*UPDATE 4/23 I found a use for XBASS! Playing Beastie Boys Intergalactic, my Ozzy playlist, and Public Enemy in my rap playlist, gave good results with my audeze LCD-XC. And some good results with the Sennheiser HD600s. It's for sure song, album, & genre related. Not something you just click on and listen to all day. 👍💯🎼✨
@@vpconcepts9838 hmmm, I have the Gryphon using the Hisenior Mega5est anniversary IEMs .... I've never heard anything else... Wondering if I should sell it and just get the go blue....
I got my hip dac 3 for $135. Loving its performance so far! The setup I'm planning for: Dragonfly Cobalt / Hip DAC 3 + Sony's MUC-M12SM2(3.5mm) / NB1(4.4mm) + Sennheiser ie200 + possibly an adapter for ie200
Very good review. I already own the hip dac 3 and I like it. I have two headphones including the Focal Celestee and the Dan Clak Aeon 2 Noire. Is upgrading to the ifi Gryphon a good thing in terms of sound quality? Or is it just the power that is superior and the connectivity?
@@mariorock76 I tested the gryphon and sent it back. The HipDac 3 sounded better! I just got the focal Stellia & will be reviewing those on my channel next month. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
Upscaled your PCM to DSD, you will hear the depth with this HD3! That's what separates Go-Blu and Hip Dac 3, the Go-Blu supports wireless codec like LDAC but HD3 supports DSD up to 256. Get the Onkyo HF Player on your iPhone, it can upscaled all your PCM music to DSD 128. When the LED on your Hip Dac 3 turned Cyan, prepare to hear clarity and depth like never before - it's even smoother, like analogue tube smooth.
It’s very interesting that you mention the timbre comparison. I’m currently on the lookout for a good dac, not necessarily portable but preferably usb powered. I’ve had the Mojo 1 for a long time but it’s conked out recently. I want to mostly use my Beyerdynamic Amiron Home full size headphones, and am more attracted by realistic timbre compared to a technically better resolution. What in your opinion is a good dac purely for realistic/ natural/ lifelike timbre, portable or otherwise but usb powered preferably. Thanks in advance!
Hey, thanks for the link. Checked it out, looks good. Although when I said usb powered I meant anything that can be driven off a usb based power supply, like the iFi Zen Dac, because in my work as an architect I travel quite a lot and prefer having a portable power supply like a power bank as opposed to a wall charger if possible, especially as I intent to upgrade to a better amp later on (currently at my desk is a Zen Air Can). Would appreciate your thoughts on these requirements. Thanks!
Also just mentioning that my main source devices would be my iPad (usb c) and iPhone (lightning). So don’t want a device that would drain a lot of battery as well. Thanks
Just ordered my first IEM's, the Thieaudio Prestige LTD's, and chose this DAC to drive them. I might swap it for the Gryphon but we'll see how it goes. The Hip Dac is a little smaller and lighter but that Gryphon has some nicer more versatile inputs as well as BT, but $350 more. I'm sure the Hip Dac will sound just fine and the portability is nice.
@@gcruishank9663 I had the gryphon in for testing & sent it back. The HIP DAC 3 sounded better. I was bummed & surprised. My Go Blu sounds better than the HIP DAC 3 in my opinion. Thanks for watching!
