[ClieOS]

Well ess 9038 is not everything either, a lot of crapy implementations

True, but there are plenty of other suitable DAC out there besides ESS9038 and iFi has a pretty good record of hardware implementation.

 

[iFi audio]

I ordered this bad boy yesterday to replace my Fiio Q3 MQA which isn’t a bad DAC at all. I really hope it will be a upgrade. Delivery is scheduled in 2 to 3 weeks. Besides the way it sounds I am curious about 3 things. Number one is it’s size. I never saw one in real life but I hope it is about the size as the Q3 so I can use the Q3’s strap kit which is really good. Second, all the previews say there will also be a usb-c to lightning cable supplied but ifi’s website says only a usb-c to usb-c and a usb-c to usb-a cable is supplied. Third, will it be powerfull enough to drive some headphones I send back because the Q3 wasn’t.
I wasn’t really planning to replace the Q3 but it had gotten some problems where it would stop giving sound on my iPhone 14. Sometimes after aprox. 1 hour and other times it stopped 4 times in 15 minutes where I had to power it off and on again for it to work. The company I bought it from was being difficult stating it was Apple’s fault because iOS17 caused the problems. After a long discussion they agreed to send it to Fiio to be checked out letting me pay for the shipping cost and stating it could take a while for me to get it back. I bought the damn thing in January so it’s not even a year old. Needless to say I bought the hip dac 3 from another company.
The reason I send back some headphone I tried (eg HiFiMan Sundara, Deva Pro Wired, BD DT990 Pro and others) was because the Q3 was not powerful enough to get the cans to the volume level I wanted. Maybe after receiving the hip dac 3 I should give some headphones a second try… Will the difference between 280mW and 400mW be enough to drive power hungry headphones?
In short. I can’t wait to get my hands on the hip dac 3.

Hi and Thanks for ordering the HD3.

To my knowledge, the kit does not contain a USB C to lightning cable, but I will check on this for you. Also could you please point me to what you saw that showed it coming with this cable? It would be greatly appreciated.

Hope you enjoy the new piece of gear!

Cheers!!

 

[passie42]

Hi,
If you google hip dac 3 then the first results show previews of whathifi and forbes. They state a usb-c to lightning is supplied. I know it is not your fault because on your website it said nothing about a lightning cable but because forbes and whathifi are respected websites I thought the cable was supplied.
Also, will a generic usb-c to lightning DAC cable work, eg the cable that came with my Fiio Q3? And will the hip dac 3 in combination with a generic lightning DAC cable not drain my phones battery?
And just 1 remark, the awesome hip dac 3 would be more awesome if a kind of strapping kit was supplied, or if not supplied I could order one…

 

[passie42]

Also https://www.thespeakershacks.co.uk/2023/10/ifi-audio-hip-dac-3.html?m=1
says a lightning cable is supplied…

 

[OldRoadToad]

The legacy continues.​

Meet the hip-dac 3 — a portable hi-res DAC/headphone amp, now in Titanium Shadow with more versatility.

Titanium shadow. Trendsetting innovations.​

Now, our battery-powered portable hi-res DAC/headphone amp is adorned in the Titanium Shadow hue, exuding timeless elegance with a touch of modern sophistication. The transformation extends beyond aesthetics. The hip-dac 3’s sleek Aluminium case houses new features, tailored to elevate your audio experience.
Two USB-C ports simplify your cable management: one for audio and the other for charging. A switch on the underside activates iFi’s iEMatch technology, which is optimized for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, making it especially beneficial for your in-ear monitors (IEMs).
Inside, the device boasts circuit enhancements, including new metal film capacitors for a better frequency response. Additionally, an updated version of iFi’s GMT circuitry, coupled with a new crystal oscillator, further reduces phase noise, delivering a purer sound to you.

Hip flask size. Magnum performance.​

With its sleek, robust aluminium enclosure, the portable hip-dac 3 discreetly fits in a pocket or bag. It replaces the subpar DAC and amplifier in smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Macs. Just connect via USB-C, plug in your favourite headphones, and enjoy rich, dynamic sound.

iFi’s expertise with the Burr-Brown chipset ensures optimal performance. However, a superior DAC stage involves more than just the DAC chip. A crucial element is the XMOS chip for processing digital audio inputs. The hip-dac 3 features a 16-core XMOS microcontroller, programmed by iFi’s in-house team to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect hi-res partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

hip-dac 3 your power-hungry headphone.​

The hip-dac 3 features a true balanced circuit design, rare for its price range. This design minimizes signal distortion, resulting in a purer, more captivating sound for your headphones.
The circuitry incorporates high-quality components, including a custom iFi OV op-amp, a low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments, and a premium analogue volume pot.
The amp stage can deliver up to 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load, making it compatible with a wide range of headphones. Additionally, it efficiently drives high-impedance headphones with an output voltage of 6.3V into 600 ohms from the balanced output.

Tailored for your headphones and earphones​

The amp stage has a switchable gain, called PowerMatch, to ensure optimal power for the headphones you are using.

