The USB audio class 2 driver is on the manufacturer's website: https://ifi-audio.com/downloads/
iFi audio's worst kept secret: the hip-dac!
01smetrorem01
New Head-Fier
Found the answer ! It´s a huge success. Thank you !
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Sorry, we'll get back to you on this one shortly!
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01smetrorem01
New Head-Fier
Compact enough to use as a USB DAC/amp on your work desk with your much-loved headphones. Will this work fine with iFi Nano iUSB3.0 (and with iFi AUDIO iPower 9V)? For those that own / using the iFi HIP DAC and the iFi Nano iUSB3.0 could you test this? How does it sound while music is playing ? Thanks !
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Our nano iUSB3.0 is very versatile and will work with any USB DAC
If your asking us about sound quality improvement, it will be there via the usual means; lesser grain, more pristine musical backdrop, more smoothness etc.
superuser1
Headphoneus Supremus
@iFi audio How about availability in India with your authorized reseller?
@iFi audio , Does the Hip-Dac sound the same as the Zen-Dac ?
disastermouse
Headphoneus Supremus
I ordered one and then canceled it.
Why? Because it’s big, it needs its own battery, and I think I’m just not going to use it often enough.
I might get a Dragonfly Cobalt instead, even though it has fewer features and costs 2x as much. I just think the fact that I won’t have to charge it and that it’s small would mean more for me.
Why? Because it’s big, it needs its own battery, and I think I’m just not going to use it often enough.
I might get a Dragonfly Cobalt instead, even though it has fewer features and costs 2x as much. I just think the fact that I won’t have to charge it and that it’s small would mean more for me.
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Now we can address your question with this video:
Enjoy!
Keith, apologies it took a while to get back to you. In short, our manual has a fault and hip-dac will always run on on its internal battery, regardless of powering it on before or after connecting to your smartphone or tablet.
We also saw your feedback on Amazon and you have our sincere thanks!
Still, thanks for taking it into consideration!
All our products sound in many ways similar and so does hip-dac, which is now officially LIVE!
Can you please ask at Ferrari Video (http://www.ferrarivideo.com) directly?
Also, Jude had some nice things to say about our products in his NYC CanJam preview video!
Please see from the 37:15 mark. In short, Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000 (USD 2000) with... hip-dac? According to Jude, why not!
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superuser1
Headphoneus Supremus
They are not responsive at all... that why i troubled you!
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Alright, we'll ask them and contact you via PM.
inexactscience
Head-Fier
Until I figure out a solution to my portable streaming DAP question, I've gone ahead and ordered the Hip DAC for an interim solution (from @Audio46 ). It's got good power, though a higher noise floor than I expected. Not good for low impedance and high sensitivity IEMs without an Earbuddy or IEMatch.
I do have two questions for the @iFi audio team:
1. I've noticed a strong channel imbalance, particularly at lower levels. I get a lot more volume from the right channel than left in both SE and balanced. Naturally, it's about twice as bad in balanced than in SE. From the SE jack, I daisy-chained an Earbuddy and IEMatch and found that, as volume increases, the imbalance decreases, but does not fully go away. I managed to plug the Hip DAC into my Koss 95X ESP, and at max SE volume, there still is a channel imbalance, though the Koss 95X I have will easily imbalance then channels. Is this within expected unit variation, or is the unit faulty?
FWIW, the Hip DAC sounds excellent out of the 95X ESP when channels are volume matched. I didn't listen long enough or critically, but I most certainly liked what I heard and would want to give this product a chance: it could change the portable DAP plan. If I've got a defective unit, and there's not supposed to be any channel imbalance at any volume levels, then I can tentatively recommend the Hip DAC.
2. For portable use, do you have short, right angled USB-C to female USB-A OTG cables available somewhere? It'd be nice to have those kind of cables, but I can't seem to find anything that's compatible. I feel as if cable life could be increased by utilizing angled cables rather than doing the whole 'cable twist' when inserting into the pocket. I recognize that your male USB-A connector in the Hip DAC might be the biggest problem in developing the cables, but it they do exist, I'd buy it.
Also, I did check my ears and listened to different headphones from the same source and checked with a uh, dongle (forgive me, please?) to ensure it wasn't my ears that were the problem. Sometimes the problem exists between users' ears, and I think I've ruled it out this time.
I do have two questions for the @iFi audio team:
1. I've noticed a strong channel imbalance, particularly at lower levels. I get a lot more volume from the right channel than left in both SE and balanced. Naturally, it's about twice as bad in balanced than in SE. From the SE jack, I daisy-chained an Earbuddy and IEMatch and found that, as volume increases, the imbalance decreases, but does not fully go away. I managed to plug the Hip DAC into my Koss 95X ESP, and at max SE volume, there still is a channel imbalance, though the Koss 95X I have will easily imbalance then channels. Is this within expected unit variation, or is the unit faulty?
FWIW, the Hip DAC sounds excellent out of the 95X ESP when channels are volume matched. I didn't listen long enough or critically, but I most certainly liked what I heard and would want to give this product a chance: it could change the portable DAP plan. If I've got a defective unit, and there's not supposed to be any channel imbalance at any volume levels, then I can tentatively recommend the Hip DAC.
2. For portable use, do you have short, right angled USB-C to female USB-A OTG cables available somewhere? It'd be nice to have those kind of cables, but I can't seem to find anything that's compatible. I feel as if cable life could be increased by utilizing angled cables rather than doing the whole 'cable twist' when inserting into the pocket. I recognize that your male USB-A connector in the Hip DAC might be the biggest problem in developing the cables, but it they do exist, I'd buy it.
Also, I did check my ears and listened to different headphones from the same source and checked with a uh, dongle (forgive me, please?) to ensure it wasn't my ears that were the problem. Sometimes the problem exists between users' ears, and I think I've ruled it out this time.
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Slight volume imbalance at low levels isn't unusual, but at normal listening level even with high sensitivity IEMs, both channels should even. If that's not the case, please open up a support ticket here: https://support.ifi-audio.com
...and out support staff will look into this.
We only have straight OTG cables: https://ifi-audio.com/products/otg-cables/
Also folks, if you're interested in how hip-dac looks like from every angle, please look no further than here:
bedlam inside
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Just commented elsewhere that the hip dc and these headphones make a pretty amazing pairing. Aren't they hard to drive, I think Jude said, or a bit awkward at best?
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