Of course, I made a few mistakes in the video. 😅 1. There's a small metal plate, nice and circular with a Hidizs logo on it, that can be taped to the back of your phone. I just found it in the box. 2. DH80s uses Sabre ESS9281C PRO chip, while S9 Pro uses ESS9038Q2M (this mistake was brought to my attention by @ Nacho Vecina Sánchez - thanks!)
Update: Got the DH80s, it's phenomenal! The sound is a class better than S9pro. Basically the bass is deeper and tigher and it does not have the slightly bloat of the s9pro. Midrange is cleaner and more vibrant. Changed my s9pro for this and absolutely happy.
No one describes how these devices sound from the heart like you do. I will always trust that i am going to love something when i get it because describe exactly how it sound in every detail. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Bravo. Great review. I think this is one video many head-fi reviewers should watch, especially when they wrote about headphones/ IEMs. Good clean power should bring up the sound a few notches up. Again, there’s one caveat: that’s synergy (source-amp-cable-earphones). Now, let’s hope Hidizs can make it half its current size (or smaller) without sacrificing any amplification section. Brilliant review 👍
This PROVES that the DAC Chip alone doesn't say much, but it's implementation matters a lot. Good example since its both are from "Hidizs", same DAC chip "Sabre ESS9038Q2M", but entirely different outcomes that are resulted from the difference in implementation. Great review!
yes d20 and xtreme music technically has same chip but they sound different, think only xtreme music, wavio and xonar essence that actually has 'audiophile' level
I ended up getting the DH80s and will be selling off my desktop stacks. It's just much more convenient to have something that I can use with a PC and a phone interchangeably, that sounds as good (or better) than a $300+ dollar stack. I'm really impressed by how well it drives headphones (balanced) and how deep and defined everything is without adding harshness or glare. Clean, smooth, deep, and bodied is how I'd describe it. I don't love the included OTG cable for USB C-to-C so I ordered replacements from ddHiFi. But I can't think of anything else I'd nitpick. It's a cleaner, more robust sound than a Heresy, a Zen Can, a Liquid Spark, and a JDS Atom+ amp in my usage. Thanks again for this find, I really love this thing!
@@MatthewCollada Haven't had an issue with it but also haven't pushed it to the limit. I know this will sound silly but I use the DH80s more so as a desktop solution than a portable solution. So if the battery died tomorrow it probably wouldn't impact me. Definitely consider that before applying your use case.
@@DGardn100 yes and no (I hate saying this but it's true). If I'm using it at my workstation it just stays plugged in and I unplug it when I'm done. So I don't leave it charging all the time, but rather than use it unplugged I typically will run it 6-7 hours while working and it's just easy to keep it charging. If there's a sonic difference between charging and not charging I can't hear it. I use it as a desktop solution because my phone hates USB over data. I'll have to wait till I have a whole new phone before I could try its portability.
Thanks to your brilliant review I decided to buy the dh80s. I absolutely love it!! I can't stop listening to it . Using my Samsung Galaxy a71 as a dap connected to dh80s playing my music though UAPP. Bought the Hidizs headphone adapter to use my 2.5mm balanced headphone cables (Tripowin GranVia) on my Hifiman Sundara. Own a Chord Mojo for past 5 years and this is much more musical. In the UAPP settings selected bit perfect and Sundara 2020 on Morphlt. Can't stop listening to music files and Tidal Masters. Many thanks!
yes indeed, battery life seems to be “endless”, especially compared to my ifi hip-dac !! one quirk on mine though - only charges in one position - flip the usb-c over, and it does not charge. Tries several cables all the same., so it must be the device itself. Sound clearly hits way above its price. I find it more detailed and more neutral compared to my Dragonfly Red or even the hip-dac. Excellent value indeed !!
I wouldn't consider it portable as far as carrying it in my pocket, but it would be great for using around the house in different rooms instead of being stuck at a computer desk. Also for people who travel a lot it would be perfect to throw in a laptop bag and take with you.
I just got this after btr5 and ifi zen dac v2 and I am so glad that I did. Dacs these days are after details which is holding me back from enjoying music. I love this amp-dac. It sounds so smooth and soulful. I paired it with truthear hola and sennheiser hd 660s2. With 660 it has a thicker, cozier sound than with hola. But both of them sound smooth, enough detailed, thick and soulful. I would agree on your ‘everything put so orderly’ take but not on the ‘crisp’ particularly. Very nicely balanced between detail oriented and smooth, soulful. This is exactly what I was looking for. I still had to eq for the best result.
Just bought this on your recommendation.You are 100% right. Incredible sound clarity with power to spare. This is one of the great buys in audio. Great work!
Dongles are getting seriously good. I just picked up the new iKKo Zerda and it's ridiculously clean and powerful for 60 bucks. Was very close to the Hidizs S9, and I'm starting to think these new dongle DACs are making most entry level desktop stacks obsolete if you only need USB. Crazy arms race with these things.
Thank you very much!! I find your video quite explicit which made me realize the difference between both DACs. I really appreciate your explanation for helping me decide for the DH80 s. Greetings from Mexico City!!
