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iFi Hip-dac2 - Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input Only/Outputs: 3.5mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced – MQA Decoder
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | iFi |
Color | Orange |
Material | Aluminum |
Model Name | Hip DAC 2 |
Power Source | Battery Powered |
About this item
- ✅PORTABLE DESIGN - Your music will never stop with 6-8 hrs of battery life (depending on use) and a slim, lightweight design perfect for carrying in your pocket wherever life takes you.
- ✅HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - From Spotify to Tidal MQA to MP3 and beyond, play any high res audio format with native digital to analog conversion so you can listen to any song the way the original recording was intended
- ✅POWERFUL AMPLIFIER - Suited to your style, listen to in ear monitors or drive over the ear headphones with 400 mW max power output from the on-board amplifier
- ✅EASY CONNECTIVITY – Connects directly to your smartphone with the USB Input, and works with balanced 4.4mm or S-Bal 3.5mm headphone plugs for ultimate convenience and versatility
- ✅UPGRADED - The hip-dac2 has been upgraded to give you an even more pleasurable portable audio experience, it now is a full MQA decoder and has an upgraded GMT Clock.
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From the brand
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About iFi
You love music, so that’s why we create products that improve sound quality and eradicate noise, distortion and hiss.
With our vast catalogue of devices, you can bring the live experience into your home. Or if you prefer your music on-the-go, we deliver every cymbal crash and pluck of a string in clear isolation straight to your ears.
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What makes our products unique?
Our products are known for their high-quality sound, unique features, and innovative technology. They use proprietary technologies, high-quality materials, and offer a wide range of products, including portable options.
Are our products high quality?
Our company uses high-quality components and advanced circuitry in their products, which results in clean and accurate sound reproduction. We have a dedicated team of experienced engineers and designers who are passionate about producing the best possible audio products.
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Product Description
Product information
Product Dimensions | 4.02 x 2.76 x 0.55 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 4.8 ounces |
ASIN | B09H39FCTH |
Item model number | 312005 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #48,156 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #55 in Headphone Amps |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | September 24, 2021 |
Manufacturer | Abbingdon Music Research |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, portability, and build quality of the hearing amplifier. For example, they mention the bass boost is nice, and it allows them to truly enjoy their hi-res music. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, quality, battery life, and ease of connection.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the hearing amplifier. They mention that the sound is awesome, the bass boost is very nice, and the analog sound control is great. The device allows them to truly enjoy their hi-res music without breaking the bank. They also appreciate the hefty volume knob and the amp and base boost buttons.
"...steaming and frankly for all day listening I find Spotify audio quality very consistent and non-fatiguing...." Read more
"...Even a Nintendo Switch Lite. As far as audio goes, it sounds great. I really can’t elaborate much more than that...." Read more
"...pretty underwhelming, this amp/dac will wake them up and the sound quality is fantastic...." Read more
"Audio quality is great, the build quality is nice and I would recommend it overall, but there are a couple of significant drawbacks that if improved..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the hearing amplifier. Some mention it's worth the purchase, for portable hi-fi with high-end, high-bass headphones, with good sound and decent power. However, others say that it seems like it'd been built in a cheap way, especially the connectors and adapters. They also say that the device routinely cuts out during MQA decoding.
"...impressed with this DAC and it suits my needs for portable hi-fi with high-end, high-bass headphones. The price point was excellent...." Read more
"...The Hip-DAC pushes out some serious sound for its small build and modest price tag...." Read more
"...Cheap jack they must be using for that side or the adapter is made cheap to where it’s not connecting properly inside ...." Read more
"Excellent product. Using it to get Hi res Lossless out of my Iphone and it sounds very good. Noticeably better...." Read more
Customers like the portability of the hearing amplifier. They mention that it is very compact, sits nice in a coat pocket, and has a rechargeable battery. Some say that it's an excellent portable DAC and a hi-end DAC in your pocket.