The Hi-Res 96 kHz 24 bits Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S is prefect for me with a AKG K240 MKII and costs 6x less... While waiting for someone to decide to create a protocol allowing FLAC to be transmitted via Bluetooth 5.x, there is also Sony and its LDAC codec (96 kHz, 990 kbit/s) which works very well with headphones like the WH-1000XM3, plus it works under Linux. In recent days I sold my Cambridge-Audio Hifi network player and installed an RPi5 with Logitech Media Server to replace it. It is plugged directly into the USB DAC B of my Electrocompaniet integrated amplifier. I only have one thing to say Wow... the sound quality is magnificent, exceptional, all this for barely $150 !! You should try... :)
@@vpconcepts9838 One Rpi 5 with UBS connexion on amplifier have à better quality of song versus a Cambridge audio network player... it's the best one for my, all for 120 $... Same thing for the Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S, it’s great. And under Linux you can even choose to output your music on 3.5 mm jack in analog or digital quality :)
Giving time for all the sensitive high tolerance caps, capacitors, power supply, etc...to warm up & cool down, expand & shrink, and so on. It really changes the sound for the better. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
Hey Paul! Will definitely be watching out for your Gryphon review 😎 I have a similar dilemma as you with the ifi DAC in figuring out which one to buy. My use case is very different though - I'm using AT WP900 cans with the 4.4mm A2DC cable and an 8 inch android tablet as the source. The Gryphon in my humble opinion is absolute overkill for BT portable use - it's just not as small or light as the Go Blu and neither are the massive/expensive cans you would be driving with it. The hip-dac-3 lacks BT making it a hassle to keep plugged in and wired while using it on the go - it's best meant for sitting next to a laptop with two USB C ports. The WP900 cans are about at the limit for what I would want to carry and have on me - no bigger/heavier. The Go Blu can clip onto a front shirt pocket or hang it around the neck. You really would need something like those old belt cases for cameras to make the Gryphon and hip-dac-3 on-the-go usable... or keep them in an inside jacket pocket if you're in a colder climate! I did want to throw out a question though - have you tried the Go Blu with that DDHifi USB C cable? My understanding is you need OTG for it to work, so I am puzzled how that USB4 male to male dongle you were showing off 6 months ago was able to work??? Both the WP900 cans and the Go Blu are on order - I should be getting them in soon to do my testing. Let me know if you would like me to chime back in here with the results!
Hello! Yes, the go blu is the winner between the hip Dac3 & gryphon. I sent the gryphon back and chose not to do a review, due to its issues. The go blu sounds better, more portable, blue tooth, built in mic...you can't beat it. It sounds like it has a little tube inside it. Be sure to activate the green filter for best sound quality. I never use xbass or space. I have the iPhone 15. The DDHIFI usb c to usb c works great. But after getting my new KIMBER Fenix IEM cable, and ear buds, I have tuned my Canary's to sound better in blu tooth than with it hard wired. I know you will have fun experimenting. Keep us posted! 👍🎼💯✨
@@scotteaton963 Still currently burning in my gear, but from what I've heard so far (pun intended) the Go Blu is having no issues pushing the WP900. I do not have the Hip Dac 3 to compare. I'm not hearing any audio delays either over BT so it's fine for movie watching as well. These cans are rated at 1000mW but the 243mW coming out of the Go Blu is enough to push these with plenty of volume to spare. I'll be doing a full review once I've got them over that 50hr threshold 😎
I heard the 1, and it was great. But I wanted a balanced 4.4 connection and a usb-c setup for my MacBook. This was also only $199.00. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
*UPDATE 4/23
I found a use for XBASS!
Playing Beastie Boys Intergalactic, my Ozzy playlist, and Public Enemy in my rap playlist, gave good results with my audeze LCD-XC. And some good results with the Sennheiser HD600s. It's for sure song, album, & genre related. Not something you just click on and listen to all day.
👍💯🎼✨
I have meze 99 classic and Nightowls, both have nice thick bottom ends, I still use the boost 🤣
Great review thank you so much. I have just ordered one of these and I have Sennheiser HD 650s so I can’t wait to see what it does. 👍.
@@ArcMediaFilms nice! Enjoy 👍🎼💯✨
Would love to hear you talk about the ifi Gryphon. Great review
@@WhoobieD Well, I ended up returning it. The timbres were not natural, the music sounded metallic and not natural. 🤷♂️💯✨
@@vpconcepts9838 hmmm, I have the Gryphon using the Hisenior Mega5est anniversary IEMs .... I've never heard anything else... Wondering if I should sell it and just get the go blue....
looks like one of those containers you put alcohol in…
Yup! It was done on purpose to look like that.
😉👌💯🎼✨
I got my hip dac 3 for $135. Loving its performance so far!
The setup I'm planning for:
Dragonfly Cobalt / Hip DAC 3 + Sony's MUC-M12SM2(3.5mm) / NB1(4.4mm) + Sennheiser ie200 + possibly an adapter for ie200
@@afterschoolboy Thanks for watching!
👊💯🎼✨
Haven't seen the video yet, but I liked it anyway as I know I will
Edit, it's with in my budget!
