[Idontevenknowmyname]

And just one more question, when using my laptop at full volume my 232s get a bit too loud and I don`t have much room for adjusting. When I lower the volume on my laptop I can drive my hip dac higher and everything is fine.
Am I losing anything like this or am i actually gaining something because I can drive the hip dac louder?

Edit: I think the sound is better with the windows volume almost maxed out (98) and will keep it that way for now.

 

[Ultrainferno]

We just published a first look of the Hip-Dac!

https://www.headfonia.com/first-look-sunday-ifi-hip-dac/

 

[iFi audio]

In your opinion, is 5.3c the best or is it down to preference

It's down to what you need the most. In short, the 5.3c FW provides MQA, DSD256 and applies our GTO filter to all PCM music, whereas the 5.3 FW does MQA and DSD256, but has no GTO applied. 5.2 FW has no MQA and no GTO, but it can do DSD512. Please see details here (under the "Newest firmware"):

https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/unified-firmware-for-various-products/

Now onto my question, I have successfully got tidal to work with mqa and its decoding and sounding great but no matter which signal I feed my unit with, the color on the front does not change at all, neither to yellow nor magenta. Is my unit defect or am I doing something wrong? I already changed the sample rate to 192 and its showing it correctly in the driver.

With 5.3c FW all PCM music is subject to the GTO filter, hence all PCM music will engage yellow LED color only.

 

[iFi audio]

We just published a first look of the Hip-Dac!

https://www.headfonia.com/first-look-sunday-ifi-hip-dac/

Thanks a lot and we look forward to the full story!

 

[Joe Bloggs]

And just one more question, when using my laptop at full volume my 232s get a bit too loud and I don`t have much room for adjusting. When I lower the volume on my laptop I can drive my hip dac higher and everything is fine.
Am I losing anything like this or am i actually gaining something because I can drive the hip dac louder?

Edit: I think the sound is better with the windows volume almost maxed out (98) and will keep it that way for now.

For me personally usability of the volume control is more important than the last bits (literally) of digital performance but I'm sure everyone will have a different answer. Although I don't think MQA decode will work at volume = anything but 100 (which is a pity)

 

[Idontevenknowmyname]

It's down to what you need the most. In short, the 5.3c FW provides MQA, DSD256 and applies our GTO filter to all PCM music, whereas the 5.3 FW does MQA and DSD256, but has no GTO applied. 5.2 FW has no MQA and no GTO, but it can do DSD512. Please see details here (under the "Newest firmware"):

https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/unified-firmware-for-various-products/




With 5.3c FW all PCM music is subject to the GTO filter, hence all PCM music will engage yellow LED color only.

Thanks a lot

For me personally usability of the volume control is more important than the last bits (literally) of digital performance but I'm sure everyone will have a different answer. Although I don't think MQA decode will work at volume = anything but 100 (which is a pity)

I will do some more testing on this but with 98 I can control the volume on the hip dac relatively precise I just have to be careful...
I don`t really mind though since It just feels like there is slightly more low end when I turn up the volume compared to the 50-80 range but maybe that`s just my mind playing tricks on me.

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks a lot

Sure, anytime!

I don`t really mind though since It just feels like there is slightly more low end when I turn up the volume compared to the 50-80 range but maybe that`s just my mind playing tricks on me.

Whatever your ears like, is what you should do

 

[iFi audio]

It's a hat-trick! We've only gone and got another What Hi-Fi? 5-Star review!

"The hip-dac is a hugely capable performer with the typical easy-going iFi sound. It’s a balanced presentation that’s refined and free of harsh edges. You can listen to the hip-dac for hours and not feel fatigued."

Thanks What Hi-Fi?!

The full review please see HERE!

 

[Idontevenknowmyname]

I am still loving this thing but charging it seems to take way longer than the claimed 3 hours. Maybe its my charger (5v, 2a) but a single full charge takes me more than 6 hours and then I get anywhere from 5-7 runtime and that is with my iems that don`t need any juice at all. Is my unit somehow defective or do I need a different charger? 6+ hours for a single charge is kind of crazy :/ At least on my box it claims 8 hours instead of 12 but even 8 seems almost impossible to get...

 

[Poganin]

Mine takes about 3 hours to charge fully, I believe. I haven't really measured, but I remember doing two battery life tests in a single day at some point, so it couldn't have been 6 hours on my end.
Also, 6 hours and 40 minutes is how much listening time I could get out of the hip-dac at most on a full charge.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Sorry guys but that runtime you guys are getting is actually par for the course. We got the figures a bit off when benching the battery life before release

Regarding the longer than normal charge time, the charger sounds fine, but maybe you've got a dud cable?

Anyway, checking the 0-100% and 100-0% time of the battery every now and then is all cool, but I don't recommend doing it on a regular basis unless actual usage calls for it as deep-cycling a lithium battery all the time isn't the greatest idea.

Cheers,
Joe
(new!) iFi Audio

 

[Idontevenknowmyname]

Sorry guys but that runtime you guys are getting is actually par for the course. We got the figures a bit off when benching the battery life before release

Regarding the longer than normal charge time, the charger sounds fine, but maybe you've got a dud cable?

Anyway, checking the 0-100% and 100-0% time of the battery every now and then is all cool, but I don't recommend doing it on a regular basis unless actual usage calls for it as deep-cycling a lithium battery all the time isn't the greatest idea.

Cheers,
Joe
(new!) iFi Audio

Don`t worry, I aint doing that. Last charge (from flashing red) took almost 7 hours this time.
Most charges where from solid red and still took more that 6 (have charged it like 4 times in total).
I am using the provided charging cable with an extension in between but this should not be the problem right?

 

[iFi audio]

I am using the provided charging cable with an extension in between but this should not be the problem right?

It shouldn't, but I'd try charging your product without any extenders and also use a different charger if possible, just to make sure that the one you listed is alright.

 

[Idontevenknowmyname]

It shouldn't, but I'd try charging your product without any extenders and also use a different charger if possible, just to make sure that the one you listed is alright.

Will do, how much ampere does the hip dac actually draw? I sadly don`t have any other right now but the one I am currently using is a standard samsung adaptive fast charger. My phone (old blackbbery) charges very fast and without problems.

 

[iFi audio]

Will do, how much ampere does the hip dac actually draw?

It's BC V1.2 compliant, so up to 1000mA charging current.