iFi Audio - hip-dac

Portable DAC & Amp

Sale price₹ 12,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 14,999
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 63 reviews
67%
(42)
25%
(16)
6%
(4)
0%
(0)
2%
(1)
D
DEBIPRASAD SINHA (Hyderabad)
Superb product for a beginner audiophile

This is surely a worthy product. Sound is nearly neutral with little warm. First I've tried this with my 1more dual driver earphones. The sound quality was really amazing but I was overwhelmed when I tried this with my newly bought headphone beyerdynamic dt990 edition 250 ohms. But whenever you play any high impedance headphone like this you have to switch on powermatch button. This is the first and only dac-amp combo I bought. I don't have any idea about other dacs or amplifiers but this thing is a pure happiness for me. This thing has enough amòunt of power but I am not sure that it can drive a extreme power hungry headphones like the beyerdynamic 600 ohms one with full potential. This is my first purchase of any costly audio equipment (yes u heard it correctly that it's a costly product for me) but this product didn't give any chance to regret. And one important thing u will get all the necessary connectors (for charging, and connecting with smartphone using type-c and also with laptop or desktop) within the box.

J
Joseph Renthlei (Aizawl)
Beautiful but only if paired with the right headphone!

Got mine two days ago. Used it extensively for the past two days with different headphones and this is my review of the Hip Dac.
Unless paired with the right headphone, the Hip Dac is not at all neutral, atleast to my ears. With warm sounding headphones, they sound boomy and at times muddy. They make even the Audio Technica Ath R70X sound too warm, atleast to my ears. They make Shures 215 sound summery warm. This is not necessary a bad thing if you are a bass head. To my ears, they are amazing with bright sounding headphones like the Dt 770. So, it is very important to pair the Hip Dac with the right headphone. If paired with the right headphone, the Hip dac is very enjoyable. If you have a bright sounding headphone or if you are a bass head, you should consider getting the Hip Dac.
They do look really nice and hip with a solid build quality. One negative, the battery does not last very long.

U
Uttam (Mumbai)
Chord mojo killer

After coming from a disaster experience with the mojo(I like the sound but unreliable), I was looking for something with a warm sound signature to use while on the move. And the hip dac fits right in with its burr brown warm sounding dac and super portable size. The sound is incredible if you wanna rock out but not very analytical. But then that's not its purpose. I can't believe I am getting chord mojo sound (I think, I havent used it for a few months) at 1/3rd thr price. My first ifi audio gear and definitely many. Also they give you all the necessary connection peripherals in the box( I am looking at you chord😒) Would recommend it blindly at this price. Punches well above its weight

Thank you for sharing your review with us!

L
LDM (Mumbai)
Nice little portable DAC-amp

I use the Hip DAC with my MacBook and iPhone and it enhances the output a fair bit on both. In both cases, I have hardly ever needed to push the volume dial past 12 o'clock to get it loud enough on my Sennheiser HD 599s.

This unit gives the sound, across all genres of music, more definition, space, resolution and body. People have said the Hip DAC colours music slightly warm but I haven't really seen that - though in my defence, I'm no audiophile. I leave the bass boost off, though I do turn the Power Match on. (I believe you can leave it off for most high-sensitivity IEMs.) Turning Power Match on delivers a massive boost in sound quality and volume on the HD 599s for me.

I've taken off a star because I'm fairly sure I was sent a unit that was previously opened (if not also used). There was no plastic wrap anywhere, and the box was somewhat scuffed in the flap area.

Also, battery life is far from great. iFi claims ten-12 hours or so, but I get about half that or less. If you look at Head-Fi etc, you'll see this has been pretty much standard for all buyers.

Anyway, the good thing is, you can charge and use the DAC at the same time. Though at any given time, the unit will only draw power from its own battery (and not from external power), so basically you're keeping the battery power topped up if you charge it while using it.

A point of pain for iOS users is that you need to fork out 3k extra for an Apple CCK adapter (Lightning to USB-A female) to use this DAC with your phone or iPad. And since the adapter wire is short and squat, it's pretty unwieldy using your phone when you have the DAC hooked up to it. There will be cheaper alternatives out there, but you never know when those stop playing nice with Apple devices.

N
Neelabh (Hyderabad)
Entry Level DAC/AMP

This was my first foray in this DAC/AMP thing. I wanted to buy Schiit Magni+Modi but they were not available and Salim from HPZ suggested that this hip dac. I watched few reviews and almost every review was positive so went ahead with this.

I am using this ifi Hip DAC with my Hifiman Sundara. It has been almost two weeks now and the music feels more smoother and bright compared to when i plug my headphone directly into the 3.5mm connection of laptop. I am almost addicted to it. It identifies MQA format from TIDAL and the light turns purple (that is how I know it identifies)

The power match button drives the headphone a notch louder and most of the time I keep that volume between 40-50%.Xbass is on most of the times and it brings out the sub bass beautifully and clearly.

