ifi hip dac3 Portable USB DAC Amp HeadAmp User Manual
- June 13, 2024
- ifi
Table of Contents
ifi hip dac3 Portable USB DAC Amp HeadAmp
Product Information
The hip dac 3 is a high-power digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier. It features an analogue volume control that is superior to any digital volume control. The device has various features such as PowerMatch, XBass, and LED indicators for audio format and battery status. It is designed to provide optimal performance and accurate reproduction of music.
FEATURES
- Analogue volume control
- PowerMatch for impedance and sensitivity matching
- XBass for enhanced bass response
- LED indicators for audio format and battery status
- Balanced 4.4mm and S-Balanced 3.5mm headphone outputs
- iEMatch for reducing output level for sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs)
- USB-C data input port for connecting audio sources
- USB-C battery charge input for charging the device
Warnings:
- Always start at a low volume level to prevent headphone and hearing damage.
- Misuse of the device may result in hearing or equipment damage for which iFi audio is not responsible.
- Installing GTO enabled firmware may affect LED functionality.
Tips:
- For in-ear monitors (earbuds), try turning off PowerMatch. For headphones, turn on PowerMatch to increase gain by 10dB.
- Use XBass to enhance bass response for headphones that lack it.
- The LED color scheme indicates the audio format and sampling frequency.
- For connection to Apple devices, use an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. For Android devices, use a USB-C to USB-C cable with appropriate OS support.
- The device will continue to use battery power even when connected via USB cable.
For more information, please refer to the official website: www.ifi- audio.com
Product Usage Instructions
- ON/OFF and Analogue Volume Control:
- To power on, turn the volume control knob clockwise.
- To power off, turn the volume control knob fully counter-clockwise.
- Always start at a low volume level to prevent damage to headphones and hearing.
- PowerMatch (on/off):
- For in-ear monitors (earbuds), turn PowerMatch off.
- For headphones, turn PowerMatch on to increase gain by 10dB.
- If your IEMs are very sensitive, consider using the iEMatch feature (item 7).
- XBass (on/off):
- To enhance bass response, turn XBass on.
- Use this feature for headphones that lack proper bass reproduction.
- Audio Format LED (kHz):
- The LED color scheme indicates the audio format and sampling frequency received by the hip dac 3.
- Refer to the user manual for the corresponding LED color and audio format/sampling frequency.
- Warning: Installing GTO enabled firmware may affect LED functionality.
- Balanced 4.4mm headphone output:
- Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones to this output.
- S-Balanced 3.5mm headphone output:
- Connect 3.5mm headphones to this output.
- iEMatch switch:
- Use the iEMatch switch to reduce the output level for sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs).
- Ensure the switch is adjusted correctly for proper attenuation.
- USB-C data input port:
- Connect your phone or audio source to the hip dac 3 using a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (Apple) or USB-C to USB-C cable (Android).
- For PC connection, download the necessary drivers.
- Note: The USB-C port is for data transfer only.
- USB-C (5V) battery charge input:
- Use the enclosed USB ‘Type A’ to ‘Type C’ cable, smart charger, or regular charger up to 6.3V to charge the hip dac 3.
- Charging time is approximately 3 hours with a high-powered USB charger.
- LED for Battery Status:
- The LED indicates the battery status of the hip dac 3.
- Refer to the user manual for the corresponding LED color and battery status.
- The LED will flash when the device is charging.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
PowerMatch (on/off )
PowerMatch enables hip dac 3 to match headphones’ impedance and sensitivity
in order to generate their highest operational efficiency.
Tip : For in-ear-monitors (earbuds) try PowerMatch off. For headphones try PowerMatch on, When on, the gain increases by 10dB. If your IEMs are very sensitive, try using the iEMatch feature (item 7).
XBass (on/off)
Many headphones lack the correct bass response. XBass is an analogue circuit
designed to ‘add back’ the lost bass response for a more accurate reproduction
of the original music.
