t get that much of a difference between the bass boost feature on and off on the Q3. Overall the bass on the Hipdac has more of an impact and is fuller than the Q3, which feels a little thin compared. Otherwise the sound seems very much the same. One thing I prefer the Q3 on is the fact I don’t need a lightening dongle as the Q3 can plug directly into an iPhone and the inclusion of a balanced 2.5 output. It is also smaller than the Hipdac. That being said I would have kept the Hipdac if not for the skipping issues because it was a great device and great bass for the price.

 

[iFi audio]

The bass boost made the bass feel a little richer on the Hipdac. I don’t get that much of a difference between the bass boost feature on and off on the Q3. Overall the bass on the Hipdac has more of an impact and is fuller than the Q3, which feels a little thin compared. Otherwise the sound seems very much the same. One thing I prefer the Q3 on is the fact I don’t need a lightening dongle as the Q3 can plug directly into an iPhone and the inclusion of a balanced 2.5 output. It is also smaller than the Hipdac. That being said I would have kept the Hipdac if not for the skipping issues because it was a great device and great bass for the price.

I understand. We've been developing and refining xBass for years now and having it fully analog domain in a product such as hip-dac (small, cost-effective) is not easy, so thanks again for your nice feedback. It means a lot!

 

[JohnnyOps]

Wow, now I'm considering checking out the hipdac... I have the Q3 and love the form factor, connectivity, but the commitment from @iFi audio to respond to comments on their products is pretty amazing!

 

[iFi audio]

Wow, now I'm considering checking out the hipdac... I have the Q3 and love the form factor, connectivity, but the commitment from @iFi audio to respond to comments on their products is pretty amazing!

Thanks, we're all over the place and do our best to interact each time folks have any questoins about stuff we make. Thanks again

 

[conceptcar3]

Thanks, we're all over the place and do our best to interact each time folks have any questoins about stuff we make. Thanks again

I do have an xcan and have a quick question, I picked up an iematch dongle and just wondered with xcan and the iematch, if I pair my own very nice dac, how close am I to gryphon? Basically, Is there a big difference between gryphon amp and xcan amp?

 

[Deleeh]

I believe that all 3 are the same but still different.

So Gryphon, Hip Dac 2 and Xcan.

Considering that the Gryphon is technically better positioned than Hip 2 and Xcan, it will also be better in the amplifier area.

Hip 2 is probably closer to the Gryphon but still lacks a corner.
Xcan I personally classify as the oldest of the 3 and is therefore behind, also behind Hip 2.

In the end it depends on what you like and how the 3 are tuned, which is difficult if you don't know the 3.
Gryphon is certainly more technical and even better in appearance than Hip 2 in all respects.
Amplification & Technological.
And Hip 2 very likely close to the Xcan but still a bit more refined.
And the second characteristic is that the 2 are different from the connection.
It depends a bit on what you want and need.

Hip 2 definitely for smartphones and tablets and mobility.
Xcan tends to be for PCs, laptops, put them on the table and forget about them.
Or even breathing new life into an old stereo system.

I think that's the philosophy behind it.
I think the approach is a bit wrong to arbitrarily buy something and compare it to one of the 3 devices.
Although you can certainly do something nice, especially with the Xcan.

 

[gooeyrich]

Supposedly this is as good as the Dragonfly red/blue at a substantially lower cost: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...MI2NLiyuiL-wIVxgGtBh06Cg92EAQYASABEgL2efD_BwE

Does anyone have any input on these:

https://questyleshop.com/collections/mobile-dac-map/products/m12
https://earmen-shop.com/products/eagle

 

[iFi audio]

Hip 2 is probably closer to the Gryphon but still lacks a corner.
Xcan I personally classify as the oldest of the 3 and is therefore behind, also behind Hip 2.

That's quite accurate. The newer our products are, the better they are (at least we think so ), so in our lineup it's xCAN -> hip-dac 2 -> xDSD Gryphon. Hope this helps, thanks!