HIDIZS DH80S Portable Balanced DAC & AMP, Supports MQA Audio Technology, DSD64/128 Portable Audio Decoding Amplifier, 4.4mm/3.5mm Port Output for Windows 10/Mac OS/iPad OS/Android/iOS System (Blue)

I've only used the balanced output so the following only applies to the balanced output. Sonically punches well above its weight. Equally happy driving Shure IEMs and Audeze LCD cans. Battery life seems to be 8 hours (depends on the headphones and volume obviously). Plenty of detail and punch. A very good entry into portable hi-fi.

The unit is of solid build with a nice anodised/leatherette finish and a magnetic back with a supplied metal disc for you to stick to your devise so the DAC will attach magnetically which is a nice touch. The unit has a separate power supply connection to power/charge it and a second connection for audio only. This keeps the power isolated completely from the audio circuit to prevent interference and give as clean as possible a signal. You have two outputs one for normal headphones and a 4mm balanced jack for the big bucks balanced headphones. You have three gain settings for different impedance headphones. The unit is very simple you connect your headphones turn it on connect to your device. If using an iPhone you will need the camera usb dongle (also known as an OTG adapter or On The Go) to provide a USB connection. If using a computer/iPad pro or android device you just need the included USB C cable (I got a shorter 0.3m lead to keep it neat) you can also use a normal USB C-A connector with an adapter.You have a little LED to tell you it’s on/charging and another to tell you the quality of the signal it’s processing (ie standard/lossless/hires)sound wise it’s very good and I have tried it with some bundled earphones, a pair of hidiz hires certified monitors. ER4-P’s and monolith planar headphones. The sound was impressive to say the least and the amp more than capable of driving all the above with good control with my trusty ER4’s giving a very flat controlled sound, the hidiz multi driver monitors gave the expected bass heavy sound although still balanced with the highs well represented. The planar units gave a more refined response not too overpowering (These are still running in) so all good (this was all done using lossless/hires/apple Master songs from Apple Music and MQA via tidal) With the standard earbuds showing the expected shortfalls.Let’s be very clear here this (or any) DAC is not a miracle worker and will sound no better than nearly every current mobile phone does if you feed it compressed files like 128kb/s MP3’s it can not put lipstick on a pig either so no point buying to use with your bundled earphones or the £30 set from eBay with 24 drivers in each one!You need lossless files and high quality headphones to appreciate this product fully***note I have since also been using this with a technics SA-C100 and set of B&W 602 anniversary edition’s via the line in and found it much better than airplay as a source although even on full volume and gain set to high it’s a little quiet (not a fault of this unit) I also found that once the battery is charged fully a bit of noise is introduced into the output but goes away as soon as the power is unplugged. My unit has also developed a bit of a problem with the power switch not positively engaging when turned on although it does turn on and off as expected it’s just the switch is not working as it should mechanically ***