"...The HipDac is the most powerful, portable and flexible DAC you can buy for under $200...." Read more
"...Very compact and sits nice in coat pocket with phone. Hefty volume knob is an awesome touch, as are the amp and base boost buttons...." Read more
"...are sitting on a desk, but when you are on the go etc, this becomes quite clunky and inconvenient...." Read more
"...This is my best portable Dac, much better than Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt and cost less. Sign me up again and again." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the build quality of the hearing amplifier. They mention that it is fantastic, solid, and has an extremely high-quality DAC. Some say that the unit stopped working.
"...Tidal MQA works well and is extremely high quality, so much so it will show you the true levels of the recordings complete with all the scratchy..." Read more
"...I wish everything had the recessed USB A connection. It feels more sturdy to be shoved in a pocket than any other option...." Read more
"Audio quality is great, the build quality is nice and I would recommend it overall, but there are a couple of significant drawbacks that if improved..." Read more
"...The build quality is fantastic too. The reason I returned this amp is, I'd forgotten that some of the more..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the power of the hearing amplifier. They mention that it has decent power, enough to handle 300 ohms, and is smooth and compact. Some say that the amp is a good amp as long as they are not using it on a phone. The power and clarity are phenomenal, and it holds a charge well.
"...The HipDac is the most powerful, portable and flexible DAC you can buy for under $200...." Read more
"...No issues powering everything from high end Shure IEMs to Grado SR325i's to Sennheiser 660s...." Read more
"...I am glad I did. The power and clarity and just phenomenal, and are driving the 650s as well as my 200 watt per channel amp, creating the same..." Read more
"...Powerful enough to handle 300 ohms. Burr Brown buttery goodness. Get it on sale...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the DAC. Some mention that it works really well paired with CNCESS CESS-267 Male 4.4mm to Locking, and does a killer job. They also find it to be a quite capable desktop DAC, while others say that it didn't work at all, stopped working, and was not as powerful as they expected.
"...Plus they have excellent playlists for office/work music. Tidal MQA works well and is extremely high quality, so much so it will show you the true..." Read more
"...Sometimes it goes away. Other times the HipDAC stops working and you have to turn it off and on...." Read more
"...This DAC works really well paired with CNCESS CESS-267 Male 4.4mm to Locking Type 6.35mm 1/4 Inch TRS Female Jack Adapter Cable (on Amazon)...." Read more
"...So far it works amazing! I use an HD 58x, HE-4xx, and in a few days the Meze 99 Noir...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of connection. Some mention that it's very easy to connect and works well, while others say that it has been a nightmare to connect to their iPhone. They say that the product is made cheap and not connecting properly inside.
"...is a version issue, I am not sure, but for me the connection was completely straight forward and as follows:..." Read more
"...cables and connectors as shown in image-1 but they were all useless for iPhone connection...." Read more
"...need to download a driver from their webside and install it, it is very easy and works so well...." Read more
"...So why the mediocre review? It truly sounded and is super easy to use but . . ...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the battery life of the hearing amplifier. Some mention that it has been longer than expected, while others say that it only lasts a few hours and quickly drains their phone battery.
"...'ll need all your cables around almost always because the battery only lasts a few hours, I include a portable battery pack with everything - so 5..." Read more
"...It’ll make your headphones come alive!! Battery life has been longer than expected...." Read more
"...I also found it to quickly drain my phone battery.I returned it and ordered what I wanted, the HD2...." Read more
"...nitpick, the only downside to the iFi Hip-dac2 is that the battery life is not as long as I would like it to be...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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I bought the original HipDac and liked it so much getting the HipDac2 was a no brainer. The HipDac is the most powerful, portable and flexible DAC you can buy for under $200. Despite it being geared for headphone mobile us, after looking at the specs and the capabilities, I literally found it to be a quite capable desktop DAC. The only drawback in doing so is having to use a 3mm headphone jack for output to the rest of my stereo chain. I listen to Spotify or Tidal all day in my home office. I use the premium subscriptions for each Spotify for playlist listening, Tidal for reviewing artists and previewing for vinyl purchases.
