Many congrats on the raffle. Minor point - iOS users are not limited to just using Apple’s lightning to USB camera adapter. I’m using my Hidizs S9 Pro on my iPhone directly with just the Hidizs LT02 “Lightning to Type-C Cable” adapter, with no issues whatsoever.
Hi ... thank you very much for your content here on youtube. I've been following you for a while now and really like your presentation of the topics. What currently moves me on the subject: I am desperately looking for a DAC that is also able to output line level so that I can connect my tablet (S7+) to my stereo-system(s). I just had a favorable DAC with USB-C to RCA and that was rather a grab in the toilet. Are these mobile DACs also capable of delivering enough level via 3.5mm to Chinch and if not: What is there even on the market to have such a solution??? And above all: As mobile as these here?
I bought a Hidizs S9 Pro with a set of Moondrop Arias and an after-market balanced cable for them and it sounds amazing. Like others, I bought the lighting to USB-C cable from Hidizs themselves and it works really well with a minimal dongle chain. It's a fantastic portable hifi setup.
literally my daily driver setup lol love it! but i swap between the s9pro and the qudelix 5k cause the aria frequency response isnt great so some EQ definitely helps! (ios issues)
Congratulations on the success of your raffle. Glad to support this worthy cause. Current events make the cause seem even more significant. Thank you for your service and for being a decent guy all around
Hey Randy I bought the Hidizs S9 Pro a few weeks back after seeing your comment on RU-vid, and I love it. I got a $15 lighting to USB-C OTG cable on amazon for my IPhone and it works great. You don't need to use the camera adapter, and it plugs right into the S9. One less thing in the chain, looks cleaner and sounds better.
@@Feliciano12v I did on my first comment but it was taken down by RU-vid I guess you can't put links in comments. If you search USB DAC OTG Cable for iPhone on Amazon it should come up the brand is Meenova and is listed currently for $14.99 . Hope that helps. Maybe Randy can add an affiliate link.
@@francisteardrop Haven't tried the 2.5mm balanced port, because I don't have a cable for it. I was going to order one but never got around to it as it sounds good enough for me with the regular TRS 3.5mm. If I end up giving it a try ill make sure to post an update.
@@RetroResurrectionAI I just ordered a ddHiFi TC44B with a Lightning connector after reading nothing but positive reviews, it only has 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced inputs. Dual DACs, not as powerful as the S9 Pro, but still probably a battery drain like the S9 Pro. The firmware update Hidizs sent me fixed any issues with the 3.5mm unbalanced on the the iPhone, and it does sound great. Just a bummer that the 2.5mm balanced has that issue.
Thanks, Randy! Periodic Audio has a decent Dongle DAC, Rhodium, for $49 bucks. There is a new Lightning or USBc DAC that does MQA without the need for a dongle; DD ddHiFi TC35 Pro(Mountain) - ES9281AC Pro Chip, Support MQA/Native DSD512/PCM 32bit/768kHz for just under $100 . Haven't listened to it enough for impressions, but it worked right out of the box no dongle needed. The bad part, makes it way easier for your daughter to hide, it's smaller that a tic tac box.
It might be worth taking 5 minutes and repeating the Android MQA test on the Bolt but playing through USB Audio Player Pro. With UAPP, it bypasses Android's internal audio processing and creates a bit-perfect lock to the DAC. Another option would be to try Tidal's own audio player pro app that also bypasses Android's internal audio processing.
I was going to say this but people already said it so….ummm…..yeah. Great channel though for real. I’ve been digging your vids for a little while now. Great work.
@@cheapaudioman MQA is a PITA, even when you play via the Tidal app on windows you'll need to configure properly or its not MQA you're getting. Just wish Spotify was available via Roon or Qobuz had a bigger catalog, then I could just forget about Tidal and MQA. Its a solution for a problem that's already solved and they make you pay extra for it.
Yes you are right universe is a very cool place 6:07 (avarage temperatures of course) 😃. Nice video already watched it few times for reasons 😊. Interestingly the helm bolt has similar tech inside as the dragonfly cobalt (some kind of usb noise filtering and reclocker or both). What it is specifically i wasnt able to find.
