TECHNOLOGY · PORTABLE DAC/AMP
iFi hip-dac: A Capable DAC I Almost Never Used
A powerful, reliable DAC held back by no Bluetooth and middling X-Bass/X-Space — but the price makes up for a lot.
The Gut Check
The three questions a frequent flyer actually asks. 50% of the score.
The Carry-On Test
Does each part earn its place? 50% of the score · weighted.
A capable, powerful DAC that can drive most IEMs. It's been around a while and it still holds up.
Lasted 6-7 hours without a charge, which is pretty good.
Has been with me for 3 years, but I only really started using it once Bluetooth earbuds stopped cutting it for me — no Bluetooth on this is a big miss nowadays.
Three years in and it still works.
Costs much less than more powerful and capable DACs — that's the trade-off.
What works
- Capable, powerful DAC — drives most IEMs
- 6-7 hours of battery life
- Costs much less than more powerful/capable DACs
Watch out for
- No Bluetooth — a big miss nowadays
- X-Bass and X-Space are meh
It's been with me for three years, but I only really started using it once Bluetooth earbuds stopped cutting it.
Tested over the past 6 months. It's a capable and powerful DAC that's been around for a while and can drive most IEMs. Lasted 6-7 hours without a charge, which is pretty good.
The downside is no Bluetooth, which is a big miss nowadays, and the X-Bass and X-Space functions are meh. Of course it also costs much less than more powerful and capable DACs, so there's the trade-off.
No Bluetooth, meh X-Bass — but it's been with me for three years and it never once let me down.
The Testing Log
Had it for 3 years, but really started using it over the past 6 months once Bluetooth earbuds stopped hacking it for me.
The Competition
The natural comparison is my own Gryphon — same core job, similar power, but the Gryphon adds Bluetooth and stronger X-Bass/X-Space for a lot more money. Buy the hip-dac if you're on a budget and don't mind a cable. Buy the Gryphon if Bluetooth and stronger DSP matter to you. Haven't done a proper head-to-head against other similarly priced DACs yet.
What Would Change the Score
Bluetooth would fix the biggest miss. Better X-Bass/X-Space would help too.
How this was tested: Owned 3 years, tested seriously over the past 6 months. Bought at retail, nothing provided by iFi.
How the ITC Score is built: Gut Check (Yes 100 / Maybe 50 / No 0, averaged) = 50. Carry-On Test (Packed 100 / Caveats 50 / Left 0, weighted) = 90. ITC = the average of the two = 70. Verdict: 80+ Packed · 60–79 Packed with caveats · under 60 Left at the gate.