I have a number of "portable" DAC/Amps, Ifi Hip DAC, FiiO K17 etc. All are cumbersome to listen to when on the move. I simply bought a very small shoulder bag which solved the problem. Great review. Keep them coming.
and ifi hipdac which I use as my sit anywhere in house amp, I won't ask you o compare it to my bluetooth only amp which is1W +-9 volts which sounds better than any of my other small factor devices the haafee something or other 😁
I Bought The HIDIZS S9 PRO & LETSHOUER S12 IEMs With 2.5 Aux Cable Or My Phillips SHP9500 Over Ears And I've Never Been So Impressed . My Music Test List Has So Much Audio That I'd Never Heard Before Using This Setup With My Z Fold 3 Phone As Does My NetFlix Movie Watching Experience . I Can Not Listen To My Sony 1000X MX Over Ears Anymore .
В поиске ЦАП для моих Philips Fidelio X2HR пересмотрел много обзоров на ЦАП разных брендов и разных формфакторов. Попался мне на глаза Hidizs DH80s и я начал сравнивать с похожими устройствами! Ваш обзор помог мне принять окончательное решение о покупке Hidizs DH80s. Спасибо за хороший и понятный обзор!
Hi :) iiWi, a little bit out of the topic question, but is the kinera freya still a reference sound for an iem for you? Or did u hear something better already? Cause propably i will buy them and also buy the hidizs dh80 to power them :). Thx
Hi, i bought this immediately after your raving review. I have never heard this high level sound quality of such a tiny pierce of gear! Truly hifi! I connected it to my loxjie P20 but it stays somewhat solid state sound, can i get warmer, more liquid sound with another tube amplifier? Which do you recommend?
Enjoying your reviews. Based on your reviews I bought MS2 and S9 pro. I planning to buy He400se for my next purchase. Will you recommend S9 pro or DH80s to pair with He400se.
Your reviews are my favorite ones, thank you! Your explanations are so easy to understand. I am sold on getting one, not as a portable solution, but as a entry level stack substitute for my Pc/Mac. I will pair it with the recently released Hifiman Edition XS.
iiWi Reviews hits different in 360p. RetroTube activated! Seriously though, this would work just fine with a phone case that has a metal plate, like the ones used for magnetic mounting. Which is what I always go for since I spend a lot of time on the road, and that's my preferred mounting solution in my vehicles. It just happens to also be convenient in this situation.
Thank you for yet another very enjoyable review. I know what you mean about not being very conveinant to carry about. It looks to be a similar size to my ifi hip dac. I definitely wouldn't want to strap that to my phone and carry around in my pocket. More a case of being portable than hi fi on the go sounds like a great value product non the less
I just upgraded to the dh80s from a dragonfly red. I thought I needed better headphones for a big soundstage, but that wasn't the case. Compared to the dragonfly red the soundstage is enormous, and I can hear the pitch of bass instruments way better. The only downsides are the on/off and gain switches are a bit loose and rattle, and the low gain mode doesn't sound good (medium and high are in the same league). Thank you for your review which partly made me pull the trigger!
There are magnetic cases for iPhones, at least. My wife had one and used to stick her phone to the car when getting groceries or our daughter into the car. :-). It was across the entire back of the phone. I don't know if other cases cover the entire back but that might make the solution better or worse. Depending on where the unit would sit it may make holding the phone tedious.
After your pretty nice review, Was looking for a battery powered option to the S9 Pro, that sounded equally good, because I didn't want the dongle draining my phone. I guess I found it, as an upgrade to my iFi nano iDSD LE, which seems to have suddenly lost its treble extension (I've no clue how that happened). I was actually very tempted to go for the Khadas Tone 2 Pro but eventually found it to be an unportable and difficult to control option. Thanks for this, probably getting this one soon.
These little DAC/amps are a lot of fun attached to a phone. To me amps aren't just about loudness, you can hear more even at lower volumes. If it had bluetooth it would be even more attractive.
Bought it after your review. Let's see how Hifiman Ananda sounds with it. I was considering hip dac and zen dac, dragonflies... Went with dh80s without trying it out actually. Fingers crossed!
@@FreddyDaleginds yep, got mine as well. Enough power for Anandas for sure. When it comes to sound I don't really have anything to compare it to. So I don't know how good or bad it is. What I am missing is be able to visualize sound from the front easier. Right, left and back are ok. Just the sound from the front is more like between my ears rather than front. Anyone else has same thoughts?
Thanks for covering this little gem. Bought it, paired to my Koss Porta Pro (yaxi pads and part express headband mods), had a blast! Best sound I ever got from those. I also found that the Hiby player does make quite a big difference in sound quality, especially when compared to other player apps such as UAPP or Neutron. Did you find the balanced out sounding different compared to the unbalanced on the DH80? Someone said that the balanced is more technically capable but lose some musicality and cohesiveness. Thanks again for bringing this to the attention!
I'm glad you like it. Balanced connection is usually cleaner and tidier, more resolving. But some people still prefer the warmer and softer presentation of single-ended one, even though that softness comes with obscured details and slightly dulled edges. This is usually true for any DAC, including this one. Personally, I find balanced one to be more transparent and true in almost every case, but I understand why some prefer that pleasant padding that single-ended adds.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks a lot for your reply! I'm thinking about going balanced now with my Koss Porta Pro, albeit I should phisically modify it to mmcx termination.🤔 Have you ever tried the DH1000 ("Sonata") from Hidiz as well? Some reviews maintain that it should sound less dry and, at the same time, more neutral than the DH80.
I haven't had a chance to try it out. Regarding DH80s, if it's a drag to modify cables, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Single-ended output is truly great on DH80s.
