Headphone Zone and ddHiFi have announced the launch of a Hi-Res USB dongle DAC in India. This USB dongle DAC, developed over a year with ddHiFi, aims to offer an affordable DAC priced under Rs. 2000 for India’s audiophile community.
Headphone Zone approached ddHiFi for this
project and the collaboration involved brainstorming and designing sessions
between Headphone Zone and ddHiFi’s founder, Demond Ding. The result is a
simple plug-and-play device that upgrades any smartphone into a high-resolution
audio player by bypassing the built-in DAC.
For smartphones with USB-C output, the
device works out of the box. For iPhones with a lightning port, a Type-C to
lightning adaptor is required. The DAC pairs with most in-ear monitors and some
full-size headphones. The 3.5mm headphone output is compatible with any IEM
that comes with a 3.5mm jack. The Headphone Zone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC features
the CX31993 DAC chip, decoding PCM signals up to 32Bit/384kHz. With 65mW of
output power, it can drive headphones up to 80 Ohms comfortably, using an
independent amplification stage with a MAX97220 chip.
The device boasts an SNR rating of 105db,
ensuring a noise-free listening experience even with sensitive IEMs. The
package includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter for laptop/desktop setup and supports
mic passthrough for hassle-free calls and music switching on Android
smartphones.
The Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC is
priced at Rs. 1,999 and is exclusively available for purchase on Headphone
Zone’s website, starting today.