An underside switch engages iFi’s iEMatch technology, optimising output for high-sensitivity headphones, especially in-ear monitors (IEMs). It reduces hiss, enhances detail and dynamic range, and improves volume control range.

XBass is a user-selectable feature that boosts bass without muddying the midrange, ideal for your earphones and open-back headphones. It works in the analogue domain, avoiding alterations via DSP.

Play all your files, including MQA​

Hi-res PCM and DXD audio data is supported at sample rates up to 384kHz, alongside DSD from 2.8MHz to 12.4MHz (DSD64, 128 and 256).
Full decoding of MQA – the hi-res streaming technology, as used by Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier – is also supported, performing the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process (as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’).
Either side of the rotary volume control reside a pair of LEDs that change colour to indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio.

Get connected​

The hip-dac 3’s USB-C input supports up to 32-bit/384kHz audio, compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. Its asynchronous design ensures jitter-free data transfer. A separate USB-C charging port allows use while charging, preserving a pure audio signal path.

The hip-dac 3 provides two outputs: a 3.5mm socket for single-ended headphones and a 4.4mm balanced output for those with balanced connectivity, leveraging the device’s differential amp design. The 3.5mm output utilizes iFi’s S-Balanced circuitry, minimizing crosstalk and distortion for single-ended connections.

The hip-dac 3’s 2,200mAh battery offers up to 12 hours of playtime, varying by volume and headphone power needs. It includes a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Hip-case protects your hip-dac 3​

The hip-dac series features a durable 102x70x14mm aluminum enclosure. For added protection and a suede-like touch.
Our hip-case in Dove Grey faux suede is perfect. It fits all hip-dac models snugly without compromising function.
Protect your hip-dac 3 with the hip-case.


MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)
MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The hip-dac2 adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.
Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.
At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it.

The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input.
This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.
iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.
You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

XBass is an analogue headphone spatialiser. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of spaciousness experienced at a live concert.

iFi’s exclusive S-Balanced® circuit delivers maximum performance from single-ended and balanced headphones alike.
See our Tech Note to dig deeper.



Thanks for taking a look!

Cheers!!
GET YOURS HERE!!

I see it still has that useless boat anchor called "MQA". Since the company has seen fit to include it, I see no reason to buy one. It would have matched up nicely with both of my Echobox Explorers...

MQA is a FARCE.

ORT

 

[iFi audio]

Also https://www.thespeakershacks.co.uk/2023/10/ifi-audio-hip-dac-3.html?m=1
says a lightning cable is supplied…

These folks and articles are correct the cable you need is indeed included.

Cheers!!

 

[passie42]

These folks and articles are correct the cable you need is indeed included.

Cheers!!

That is good news ifi, thanks!

 

[nicdub]

I'm wondering if the IEMatch function on the HD3 is equivalent to the high sensitivity setting on the IEMatch+ dongle and if this eliminates all noise for IEMs like the Andromeda 2020? It would be great if it did, as it would eliminate the need for the dongle altogether and provide a nice solution to this issue with the Go Blu, which as enough noise that the dongle is required, at least in my experience. I recognize that bluetooth may be the culprit for the noise issue, and the HD3 does not have bluetooth, so perhaps this would also help.

 

[jjazzy]

I'm wondering if the IEMatch function on the HD3 is equivalent to the high sensitivity setting on the IEMatch+ dongle and if this eliminates all noise for IEMs like the Andromeda 2020? It would be great if it did, as it would eliminate the need for the dongle altogether and provide a nice solution to this issue with the Go Blu, which as enough noise that the dongle is required, at least in my experience. I recognize that bluetooth may be the culprit for the noise issue, and the HD3 does not have bluetooth, so perhaps this would also help.

So even go blu has issues with noise. I use xdsd gryphon and also has noise. But the andromeda has problems with that as well (so does the shure se846). Makes me wonder why? Because I plugged them in a fiio m15s dap, background was totally black, no noise at all.

I don’t like IEMatch, it doesn’t adjust dynamics extremely, but enough to make me dislike it.

 

[Sonic Defender]

I can't imagine how the DAC chip would be holding the design back. Failing to include Bluetooth is a miss though. Absolutely Bluetooth is capable of perfectly transparent, audio reproduction fidelity.

DAC chips have all likewise been capable of full audible transparency for several years now. So unless ifi somehow really breaks the technical implementation, there is no reason that this chip is not capable of perfectly transparent audio reproduction. IMO.

 

[MalinYamato]

Hopefully ifi also dumps MQA support as seems to be the trend. Really nice design by the way.

noo, pls dont ask them to dump MQA

 

[MalinYamato]

The legacy continues.​

Meet the hip-dac 3 — a portable hi-res DAC/headphone amp, now in Titanium Shadow with more versatility.

