Review & Comparison Best Portable USB DAC - iFi Hip Dac 2 vs Go Bar vs xDSD Gryphon

[@MadAudiofficial]

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[@idkanymore3382]

poo in loooooo

[@christiharris292]

I have the gryphon, the hip dac OG, and just got the go bar 2 weeks ago. They are different enough from each other with their chipsets, that I love them all and they each fit a different purpose. Awesome review!

[@MadAudiofficial]

Thank you, enjoy 👍🏽

[@UNLISTEDWEB]

Replacing the battery in the Hip DAC2 is possible, and you can find the battery for it online. However, finding a battery for the XDSD can be challenging since it requires a 90-degree battery that is not readily available online. Also, the Gryphon is not the best option for those who prefer portable music players as it is too large, making it difficult to carry comfortably and listen to music. Putting it in a pocket can be worrisome since it feels like the 3.5 plugs could break while sitting. A better option would be the IFI Go BLU, which is smaller and case with a belt clip is available.

[@MadAudiofficial]

Hip-Dac 3 review is coming soon, thx for the useful information 👍🏽

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Excellent video, I have had the gryphon for around a month and as a device it covers so many bases, but is by no means Jack of all trades. As to the DAC and AMP the only portable device I have that exceeds it is my Mojo 2, dosent have Bluetooth unless you add the poly which almost doubles the price. I think ifi XSpace is their analogue answer to crossfeed ?

[@MadAudiofficial]

Thank you, you right XSpace is their analogue to crossfeed bur you can't adjust the intensity and i found it too heavy-handed you know what i mean..

[@adrianmorrish8494]

@@MadAudiofficial Agree, it’s only useful for certain tracks on certain headphones, with the Mojo 2 you dial in what you need in a granular way.

[@BudgieFan101]

Which would you recommeng for my Mark Levison 9050 out of the Hip Dac or the Gryphon? I mainly listen to soft Jazz, but the battery replacement is a little xoncern also to think about. Thanks my friend

[@pianoman1973]

Thanks for the review ! You mentioned that the Hip Dac 2 will me better in order to drive the HiFiman Edition XS , but at 7:15 I see that the Go Bar has more power. Can you explain ? I'm a little confused :) Thanks !

[@MadAudiofficial]

Yes you right, specs are saying that Go Bar has more Power output, but is not like that! Hip-Dac2 is much more Powerful, maybe iFi specs are wrong? I don't know but at the High-End Munich Show 2023 i would like ask them.thx for watching.

[@pianoman1973]

@@MadAudiofficial Thanks for yor quick reponse ! With your impression the Gryphon is more powerful than the Hip-Dac2 ?

[@MadAudiofficial]

@pianoman yes slightly more powerful, but is coming with a different Tonality as i said in the review, more clinic and detailed!

[@pianoman1973]

@@MadAudiofficial yes, I remember that :) Thanks a lot !!

[@beyondtheuniverse999]

Hey, does gryphon sound better than BTR7 and also as good as a desktop unit in similar price point?

[@NisxmErsyad]

Hi Mad, I'm now using hipdac 2 as my daily drive but it is quite big for me, so I'm thinking of upgrading to go bar. Is it worth it? I've tried Paw S1 and it did not satisfy my preference like I'm using hipdac 2. So I'm just thinking of going back with ifi dongle but the price is quite steep.

[@MadAudiofficial]

From sound quality point of view i prefer the Hip-Dac2!!!

[@alexubalde1238]

HI Mad, Question, I just want to know does the xDSD Gryphon paired with sundara has a big sound improvement or difference compared with the iFi Hip Dac 2 paired with the sundara?

[@MadAudiofficial]

Gryphon and Hip-Dac2 have diffent Tonality as i said in the review, Hip-Dac2 is perfect for the Sundara i will not change it.

[@alexubalde1238]

​@@MadAudiofficial Hi Mad, I'll stick to my set up then (sundara+Hipdac 2). I was just curious if Gryphon is worth the upgrade from Hip Dac 2 using the sundara. Thanks mate, great review by the way, cheers!

