iFi Audio - hip-dac2

Portable DAC & Amp

Sale price₹ 15,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 16,999
Discontinued
This product is permanently discontinued by the manufacturer and continues to live on in Headphone Zone's Museum.

Unfortunately, even if we desire to, we won't be able to resurrect this product. The Museum is where we pay our respects to end-of-life, old, archived, but not forgotten products. This page was made with a lot of love and will live on for posterity. What to say, we're sentimental people. 😔

While this product is gone forever, here are others we recommend

Customer Reviews

Based on 67 reviews
82%
(55)
13%
(9)
0%
(0)
1%
(1)
3%
(2)
G
Gautam (Kolkata)
Sound Quality:
I don't hear a difference
Absolute game changer
Value for Money:
Not even close
Totally worth it
Hip hip hurray!!

Yes, hip dac2 is absolutely stunning in looks and functionality.
Very powerful device. Can easily drive big cans. Power match button works really well with attached earphones or headphones and feeds them with required power. I recommend them to keep them on always.
Good resolving power (sopports MQA also), warm sound signature and goes well with most popular music.
Xbass feature is absolute dope for enjoying party songs, EDM, Electronic.
Recommended for bollywood, electronic, EDM, Dance, New age, Trance and similar music genres.
I have used Fiio BTR3, BTR5, Q1 Mk2, but compared to those this has unique warm and enjoyable sound.
If you are looking for dac amp for your sharp sounding iems like.. KZ, this is it.

Thanks to HPZ team for fast and safe delivery of the product and making latest audiophile products available in India.

Hey Gautam,
We are glad you had a comfortable shopping experience with us & it is delightful to read such positive reviews on your product! Cheers & Welcome to the club!

D
Deepak Jena (Mumbai)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
iFi Hip-Dac2: One of the best budget options

At first, I was a little bit skeptical about buying it. I had no idea about the performance and I hadn't used anything from iFi before this. But I was pleasantly surprised after using this AMP/DAC. I am not an audiophile (at least not yet) but I now know that music sounds natural, clean and wide (better sound stage). The X-Bass feature really adds that oomph and the vocals pop-up cleanly. Of course the Dragonfly Red surely tops it in sound quality. However, the USP for this Hip-Dac2 is the 4.4,, Pentaconn balanced connector. I use the Sennheiser HD650 (300 Ohm). Just to put things into a little perspective, the Dragonfly Red is good sounding at the highest volume (Sound quality is awesome but volume is okay, not loud by any means), but I wasn't even able to try out the full volume on the Hip-Dac2 (with the 4.4mm Headphone Zone Balanced cable for Sennheiser HD650). I had called up the Headphone Zone team before buying it and they told me the 4.4mm balanced connector sends out almost double voltage to the headphones and I would be able to enjoy the HD650 to it's full potential. And boy oh boy, they didn't lie. The headphone now sounds the best. (The max volume that I am able to hear is about 70% on the Hip-Dac2). Of course, needless to say, I am not going back to the Dragonfly Red with the 3.5mm jack. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Red, just that the 4.4mm pentaconn connector is way better in terms of sound reproduction. The device itself is a bit large (like another mobile with your mobile) and the battery could use a little more juice (about 6-8 hours, I am told). But all in all, I am quite happy with the purchase and would definitely recommend the iFi Hip-Dac2, especially from Headphone Zone.
I might have a small complaint about the 4.4mm balanced cable from Headphone Zone, it's too expensive at Rs. 8999. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to ditch my Apple Airpods and board the Hi-res, wired, full-size, studio-grade monitoring headphones train. But still, 9k for a cable really seems high.
Thanks for the awesome service too guys, you guys would be my first recommendation on that front.

Hey Deepak,
Great to know you are loving the hip-dac2 but we'd like to inform you that the prices for products are usually decided by the brand so we hardly meddle with it. Thank you for the awesome review though. Cheers!

A
Amit Verma (Mumbai)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Awesome Buy

Wanted something that could drive my headphones with iPhone. For in ear 24/48 kHz apple adapter was fine. FiiOs had been too bland and too neutral for me. Not an audiophile but love music. Treble is slightly boosted but that can be fixed with equaliser. Loving it. Amazing delivery on time as well.

Hey Amit,
Love how detailed & accurate your review is! Thank you for shopping with us & we are glad to know you are loving your purchase. Cheers!

R
Rajesh Kumar (Singapore)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
seems like spring time!

Tried a highly rated dac before this, could not even make out the difference. Then comes this...and it feels like spring :)
Awesomely crisp sound and just the right kind of bass you need with ample power at disposal. I accidentally came across the review on Youtube for this beauty of a product (except for connector nightmares), and was pleasantly surprised to find it so promptly available on Headphone Zone just after launch. Highly recommended!