The HipDac goes into other low cost gear...from the HipDac it goes to a Fosi MM tube pre-amp that also doubles as a signal pre. From there it loops through a Bellari EQ570 and on to a Nobsound 6p1 tube amp. (Rolled to HQ tubes) from there out to the very excellent Wharfdale 80th Anniversary Dentons. I use the line matching button and extra bass, I run the level on the HipDac at about 1 o'clock and control the overall volume at the amp.
Some caveats of using it as a HiFi system DAC. The major drawback is getting the streaming audio to it takes up some space on the rack. Yes, you can use a phone, PC, laptop or tablet but for phones and tablets, it is problematic to charge and play at the same time. I have had inconsistent success doing so with both Android and iOS devices. I ended up sticking with a Lenovo tablet and using USB Audio Player Pro's custom android audio driver for Tidal and native spotify use. USBAPP drive will take over chores and provide bit perfect streaming with their Tidal implementation. Using spotify native app is pretty much seamless. The Lenovo gives me 12-14 hours of playing time. Spotify premium allows 320 kbits steaming and frankly for all day listening I find Spotify audio quality very consistent and non-fatiguing. Plus they have excellent playlists for office/work music. Tidal MQA works well and is extremely high quality, so much so it will show you the true levels of the recordings complete with all the scratchy instrument hairballs and magnetic dust bunnies. This detail can be fatiguing to listen to.
There is a learning curve to getting the highest audio quality possible for least amount of $$ possible. If you are into that quest the HipDac2 is a good place to start regardless how you use it, it is simply a really good device.
If it is your first time using a DAC you discover things in your favorite music, in the recording and in the voices of singers and instruments that you never heard before because you were listening to a crappy DAC and low resolution stream. If you are already a long time audiophile and want to move beyond the limitations of wireless headphone listening or phone onboard DACS you will. be rewarded.
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2022
I bought the original HipDac and liked it so much getting the HipDac2 was a no brainer. The HipDac is the most powerful, portable and flexible DAC you can buy for under $200. Despite it being geared for headphone mobile us, after looking at the specs and the capabilities, I literally found it to be a quite capable desktop DAC. The only drawback in doing so is having to use a 3mm headphone jack for output to the rest of my stereo chain. I listen to Spotify or Tidal all day in my home office. I use the premium subscriptions for each Spotify for playlist listening, Tidal for reviewing artists and previewing for vinyl purchases.
The HipDac goes into other low cost gear...from the HipDac it goes to a Fosi MM tube pre-amp that also doubles as a signal pre. From there it loops through a Bellari EQ570 and on to a Nobsound 6p1 tube amp. (Rolled to HQ tubes) from there out to the very excellent Wharfdale 80th Anniversary Dentons. I use the line matching button and extra bass, I run the level on the HipDac at about 1 o'clock and control the overall volume at the amp.
Some caveats of using it as a HiFi system DAC. The major drawback is getting the streaming audio to it takes up some space on the rack. Yes, you can use a phone, PC, laptop or tablet but for phones and tablets, it is problematic to charge and play at the same time. I have had inconsistent success doing so with both Android and iOS devices. I ended up sticking with a Lenovo tablet and using USB Audio Player Pro's custom android audio driver for Tidal and native spotify use. USBAPP drive will take over chores and provide bit perfect streaming with their Tidal implementation. Using spotify native app is pretty much seamless. The Lenovo gives me 12-14 hours of playing time. Spotify premium allows 320 kbits steaming and frankly for all day listening I find Spotify audio quality very consistent and non-fatiguing. Plus they have excellent playlists for office/work music. Tidal MQA works well and is extremely high quality, so much so it will show you the true levels of the recordings complete with all the scratchy instrument hairballs and magnetic dust bunnies. This detail can be fatiguing to listen to.
There is a learning curve to getting the highest audio quality possible for least amount of $$ possible. If you are into that quest the HipDac2 is a good place to start regardless how you use it, it is simply a really good device.
