Hip-dac2: Portable USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier

• Powerful 16-core XMOS chip processes data over USB
• Now a full MQA decoder
• Completes all three unfolds to deliver the highest possible sound quality
• Handles up to PCM 384kHz and DSD256
• Upgraded GMT clock
• Extruded aluminum enclosure now finished in vibrant 'sunset orange’
• Replaces inferior DAC and amp circuitry in smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs
• Tailor sound to suit your headphones and personal sonic taste
• Balanced analogue circuitry design for ultra-low distortion
• 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced analogue output
• 3.5mm S-Balanced analogue outputs cuts distortion by 50% with single-ended headphones
• Outstanding components including iFi OV op-amp, TDK C0G capacitors and a high-quality rotary volume pot

The hip-dac just got hipper! Colorful. Capable. Crisper.

The new 16-core XMOS chip, which processes data over USB, delivers double the clock speed and four times the memory. This improves overall performance and adds full MQA decoding to the hip-dac2‘s skill set. There also a upgraded crystal clock which contributes to purer, crisper sound.

Shooting from the hip

The Burr-Brown DAC chip selected for for its fluid, highly ‘musical’ sound quality and True Native architecture, together with iFi custom circuitry, enables the hip-dac2 to deliver excellent sound quality across digital audio formats, including bit-perfect PCM, native DSD and MQA.

The upgraded crystal clock eradicates jitter (digital distortion), using iFi’s GMT femto precision clocking system. This maintains the integrity of the digital signal until conversion to analogue and enhances sound quality.

MQA decoded
Thanks to the XMOS 16 core tech, the hip-dac2 is now an MQA Decoder rather than a Renderer only.

This enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. The LED glows green or blue to indicate that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical to that of the source material. It glows blue to indicate it is playing an MQA Studio file, which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner.

(MQA rendering technology (used in the original hip-dac among other iFi products) connects to an MQA Core signal (such as TIDAL) and completes the final unfold of an MQA file. Usually, the computer has carried out the decoding. )

Power hungry? hip-dac2 it!
The circuitry incorporates a range of high-quality components, carefully selected for their performance in an audio context, including a custom iFi OV op-amp, TDK C0G class 1 ceramic capacitors, a precision low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments and a high-quality analogue volume pot.

The amp stage can deliver 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of headphone and earphone types with power to spare. Even high-impedance headphones are handled with ease thanks to output voltage of 6.3V into 600 ohms (from the balanced output).

Switchable Sonics
The amp stage features switchable gain, which is called PowerMatch. 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.

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.

Get Connected

Two outputs are provided – a 3.5mm socket for headphones with a single-ended cable/connector and a Balanced 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the hip-dac2’s differential amp design.

Protect & Serve
Both the original hip-dac and the new hip-dac2 sport a 102x70x14mm extruded aluminum enclosure, sufficiently robust to be ported around without fear of breakage.

LCD-2 Classic: Planar Magnetic Over Ear Open Back Headphones

• Planar Magnetic Headphones
• Proprietary Magnet Array
• Frequency response: 10Hz - 50kHz
• Handcrafted in the USA=

Connect to the Music
The most forgiving of the Audeze LCD headphones, the LCD Origins series offers an engaging musical experience that features powerful bass and a rich midrange. Connect to the music as though you're in the room with the musicians.

What's included?

• LCD-2 Classic planar magnetic headphones
• 1.9m 1/4'' to dual 4-pin mini-XLR cable
• User guide and warranty card