Audio Format LED (kHz)
The LED colour scheme indicates the audio format and sampling frequency
received by hip dac 3 from the music source.
LED Mode
- Yellow PCM 44.1/48kHz
- White PCM 88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz
- Cyan DSD 64/128
- Red DSD 256
- Green MQA
- Blue MQA Studio
- Magenta Original Sample Rate**MQB
Warning : Installing GTO enabled firmware may result in the LED’s on this device no longer changing in accordance with the above table
ON/OFF and Analogue Volume Control
The analogue volume control in hip dac 3 is superior to any digital volume
control.
Warning: Due to the high power of hip dac 3, always start off at a low volume level so that there is no risk of damage to your headphones and your hearing. iFi audio is not responsible for any hearing or equipment damage from misuse.
Tip : hip dac 3 will continue to use battery power even if the USB cable is connected afterwards.
Tip : For connection to Apple devices, Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter is required. For connection to Android devices, USB-C to USB-C cable and appropriate OS support are required.
For more information, please refer to www.ifi-audio.com
Balanced 4.4mm headphone output
Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones.
S-Balanced 3.5mm headphone output
Connect 3.5mm headphones.
iEMatch switch
iEMatch reduces the output level, so that even the most sensitive In-Ear-
Monitors (IEMs) can be matched to the hip dac 3.
Tip: The hip dac 3 or the headphone will not be damaged if the iEMatch switch is adjusted incorrectly, but the attenuation level will not be correct.
USB-C data input port
Connect your phone to the hip dac 3 with a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter
(Apple) or USB-C to USB-C cable (Android). When using other audio sources,
please connect with a USB cable. This USB-C port is intended for data transfer
only.
Tip : For Apple iOS and Android devices, please use battery power on the hip dac 3, otherwise you may receive error messages from your device.
Note : For use with PC it is necessary to download drivers.
Tip : For the required driver and all the latest firmware updates please refer to our website: www.ifi-audio.com/download-hub/
USB-C (5V) battery charge input
For charging only. It will take ~3 hours for a high-powered USB charger to
fully charge hip dac 3. Use the enclosed USB ‘Type A’ to ‘Type C’ cable, smart
charger or a regular charger up to 6.3V.
LED for Battery Status
LED Status
- White > 75%
- Green > 25%
- Red > 10%
- Red (flashing) ≤ 10%
- Battery LED will flash when it is charging
SPECIFICATIONS
- Input : USB-C
- Formats supported : DSD256 / 11.3MHz PCM 384kHz full MQA Decoder
- DAC : Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
Headphone Outputs:
- Balanced : 4.4mm
- S – BAL : 3.5mm
Power Output:
- Balanced : 400mW @ 32Ω; 6.3V @ 600Ω
- S-BAL: 280mW @ 32Ω; 3.2V @ 600Ω
Output Impedance:
- Balanced : ≤1Ω , With iEMatch engaged: ≤4.5Ω
- S-BAL: ≤1Ω , With iEMatch engaged: ≤4.5Ω
SNR:
- Balanced : ≥109dB(A) @ 0dBFS
- S-BAL: ≥103dB(A) @ 0dBFS
DNR:
- Balanced : ≥109dB(A)
- S-BAL: ≥103dB(A
THD + N:
- Balanced: <0.006X% (360mW/2.0V @ 600Ω)
- S-BAL: <0.01% (100mW/1.27V @ 16Ω)
- Frequency Response : 20Hz – 45kHz (-3dB)
- Power Consumption : <2W idle, 4W max
- Battery: Lithium-polymer 2200mAh approx. 8 hours
- Power System: Charging via USB-C,BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current
- Dimensions: 102 x 70 x 14 mm (4.0″ x 2.8″ x 0.6″)
- Net weight : 135 g (0.30 lbs)
- Limited Warranty: 12 months*
12 months typical or as permitted/required by local reseller laws. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>