Titanium shadow. Trendsetting innovations.​

Now, our battery-powered portable hi-res DAC/headphone amp is adorned in the Titanium Shadow hue, exuding timeless elegance with a touch of modern sophistication. The transformation extends beyond aesthetics. The hip-dac 3’s sleek Aluminium case houses new features, tailored to elevate your audio experience.
Two USB-C ports simplify your cable management: one for audio and the other for charging. A switch on the underside activates iFi’s iEMatch technology, which is optimized for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, making it especially beneficial for your in-ear monitors (IEMs).
Inside, the device boasts circuit enhancements, including new metal film capacitors for a better frequency response. Additionally, an updated version of iFi’s GMT circuitry, coupled with a new crystal oscillator, further reduces phase noise, delivering a purer sound to you.

Hip flask size. Magnum performance.​

With its sleek, robust aluminium enclosure, the portable hip-dac 3 discreetly fits in a pocket or bag. It replaces the subpar DAC and amplifier in smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Macs. Just connect via USB-C, plug in your favourite headphones, and enjoy rich, dynamic sound.

iFi’s expertise with the Burr-Brown chipset ensures optimal performance. However, a superior DAC stage involves more than just the DAC chip. A crucial element is the XMOS chip for processing digital audio inputs. The hip-dac 3 features a 16-core XMOS microcontroller, programmed by iFi’s in-house team to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect hi-res partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

hip-dac 3 your power-hungry headphone.​

The hip-dac 3 features a true balanced circuit design, rare for its price range. This design minimizes signal distortion, resulting in a purer, more captivating sound for your headphones.
The circuitry incorporates high-quality components, including a custom iFi OV op-amp, a low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments, and a premium analogue volume pot.
The amp stage can deliver up to 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load, making it compatible with a wide range of headphones. Additionally, it efficiently drives high-impedance headphones with an output voltage of 6.3V into 600 ohms from the balanced output.

Tailored for your headphones and earphones​

The amp stage has a switchable gain, called PowerMatch, to ensure optimal power for the headphones you are using.

An underside switch engages iFi’s iEMatch technology, optimising output for high-sensitivity headphones, especially in-ear monitors (IEMs). It reduces hiss, enhances detail and dynamic range, and improves volume control range.

XBass is a user-selectable feature that boosts bass without muddying the midrange, ideal for your earphones and open-back headphones. It works in the analogue domain, avoiding alterations via DSP.

Play all your files, including MQA​

Hi-res PCM and DXD audio data is supported at sample rates up to 384kHz, alongside DSD from 2.8MHz to 12.4MHz (DSD64, 128 and 256).
Full decoding of MQA – the hi-res streaming technology, as used by Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier – is also supported, performing the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process (as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’).
Either side of the rotary volume control reside a pair of LEDs that change colour to indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio.

Get connected​

The hip-dac 3’s USB-C input supports up to 32-bit/384kHz audio, compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. Its asynchronous design ensures jitter-free data transfer. A separate USB-C charging port allows use while charging, preserving a pure audio signal path.

The hip-dac 3 provides two outputs: a 3.5mm socket for single-ended headphones and a 4.4mm balanced output for those with balanced connectivity, leveraging the device’s differential amp design. The 3.5mm output utilizes iFi’s S-Balanced circuitry, minimizing crosstalk and distortion for single-ended connections.

The hip-dac 3’s 2,200mAh battery offers up to 12 hours of playtime, varying by volume and headphone power needs. It includes a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Hip-case protects your hip-dac 3​

The hip-dac series features a durable 102x70x14mm aluminum enclosure. For added protection and a suede-like touch.
Our hip-case in Dove Grey faux suede is perfect. It fits all hip-dac models snugly without compromising function.
Protect your hip-dac 3 with the hip-case.


MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)
MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The hip-dac2 adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.
Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.
At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it.

The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input.
This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.
iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.
You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

XBass is an analogue headphone spatialiser. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of spaciousness experienced at a live concert.

iFi’s exclusive S-Balanced® circuit delivers maximum performance from single-ended and balanced headphones alike.
See our Tech Note to dig deeper.



Thanks for taking a look!

Cheers!!
GET YOURS HERE!!

ifi has become my favorite brand thou I dont know how ifi gets the sound I like. I own pro xCAN signature, go blu and zen can signature. I own BTR5 and BTR7 of fiio but I am replacing them with hip dac 3. I use shanling M0 Pro as a music player with blueooth that will feed into a hip dac 3 which I ordered yesteerday. Too bad their go bar does not come with MQA, has no battery and has a price that is too high. I hope ifi may be able to come up with a bur brown version with MQA of go blu.

 

[Ferdinando1968]

Too bad their go bar does not come with MQA..

I'm not sure I understand what you mean,
but let me inform you that GO-BAR decodes MQA.

 

[jjazzy]

why do so many people prefer MQA? I have tried it, and honestly, don’t care about it at all. I rather have a 44k good recording, the mastering is way more important

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

why do so many people prefer MQA? I have tried it, and honestly, don’t care about it at all. I rather have a 44k good recording, the mastering is way more important

Different strokes...

Different Folks,

Everyone hears what they hear, and I agree that the recording is most important!

Cheers!!