Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC - Turn your Smartphone into a Hi-Res Audio Player under ₹2000 

What was the chip again?

Great! Is there one for iPhones with lightning connector?

@@darklyger64 DAC: CX31993 Amplification: MAX97220

@@SougandhGolla seperate connector need to be bought with it , available on same site

@@darklyger64 DAC: CX31993 Amplification: MAX97220

Thank you, it means a lot to us.

Agreed

Thank you for your vote of confidence.. We're working on them.

@@headphone_zone Next Collaboration - IEM under 5000 plz. HZ

@@headphone_zone I was uncertain about which dongle to purchase, so I decided to order a USB C salnotes zero earlier today. However, after watching this video, I find myself in a dilemma. Do you think it's advisable to cancel that order and instead opt for this dongle along with the BLON - BL-03?

We're certainly working on them.

They're slightly different use cases. In the long run, a dedicated DAC gives you more flexibility to use with different IEMs and different sources. The Salnotes Zero with a USB C is a plug in and forget kinda solution. So we're definitely biased, because we like having lots of IEMs and lots of DACs to mix and match all day long.

👍.. keep that music playing

I have the Chu 2 as well. Does this make any difference?

Thank you so much, means a lot to us.

Thank you so much. But i dont think the 65mW of output power on this would drive the HD650 very well. Sundara may still sound OK, but you should consider getting something nicer instead.

Would it drive the 770? Also how does it compare with the quad dacs of the LG v60 or lg v30s dac? My v60 id on its last legs..importing it was a big big hassle as it was never released in India..so can't get it repaired...love to hear your views on the comparison.

One question my pla13 feels boomy to me, is it the case with you too? I'm using an apple dongle, the mids are off man, I can hear better those small details in my salnotes zero there must be a problem.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for your vote of confidence. Most grateful.

Im not sure if we're deserving of this level of confidence. We make mistakes too from time to time.. but thank you. It means a lot.

@@headphone_zone your customer services are awesome. Huge appreciation ! It's probably my 5th or 6th purchase from Headphonezone.

@@headphone_zone It's good to be humble but honestly I saw the mail and bought it without a second thought, that's how much confident we are.

@subhaa_ @headphone_zone Me too. Just received it today. Thanks Headphone zone for bringing this product at a reasonable price in India. There are many DAC listings online but its confusing to trust the companies or sellers.

@@parbxi100 indeed.

Thank you so much. And, your going to have a blast.

How was the experience and what about the Treble and bass with the doc and without it

what is you experience ? Before dac and after dac ?

@@sudev I got a little tempted in between and wanted to buy the Moondrop Dawn, but its been out of stock for so long. I have ordered the ddhifi DAC. Will let you knowmy experience if you haven't purchased it yet.

@@OmkarMahato07 I got a little tempted in between and wanted to buy the Moondrop Dawn, but its been out of stock for so long. I have ordered the ddhifi DAC. Will let you knowmy experience if you haven't purchased it yet. Gave the same reply to another viewer.

Thank you so much.

​@@headphone_zone Pls suggest me the Best Mobile under 35k for BEST MUSIC QUALITY... i use wired 3.5mm IEMs and don't wanna buy any Dongle/Dac

We're excited too. There's some cool stuff in the works.

Are you sure you need 2 DACs?

@@headphone_zone Can you ever have too many DACs ? ;-)

We hear you. How naive of us to ask... :)

Normally, yes. But we haven't specifically tried out the S23 Ultra itself.

As we've not used the BGVP DN 2, we won't be in a position to comment on an upgrade for the same.

Thank you so much for the awesome review, it warms our heart to see you've loved your purchase!

iphones and ipads usually have very good DACs, let me know if you really see any difference once you get to try the DAC

@@hussainbharmal5998 they usually do but on my iPhone with lighting port, I’ve always used a good dac for iems. music was not only amplified but way better sounding. Will keep you posted though about this dac. I’ll be testing this on my S23 as well to see how it performs on android as well.

@@Djinsoul thanks, i just got mine 2 hours back and i am using it with blon x hbb z300 and my Android phone F62, frankly it feels like the DAC just amplified the volume, i am getting the same audio quality without the DAC at higher volume from my phone, hence i see this as just an amplifier

We'll be very curious to know how the test goes too. Do share your impressions here.

This is the DAC you should get. It can drive the M20x very well. Thats really the biggest difference between this and the abigail pro. The dedicated amplifier chip punches out 65mW of output power. So all that extra power can really make the drivers sound deep and punchy.

@@headphone_zone Audiocular D07 DAC also has the same specs as yours, it also has 65mW power output​ and is price is 1049 but your Dac is way expensive than this

Yes, the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC is compatible with OnePlus devices. While your phone does have an inbuilt DAC, using the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC can enhance the audio quality further.