If it is your first time using a DAC you discover things in your favorite music, in the recording and in the voices of singers and instruments that you never heard before because you were listening to a crappy DAC and low resolution stream. If you are already a long time audiophile and want to move beyond the limitations of wireless headphone listening or phone onboard DACS you will. be rewarded.
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2023
En cuanto a materiales tiene excelente calidad de construcción y ese color naranja está increíble (eso depende de los gustos y es muy subjetivo). Los botones se sienten sólidos y la rueda de volumen de excelente calidad. Su tamaño es bastante compacto para lo que es (y su potencia de amplificación).
Decidí comprar este DAC y hacerlo mi segundo (el primero fue iFi Zen DAC) ya que me gusta esta firma de sonido, bastante cálida y sabrosa, tiene muy buena extensión en graves (no necesito usar el Extra Bass, al menos no con mis audífonos Sennheiser IE300), y bastante claridad en medios; los agudos se sienten redondeados y poco o nada sibilantes.
Utilizo el Hip DAC con Apple Music Lossless y Hi-Res Lossless, lo he utilizado con un iPad Pro, un iPhone y una MacBook y va increíblemente bien.
En general, es una gran opción para llevar al trabajo, a la oficina, o andar por ahí y tener una buena calidad de audio.
Pros:
+ Buen sonido, cálido y claro.
+ Buen bajo.
+ Excelentes materiales de construcción.
+ Bonito color (subjetivo).
Contras:
- Puede ser muy grande para algunas personas, sobre todo incómodo para llevártelo en tu pantalón.
- Si eres usuario de iOS (iPhone) necesitarás un adaptador u OTG.
Conclusión:
Recomendado.
Reviewed in Mexico on February 7, 2022
En cuanto a materiales tiene excelente calidad de construcción y ese color naranja está increíble (eso depende de los gustos y es muy subjetivo). Los botones se sienten sólidos y la rueda de volumen de excelente calidad. Su tamaño es bastante compacto para lo que es (y su potencia de amplificación).
Decidí comprar este DAC y hacerlo mi segundo (el primero fue iFi Zen DAC) ya que me gusta esta firma de sonido, bastante cálida y sabrosa, tiene muy buena extensión en graves (no necesito usar el Extra Bass, al menos no con mis audífonos Sennheiser IE300), y bastante claridad en medios; los agudos se sienten redondeados y poco o nada sibilantes.
Utilizo el Hip DAC con Apple Music Lossless y Hi-Res Lossless, lo he utilizado con un iPad Pro, un iPhone y una MacBook y va increíblemente bien.
En general, es una gran opción para llevar al trabajo, a la oficina, o andar por ahí y tener una buena calidad de audio.
Pros:
+ Buen sonido, cálido y claro.
+ Buen bajo.
+ Excelentes materiales de construcción.
+ Bonito color (subjetivo).
Contras:
- Puede ser muy grande para algunas personas, sobre todo incómodo para llevártelo en tu pantalón.
- Si eres usuario de iOS (iPhone) necesitarás un adaptador u OTG.
Conclusión:
Recomendado.
I settled on this iFi hip DAC2 based on reading numerous reviews, and I thought the price was good for the features provided.
The battery was pretty much flat when it arrived, and the initial full charge took a couple of hours or so.
I use this with an Android phone and an Android tablet, the tablet runs on Android 10 and the phone on Android 13.
This DAC is plug and play. Both the phone and tablet found it immediately.
The sound quality is very good, particularly with high resolution files. The highest resolution I've played so far is 24 bit 19,khz. I've also tried it with MQA files from Tidal, and that also works well and sounds good. It drives my Beyerdynamic DT770 pro headphones without any problems.
There's a button on the DAC that is supposed to match the output to the headphone impedance, not sure how that works but my impression isnit is pretty much just a loudness button and I've left that turned off. There's also a bass boost button, which does add a little bass to the sound, it fills the sound out rather than adding a lot of low frequency, but I've also left that turned off.