Woot!
🤗 THANKS VP ,FOR SHARING THIS DETAILED REVIEW,FOR THE AUDIOPHILE COMMUNITY…AND GETTING ME TO LISTEN 👂🏻 TO PAT M. AGAIN 😎🤩
Very good review. I already own the hip dac 3 and I like it. I have two headphones including the Focal Celestee and the Dan Clak Aeon 2 Noire. Is upgrading to the ifi Gryphon a good thing in terms of sound quality? Or is it just the power that is superior and the connectivity?
@@mariorock76 I tested the gryphon and sent it back. The HipDac 3 sounded better!
I just got the focal Stellia & will be reviewing those on my channel next month. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
Upscaled your PCM to DSD, you will hear the depth with this HD3!
That's what separates Go-Blu and Hip Dac 3, the Go-Blu supports wireless codec like LDAC but HD3 supports DSD up to 256. Get the Onkyo HF Player on your iPhone, it can upscaled all your PCM music to DSD 128. When the LED on your Hip Dac 3 turned Cyan, prepare to hear clarity and depth like never before - it's even smoother, like analogue tube smooth.
Thanks for the tip! 👊💯🎼✨
Many thanks for the review. One remark though if I may, you could use a small tripod for your phone in order to free the other hand for unboxing.
@@adisolar I've done that, people complained at the viewing angle, so I just do me now 😂👍🎼✨
It’s very interesting that you mention the timbre comparison. I’m currently on the lookout for a good dac, not necessarily portable but preferably usb powered. I’ve had the Mojo 1 for a long time but it’s conked out recently. I want to mostly use my Beyerdynamic Amiron Home full size headphones, and am more attracted by realistic timbre compared to a technically better resolution. What in your opinion is a good dac purely for realistic/ natural/ lifelike timbre, portable or otherwise but usb powered preferably. Thanks in advance!
You may want to check this new one out if you don't want the go blu or hip Dac 3....
th-cam.com/video/x3TVuXruKu4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xsvSAeuogYRNXrc3
Hey, thanks for the link. Checked it out, looks good. Although when I said usb powered I meant anything that can be driven off a usb based power supply, like the iFi Zen Dac, because in my work as an architect I travel quite a lot and prefer having a portable power supply like a power bank as opposed to a wall charger if possible, especially as I intent to upgrade to a better amp later on (currently at my desk is a Zen Air Can). Would appreciate your thoughts on these requirements. Thanks!
Also just mentioning that my main source devices would be my iPad (usb c) and iPhone (lightning). So don’t want a device that would drain a lot of battery as well.
Thanks
Just ordered my first IEM's, the Thieaudio Prestige LTD's, and chose this DAC to drive them. I might swap it for the Gryphon but we'll see how it goes. The Hip Dac is a little smaller and lighter but that Gryphon has some nicer more versatile inputs as well as BT, but $350 more. I'm sure the Hip Dac will sound just fine and the portability is nice.
@@gcruishank9663 I had the gryphon in for testing & sent it back. The HIP DAC 3 sounded better. I was bummed & surprised.
My Go Blu sounds better than the HIP DAC 3 in my opinion. Thanks for watching!
Wow, that’s interesting given it’s pretty much the same technology, no? Most reviews are pretty outstanding. Wonder if you had a bum unit?
@gcruishank9663 Not sure, they said it was new. 🤷♂️🎼✨
I wonder why the camera is always held so high...
The Hi-Res 96 kHz 24 bits Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S is prefect for me with a AKG K240 MKII and costs 6x less... While waiting for someone to decide to create a protocol allowing FLAC to be transmitted via Bluetooth 5.x, there is also Sony and its LDAC codec (96 kHz, 990 kbit/s) which works very well with headphones like the WH-1000XM3, plus it works under Linux.
In recent days I sold my Cambridge-Audio Hifi network player and installed an RPi5 with Logitech Media Server to replace it. It is plugged directly into the USB DAC B of my Electrocompaniet integrated amplifier. I only have one thing to say Wow... the sound quality is magnificent, exceptional, all this for barely $150 !! You should try... :)
Thanks Phil, it's always nice to have options. What were your listening impressions of this unit, when comparing it to those cheaper options?