The ifi audio Go-Link is quite a bit fancier, its also twice the price. Its still our favourite DAC in the under 5k segment. But on most IEMs, atleast at the budget friendly price point, you may not hear too much of a difference between the two. So the experience is quite similar, for half the price.

The mic pass through on the DAC works great with the laptop, so when using the DAC, the inbuilt mic on the earphones will work.

I dont think it drains the battery excessively. It certainly draws power from the phone and really depends on what volume your listening to, but in day to day usage, it works seamlessly. Nope, no volume issues on android at all. It works great.

I too confused on this....

If you are listening to YT music app (not youtube videos), there is an option for high streaming quality (but is not of hi res level). Using this DAC will make some difference for sure. I got this product today itself and noticing significant improvement in sound quality.

Yes, even with RU-vid Music, it sounds quite a bit nicer to use a good DAC, and a good Earphone. It doesn't need hi-res music alone for you to see the difference a good DAC can make. Ofcourse at some point of time, making sure that your listening to music at the highest resolution available, for your equipment to sound as nice as possible will be a choice youd like to consider.

We all start somewhere. And the 7Hz Salnotes Zero is never a bad starting point.

Thank you so much.

Hard to say, Im not sure whats going on with your PC. A little bit of trial and error.

You'd need to get a dedicated DAC, with a USB C to Lightning Adapter to be able to listen to things at 24/48. But you'll also need an IEM or Headphone that sounds that good to be able to hear the difference. Otherwise you'll take all the effort, and switch to 24bit and 48khz.. only to find that you can't really tell any difference .

@@headphone_zone i think you misunderstood my question or maybe I wasn’t clear. Basically what I want to know is, is it a lightning port limitation issue or? Because apple’s lightning to 3.5mm dongle dac does indeed support 24/48 without needing another attachment. So I was wondering if I get a different lightning to 3.5mm dongle dac that supports above 24/48, would I be able to get hi res or does the iphone lightning port just not support it and needs the camera adapter in order for it to work?

You should prefer IEM(In ear monitor) those are specifically designed to have good range of audio exp. and for headphones mentioned aove will not make a significant experience.

Buy headphone zone dac not cheaper samsung and apple dac

You should first get a good sounding IEM, and then a DAC. The DAC is not goin to make a crappy IEM sound magically better.

You are too kind. Thank you so mich. It means a lot.

how is it your reviews

@@RohanSam69 It is superb! It is excellent for IEMs and headphones alike. Barring high-impedance headphones, it provides ample power and resolution. You can go for it. 👍

@@sudipchatterjee can You suggest good IEMs which will sound great with these

@@RohanSam69 Newly launched Meze Alba is a perfect match for this. For a more expensive one, Dita Audio Project M is superb! Aful Magic One is also another good option. Newly launched Tangzu Wan'er SG in collaboration with Headphone Zone and Dunu Titan S2 are two excellent affordable options.

Thank you so much. But if you watched the video, your not doing it blind then are you?

You already have type c in 15 series so plug and play no hiccups

Sound, needs to be heard. And the best way of knowing the difference is to be able to hear it.

Adding the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC to your audio setup will undoubtedly enhance your listening experience with the KZ EDX PRO. You'll notice improved clarity, detail, and overall sound quality. Additionally, if you're into streaming music, trying out Apple Music with its Hi-Res Lossless and Lossless catalogue can further enrich your listening journey, offering an even more immersive and high-fidelity audio experience.

Using Hi-res Codec like LDAC you can achieve a much better wireless connectivity compared to standard Bluetooth protocol. You'll need to make sure that both your wireless earbuds and your source device (Phone, laptop, tablet) have LDAC to make the connection work. Even after all of that, LDAC is best suited for transmitting 96Khz wirelessly subject to variability. Having a wired DAC and IEM combo ensures you have higher support for Audio Files up to 192Khz without jitters or any loss.

Im not sure if i understand the question.. could you maybe ellaborate what you mean?

If you're referring to the Apple Lightning adapter, then yes, it includes a built-in DAC and is a capable device. However, if you're referring to a generic lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter, those typically don't have a DAC and Amp. They simply pass the audio signals through. So, for the best audio quality with your Tangzu Waner and iPhone XR, using a DAC would be recommended.

@@headphone_zone thank you

The Shanling UA1s is a gerat sounding DAC. If your already using one, i wouldn't recommend a change.

​@@headphone_zone i find the UA1s unlistenable, guess you don't hear it or are you being polite?

Hissing sound?.. thats probably happening because of some battery related issue, or your device having a grounding issue. We dont have an issue when we use it with our phones.

@@headphone_zone no I saw many users complaining about the same on your site under the reviews of both ones. It's the same sound that's there when you use a low quality normal 3.5 mm to type c dongle.