@@iiWiReviews thank you for the review and answering this question, I bought DAC after watching the review, now clear with the 4.4 balanced port in it.
How about sticking a very thin piece of metal to the back of your phone case? Or on the inside of the case where it's not so visible, that is if the magnet is strong enough to accommodate for the thickness of your phone case material.
Hello, first I’d like to tell you how I sincerely appreciate your work here n how I trust your analyze more than most of reviewers’ for audiophile gear …. Now forgive my lack of techknikal knowledge but can we use this kind of device hd80s as a Bluetooth receiver for a 2 channel home hifi analog amp (rca input) … or if not which all in one gear would you recommend as a 2. Chanel home stereo system that has Bluetooth Dac amp x 50w at least that One can pilot from an iPad or iPhone with Qobuz + Roon as a main source ?
2 года назад
So yeah I was about to say chip DAC is not the same. Very interesting cuz the one on the DH80s is an old chip and the one on the S9 pro everyone says is a high end desktop chip so I would asume this last one should sound best and more detailed 🧐 Nice video thank you for it. I now know my perfect matching portable DAC
in 5 days or 10 days these "jewels" will arrive I am really anxious to be able to touch them and enjoy their sound. For me it was a completely occasional choice, as I kept getting advertisements from in my inbox. Eventually I gave in and got involved in the purchase. (which cost me, more than $ 565, also buying an extension cable for the headphones and the black leather protective case) made just on the 2nd of last November. I hope I have made a good purchase. I'll keep you up-to-date. when I have them in my hands.DH80 / DH80S portable balanced DAC and AMP; AP80 PRO-X Limited Edition Red Copper Balanced MQA Music; Hidizs MD4 4 Balanced Armature Driver HiFi In-Ear Monitor
@@Fahad1999win certainly, for the price-quality ratio it is SUPER. well built, down to the smallest details. I am really very satisfied with it. The Hidizs MD4 4 in-ear monitors with balanced armature drivers enhance the sound without interfering, you can perceive every instrument, every note. The DAC is AMAZING. Cared for and made with craftsmanship. Now I'm unsure whether to make a new purchase for another pair of in-ear headphones that have just been released on the market. The thought of being able to possess them puts me in fibrillation with a child, anxious to unwrap his gift. I hope I have been of help to you. Have a good life, my friend.
Hi Srboljub! Thank you for the review, I have had a red dragonfly for a long time now! I mainly use at my office to give a signal to my small 2 channel setup there! Can I use the DH80s in the same way? I mean I maxed the output of my red dragonfly and send the signal to the rca inputs on my amp. Best regards Mikael
I sent mine back as its not very practical to carry with phone and headphones. Plus another device to charge up. I did keep the S3 Pro dongle because it's so small no charging.
I use blue tack to stick it on the phone--works really well. I was using Topping NX4 dac/amp, though looks slimmer than this Hidizs, the stack is still uncomfortable inside jeans pocket.
Got this based on the review, but the volume control doesn't work "independently" as advertised. Buttons only worked when hooked up to a computer (Win10). Same issue before & after FW update. Worst part: it's stuck at ear-bleeding, line out type levels when used with hardware such as Shanling M0, Xuduoo X10-Tii, and, most likely, many other portable devices --- can catch you off guard !! No idea why volume buttons only work with 'certain' devices, and not others. Unless this is fixed with a new FW update, I cannot recommend it. It's advertised as universal, with independent volume control, but is not in practice.
Wow, sorry to hear about that. I've used it with Windows and two Android phones with Hiby player... It worked well in both of these cases. If it has problems with any device as a source, than you're right, it's not fully independent hardware control. It's difficult to cover every possible use case with limited time. So comments like these are very valuable.
I think that both DH80s and RU6 are an upgrade. Pretty much equal in terms of quality but different in tonality and function. I did a short comparison in the RU6 review.
Kind Sir, I recently tried the Hidiz DH80s in my friends house. I just watch RUclips videos. The same video when played on Samsung tablet sounds amazing and DH80s glows blue ( sampling rate 384k) , but the very same video sounds dull on iPad Pro and light on DH80s is blue ( 48k) . Is there any way to fix this. Sounds like synergy is important when we buy dacs. Same goes for apple dongle. It sounds really organic on my iPad but very bad on the Samsung Android OS. Any inputs ?
According to specs in hifigo, s9 pro doesn't use the same Dac chip as dh80s. Also I'd like to ask if it is possible to use this as a Dac only and connect it to a headphone amplifier for example. That way I could have the sound quality and also a bit more power to use more demanding headphones.
Nicely Done. Maybe the only thing that would make it more convenient was having bluetooth with all codecs :) This product seems a little late to the market IMO.
Update: I wrote a positive review on the Hidizs DH80s. Very little has changed in my liking the Dh80s. I thought it was time to discuss the negatives. There were three things I wasn't happy with. In reverse order: There's no indication of when the battery is low, and needing recharging. Second: The volume control is a two button. A lot of the time I can't get the volume right. A dial would have been better. Now the the number one complaint. The music file lights to show 16-bit, hi-res (24-bit) and MQA. I tried UAPP app and Hiby Music app. Sometimes I would get a blue light for hi-res, but never MQA. When I connected the Dh80s to my iMac and listen to Trial the correct light came on for MQA. Will I get rid of my Dh80s? Heck no! I absolutely love the beautiful music it makes. I only have MQA album ( David Bowie's Young Americans). So I going to get my Dh80s. Sorry for the review, but thought the lights issue important to discuss.