Dear people , When you want a S9pro to connect to a samsung galaxy phone , you need to have the usbc to usbc connect only in one way. otherwise it will not work Took me long to figure that out because there are many ways you can connect i think it should be made very clear with some neon sticker or something i love this product just the same by the way, very good sound! Best regards
Just a heads up: my Hidizs S9 Pro initially began clipping at loud volumes on my iPhone via either the 2.5mm balanced or 3.5mm unbalanced port. No issues with my MacBook. Hidizs sent me a firmware update, and it fixed any issues with the 3.5 mm, but 2.5mm balanced still clips if you try to go beyond 60% volume level. I’m using Audeze iSINE10 IEMs and Oppo PM-3 cans via the 2.5mm balanced, and using Hidizs’ LT02 USB-C to Lightning cable. For 3.5mm, a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1350s. Those caveats aside, the sound quality of the S9 Pro is very good. Randy, maybe others are having this issue as well?
The s9pro should do a good job with the grados, because the treble on the s9pro has a good extension but rounded edges, very rafined :). The best thing on the s9pro is that the single enden output sounds as good as the balanced but just half the power :).
Came to this video based on the helm bolt but... 11:50 I have the TIN P1 iems so plan to get the HIDAZ DAC based on this 13:00 . Thank you for the fact it drives them loud enough 👍 and the others don't
Hi cheap audioman :), do u plan to do review of the astell and kern pee51? because that should have pretty nice sound but there is not much proper reviews and comparisons out there... and u could compare it to the s9pro and dragonfly red, btw did u find it already? 😅
Thanks for this review! I had made a request for dongle DAC review. I know you did not do this just because I requested, but just the same, T H A N K Y O U ! ! !
Thank you for your awesome reviews. Is there a split android dongle (USB c male to two USB c female) that allows charging the phone while listening to the s9 pro.?
Love this. In the past I had the FiiO BTR5, then recently I got the Ifi Hip Dac. Because of this video, I might pick up the Hidizs as an easy grab and go solution. I use Apple products and being able to use Apple Lossless, through a wired connection like the Hidizs has me intrigued. Randy, any thoughts? I have the Blons and the 1More Triple Driver Over Ear closed backs as my, out and about, ear/headphones.
I was thinking in getting the HIDIZS S9 PRO for my Iphone but its a battery killer. I have a macbook pro mid 2014, if I connect this dac to my macbook will improve the sound quality of my music? Please help
PLANAR DRIVERS FOR EARBUDS ... (per you r listing of the like to your earbuds) i was over on aliexpress looking at headphone drivers ... i bumped into some 14mm drivers ... maybe less (i dont remember .. i wasnt paying that close of attention) ... anyway ... they had some frequency response graphs that were pretty good ... could be fun to do some driver rollling for fun .... just a though?????
Where can I get a 10 pack of those wipes? What a steal. 7:00 for the content btw. Also... why would they name a dac after a phone >_> Why would you want to use MQA... this is more confusing than current events.
Hi Randy! How long did it take for your to receive your Hidizs S9 Pro DAC? It's been over two weeks since it entered the country and there are no updates since.
I'm considering buying Hidizs S9 Pro based on your great review. I'm not having some crazy expensive headphones (Shure SRH440) I paid 100$ (44 ohms) but they do reveal a lot of details and sound great, I can definitely hear a huge difference when I change the source. I'm using them directly from my laptop (a new Dell XPS), the source is powerful enough but the sound is so weak, much worse than my previous laptop that had ICE Power sound components in it. Is it gonna be a huge upgrade sound-wise if I invest in it?
Both of your recommendations I have tried and no good luck with the NOTE 10 Plus 5G. Both will just stop playing whenever, I learned if I don't use my phone while listening the Hidizs S3 Pro it will keep playing, BUT the USB C wire won't lock into my port on the phone now.
Android devices in general (popular cellular phones and tablets) are not bit-perfect; therefore your are getting sort of a double DAC action... You will need to download an APP or use the newest Tidal version to bypass Android's internal DAC in order to properly d-to-a and also to "unfold" MQA. No issues with any Apple iPhone or iPad devices.