S
Shankar R (Kochi)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Combined review. Hip Dac 2, BTR 5 , KZ ZS10 pro, Fiio FD5

This is for all the people who have doubts on these things
1. Should I buy FD5 ? Is it good enough ?
2. Is bTR5 good ? How does it compare to Hip Dac 2 ?
3 is Kz Zs10 pro good, how does to compare to FD5 ?
4. Tell me about Hip dac 2.

Brief history
I started my audiophile journey with Headphonezone. I donot yet know if iam an
Audiophile. I just hear things different. I donot know about technicalities and frequencies and white notices and numbers and yadayada. I just knew I was missing something. Searched on Google came to Headphonezone, bought a KZ zs10 pro and a tiandernhe from audiostore opened apple music lossless and I understood it was not my mind who hated what I was listening to, it was the shitty music that was being played to me all along. Now I knew what real music was and understood the possibility of milking every possible musicality out of Phones, music services, Dacs and IEMs. Bought a BTR 5 thinking it was the Dac that was letting me down. Meh meh. Not much improvement. Bought an FD5 thinking Iems were the culprit. I was in for a big surprise. FD5 worth 25k sounded worse than kz worth 5k. Shocked, spent hours back forth on the same music listening on Kz and FD. Always the KZ sounded pleasing. I was dejected. The FD sounded tinny shouted blah blah basically the music was all over the place. I was just about to palm it off to my sister l, when I thought about changing the ear tips to foam. Did that, musicality improved by 25%. I was shocked. Thought a lot ordered and ordered a hipdac. May be the dac was the problem ? Hip dac came. Hip dac 2 + Fd5 + Tidal Mqa - Nirvana. No words. As a great musician once told "Nothing else matters". And also shoutiut to the guy below me who said it was eargasmic. It is. I saw your post and took a plunge. Thanks.
Now to the real questions
1. Kz zs10 pro n FD5 - The difference is worth the money. It's like watching KRK and SRK.
2. BTR5 n Hipdac 2 - BTR5 is obviously good. But Hip dac is on another level. There is actually no comparison. You get a HIpdac you won't buy any other dac for a loong looong while. ( bluetooth functionality is there but I never use it, I wanted the best possible music. period.
If the question of diff between bluetoothed music in BTR5 and Wired Hipdac, I would say the diff is around d 75%. I donot know about your ears, so take it with a pinch of salt. Maybe you should go for an improvement of 50% musicality.

Bottomline.
If your question is I have a budget of 40k, what should I do. Please go for the combo of FD5 and Hipdac 2. I donot comment on other Iems because I have never heard them and can't comment.

If your question is, bro I don't care about the Iem , I want a dac. Hip dac2 - nothing else matters(have tried 4 already actually)

Iem - your choice. But FD5, Kato, Hook x are the better ones.

That's my piece. Thanks.

Thanks a lot for your detailed and genuine feedback, we're glad that you have such positive thoughts about the product and we'll share your thoughts with the brand as well. It'll also help our fellow customers to make the right choice!


Designed in the
UK

1 Year of
Warranty

Best Suited for Portable Use

4.4mm Balanced
Output

DAC Chip
You may not even realise it, but most of us use a digital-to-analogue converter (commonly known as a DAC) daily. Built into your computers, tablets and smartphones, a DAC is fundamental to unlocking the convenience of digital music. Any device that acts as a digital sound source will need a DAC to convert digital audio to analog. A DAC converts the digital information stored in “0s and 1s” into an analog signal that's passed to speakers or headphones and ultimately our ear. In short, DACs play a large part in making digital music hearable. 

While this technical process is undoubtedly impressive, the DAC embedded into your smartphones or laptops is nowhere good enough to listen to your favourite music recordings in high quality. So, if you want to listen to music in high quality, an external DAC is essential to allow headphones or speakers to perform at their potential. An external DAC, first and foremost, will improve audio quality dramatically.

Metal
Build

Pair with Laptop via USB

A majority of people use a laptop as the primary source device to listen to music or watch movies. Since the laptop is an essential part of the audio chain there are headphones and devices designed to work a laptop or computer system flawlessly. With the availability of USB connectivity, it becomes easier to pair various devices like an Amp, DAC or even headphones without worrying about drivers or any additional piece of software.