Using these with the gain set to mid, and occasionally use the balanced output, I get about 5-6 hours? Yet to try with low gain and just standard SE output. What was your configuration?
I didn't measure exactly, but was in the range of ~7 hours with mixed in-ear usage (7hz Timeless, SeeAudio Bravery, Moondrop Kato) and mostly low gain cause I didn't need it to be louder than that. The more power hungry headphones are, and volume level also, the shorter usage time will be.
@@iiWiReviews agreed. Only got about 4ish hours when I use the balanced output more. Bought these after viewing your review the other week. Thanks. Overall, a good buy. The BTR5 is a little bit more sparkly with the upper highs and have better soundstage depth. Bass on the other hand goes to the Dh80s.
Amazon has this on sale for $109 but I don't know if its going to be an improvement on my Ear Studio ES100 mk2. Instrument separation and crash symbols that sound like pshhh noises are my two main complaints. I'm looking for something to use bedside so if anyone else does this I welcome your input.
Hi, great review as usual. And I'm really tempted to buy it, but I read some place else, that only works like DAC/AMP when is connected to a laptop. And when is connected to the phone only works as AMP. Somebody knows if that is true?
I think you need Usb Audio Player Pro or Neutron on android devices for bit perfect playback since android os resample everything to 48khtz before sending it to external dac.
Of course, I made a few mistakes in the video. 😅
1. There's a small metal plate, nice and circular with a Hidizs logo on it, that can be taped to the back of your phone. I just found it in the box.
2. DH80s uses Sabre ESS9281C PRO chip, while S9 Pro uses ESS9038Q2M (this mistake was brought to my attention by @
Nacho Vecina Sánchez - thanks!)
I use velcro tape with hip-dac but magnet sounds much more sophisticated!
Came here to write this :-)
@@thomaslienert4225 me too
Update: Got the DH80s, it's phenomenal!
The sound is a class better than S9pro. Basically the bass is deeper and tigher and it does not have the slightly bloat of the s9pro. Midrange is cleaner and more vibrant.
Changed my s9pro for this and absolutely happy.
No one describes how these devices sound from the heart like you do. I will always trust that i am going to love something when i get it because describe exactly how it sound in every detail. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Bravo. Great review. I think this is one video many head-fi reviewers should watch, especially when they wrote about headphones/ IEMs. Good clean power should bring up the sound a few notches up. Again, there’s one caveat: that’s synergy (source-amp-cable-earphones). Now, let’s hope Hidizs can make it half its current size (or smaller) without sacrificing any amplification section. Brilliant review 👍
This PROVES that the DAC Chip alone doesn't say much, but it's implementation matters a lot. Good example since its both are from "Hidizs", same DAC chip "Sabre ESS9038Q2M", but entirely different outcomes that are resulted from the difference in implementation. Great review!
yes d20 and xtreme music technically has same chip but they sound different, think only xtreme music, wavio and xonar essence that actually has 'audiophile' level
but nowadays we have focusrites so sc are getting more obsolete
I ended up getting the DH80s and will be selling off my desktop stacks. It's just much more convenient to have something that I can use with a PC and a phone interchangeably, that sounds as good (or better) than a $300+ dollar stack. I'm really impressed by how well it drives headphones (balanced) and how deep and defined everything is without adding harshness or glare. Clean, smooth, deep, and bodied is how I'd describe it. I don't love the included OTG cable for USB C-to-C so I ordered replacements from ddHiFi. But I can't think of anything else I'd nitpick. It's a cleaner, more robust sound than a Heresy, a Zen Can, a Liquid Spark, and a JDS Atom+ amp in my usage. Thanks again for this find, I really love this thing!
Hi! How is the battery health of your dh80s so far?
@@MatthewCollada Haven't had an issue with it but also haven't pushed it to the limit. I know this will sound silly but I use the DH80s more so as a desktop solution than a portable solution. So if the battery died tomorrow it probably wouldn't impact me. Definitely consider that before applying your use case.
@@dasninjastix Are you saying you keep the charging cable plugged in?
@@DGardn100 yes and no (I hate saying this but it's true). If I'm using it at my workstation it just stays plugged in and I unplug it when I'm done. So I don't leave it charging all the time, but rather than use it unplugged I typically will run it 6-7 hours while working and it's just easy to keep it charging. If there's a sonic difference between charging and not charging I can't hear it. I use it as a desktop solution because my phone hates USB over data. I'll have to wait till I have a whole new phone before I could try its portability.
Thanks to your brilliant review I decided to buy the dh80s. I absolutely love it!! I can't stop listening to it . Using my Samsung Galaxy a71 as a dap connected to dh80s playing my music though UAPP. Bought the Hidizs headphone adapter to use my 2.5mm balanced headphone cables (Tripowin GranVia) on my Hifiman Sundara. Own a Chord Mojo for past 5 years and this is much more musical. In the UAPP settings selected bit perfect and Sundara 2020 on Morphlt. Can't stop listening to music files and Tidal Masters. Many thanks!
yes indeed, battery life seems to be “endless”, especially compared to my ifi hip-dac !! one quirk on mine though - only charges in one position - flip the usb-c over, and it does not charge. Tries several cables all the same., so it must be the device itself. Sound clearly hits way above its price. I find it more detailed and more neutral compared to my Dragonfly Red or even the hip-dac. Excellent value indeed !!
