iFi audio hip-DAC 3 Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier

• With its sleek, robust aluminum enclosure, the portable hip-dac 3 discreetly fits in a pocket or bag. It replaces the subpar DAC and amplifier in smartphones, tablets, and computers. Just connect via USB-C, plug in your favorite 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 optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect hi-res partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

• 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 analog 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 balanced output.

• The amp stage has switchable gain, called PowerMatch, to ensure optimal power for the headphones you are using.
• An underside switch engages iFi’s iEMatch technology, optimizing 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 a user-selectable feature that boosts bass without muddying the midrange, ideal for your earphones and open-back headphones. It works in the analog domain, avoiding alterations via DSP.

• Hi-res PCM and DXD audio data are supported at sample rates up to 384 kHz, alongside DSD from 2.8 to 12.4 MHz (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’).
• A pair of LEDs on either side of the rotary volume control change color to indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio.

• The hip-dac 3’s USB-C input supports up to 32-bit/384 kHz 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 offers up to 12 hours of playtime, varying by volume and headphone power needs. It includes a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Hi-Res Audio 

• Hi-Res True Native playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

Burr-Brown MultiBit

• The Burr-Brown True Native chipset means file formats remain unchanged or “bit-perfect”, so you can listen to music as the artist intended – in the format in which it was recorded.
• iFi uses Burr-Brown extensively in their products due to its natural-sounding musicality and True Native architecture.

XMOS 16x

• The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input.
• This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.
• iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

• MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording.
• The master MQA file is fully authenticated and small enough to stream or download.
• The hip-dac 3 adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.

Balanced Circuit

• Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk.
• Less Interference – clearer sound.
• You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its entire range of products.

XBass

• XBass is an analog headphone spatializer. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of the spaciousness experienced at a live concert.

S-Balanced Performance

• IEM system balanced optimized.
• iFi’s exclusive S-Balanced circuit delivers maximum performance from single-ended and balanced headphones alike.

The hip-dac 3 sports an extruded aluminum enclosure which is sufficiently robust to be carried around without fear of damage or breakage. However, iFi offers a soft, suede-like wrap to provide protection at home or on the go without hindering the control functionality.