I would recommend it if you want a clean and bright sound from your computer or phone. It comes with one USB connector, one USB - Charger cable, and one USB - C connector cable.

The connection system is bit weird, it takes a USB female cable and USB-C is just for charging. I am getting around 4-5 hrs of play time after each charge. For iphone you have to buy a cable which could cost somewhere between 1000-1500 rs

If you are beginner and confused what to get, you should definitely get this one.

The Hip Dac is so much more than a pretty face. Its a balanced DAC, with a powerful amp module, great battery life, and powerful enough to drive serious headphones. For an audiopihle looking for his first DAC to use on the move - this is Perfect!
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.

MEET IFI'S LATEST SUPER-PORTABLE & STYLISH DAC/AMP

Get the best of the beauty and performance with the iFi Audio hip-dac. It has a tiny petrol blue body with a dash of copper which gives it a trendy look while being super-portable. Easily connect it via USB along with a headphone for a rich and dynamic sound. You can stream your music across major websites including Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal.
Hip-dac

iFi Audio - hip-dac
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-Audiophile OTG Cable
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-Audiophile OTG Cable

ADVANCED BURR-BROWN DAC & FIRMWARE UPDATES FOR CERTIFIED HI-RES AUDIO

The hip-dac houses the Burr-Brown True Native chip to give you pitch-perfect and certified hi-res sound. It also supports PCM & DXD up to 384kHz along with DSD256 and MQA for Tidal users. It contains a maxed-out circuitry and easy-to-install firmware. Open DoP256 on your Mac and Linux with 'Limoncello' 5.2A. Add the special GTO filter through 'Cookies and Cream' 5.3C.
Hip-dac

iFi Audio - hip-dac

STAY BALANCED WITH THE S-BALANCED® CIRCUIT

The balanced circuits are designed to reduce external noise and promote a clearer sound. Regardless of the single-ended or the balanced headphones, you are assured to get superior performance, thanks to iFi's S-Balanced® circuit. With the PowerMatch switchable cable, you can adjust the input sensitivity to match your headphone capacity. Turn it off while using the IEMs and put it on for low impedance headphones that require more oomph.
Hip-dac

iFi Audio - hip-dac
iFi Audio - hip-dac

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS

Missing out on bass is the last thing you need to worry about with the hip-dac. 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.
Hip-dac

iFi Audio - hip-dac
iFi Audio - hip-dac
iFi Audio - hip-dac

ENJOY LONG LISTENING SESSIONS WITH AN 8-HOUR BATTERY LIFE

The hip-dac comes with an amazing battery life that lasts for almost a day. Even if your headphone consumes a lot of power to run, the hip-dac runs efficiently for up to 8 hours. It comes with two outputs: 4.4mm for balanced headphone cables and 3.5mm for IEMs.
Hip-dac

iFi Audio - hip-dac
iFi Audio - hip-dac
iFi Audio - hip-dac
1 Year Warranty

Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - hip-dac 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
IGN Awards

APPLAUSE AWARD

Stereonet
Apr, 2020

Headfonics

HIFI CHOICE AWARD

HiFi choice
May, 2020

Trusted Reviews

HIFI CHOICE RECOMMENDED

HiFi choice
May, 2019

Audio-Reputation

BEST
DAC/Amp

Headfonia
Dec, 2019

hifi trends

"I love its ability to drive full-size headphones with enthusiasm. If you’re looking for a lightweight DAC/Amp to improve the audio from your laptop or mobile this is a no-brainer..”

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techhive

"If you want the best possible sound quality from your smartphone or other digital-audio source device, the iFi hip-dac is a no-brainer.”

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Headfonics

"It has great sound quality with flexibility and usefulness for days and the features list is long and does it all without a hitch.”

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Soundphile Review

"It’s almost an audio miracle as it is so small and yet it packs such a large output power with a few additional features on top of it.”

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Headphone Dungeon

"With a portable form factor, a sturdy build, a very smooth sound, and the ability to power all but the highest-impedance of headphones, it’s my pleasure to highly recommend the hip-dac.”

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Major HiFi

"It has great sound quality with flexibility and usefulness for days and the features list is long and does it all without a hitch.”

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Stereonet

"IFi’s new hip-dac is as fast, punchy and dynamic as you could hope for at this price, and a world better than most. It really is good enough to stand in the company of far pricier products”

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Headphone Dungeon

"If you're looking for a high-quality portable DAC, this talented box of tricks warrants an audition. In short, the iFi hip-dac is a superb buy.”

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