That's so good to hear, I just ordered one to replace my dragonfly red. I'm still a bit anxious because I haven't heard it yet of course lol
I wouldn't consider it portable as far as carrying it in my pocket, but it would be great for using around the house in different rooms instead of being stuck at a computer desk. Also for people who travel a lot it would be perfect to throw in a laptop bag and take with you.
I just got this after btr5 and ifi zen dac v2 and I am so glad that I did. Dacs these days are after details which is holding me back from enjoying music. I love this amp-dac. It sounds so smooth and soulful. I paired it with truthear hola and sennheiser hd 660s2. With 660 it has a thicker, cozier sound than with hola. But both of them sound smooth, enough detailed, thick and soulful. I would agree on your ‘everything put so orderly’ take but not on the ‘crisp’ particularly. Very nicely balanced between detail oriented and smooth, soulful. This is exactly what I was looking for. I still had to eq for the best result.
Just bought this on your recommendation.You are 100% right. Incredible sound clarity with power to spare. This is one of the great buys in audio. Great work!
Me too
It came with that port thing I'm seeing on amazon or is that sold separate
Mark, how does the battery work out till now. Does it drain fast. And maybe 1 question would this ve a better buy instead of the btr7.thanks.
Great review, Focus on sound quality and listening experience not just reading the manual and specs.
Agreed. Otherwise he is just wasting my time.
Dongles are getting seriously good. I just picked up the new iKKo Zerda and it's ridiculously clean and powerful for 60 bucks. Was very close to the Hidizs S9, and I'm starting to think these new dongle DACs are making most entry level desktop stacks obsolete if you only need USB. Crazy arms race with these things.
The S9 Pro is actually less than $100 during a sale and the very similar Fiio KA3 can be had for $60-$70 during a major AliExpress sale as well 🤙
Thank you very much!!
I find your video quite explicit which made me realize the difference between both DACs. I really appreciate your explanation for helping me decide for the DH80 s.
Greetings from Mexico City!!
How does it compare to the iFi hip-dac? Everything you say reminds me of my hip-dac!
Aside from build quality, everything else is superior to Hip Dac
Great review. Love your enthusiasm for quality sound!
I have a number of "portable" DAC/Amps, Ifi Hip DAC, FiiO K17 etc. All are cumbersome to listen to when on the move. I simply bought a very small shoulder bag which solved the problem. Great review. Keep them coming.
Which have the best sound for you?
@@andreaaaaaaa574 I prefer the sound of the Ifi Hip DAC, but it is the least portable due to the USB connector.
Justo lo que buscaba, y no me gustó para nada Fiio Q11. Ahora mismo lo compro, gracias por este revius 👍
Great review, how does it compare sound wise compared to quidalex
and ifi hipdac which I use as my sit anywhere in house amp, I won't ask you o compare it to my bluetooth only amp which is1W +-9 volts which sounds better than any of my other small factor devices the haafee something or other 😁
This comparison is EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Thank you for helping me make an informed decision.
I was considering the amp/das E1DA… now I finally found the product I need. Will buy one for my iphone and electrostatic gear. Thanks mate.
I Bought The HIDIZS S9 PRO & LETSHOUER S12 IEMs With 2.5 Aux Cable Or My Phillips SHP9500 Over Ears And I've Never Been So Impressed . My Music Test List Has So Much Audio That I'd Never Heard Before Using This Setup With My Z Fold 3 Phone As Does My NetFlix Movie Watching Experience . I Can Not Listen To My Sony 1000X MX Over Ears Anymore .
Great review good Sir. I just purchased DH80S. Excellent little device.
В поиске ЦАП для моих Philips Fidelio X2HR пересмотрел много обзоров на ЦАП разных брендов и разных формфакторов. Попался мне на глаза Hidizs DH80s и я начал сравнивать с похожими устройствами! Ваш обзор помог мне принять окончательное решение о покупке Hidizs DH80s. Спасибо за хороший и понятный обзор!
How do you feel about it now ? And how is the soundstage ?
Hey man great detailed video. I want to know that is this better than ifi Hip Dac?
Your feedback would be much appreciated
Hi :) iiWi, a little bit out of the topic question, but is the kinera freya still a reference sound for an iem for you? Or did u hear something better already? Cause propably i will buy them and also buy the hidizs dh80 to power them :). Thx
At the moment it is Moondrop Kato... Phenomenal in-ear and somewhat tunable. Review coming soon.
Hi, i bought this immediately after your raving review. I have never heard this high level sound quality of such a tiny pierce of gear! Truly hifi! I connected it to my loxjie P20 but it stays somewhat solid state sound, can i get warmer, more liquid sound with another tube amplifier? Which do you recommend?
Byakuya Kuchiki approves this video!
Great review. Thank you. I'm wondering how does it compare to Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC Cable?
Thank you so much. Your reviews are really honest and trustful that help a lot to decide what to get. Great job!
Thanks for the great review!!! I am a big fan of your channel...all the way over here in S.F. Ca.
Enjoying your reviews. Based on your reviews I bought MS2 and S9 pro. I planning to buy He400se for my next purchase. Will you recommend S9 pro or DH80s to pair with He400se.