I dunno man, whether its not on your radar or you don't like it, but I sold my dragonfly red and bought the Onyx THX. It's an amazing dac amplifier.
2 года назад
I don't understand how can the dragonfly have mqa and not the hidizs if they use the same DAC chip? I mean isn't the DAC chip that decode music in all its supported formats?
Compare Hidizs s9 pro with Shanling UA2 they have same chip n Shanling is around 40$ cheaper.. Also can you tell me how much power does Hidizs suck battery from mobile device ???
Is it only me that do not find the dongle DAC "that" easy to use? I mean for example S9 PRO indicate the bitrate with different colors. That is good as it confirming the bitrate you feeding it. If you think that it is just to connect the dongle and use it. Then you are in heaven.. but the bitrate is not.. According to manual you on Android need to go alter a setting. And it is recommended to download a app "HiBy Music Player" and mess with some settings there also.. Then the right bitrate is transferred to the dongle. I got a DSD 256 file downloaded that did not show purple that is the indicated color it showed green that is the lowest bitrate.. So you can be misleading to believe that it is as good as it gets when you actually is not listening to high res despite the file are one.. Have a rather big difference in SQ if all stars got aligned..
Sponsor is not quite as funny as GR-R un-ironically doing 100% uncensored tentacle pr0n with his cables this week. But a solid effort nonetheless. Grats to the winners!
I have the Helm Bolt and it sounds fantastic, but it does glitch out with Android sometimes causing a loud brief static scratch that's very jarring. Works fine on my PC, it's a shame these are so problematic on Android.
I have the HIDIZS S9 Pro and it works well, and sounds great on my Windows 10 computer. But, try as I might - I could not get it to work *at all* on my particular Android phone (OnePlus 8). I enabled developer mode, and the other settings that were suggested on various Internet suggestions.
What did you end up doing because I was considering getting one of these, but I've heard mobile users having issues with connectivity. I have a Samsung Note20U and I'm almost positive I'm going to have issues with it knowing my luck. I can't take the sound of Bluetooth anymore. It's driving me nuts.
@@johnblack8036 It was simple - the USB connector cable Is directional! The HIDIZS logo goes toward the device you are connecting to. Frustrating, but easy to correct.
@@johnblack8036 I have not used it very much, as I also got a Schiit Modius shortly after getting the S9 Pro. My plan is to use the S9 Pro at work, if we go back to working there. The S9 Pro does sound good. If I was going to use it with my phone, I would get the HIDISZ DH80S, which is very similar, but has its own battery, and several other improvements. The DH80S has a magnet in it, and comes with a thin metal plate you can stick to the back of your phone, and piggyback the DAC/Amp. It costs about $20 more, I think? So, well worth it, if even to unload your phone's battery.
@@NeilBlanchard I'll check that one out. I didn't realize these things can stress the battery. I went to a local shop yesterday that had the McIntosh decoder. I was stunned what that little box could do. I'm new to this so sorry if I seem naive. I have a great home setup that I got from my dad. It's from the 90's but It's been serviced. I didn't know you could get decent sound from a phone. I just need to get an another pair of headphones. The only pair I have is not something I can leave the house with.
You should try E1da 9038D or 9038s3, it will blow you away. It is more powerfull and blows away my Fiio BTR5 in all sound quality aspects and it uses a 9038q2m.
I prefer the ear studio m100 ii to the fiio. the parametric eq still works when using LDAC on the ear studio. but I know a lot of people love the fiio.
@@cheapaudioman It does seem fair to compare a dongle DAC to the EarStudio m100, as they each enable use of a favored IEM. The presumption is that all those wired connectors would trounce AAC or even LDAC codecs, but do they really? It isn’t so important for me as I’ve got good desktop solutions at home, but for budding cheap audiophiles the out and about solution also becomes their critical listening solution. And I’m curious too!
@@pdcragin33 I’ll put it to you this way. I reach for the ear studio when I’m on a plane or when I’m using a mobile. When I’m using a laptop on the road I use a dongle dac. The parametric eq is the deciding factor and to your point, not much is lost with ldac or even aac or Aptx. However for this comparison it was only wired solutions. But I’ve used the ear studio so much that the finish is wearing off