It's a nice quality unit. The cable between the DAC and my phone / tablet is quite short, but these aren't expensive to buy if a longer one is needed, it certainly isn't a deal breaker for me. There are also other USB cables provided, if for example it's being used with the usb output of a computer.
Summary - I think this is easily as good as the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt I used to have, and I actually think it feels like a better made product. I'm very happy with it, and the price is very competitive. The sound quality is very good, probably a little warmer sounding and less analytical than the Dragonfly Cobalt - just different rather than better or worse.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2023
I settled on this iFi hip DAC2 based on reading numerous reviews, and I thought the price was good for the features provided.
The battery was pretty much flat when it arrived, and the initial full charge took a couple of hours or so.
I use this with an Android phone and an Android tablet, the tablet runs on Android 10 and the phone on Android 13.
This DAC is plug and play. Both the phone and tablet found it immediately.
The sound quality is very good, particularly with high resolution files. The highest resolution I've played so far is 24 bit 19,khz. I've also tried it with MQA files from Tidal, and that also works well and sounds good. It drives my Beyerdynamic DT770 pro headphones without any problems.
There's a button on the DAC that is supposed to match the output to the headphone impedance, not sure how that works but my impression isnit is pretty much just a loudness button and I've left that turned off. There's also a bass boost button, which does add a little bass to the sound, it fills the sound out rather than adding a lot of low frequency, but I've also left that turned off.
It's a nice quality unit. The cable between the DAC and my phone / tablet is quite short, but these aren't expensive to buy if a longer one is needed, it certainly isn't a deal breaker for me. There are also other USB cables provided, if for example it's being used with the usb output of a computer.
Summary - I think this is easily as good as the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt I used to have, and I actually think it feels like a better made product. I'm very happy with it, and the price is very competitive. The sound quality is very good, probably a little warmer sounding and less analytical than the Dragonfly Cobalt - just different rather than better or worse.
Hab mir vor 2 Jahren dafür, aber auch für andere Zwecke, einen Kopfhörer aus dem € 200.- Segment gekauft, der auf verschiedenen Portalen recht gute Bewertungen hatte. War damit bisher auch ganz zufrieden bis ich zufällig einen Bericht über Kopfhörerverstärker las und wie das so ist bei Highendern...
Naja, hab mich eingelesen, Testberichte, Videos, das Übliche halt und mir dann 3 Geräte zum Testen bestellt, die beiden FiiO's KA3 und Q3 sowie den hip-dac 2 von ifi. Erwartung war lediglich, erstmal schauen, ob das alles nicht mal wieder zu gehypt ist, wie meistens, was u. a. auch mal der Hauptgrund war, dass ich vor Jahren aus der "Szene" ausgestiegen bin und seitdem wieder mit mehr Spaß Musik hören konnte.
Die beiden FiiO's kamen recht schnell an, gestartet bin ich dann gleich mit dem "Kleinen". Einfach angestöpselt und wow, da passiert ja schonmal richtig was. Ohne jede Einstellmöglichkeit war der Klang deutlich erwachsener, kräftiger, nuancierter, hatte Drive, das berühmte Fußwippen... Geladen werden musste er nicht, er zieht den benötigten Strom aus dem Iphone.
Danach mit ein bisschen Aufwand auch den Q3 zum Laufen gekriegt (gerichtet von USB-C zum Lightning, entgegen einiger gegenteiliger Kommentare hier) und da war doch nochmal deutlich mehr zu hören. War aber nur ein kurzes Vergnügen, da der Akku geladen werden musste aber der erste Eindruck war schon mal top. Als es dann richtig losgehen konnte, hab ich permanent hin- und hergestöpselt um die beiden möglichst direkt vergleichen zu können. Ergebnis, der Q3 ist in jeder Beziehung deutlich besser als der KA3 aber dafür auch teurer und ob's das wert ist... Mit dem KA3 wäre ich zu dem Zeitpunkt irgendwie auch zufrieden gewesen, Klang deutlich besser als ohne alles und ist super bequem im Handling, anstöpseln und ab in die Hosentasche. Aber er saugt den Akku vom Iphone schon ordentlich schnell leer, das war mir bekannt, hat mich dann aber doch ziemlich gestört. Ich war also unschlüssig ob und wenn ja, welchen.