KZ AM01 certainly doesnt have a dedicated amp chip, and KZ hasn't even revealed what is the specific DAC chip they're using. So the only way to compare it really, is to listen to both side by side. Which ofcourse we've done. And we think we like this one better.

The KZ AM01 boasts the inclusion of the MAX97220 independent amplifier chip, a component that dynamically accommodates loads of up to 600Ω. Taken from your product listing page and the dac chip used, which was mentioned, 2 weeks but missing now for some strange reasons - CX31993. Please share if there are any sonic differences in these two products, thanks.

The KZ EDX Pro comes with a year long warranty from the date of purchase against manufacturing defects and the Venture Electronics- Abigail Pro comes with a 90 day warranty against manufacturing defects. To answer your second query the USB-C-To-USB-A Adaptor is included as an in the box accessory for the Venture Electronics - Abigail Pro.

Hey, so usually the DAC works with most the phone with type-C termination. However, we haven't tested it with the S24 specifically but as far as we know it should work.

A couple of things. The build quality and cable quality is just at another level all together. But the power output is the biggest difference. 65mW, this has a dedicated amplifier in built, that the Abigail Pro doesnt. So you can really amp it up, and the headphones and IEMs sound a lot fuller, and more effortless.

There wouldn't be a significant difference as the DAC which is inside your Headphones will be used for decoding instead of the external DAC.

Yes, ofcourse. It works great with an M20x, and the amplifier with 65mW of power should drive the M20x well.

Nope, not really. The DAC wont work with wireless headphones or a USB C earphone.

Thank you for your kind words! Generally, we recommend using an earphone or IEM with a 3.5mm termination and pairing it with a DAC. This setup tends to offer more versatility and compatibility with various devices.

Really depends on your budget. But we'd normally say the Noble Audio - Sultan is a good goal to work towards.

A couple of things are different when comparing the two. The build quality and cable quality of the Headphone Zone X DDHIFI Hi-Res DAC is just at another level all together. But the power output is the biggest difference. 65mW, the Headphone Zone X DDHIFI Hi-Res DAC has a dedicated amplifier in built, that the Abigail Pro doesn't. So you can really amp it up, and the headphones and IEMs sound a lot fuller, and more effortless.

Thats a tough one, you probably need to reduce the volume from the app, but i dont think theres any other way to reduce it even further. Maybe use an impedence adapter for your IEMs?

This seems to be a manufacturing defect, have you tried using the DAC with any other device and could you please let us know if the issue still persists.

So the DAC on the Moondrop Chu 2 DSP will definitely be better than the standard DAC which is in-built on your phone. Having said that, a separate DAC will be a better choice to pair with an IEM in comparison to the DAC in the Moondrop Chu 2 DSP.

Thank you so much, we have a few more lined up.

@@headphone_zone exciting 👌

If you want something with Extra Bass you should go for the KZ - EDX Pro, if having something with a V- shaped sound signature is your preference, you should check out the CCA-CRA and in case you want to check out something with a customisable sound signature, you should go for the CCA - Polaris.

​@@headphone_zone but overall what you like between these three ?

Your IEMs should sound fine through the H1N. No need to add any adaptors.

@@headphone_zone Thank you very much for taking the time!

Since your new Motorola phone only has a Type-C option, you can get yourself a Type-C DAC and connect your KZ EDX Pro IEMs to that. If you need any recommendations for Type-C DACs, feel free to ask!

Yes, the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC is a great device to start with, especially for beginners. It is compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, making it easy to use and convenient to carry around. The device also offers excellent sound quality, with a high-resolution DAC chip that delivers clear and detailed audio. Overall, the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC is a solid choice for beginners looking to enhance their listening experience.

Thanks

Do you mean the Mic on your earphones?.. Yes the mic passthrough works find on the DAC, when used with a Macbook or any other laptop.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to assist you with your given issue. It's best to reach out to the brand or authorised retailers for a resolution.

It should certainly make it sound nicer, and the amplifieir cant really turn up that dynamic driver on the ZSTx. But make sure your using hi-resolution, or atleast lossless music. No DAC can make a crappy sounding compressed file sound better.

It doea

Have you tried using the DAC with other devices and could you confirm if the issue still persists. Generally, Samsung devices do have compatibility issues with Non-Samsung accessories. If the DAC is specifically not working with your Samsung device it may be a compatibility issue.

You can, although the mic passthrough on this DAC is only supported on Android devices.

Yes, it can indeed enhance your listening experience.

Well, I think im biased. Maybe wait a bit and get a nicer DAC.

No we had a few units to review from the first prototype, and it went back and forth with feedback for ddhifi for changes, and i think the 3rd iteration we liked, and tested it out with a whole bunch of IEMs, before we could all agree on a winner. And thats the one we went with.