DH80s if you're OK with this form factor.
Your reviews are my favorite ones, thank you! Your explanations are so easy to understand. I am sold on getting one, not as a portable solution, but as a entry level stack substitute for my Pc/Mac. I will pair it with the recently released Hifiman Edition XS.
iiWi Reviews hits different in 360p. RetroTube activated! Seriously though, this would work just fine with a phone case that has a metal plate, like the ones used for magnetic mounting. Which is what I always go for since I spend a lot of time on the road, and that's my preferred mounting solution in my vehicles. It just happens to also be convenient in this situation.
though I guess you can't use wireless charging?
What a passion . Like your reviews. What’s your take on Hidiz XO vs DH80s. They are both around $100 now .
I have the same question! What is better?
Great review, your channel is a important audio guide for us, thanks .
Great video. I have one using Audiosense 800 it really sounds astonishing, tho it does not deal with a bad source.
Good review which would be the better choice the E1DA Powerdac V2.1 or Hidizs DH80s for a desktop amp/dac ?
DH80s has a better sound quality to my ears. Cleaner, better separation and layering.
Thank you for yet another very enjoyable review. I know what you mean about not being very conveinant to carry about. It looks to be a similar size to my ifi hip dac. I definitely wouldn't want to strap that to my phone and carry around in my pocket. More a case of being portable than hi fi on the go sounds like a great value product non the less
Is there any way to bypass the amps for line out into a home amplifier?
Sure.. Just use 3.5mm stereo jack splitter to RCA
I just upgraded to the dh80s from a dragonfly red. I thought I needed better headphones for a big soundstage, but that wasn't the case. Compared to the dragonfly red the soundstage is enormous, and I can hear the pitch of bass instruments way better.
The only downsides are the on/off and gain switches are a bit loose and rattle, and the low gain mode doesn't sound good (medium and high are in the same league).
Thank you for your review which partly made me pull the trigger!
Glad you like it, it's truly a great sounding device.
Man I love how well explained are your videos. Thanks man!
There are magnetic cases for iPhones, at least. My wife had one and used to stick her phone to the car when getting groceries or our daughter into the car. :-). It was across the entire back of the phone. I don't know if other cases cover the entire back but that might make the solution better or worse. Depending on where the unit would sit it may make holding the phone tedious.
After your pretty nice review, Was looking for a battery powered option to the S9 Pro, that sounded equally good, because I didn't want the dongle draining my phone. I guess I found it, as an upgrade to my iFi nano iDSD LE, which seems to have suddenly lost its treble extension (I've no clue how that happened). I was actually very tempted to go for the Khadas Tone 2 Pro but eventually found it to be an unportable and difficult to control option. Thanks for this, probably getting this one soon.
The clip is something that was even more in suit for these from factor dac I think. Hopefully they will sell it separately later
These little DAC/amps are a lot of fun attached to a phone. To me amps aren't just about loudness, you can hear more even at lower volumes. If it had bluetooth it would be even more attractive.
How's the battery health of this?
Bought it after your review. Let's see how Hifiman Ananda sounds with it. I was considering hip dac and zen dac, dragonflies... Went with dh80s without trying it out actually. Fingers crossed!
Any update on that? I received mine at Christmas and I'm still blown away
@@FreddyDaleginds yep, got mine as well. Enough power for Anandas for sure. When it comes to sound I don't really have anything to compare it to. So I don't know how good or bad it is. What I am missing is be able to visualize sound from the front easier. Right, left and back are ok. Just the sound from the front is more like between my ears rather than front. Anyone else has same thoughts?
Do you have any experience with the Fiio M11 or Fiio Q5s? Seems like this is on another level at a great price 👍🏻
opcija kao pc DAC, u poređenju sa khadas Tone Board, Topping E30 . samo DAC bez opcije pojačala za slušalice?
Not sure if you have tried its bigger brother, the HD100. I have one and it really impresses with the sound it delivers
Great review! If i have one port only, can i play it and recharge it at the same time with something like a Y cable?
I haven't tried it but it stands to reason that it should work.
Thanks for covering this little gem. Bought it, paired to my Koss Porta Pro (yaxi pads and part express headband mods), had a blast! Best sound I ever got from those. I also found that the Hiby player does make quite a big difference in sound quality, especially when compared to other player apps such as UAPP or Neutron. Did you find the balanced out sounding different compared to the unbalanced on the DH80? Someone said that the balanced is more technically capable but lose some musicality and cohesiveness. Thanks again for bringing this to the attention!
I'm glad you like it. Balanced connection is usually cleaner and tidier, more resolving. But some people still prefer the warmer and softer presentation of single-ended one, even though that softness comes with obscured details and slightly dulled edges. This is usually true for any DAC, including this one. Personally, I find balanced one to be more transparent and true in almost every case, but I understand why some prefer that pleasant padding that single-ended adds.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks a lot for your reply! I'm thinking about going balanced now with my Koss Porta Pro, albeit I should phisically modify it to mmcx termination.🤔 Have you ever tried the DH1000 ("Sonata") from Hidiz as well? Some reviews maintain that it should sound less dry and, at the same time, more neutral than the DH80.
I haven't had a chance to try it out. Regarding DH80s, if it's a drag to modify cables, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Single-ended output is truly great on DH80s.
@@iiWiReviews thank you for the review and answering this question, I bought DAC after watching the review, now clear with the 4.4 balanced port in it.