[@quadrannilator]

Hi Mad, just found your channel! Nice comparo of modern iFi devices. I like your slow soft speaking style, which sounds perfect because of its imperfections. I was interested in the Gryphon and this review was valuable. If you have tried both, which would you recommend between the Fiio BTR7 and the iFi Gryphon? Primary usage will be for IEMs in Wired USB mode. Do the iFi devices sound smooth and rolled off in the treble to you personally? Thanks, you got a Sub

[@sunnydayz77]

Hi Mad. Nice video and good insights. I have the same question as Pratik. I currently own the Fiio BTR7 but am itching to get the Gryphon for that 1000 mw of power and to have a different sound. I mostly use iems like the Audio Hekili, CCA PLA13 Planar iems and Sennheiser ie200. How much of an upgrade sound wise would the Gryphon be over the BTR7 ? Would it be a 3x difference ? As the price difference is that much. Thanks.

[@quadrannilator]

@@sunnydayz77 Haha, I use the planar 7Hz Timeless myself, and I also wanted to know if I could scale with current and power with the iFi vs. the BTR7. Just FYI, all these new dongle like USB or BT dac-amps rolling out from the likes of iBasso, Hiby, Hidisz, and such Chinese brands, are 95% neutral, with just a slight bass boost in the mid to low region. These boosts are a very minor and smooth bumb, but their presentation comes off through my IEM and car audio system as a rumbly and reverby type of bass sound which I don't like much. I don't know how it sounds with dynamic drivers. My previous experience with the iFi devices is that even if there is an elevation in bass, it is still smooth and viscous as compared to a reverby double bass like sound from all these dongle dacs.

[@psathas87]

Hip dac v3 or ifi go bar if paired with seinheizer hd 650?

[@MadAudiofficial]

Dac 3 is my favourite👍🏽

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS MAD ,🤗😎😁💚💚💚

[@MadAudiofficial]

Thanks for watching!

[@ralftopper9381]

Hi, thank you for homestereo information. Question, i want the best signal for my car stereo. I have analog amlifieres, now i want by an dsp and a dac, how it works together? How i have the best signal with my Handy to the dac, Bluetooth or USB or other? I have tidal hifi. Best regards, thank you.

[@MadAudiofficial]

Car Stereo?🧐 anyway best signal from smartphone to DAC is with USB cable but the Gryphon Bluetooth 5.1 is absolutely superb and believe me will be hard to hear any difference✌🏾

[@maisajbin2954]

What dac amp do you think is suitable for the DT 1990 Pro

[@santiago.g2483]

Out of those 3 I'd say the ifi hip dac 2 because it completely covers everything that the dt1770pro and 1990pro would possibly need when considering the 250ohm, 200mW, and the 102dB "maxes" those headphones have (putting it simply). I've been personally searching thoroughly into these dacs for about 2 weeks and it just made more sense to get this dac. The efficiency of the dac is 116 dB from what I remember while the 1770 and 1990 sit at 102 (so even there, it has the headphones covered). I'm still researching, but I hope this helps. Also I'm not sure if this is the right term but I heard the 1990 and 1770 sound is neutral, not too much editing, while the ifi hip dac 2 seems to be "warmer". Basically just means the dac favors those smooth tones/instrumentals (makes the music a bit more fun)and the bass sounds fuller too? Ofcourse don't just take my word for it on that part, feel free to search more. That internal battery will be great aswell incase you just want to bring your music with you. Tldr: The ifi hip dac 2 will work very well :)

[@santiago.g2483]

Addon: The xDSD has ALOT of extra stuff and I'm sure it might be worth it for some people if you want every little thing possible but price-wise, after buying that dt 1770 or 1990 pro, the ifi hip dac 2 should do more than enough at $200. No way I'm spending $600 on the dac/amp after spending $500 on the headphone haha. Anyway I wish you luck :)

[@MarcLie90]

Hip dac 3 vs go bar?

[@MadAudiofficial]

Same what i said in the review when i compared Hip Dac 2 with Go bar! Hip Dac 3 is still my favourite iFi product.