iFi hip dac 3 Review

Unleash your music's potential with the iFi hip-dac 3: where portable brilliance meets audiophile magic!
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Written review: primeaudio.org/ifi-hip-dac-3-...
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[@Jacob1451_Kapnobatai]

This is my first serious dedicated DAC. Love mine so far.

[@prince5922]

what have you tried in the past?

[@erikerdos4246]

Pulling the trigger on these today! Thank you for all the knowledge. Going to pair this with the BGVP DMA IEMs which I also used your review to help make the decision to purchase. Thank you and keep up the fantastic work you do.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Great combo you have there!

[@thegrumpygrunt3964]

I almost got this last week but ended up going with the SMSL M300SE (your video convinced me to get it). Honestly, you give great recommendations/reviews. Keep up the good work, man!!!

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Good choice!

[@WinterReflections]

Anyone wondering if you can use this with a lightning port style Apple device: YES! It does come with a lighting to USB-C adapter/cable. I ordered a lightinng to USB C audio cable when I ordered this, because iFi’s own website and 3rd party sellers for some reason do not state that it DOES include a lighting-USB c cable along with c-c and A to C. Hope that helps someone.

[@suntanglory]

Happy new year!🎉❤

[@dragonfire61]

Fantastic unit, easily drives my Sennheiser 660s, Hifiman Sundara, and Beyer dt-1990s etc. Love the Burr-Brown also.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes. I don't know why we don't see more devices with Burr-Brown.

[@sussychachi]

Been looking for a affordable amp/dac that strong for 650! Thank you

[@aceofspades6667]

Nice looking product on the move.

[@aceofspades6667]

Have one on the at now to compare against my go blu. I had the hip Dac 1 and sold it so hopefully this is nice step up.

[@spamcan9208]

I can easily see a cop confusing this for a flask when they shine their flashlight into your car. "No officer, it's not a flask. It's a hip dac." I wonder if anyone's disguised a flask as a hip dac but it actually works so you can drink AND listen to music?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Sign me up for one of those! 😀

[@Rsalmond83]

A “hip dac(drink and chug)” sounds cool as hell for a flask! Somebody make it happen!

[@BassDad8]

I have the hd2 and it is really really good. Apparently there wasn’t much of an upgrade over the original aside from MQA support lol! (Disabled that with a firmware update). I’ve been impressed with both the hipdac2 and the zendac2, so I’m not surprised that the hd3 is a winner AND they finally did away with the recessed male usb port, which was a pain, especially for iPhone users. Bravo! Very nice review as always!

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

HD3 got IEMatch too but yeah, you're right about the USB port!

[@erikerdos4246]

Love your videos! noticed in this video that you have a Colorfly CDA-M2 sitting on your desk. Have you done a review on it yet?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes I have. You can find it here primeaudio.org/colorfly-cda-m2-review/

[@guillermobrito4987]

Great review as always David. Just a question, how does compare to something like the Fiio Q11?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I didn't try the Q11 but I have Q15 here. Review coming soon!

[@tedthomas9809]

Really glad the USB a is replaced by c type. I have the original hipdac, but the type a connector has been a bit of a problem. Keeps disconnecting if you move anything at all.

[@Undead.Musicphile]

So tempted to get this. But do I need even more portable dac/amps???😁

[@deemo5245]

Only if you actually have a use case, or it’ll end up sitting on a shelf looking pretty with occasional use

[@roberta.6579]

I also prefer bluetooth connectivity for convenience. I like to switch between USB decoding and bluetooth connection without removing my IEM

[@otepp.a.3220]

Thanks for the review! Would you recommend this as an upgrade to the hip dac 1 (as I currently have) or the Chord Mojo 2? Thanks in advance!

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I'm afraid I have neither of those on hand for comparison!

[@camotech1314]

Interesting DAC, IFI seems to be the only company using the Burr Brown DACs still.

[@micahskerrett9509]

Does flac sound just as good compared to MQA via tidal?

[@deemo5245]

Good that they don’t use the weird reverse USB camera input any more like the Hip Dac 1

[@chimps4gimps]

Looks great. Can this be used between my mobile phone and hifi amp to play through my speakers?