Und dann kam glücklicherweise der hip-dac2 an, den ich erst einmal nicht ins Laufen gekriegt habe, da die mitgelieferten Anschlusskabel allesamt nicht für den Betrieb am Iphone geeignet sind. Der Apple Kameraadapter mit passendem USB-Anschluss musste noch her, das dauerte dann nochmal 3 Tage aber dann konnte es tatsächlich endlich losgehen.
Und schnell war klar, meine Unschlüssigkeit wird ein jähes Ende finden, die beiden FiiO's waren nach den ersten Takten meiner kleinen, neu zusammengestellten Kopfhörer Playlist richtiggehend raus. Der hip-dac 2 war einfach soviel besser als die beiden, dass ich mit keinem je wieder glücklich geworden wäre. Ich höre übrigens viele Genres, gerne auch mal audiophil, Jazz, Klassik aber eben auch Rock, ältere wie neuere Produktionen. Was dieser kleine Flachmann dabei abliefert, ist wirklich mehr als hörenswert. Alles ist in der richtigen Ausprägung "da", nichts ist überhöht oder unterdimensioniert, es macht durchgängig Spaß, damit stundenlang Musik zu hören und nicht von Titel zu Titel zu skippen sondern die Stücke zu Ende zu hören, zu genießen und das nächste einfach beginnen und weiterlaufen zu lassen, so möchte ich Musik hören. Seitdem weiß ich auch erst, welches Potenzial mein Kopfhörer hat, der Bass geht wirklich ordentlich tief runter, bleibt dabei konturiert, wird keinesfalls dominant oder überlagert sogar andere Frequenzbereiche. Die Mitten unverfärbt, klar abgegrenzt aber trotzdem schön eingebunden, wunderbare Übergänge, mir hat nichts gefehlt und auch die Höhen wirklich brillant ohne spitz zu werden, Metall klingt nach Metall mit Nachschwingen, hohe Töne werden kräftig, klar und unverzerrt wiedergegeben. Genau so hab ich mir das vorgestellt, immer vorausgesetzt, das Musikmaterial und die Aufnahme geben es her, denn wenn's Müll ist, klingt's auch danach. Die Räumlichkeit ist sowohl in der Breite als auch in der Tiefe sehr gut "erkennbar", Instrumente stehen an ihren Plätzen, die Staffelung ist nachvollziehbar, Sänger/ innen stehen genau da, wo man sie verorten würde und bei den Aufnahmen wohl auch gestanden haben. Kurzum, ein toller Auftritt, der mich aktuell wunschlos macht. Bin trotzdem recht sicher, dass ich vielleicht doch noch den ein oder anderen Kopfhörer ausprobieren werde, so ganz wird man dieses Streben nach immer besserem Klang wohl doch nie los. Der hip-dac 2 wird in jedem Fall bleiben, da ist dann auch der nochmal etwas höhere Preis kein Thema mehr - im Gegenteil, für mich dafür definitv ein Best Buy!
Die Einstellmöglichkeiten sind im Net hinlänglich beschrieben, ich benutze die Bassverstärkung in Abstimmung mit dem Equalizer von Spotify, die Gain-Funktion brauche ich nicht, mein Audio Technica MSR7b hat einen sehr guten Wirkungsgrad, im Übrigen nutze ich den Balanced-Eingang beim hip-dac 2, beim ATH war das passende Kabel Bestandteil des Lieferumfangs. Klanglich dürfte die 3,5mm Klinke aber nicht weit abfallen, wenn überhaupt. Also, klare Kaufempfehlung!