ifi audio

Hip-Dac 3

Name: Hip-Dac 3
Brand: ifi audio
Price: 319.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

$319.00 CAD

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Titanium shadow. Trendsetting improvements.
Now, our battery-powered portable hi-res DAC/headphone amp is adorned in a Titanium Shadow hue, a warm, subtle grey that changes tone in different lights, with hints of bronze and vintage gold. But the transformation extends far beyond aesthetics. The hip-dac 3’s sleek Aluminium case houses new features, tailored to elevate your audio experience.

Two USB-C ports now simplify your cable management: one for audio and the other for charging. A switch on the underside activates iFi’s iEMatch technology, which is optimized for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, making it especially beneficial for your in-ear monitors (IEMs).

Inside, the device boasts circuit enhancements, including new metal film capacitors for a better frequency response. Additionally, an updated version of iFi’s GMT circuitry, coupled with a new crystal oscillator, further reduces phase noise, delivering a purer sound to you.

Hip flask size. Big performance.

With its sleek, robust aluminium enclosure, the portable hip-dac 3 discreetly fits in a pocket or bag. It replaces the subpar DAC and amplifier in smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Macs. Just connect via USB-C, plug in your favourite headphones, and enjoy rich, dynamic sound.

iFi’s expertise with the Burr-Brown chipset ensures optimal performance. However, a superior DAC stage involves more than just the DAC chip. A crucial element is the XMOS chip for processing digital audio inputs. The hip-dac 3 features a 16-core XMOS microcontroller, programmed by iFi’s in-house team to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect hi-res partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

Mighty amplification.

The hip-dac 3 features a true balanced circuit design, rare for its price range. This design minimizes signal distortion, resulting in a purer, more captivating sound for your headphones.

The circuitry incorporates high-quality components, including a custom iFi OV op-amp, a low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments, and a premium analogue volume pot.

The amp stage can deliver up to 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load, making it compatible with a wide range of headphones. Additionally, it efficiently drives high-impedance headphones with an output voltage of 6.3V into 600 ohms from the 4.4mm balanced output.

Tailored for your headphones and earphones.

The amp stage has switchable gain, called PowerMatch, to ensure optimal power for the headphones you are using. This matches the level of drive to the load presented by the headphones, by adjusting input sensitivity and thereby signal strength. Use the lower setting with high-sensitivity headphone. If your headphones require more drive, use PowerMatch to increase gain.

New to hip-dac 3, an underside switch engages iFi’s iEMatch technology, optimising output for high-sensitivity headphones, especially in-ear monitors (IEMs). It reduces hiss, enhances detail and dynamic range, and improves volume control range.

XBass is another user-selectable feature – a sophisticated form of ‘bass boost’ that enhances low frequencies without muddying the midrange, particularly useful with earphones and open-back headphones that may lack deep bass. It operates entirely in the analogue domain rather than messing with the digital signal via DSP.

Play all your files.

Hi-res PCM and DXD audio data is supported at sample rates up to 384kHz, alongside DSD from 2.8MHz to 12.4MHz (DSD64, 128 and 256).

Full decoding of MQA – the hi-res streaming technology, as used by Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier – is also supported, performing the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process (as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’).

Either side of the rotary volume control reside a pair of LEDs that change colour to indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio.

Get connected.

Now that Apple has ditched its proprietary Lightning connector for the iPhone, USB-C can finally be described as ubiquitous across all new smartphones, tablets and laptops, and hip-dac 3 takes full advantage. The hip-dac 3’s USB-C input supports up to 32-bit/384kHz audio, compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. Its asynchronous design ensures jitter-free data transfer. A separate USB-C charging port allows use while charging, preserving a pure audio signal path.

The hip-dac 3 provides two outputs: a 3.5mm socket for single-ended headphones and a 4.4mm balanced output for those with balanced connectivity, leveraging the device’s differential amp design. The 3.5mm output utilizes iFi’s S-Balanced circuitry, minimizing crosstalk and distortion for single-ended connections.

The hip-dac 3’s 2200mAh battery lasts for around 7-12 hours of playing time between charges, depending on volume level and how power-hungry the connected headphones are. It comes bundled with a USB-C OTG (On-The-Go) cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to Lightning cable for iOS devices still equipped with Apple’s proprietary connector.

Formats supported

DSD256

PCM384kHz

Full MQA Decoder

Digital Input

USB-C

Headphone Outputs
Balanced 4.4mm
Single-Ended 3.5mm

Power Output (@1% THD)

Balanced 400mW@32Ω; 6.3V@600Ω
Single-Ended 280mW@32Ω; 3.2V@600Ω

Battery

Lithium-polymer 2,200mAh, up to 12 hours (ideal conditions — battery life averages closer to 7 hours, but varies upon settings, connected headphones, output Jack selection, USB device, and power draw used)

Power System

Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current

Power (max)

<2W idle, 4W max

Dimensions

102 x 70 x 14mm
4.0" x 2.8" x 0.6"

Weight

135g (0.3 lbs)

Cables Included

USB-C to USB-C OTG (On-The-Go) cable

USB-A to USB-C cable

USB-C to Lightning cable