How about sticking a very thin piece of metal to the back of your phone case? Or on the inside of the case where it's not so visible, that is if the magnet is strong enough to accommodate for the thickness of your phone case material.
Hello, first I’d like to tell you how I sincerely appreciate your work here n how I trust your analyze more than most of reviewers’ for audiophile gear …. Now forgive my lack of techknikal knowledge but can we use this kind of device hd80s as a Bluetooth receiver for a 2 channel home hifi analog amp (rca input) … or if not which all in one gear would you recommend as a 2. Chanel home stereo system that has Bluetooth Dac amp x 50w at least that One can pilot from an iPad or iPhone with Qobuz + Roon as a main source ?
So yeah I was about to say chip DAC is not the same. Very interesting cuz the one on the DH80s is an old chip and the one on the S9 pro everyone says is a high end desktop chip so I would asume this last one should sound best and more detailed 🧐 Nice video thank you for it. I now know my perfect matching portable DAC
Thank you for the amazing review!
in 5 days or 10 days these "jewels" will arrive I am really anxious to be able to touch them and enjoy their sound. For me it was a completely occasional choice, as I kept getting advertisements from in my inbox. Eventually I gave in and got involved in the purchase. (which cost me, more than $ 565, also buying an extension cable for the headphones and the black leather protective case) made just on the 2nd of last November. I hope I have made a good purchase. I'll keep you up-to-date. when I have them in my hands.DH80 / DH80S portable balanced DAC and AMP; AP80 PRO-X Limited Edition Red Copper Balanced MQA Music; Hidizs MD4 4 Balanced Armature Driver HiFi In-Ear Monitor
How do you feel about dh80s over every other dac in this price right now ? Do you recommend it for me?
@@Fahad1999win certainly, for the price-quality ratio it is SUPER. well built, down to the smallest details. I am really very satisfied with it. The Hidizs MD4 4 in-ear monitors with balanced armature drivers enhance the sound without interfering, you can perceive every instrument, every note. The DAC is AMAZING. Cared for and made with craftsmanship.
Now I'm unsure whether to make a new purchase for another pair of in-ear headphones that have just been released on the market. The thought of being able to possess them puts me in fibrillation with a child, anxious to unwrap his gift. I hope I have been of help to you. Have a good life, my friend.
Hi Srboljub! Thank you for the review, I have had a red dragonfly for a long time now! I mainly use at my office to give a signal to my small 2 channel setup there! Can I use the DH80s in the same way? I mean I maxed the output of my red dragonfly and send the signal to the rca inputs on my amp. Best regards Mikael
Hi Mikael! Yes you can, basically any portable DAC can be used that way.
@@iiWiReviews Many thanks for quick response! 🙂
Great review mate, tossing up between this and the E50 Topping for home audio now!
Look at topping dx3pro+, significantly more power with nfca amp circuit. 200$ price tag
There are lot of phone cases with metallic plate inside for in-car magnetic holders
Hi , i enjoy your detailed review. Can you please review the venture electronics Megatron dac amp. Thanks.
I sent mine back as its not very practical to carry with phone and headphones. Plus another device to charge up. I did keep the S3 Pro dongle because it's so small no charging.
You can use a double-sided tape to stick to the back of your source, phone or a DAP
Velcro on the back of you phone and back of the dac to keep them tidy and together
That works great for my HipDac, I use 3m command strips on a spare phone with HipDac on the back. Looks rubbish but sounds great.
Hi! What about Khadas Tea compared to this in sound?
Blue Tack, is an Audiophiles best friend, I stick everything down with it. You can even get one called Black Tack which is even better.
Pretpostavljam da ste DH 80s slusali na zvucnicima,pa me zanima da li dac ima ociju line out-a ili se koristi isti izlaz kao za slusalice ?
Isti se izlaz koristi ali zvuči jako lepo i na taj način.
Hi, how would you compare this to the khadas tone 2 pro?
I use blue tack to stick it on the phone--works really well. I was using Topping NX4 dac/amp, though looks slimmer than this Hidizs, the stack is still uncomfortable inside jeans pocket.
I'm trying to decide between this one and the ifi zen dac. Which one do you prefer for full size headphones?
If headphones' impedance is not higher than 150 Ohm, I would go for DH80s.
Its made to go with the hidizs ap80 dap,will fit nicely(I've ordered one from hidizs).
Very cool. Thank you for this review! I wonder how well it matches with moondrop aria.
I suppose it would match OK. It matches just nicely with Kato that has similar sound signature.
Got this based on the review, but the volume control doesn't work "independently" as advertised. Buttons only worked when hooked up to a computer (Win10). Same issue before & after FW update. Worst part: it's stuck at ear-bleeding, line out type levels when used with hardware such as Shanling M0, Xuduoo X10-Tii, and, most likely, many other portable devices --- can catch you off guard !! No idea why volume buttons only work with 'certain' devices, and not others. Unless this is fixed with a new FW update, I cannot recommend it. It's advertised as universal, with independent volume control, but is not in practice.
Wow, sorry to hear about that. I've used it with Windows and two Android phones with Hiby player... It worked well in both of these cases. If it has problems with any device as a source, than you're right, it's not fully independent hardware control.
It's difficult to cover every possible use case with limited time. So comments like these are very valuable.