@@vpconcepts9838 One Rpi 5 with UBS connexion on amplifier have à better quality of song versus a Cambridge audio network player... it's the best one for my, all for 120 $...
Same thing for the Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S, it’s great. And under Linux you can even choose to output your music on 3.5 mm jack in analog or digital quality :)
Cost effective and small in size can't beat it !!!
You bet! For $199 it's a steal 👊🎼💯✨
Burn it in?.?
Giving time for all the sensitive high tolerance caps, capacitors, power supply, etc...to warm up & cool down, expand & shrink, and so on. It really changes the sound for the better. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
Hey Paul! Will definitely be watching out for your Gryphon review 😎
I have a similar dilemma as you with the ifi DAC in figuring out which one to buy. My use case is very different though - I'm using AT WP900 cans with the 4.4mm A2DC cable and an 8 inch android tablet as the source. The Gryphon in my humble opinion is absolute overkill for BT portable use - it's just not as small or light as the Go Blu and neither are the massive/expensive cans you would be driving with it. The hip-dac-3 lacks BT making it a hassle to keep plugged in and wired while using it on the go - it's best meant for sitting next to a laptop with two USB C ports.
The WP900 cans are about at the limit for what I would want to carry and have on me - no bigger/heavier. The Go Blu can clip onto a front shirt pocket or hang it around the neck. You really would need something like those old belt cases for cameras to make the Gryphon and hip-dac-3 on-the-go usable... or keep them in an inside jacket pocket if you're in a colder climate!
I did want to throw out a question though - have you tried the Go Blu with that DDHifi USB C cable? My understanding is you need OTG for it to work, so I am puzzled how that USB4 male to male dongle you were showing off 6 months ago was able to work???
Both the WP900 cans and the Go Blu are on order - I should be getting them in soon to do my testing. Let me know if you would like me to chime back in here with the results!
Hello! Yes, the go blu is the winner between the hip Dac3 & gryphon. I sent the gryphon back and chose not to do a review, due to its issues. The go blu sounds better, more portable, blue tooth, built in mic...you can't beat it. It sounds like it has a little tube inside it. Be sure to activate the green filter for best sound quality. I never use xbass or space.
I have the iPhone 15. The DDHIFI usb c to usb c works great. But after getting my new KIMBER Fenix IEM cable, and ear buds, I have tuned my Canary's to sound better in blu tooth than with it hard wired. I know you will have fun experimenting. Keep us posted! 👍🎼💯✨
@vpconcepts9838 would you recommend the Go Blu over the Hip Dac 3? None of my IEMs or cans are hard to drive.
@@scotteaton963 I use go blu exclusively for IEMs & my Hip Dac 3 for everything else. But if I could choose only 1?...Go blu 💯
@@vpconcepts9838 thanks!
@@scotteaton963 Still currently burning in my gear, but from what I've heard so far (pun intended) the Go Blu is having no issues pushing the WP900. I do not have the Hip Dac 3 to compare. I'm not hearing any audio delays either over BT so it's fine for movie watching as well. These cans are rated at 1000mW but the 243mW coming out of the Go Blu is enough to push these with plenty of volume to spare. I'll be doing a full review once I've got them over that 50hr threshold 😎
I wonder what you'd think about the Chord Mojo 2? It's supposed to be pretty good...
I heard the 1, and it was great. But I
wanted a balanced 4.4 connection and a usb-c setup for my MacBook. This was also only $199.00. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨
Does it support hd620s headphone using at while travelling ?
@@drpatel55 any headphone with a 3.5 or 4.4 connector. Sounds nice on my HD600.
Thanks for watching 👍💯✨
Serafino Generation 2°
no rain today nice lol 😅
Right! Thanks for watching! 😂👍🎼✨
Has anyone here tried the ddhifi USB C to Coax with iPhone?.. if so were you pleased with the results.
How is this compered to ifi go bar kensei?
I heard the normal go bar & liked it, but this has a different form factor & use for me. They are both great! 👌🎼✨
How do the ifi hip dac 3 vs the fiio ka 17 ?
Haven't heard the KA 17 yet. Thanks for watching! 👌🎼✨