Yay! We hope you choose to get one soon.

Yes, the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi - Hi-Res DAC should work with your Samsung M21 device.

Congratulations on your purchase! Rest assured, the Hi-Res DAC will enhance the audio output of any earphones or IEMs you use with it, including your Realme wired earphones. Get ready to enjoy your favourite tunes like never before! 🎶🎧

Thank you!

Thanks for the suggestion. We will surely try and compare them both.

A phone with a 3.5mm jack would be definition have an inbuilt DAC, that does the digital to analog conversion. But the chances are, most phones (really, anything other than an LG), has very ordinary DACs, and especially when used with a good sounding IEM or headphone, can sound just Nasty. So a dedicated DAC, that sounds very good, is a good way to make sure you can listen to music on high - resolution, with a high end IEM. It comes with a 1 year warranty from Headphone Zone.

Can I use it with an iPad to send the signal to a home stereo ? @@headphone_zone

Wonderful!

Yes, you can.

The DAC should certainly add some added finesse and power to your KZ - EDX Pro. But my advise would be to use the budget to upgrade your IEMs to something nicer, before adding a DAC.

@@headphone_zone and would blon bl03 suffice?

Change player nuetron music player or usb audio player something which support it or on developer option check type C audio transfering is on or off

Please write to our team at direct@headphonezone.in as they'll be in a better position to assist you with your query.

No latency, latency is mostly related to Bluetooth

It should. However, since we've not paired the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC with the mentioned devices, we can't say for sure. Your best bet is to try them out.

Yes, it works with iPads with USB-C connection.

We haven't tested the specific headphones you mentioned, as long as they have a 3.5mm termination, they should work seamlessly with the Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC. Enjoy your listening experience!

They're both good DACs, at different price points, and both are good value for money. So it really depends on your budget. If you can, get the better one.

We don't have a version of this DAC designed for Apple devices (Lightning plug). However, you can still use this DAC with your lightning-enabled device by using a lightning adapter. The lightning adapter will allow you to connect your device to the DAC and enjoy high-quality audio.

It works great with PC's and laptops. Theres a USB A to USB C adapter in the box. And yes, as compared to most PCs and Laptops, this DAC should sound a lot better. Im told the the new latest generation Macbook Pros have a powerful 3.5mm output, with a nice DAC. But barring that, this should sound better.

We're glad to hear that you're enjoying our videos and that you're a valued consumer. Whether or not you need to change your amplifier depends on your specific listening preferences and setup. If you're satisfied with the performance of your current stereo amplifier and it meets your audio needs, there may not be a need to change it. However, if you find that the output from your Amplifier is not meeting your expectations or if you're looking to upgrade your audio setup for improved performance, then you could consider exploring other amplifier options. Ultimately, the decision to change your amplifier depends on your personal preferences and requirements.

Yes it works great, but a flagship phone like that deserves a much better DAC, dont you think?

The Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC.

@@headphone_zone what kind of difference in listening can I expect using ddHifi DAC? I use KZ ZSX.

The Truthear Hola has been discontinued by the brand, so you're really left with just the Moondrop Chu 2.

It wont support native DSD. Audio playback will be converted to PCM.

Grateful. Thank you!

Welcome..

Thats a nice phone. How about a Noble Audio - Sultan with a Chord - Mojo? It's a killer combination.

So glad to hear that you're loving your purchase!

What is the difference between using the IEM with dac or without dac ? Is there a big difference ? Pls reply brother

@@OmkarMahato07 if u using a IEM without DAC.... For low bitrate audio u can't listen and feel all instruments properly.... But when you use a DAC with an IEM then it boost your volume as well as it enhances the sound quality and u can listen and feel the frequency separation for all types of music instruments!

@@G-R-0-L-E-M thanks brother.. I am going for it.. I have CCA CRA.. does this dac give lossless music experience with my CCA CRA ?

@@OmkarMahato07 obviously brother!

You should try using an IEM such as the 7HZ - Salnotes Zero that come with a Type C termination.

Need info on this. ASAP

@@wiseverse7681 ?? What info

thats a chinese cheap dac with a bad dac chip, wil stop working in a few months...sound quality is also not that good, especially if u have goood sounding quality earphones....not a worthy investment

We honestly haven't heard it. But it sounds like its going to be a very nice sounding DAC.

​​@@niksal1 I have been using it for a year and half now with my KZ Pro, Tin2 and Shure 215 (Bought from Headphone Zone many years ago :-)

You can go for any IEM, but in our opinion you should really check out the TANGZU - Wan'er S.G as these are natural sounding IEMs with a warm and smooth sound signature. Here's the link: www.headphonezone.in/products/tangzu-waner-s-g .

If bass is a preference, you should check out the KZ Castor.