Yipes! 4.4mm balanced jack? s9 pro is 2.5mm... Always another adapter needed...
I already have the S9 Pro so would the Cayin RU6 R2R dongle DAC be a more appropriate upgrade?
I think that both DH80s and RU6 are an upgrade. Pretty much equal in terms of quality but different in tonality and function. I did a short comparison in the RU6 review.
how does this compare to BTR5 in sound quality?
Kind Sir, I recently tried the Hidiz DH80s in my friends house. I just watch RUclips videos. The same video when played on Samsung tablet sounds amazing and DH80s glows blue ( sampling rate 384k) , but the very same video sounds dull on iPad Pro and light on DH80s is blue ( 48k) . Is there any way to fix this. Sounds like synergy is important when we buy dacs. Same goes for apple dongle. It sounds really organic on my iPad but very bad on the Samsung Android OS. Any inputs ?
One way to carry this is put velcro tapes to attach the DH80s to the rear side of phone.
Many new protection cases for mobiles have magnets on the back for using it in the cars. This magnet could be used for the DAC. Easy solution.
According to specs in hifigo, s9 pro doesn't use the same Dac chip as dh80s. Also I'd like to ask if it is possible to use this as a Dac only and connect it to a headphone amplifier for example. That way I could have the sound quality and also a bit more power to use more demanding headphones.
Nicely Done.
Maybe the only thing that would make it more convenient was having bluetooth with all codecs :)
This product seems a little late to the market IMO.
Update: I wrote a positive review on the Hidizs DH80s. Very little has changed in my liking the Dh80s. I thought it was time to discuss the negatives. There were three things I wasn't happy with. In reverse order: There's no indication of when the battery is low, and needing recharging. Second: The volume control is a two button. A lot of the time I can't get the volume right. A dial would have been better. Now the the number one complaint. The music file lights to show 16-bit, hi-res (24-bit) and MQA. I tried UAPP app and Hiby Music app. Sometimes I would get a blue light for hi-res, but never MQA. When I connected the Dh80s to my iMac and listen to Trial the correct light came on for MQA. Will I get rid of my Dh80s? Heck no! I absolutely love the beautiful music it makes. I only have MQA album ( David Bowie's Young Americans). So I going to get my Dh80s. Sorry for the review, but thought the lights issue important to discuss.
How do feel about it now ? Do you recommend it over any thing you have tried in the price? I live bright natural sound with deep sound stage, thanks
the battery indicator light turns red when charging is required
If you have a phone case you can get a lot of different sticky thin metal plates that stick to the inside of the case
Does the magnet work with MagSafe? I know this video is from 2 years ago, so I probably won’t get a response
Hi! Wich gain setting is best to use with Moondrop Kato? Low, medium or high?
I mostly used low and medium, never had to switch to high.
🤔 maybe try Velcro 😉 THANKS FOR THIS REVIEW 🤗😍😍😍
🤨 NOW I WISH I HAD NOT WATCHED THIS VIDEO…after just getting the S9 Pro 😉😂😍😍😍
Is there a small DAC which has a USB-C out connector and a USB-C in?
I think the Sanskrit 2 sounds twice as good as the s9pro but supposedly it sounds a bit better balanced. I use the s9pro almost everyday.
Using these with the gain set to mid, and occasionally use the balanced output, I get about 5-6 hours? Yet to try with low gain and just standard SE output.
What was your configuration?
I didn't measure exactly, but was in the range of ~7 hours with mixed in-ear usage (7hz Timeless, SeeAudio Bravery, Moondrop Kato) and mostly low gain cause I didn't need it to be louder than that.
The more power hungry headphones are, and volume level also, the shorter usage time will be.
@@iiWiReviews agreed. Only got about 4ish hours when I use the balanced output more. Bought these after viewing your review the other week. Thanks.
Overall, a good buy. The BTR5 is a little bit more sparkly with the upper highs and have better soundstage depth. Bass on the other hand goes to the Dh80s.
I have one of these dac? My question is, in the future when battery dies, can i replace this baytery?
Do you recommend it?
Hi! Nice review! I hope you will once compare it to hiby fd3
Amazon has this on sale for $109 but I don't know if its going to be an improvement on my Ear Studio ES100 mk2. Instrument separation and crash symbols that sound like pshhh noises are my two main complaints.
I'm looking for something to use bedside so if anyone else does this I welcome your input.
It would be ideal if it connected like a MagSafe charger
what is the hidizs dh80 ? How does it work with the dh80s as a combo ?
Absolutely great vid.
Can it be attached to an iPhone like Khadas Tea?
Hi, great review as usual. And I'm really tempted to buy it, but I read some place else, that only works like DAC/AMP when is connected to a laptop. And when is connected to the phone only works as AMP. Somebody knows if that is true?
My Android phone registered it as a DAC and it worked just fine.
I think you need Usb Audio Player Pro or Neutron on android devices for bit perfect playback since android os resample everything to 48khtz before sending it to external dac.
no2, connect it with otg or lightning cable
I wonder how this compares to Hiby FD3
Dh80s vs earmen colibri? Which one is better? Tia!
Colibri is better in my opinion. But I strongly recommend that you watch Shanling UA5 review too. That's my favourite one at the moment.
Hi mate thank you for your response. I love to hear comparing you the ua5 to cayin ru6? Tia!
All my phones have a metal plate on the back to use with magnetic phone holders in my truck and car