Connect With
USB 3.0

Upto 400mW @32 Ω
Power Output

Volume Controls
The Hip-Dac 2 is probably the best value DAC & Amp out there. It offers a beautiful warm sound, good battery life, and powerful amplification in a super cool design. The new Hip-Dac 2 is slim, so it’s a perfect companion for smartphone users. Use the 4.4mm balanced output, turn on the xBass, and you are in for a real treat.
RAGHAV SOMANI

About RAGHAV SOMANI

Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.

INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW UPGRADED PORTABLE DAC/AMP

The team at iFi Audio have introduced the all-new upgraded Hip DAC 2. The device has been upgraded to give you an even more pleasurable portable audio experience. Now capable of MQA decoding with an upgraded GMT clock and an extruded aluminium enclosure with a vibrant 'sunset orange’ finish. Easily connect the device via a USB-C connection and replace inferior DAC and amp circuitry in smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs to offer rich and dynamic sound. You can stream your music across major websites including Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal.
hip-dac2

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EMBEDDED WITH THE LATEST COMPONENTS DELIVERING HI-RES AUDIO

The iFi Audio Hip DAC 2 houses a high-quality Burr-Brown MultiBit chip to give you pitch-perfect and certified hi-res sound. Hip DAC 2 also features a powerful 16-core XMOS chip to process data over the USB connection. With the Hip DAC 2, you now have full MQA decoding capability with 3X unfold to deliver the highest possible sound quality. These upgrades allow support for PCM & DXD up to 384kHz along with DSD256.
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Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2

BALANCED ANALOGUE CIRCUITRY WITH GMT CLOCK FOR JITTER-FREE AUDIO

The balanced circuit embedded in the iFi Audio Hip DAC 2 is designed to reduce external noise and for ultra-low distortion. Featuring outstanding components including iFi OV op-amp, TDK C0G capacitors and a high-quality rotary volume pot along with Pentaconn connectors. The master clock on the device has also been upgraded to house the new GMT clock which features upgraded global master timing clock circuitry to eradicate jitter and enhance sound quality. Regardless of the single-ended or the balanced headphones, you are assured to get superior performance, thanks to iFi's S-Balanced® circuit.
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Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2

UNIQUE SONIC TAILORING WITH ANALOGUE BASS BOOST FEATURE

The iFi Audio Hip DAC 2 offers a unique solution to customising the sound to suit your liking. Hip DAC 2 features a unique sonic tailoring option to suit your headphones and personal sonic taste with an Analogue bass boost. It comes with xBass®—an optional sonic adjustment from iFi that makes up for the low bass which is encountered in in-ear or open-back headphones. With this enabled it enhances low frequencies without muddying the mid-range.
hip-dac2

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2

DUAL OUTPUT OPTIONS WITH AN 8-HOUR BATTERY LIFE

The iFi Audio Hip DAC 2 comes with a long-lasting battery life that powers the device for 8+ hours. Even if your headphone consumes a lot of power to run, the Hip DAC 2 runs smoothly while providing the required output power to the headphone. The Hip DAC 2 also comes equipped with two outputs to choose from - 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced analogue output and a 3.5mm S-Balanced analogue output, which cuts distortion by 50% for single-ended headphones. This implementation is thoughtful and allows you to use various headphones without worrying about connectors and plugs.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-hip-dac2
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1 Year Warranty

Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - hip-dac2 comes with a 1 Year warranty from iFi Audio that covers manufacturing defects. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.

Read more about iFi Audio's warranty in India.

Award-winning audio technology from the UK

Established in 2012, iFi Audio is committed to revolutionizing music enjoyment through cutting-edge audio technology. Based in Southport, UK, they design and manufacture a diverse range of high-quality portable audio devices, including DACs, amplifiers, and digital enhancers. Globally sourcing parts ensures top-notch quality and studio-grade sound reproduction, eliminating noise and distortion. With acclaimed products like the Zen DAC and Hip DAC, iFi Audio has earned numerous awards for its superior performance and innovative features such as Burr-Brown DAC Chips and Custom Op-Amps. Their dedication to audio excellence continues to redefine the music listening experience for audiophiles worldwide.

Fun fact: iFi products and their packaging are made from recyclable materials, including Aluminium, Paper and Recycled plastics. There are no hazardous toxins in their components, and ensure every product released meets environmental standards. iFi Audio prides itself on being an eco-friendly company.

Explore Collection
Headfonics

"Now the colour of a single malt Scotch and boasting a sound just as flavoursome. iFi hip-dac 2 presents a neat gateway to fully enjoy Apple Music's new Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless tiers, too."

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Major HiFi

"The hip-dac 2 now has an anodized aluminum enclosure in a stunning Sunset Orange finish. the hip-dac 2 ideal for anyone who subscribes to TIDAL’s Masters tier, which uses the MQA codec for hi-res music."

Read More