[iFi audio]

I've got the hip Dac - came in last friday and I did the unbox this weekend - all appears to be working correctly.

Thanks for letting me know, Wiljen. Enjoy!

 

[Poganin]

[deleted, wrong thread]

 

[Ynot1]

I got the Hip today. But I will let it sit a bit to be safe. I have only opened the package and verified the amp was in the box. But just for reference, tour item does not come delivered in factory fresh packaging. Box can come a little crinkled. And it did. I will post a pic soon.

 

[iFi audio]

I got the Hip today. But I will let it sit a bit to be safe. I have only opened the package and verified the amp was in the box. But just for reference, tour item does not come delivered in factory fresh packaging. Box can come a little crinkled. And it did. I will post a pic soon.

I'm glad you have received the hip-dac safely. There may tend to be some wear and tear with the outer packaging, but with it being passed around it's hard to avoid. I'm looking forward to hearing about what you think of our DAC

 

[Ynot1]

Here is an update. I've been looking at the box and it has not moved. This has got to stop sooner than later. You know, Apple makes augmented reality and those things have infrared facial recognition. How about some corona virus recognition? Virus is cold blooded I suppose. But virus can only survive when there is moisture, I'm guessing. So maybe a high powered humidity sensor? Or maybe a UV light or laser or microwave. I won't put it in the microwave, don't worry.

 

[OneAndOnlyAmulButter]

Here is an update. I've been looking at the box and it has not moved. This has got to stop sooner than later. You know, Apple makes augmented reality and those things have infrared facial recognition. How about some corona virus recognition? Virus is cold blooded I suppose. But virus can only survive when there is moisture, I'm guessing. So maybe a high powered humidity sensor? Or maybe a UV light or laser or microwave. I won't put it in the microwave, don't worry.

I think you should be fine. Unless the person who delivered it to you coughed on the package, very few viral particles (if any) would survive on it during shipping. If you're worried about the contents inside, just wipe them down with a paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and wash your hands right after. The viral load required to infect a person can mostly occur through direct human-human contact and not through packages. UV lights required for disinfecting are harmful to the user as well the object - continuous use destroys paints, plastics, protective coatings etc. We're not even allowed to use them to disinfect our cell-culture labs where I work.

 

[Ynot1]

 

[Ynot1]

Plug and play on Mac. Sound on initial listen is clean, dynamic, and black. Obviously I will need more time. I like this better than NX4 on unbalanced. I don't have an adapter for 4.4. I will try planar. HM5 clone Spadger is not that efficient, but seems to drive those pretty handily. Treble is spritely for a lack of a better word. But not bright nor harsh. Power match reduced volume just now. Bass boost is done quite well with authoritative control. In car audio speak this is an SQ setup no question about it; nothing loose going on here. My bad, I had the power match on initially. So the power match actually raised the volume. So the first negative is the led light could be brighter during the day light, since not everyone will be using this covertly in the darkness. Let me just hold off until I can get more situated.

Edit:



Very impressive.

Edit2:

Planar is powered ok.

Jade Audio EA3 seems to hiss just like Megamini. But only when music is playing. But it does not with EDM. Could be Nora Jones youtube is poor quality recording.
On EA3, power is massive. Very fast and dynamic.

This thing needs to be studied. I need more time.

 

[iFi audio]

I won't put it in the microwave, don't worry.

Sheesh, you got me there!

This thing needs to be studied. I need more time.

Enjoy!

 

[Ynot1]

Between Hip Dac, Q1Mk2, Q5, Nx4, and G5 I rank a few things in following way.
Just to get this out of the way, the best single ended sound goes to Hip.
The best bass boost goes to the Hip.
And the following is really between Hip and the rest.
Q1Mk2 is better with included ios cable for balance only to use with devices using ios.
Q1Mk2 has analog input but ADC makes it sound not so good.
Q1Mk2 balance is still not as dynamic and black as the Hip. But clarity and detail is tied with Hip single ended.
Q1Mk2 feels nice just like the Hip.
Q5 does every connection better than the Hip except in usb where they tie. Q5 just gives you everything connection wise.
Q5 power is similar to the Hip in single ended. But Hip is more dynamic and black.
Nx4 has better battery life in analog input mode, but Hip has no analog input and I have not tested the battery performance.
Hip works noiseless with the charge cable powered whereas the Nx4 hisses.
Nx4 is not that good compared to the Hip.
G5 has more power with SBX on, and G5 can do eq with computer.
I still like the dynamic sound of the Hip more than the G5.
Here is a scenario where I would use G5 over Hip. I use planar headphone that requires eq, and G5 SBX has custom tunable eq using a PC that I can just select with a SBX button, and scroll through 3 presets.
I have not studied the sound stage aspect. And the sound stage is dependent on headphones too. And I don't have super big sound stage gear.
However I used to think G5 had narrow sound stage, but with SBX that went away. So the entire setup matters in regards to the sound stage.

I can just say, get the Hip at Amazon and return it if it does not meet every of your expectations.
But I think it will be determined by your use case rather or not you can use the Hip often enough to justify purchase.
The value is off the charts. I am still going to study the Hip before I write my review.

 

[iFi audio]

Between Hip Dac, Q1Mk2, Q5, Nx4, and G5 I rank a few things in following way.
Just to get this out of the way, the best single ended sound goes to Hip.
The best bass boost goes to the Hip.
And the following is really between Hip and the rest.
Q1Mk2 is better with included ios cable for balance only to use with devices using ios.
Q1Mk2 has analog input but ADC makes it sound not so good.
Q1Mk2 balance is still not as dynamic and black as the Hip. But clarity and detail is tied with Hip single ended.
Q1Mk2 feels nice just like the Hip.
Q5 does every connection better than the Hip except in usb where they tie. Q5 just gives you everything connection wise.
Q5 power is similar to the Hip in single ended. But Hip is more dynamic and black.
Nx4 has better battery life in analog input mode, but Hip has no analog input and I have not tested the battery performance.
Hip works noiseless with the charge cable powered whereas the Nx4 hisses.
Nx4 is not that good compared to the Hip.
G5 has more power with SBX on, and G5 can do eq with computer.
I still like the dynamic sound of the Hip more than the G5.
Here is a scenario where I would use G5 over Hip. I use planar headphone that requires eq, and G5 SBX has custom tunable eq using a PC that I can just select with a SBX button, and scroll through 3 presets.
I have not studied the sound stage aspect. And the sound stage is dependent on headphones too. And I don't have super big sound stage gear.
However I used to think G5 had narrow sound stage, but with SBX that went away. So the entire setup matters in regards to the sound stage.

I can just say, get the Hip at Amazon and return it if it does not meet every of your expectations.
But I think it will be determined by your use case rather or not you can use the Hip often enough to justify purchase.
The value is off the charts. I am still going to study the Hip before I write my review.

Thanks a lot! I look forward to the next chapter of this story!

 

[Ynot1]

Working on the write up.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-hip-dac.24211/reviews
Done.

 

[Wiljen]

Got my writing finished today on the little Hippie. Link below - also on my blog. Who is the next person in line?

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-hip-dac.24211/reviews#item-review-23546


W

 

[ngoshawk]

Got my writing finished today on the little Hippie. Link below - also on my blog. Who is the next person in line?

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-hip-dac.24211/reviews#item-review-23546


W

Will, you are sending it to me.

 

[Wiljen]

Sounds good to me, I'll box it up.