[@WinterReflections]

I know for sure it can be connected to speaker systems, but it it’s gonna require extra (not cheap) adapter cables and possibly a special power supply depending on the power of speakers especially. That said this is a DAC+AMP combo and surprisingly powerful. One use I wanna look into is connecting it via Aux to a better quality but small (50watt) Bluetooth speaker

[@AndrewUKLondon]

Nice review. How do they compare to the cayin RU6 for audio on headphones?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Well, more power with this of course. If you have demanding headphones hip-dac 3 will perform better. For iems, ru6 still has a special charm.

[@AndrewUKLondon]

@@PrimeAudioReviews thanks for the reply- mostly it will be with IEMs, though some headphones. So, finger paused over buy button for the Cayin RU6:)

[@suntanglory]

I can see the new colorful m2 dongle,was just looking at them yesterday on Aliexpress.How does it compare to the hip dac 3 then?Thank you.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Too early to say but I am liking it!

[@LyuboA]

if they only added Bluetooth would be amazing but this way you are better off going with BTR7 or BTR15 or Tempotec v3

[@MisterFastbucks]

or the ifi Go Blu, which sounds amazing.

[@marksr12]

400Mw just doesn't sound that powerful to me. Either I'm going deaf or I just listen to loud. Someone please diredt me to understanding rated power output and actual output. Seems I need at least 1 to 2 watts of power on a dac and on the other hand my old Presonus 1818 VSL interface rated at 120mw blows my dac away. It only has 3.5mm thats why I bought a dac for the 4.4 balanced output. Confused!!

[@short_music_official.]

Hey, I would like to know which TWS would you recommend for rock and for independent music for around 100-150$ thanks❤

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Sony Linkbuds or Lypertek PurePlay Z3.

[@roguegorilla8981]

Jlab epic lab edition, soundcore liberty 4, soundcore liberty 4nc, 1more Evo and some more.

[@stevenwyatt4632]

Have you ever tried the IFi Go Bar and compared to the Hip-DAC 3 with your HD650s?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I haven't tried the Go Bar!

[@liamlamont76]

I have a razer kraken v3 that is a usb type a would i be able to connect that to the usb port and then get a double aux chord then connect it to my xbox controller?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

No.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

Can it work as just an amp? Like you plug in a 3.5 and it amplifies only? Then I could use my dongles when I want a different sound..the Fiio q3 does that, but I want the Burr Brown dac chips..

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

It has USB input only.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Doesn't it switch to an amp if you plug in a 3.5 from your device to the outlet?

[@taekim81]

What do you have in your mind if you don't want neutral sound?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

No idea what you're suggesting there...

[@kylesmithisawesome]

Have you used the fosi audio ds1? If so, how do these compare?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Don't have it

[@kylesmithisawesome]

@@PrimeAudioReviews ah damm. Thanks for the response!

[@shaunbrady15]

Does the iematch lower the power output?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

The volume drops slightly but I don't know if it lowers the output or is some other ifi wizardry.

[@abdurrahmanghufran9405]

can it drive ath R70X with 470 ohm?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes, it should be fine with R70X.

[@MarcLie90]

Hip dac 3 vs Go bar?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I don't have Go Bar!

[@roguegorilla8981]

I'm having issues with my hip dac 3 😞

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Appreciate the detailed breakdown of said issues. 😅

[@MisterFastbucks]

My Go Blu is 1/4 the size, sounds the same, cost the same, and has bluetooth. Who are they marketing this towards?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

This has more output power and (IMO) is better suited for desktop use than the Go Blu.

[@beehype46and2]

Comment for da algorithm Streak count: 317

[@theonlyegg]

This should have bluetooth for the price AND size. Shameful.

[@7quidstudio]

No. It shouldn't. The whole point is that the sound quality is wired. 'Shameful'? Absolutely not.This product is unrivalled.

[@belphegor_dev]

Not a fan of the color

[@aceofspades6667]

V2 hip Dac was orange

[@09101148540]

hip dac 3, M2. If I buy, which one do you recommend? bro

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

You mean Colorfly CDA M2? I would choose the Hip DAC for the extra features, volume knob and internal battery.

[@09101148540]

@@PrimeAudioReviews thanks bro.

[@DirtyHardSock]

Hi Prime Audio Reviews. I love you, let me know if you love me back.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Done!