[TBert]

Manual says if led is blue when you first switch on dac it is charged.
After full charge, when I switch dac on, the led under the usb input for charging is red for an instant and then turns white. It is never blue after charging.
However I did notice that the led around the front volume knob turns blue for a second then green.
Which led is supposed to turn blue after charging when turn dac on?
Is the rear led under usb ever supposed to be blue?

 

[TBert]

Afraid I might have defective hip dac. Now after only only 1 hr. of use light on led under charge usb is green already.

 

[Taz777]

The LEDs around the front volume knob are nothing to do with charging. They indicate the audio decoding format. There is a tiny LED at the back next to the charging port. You can check here as to what the colours mean:

https://media.ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hip-dac-User-Manual_Ver1.3.pdf

Assuming you are not charging, the colour of the battery status LED at the back of the unit means this:

Solid White: > 75%
Solid Green: > 25%
Solid Red > 10%
Flashing Red: < 10%

Notice the enormous gap between White and Green! The bottom line is this: the battery discharges very quickly! I get 4 to 5 hours max on a full charge.

 

[TBert]

The LEDs around the front volume knob are nothing to do with charging. They indicate the audio decoding format. There is a tiny LED at the back next to the charging port. You can check here as to what the colours mean:

https://media.ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hip-dac-User-Manual_Ver1.3.pdf

Assuming you are not charging, the colour of the battery status LED at the back of the unit means this:

Solid White: > 75%
Solid Green: > 25%
Solid Red > 10%
Flashing Red: < 10%

Notice the enormous gap between White and Green! The bottom line is this: the battery discharges very quickly! I get 4 to 5 hours max on a full charge.

Thank you for your response. So the battery status led will never be blue, is that correct?

 

[johnston21]

Is the SE 3.5mm TRS or TRRS (not to be confused with the Balanced 4.4mm TRRRS)?

 

[Taz777]

Thank you for your response. So the battery status led will never be blue, is that correct?

Correct, as far as I am aware.

 

[Taz777]

Is the SE 3.5mm TRS or TRRS (not to be confused with the Balanced 4.4mm TRRRS)?

Take a look here:

https://media.ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Tech-Note-iFi-audio-hip-dac-Jan2020.pdf

This bit in particular, for the 3.5mm jack:

S-Balanced on TRS & TRRS headphones
S-Balanced Is fully compatible with, and supports balanced wired headphones on TRRS 3.5mm and the 3.5PRO balanced wiring standard maintaining channel separation. This is, after all, the point of S-Balanced.

It can also use 3.5mm TRS connections without issue. We are compatible with Hifiman/3.5PRO/OPPO PM3 in the above on 3.5mm S-Balanced and 2.5mm Balanced equipped products such as A&K/FiiO

S-Balanced delivers the full benefits with lower noise and distortion (and lower output) than other balanced circuitry and is compatible with TRS headphones and headphones with microphones making sure neither amp nor headphone can be damaged.

The key to the S-Balanced advantage is to understand the following:

• A balanced output includes two separate amplifiers
• All else being equal, two amplifiers contribute both noise and distortion

Tech Notes

• Due the laws underpinning this, the output noise of the two balanced amplifiers MUST be at least 3dB greater (1.4 times) than that of the single amplifier
• The odd order (unpleasant or disharmonic) distortion of the two amplifiers for the same level on each amplifier summed will also be at least 3dB greater than the single amplifier.

 

[iFi audio]

Is the SE 3.5mm TRS or TRRS

The beauty of it is that it'll work with both!

Correct, as far as I am aware.

That's correct!

 

[TBert]

The LEDs around the front volume knob are nothing to do with charging. They indicate the audio decoding format. There is a tiny LED at the back next to the charging port. You can check here as to what the colours mean:

https://media.ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hip-dac-User-Manual_Ver1.3.pdf

Assuming you are not charging, the colour of the battery status LED at the back of the unit means this:

Solid White: > 75%
Solid Green: > 25%
Solid Red > 10%
Flashing Red: < 10%

Notice the enormous gap between White and Green! The bottom line is this: the battery discharges very quickly! I get 4 to 5 hours max on a full charge.

Thanks again for the explanation, I ended up getting 6hr. 15min. so I guess mine is normal. Just weird how quick the white light turns to green, but like you said the green gap lasts quite a while. Love the unit, really great sound for the price.

 

[Taz777]

Thanks again for the explanation, I ended up getting 6hr. 15min. so I guess mine is normal. Just weird how quick the white light turns to green, but like you said the green gap lasts quite a while. Love the unit, really great sound for the price.

Are you using the 3.5mm unbalanced output? I’ve been using the 4.4mm balanced output and get around 4.5 hours as it uses a lot more power.

 

[TBert]

Are you using the 3.5mm unbalanced output? I’ve been using the 4.4mm balanced output and get around 4.5 hours as it uses a lot more power.

Yes, I'm using the 3.5 output, high gain, and xbass about half the time.

 

[robin1990]

Apparently using 4.4mm balanced Noble K10u with iFi Hip-Dac is a mistake. Too much hiss even with powermatch off.
iFi Hip-Dac is sweet for the price
but i dont have a good iem to pair with otg.

 

[iFi audio]

Just weird how quick the white light turns to green, but like you said the green gap lasts quite a while.

Yes, this is normal

Love the unit, really great sound for the price.

I'm glad you love the unit, what is it you like most about the sound?

 

[iFi audio]

I’ve been using the 4.4mm balanced output and get around 4.5 hours as it uses a lot more power.

Yes indeed, the balanced circuit and tougher loads will deplete the battery faster. Out of curiosity, can you please let me know what kind of headphones or IEMs do you use?

 

[superuser1]

Can it charge and play at the same time?