---
product_id: 582995118
title: "hip-dac3 - Portable Hi-Res DAC/Headphone Amp - True Balanced Circuit, Dual USB-C, PCM 384kHz/DSD256/MQA Decoding, XBass Analog Enhancement, iEMatch & up to 12hrs Playtime"
brand: "ifi"
price: "€ 316.80"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 6
category: "I Fi"
url: https://www.desertcart.de/products/582995118-hip-dac3-portable-hi-res-dac-headphone-amp-true-balanced
store_origin: DE
region: Germany
---

# True balanced circuit, 400mW output Up to 12hrs playtime Dual USB-C for charging + audio hip-dac3 - Portable Hi-Res DAC/Headphone Amp - True Balanced Circuit, Dual USB-C, PCM 384kHz/DSD256/MQA Decoding, XBass Analog Enhancement, iEMatch & up to 12hrs Playtime

**Brand:** ifi
**Price:** € 316.80
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎧 Elevate your portable sound game — because your ears deserve the best.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** hip-dac3 - Portable Hi-Res DAC/Headphone Amp - True Balanced Circuit, Dual USB-C, PCM 384kHz/DSD256/MQA Decoding, XBass Analog Enhancement, iEMatch & up to 12hrs Playtime by ifi
- **How much does it cost?** € 316.80 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.de](https://www.desertcart.de/products/582995118-hip-dac3-portable-hi-res-dac-headphone-amp-true-balanced)

## Best For

- ifi enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted ifi brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **All-Day Power:** 2200mAh battery delivers up to 12 hours of uninterrupted listening.
- • **Hi-Res Audio Mastery:** Supports PCM 384kHz, DSD256, and full MQA decoding for studio-quality sound.
- • **Pure Audiophile Sound:** True balanced circuit minimizes distortion for crystal-clear audio.
- • **Seamless Connectivity:** Dual USB-C ports enable simultaneous charging and high-res audio input.
- • **Customizable Bass Boost:** XBass analog enhancement enriches low-end without sacrificing clarity.

## Overview

The iFi hip-dac3 is a premium portable Hi-Res DAC and headphone amplifier featuring a true balanced circuit with 400mW output, dual USB-C ports for simultaneous charging and audio, and support for PCM up to 384kHz, DSD256, and MQA decoding. Housed in a sleek aluminium frame with a Titanium Shadow finish, it offers up to 12 hours of playtime and advanced features like iEMatch technology and XBass analog enhancement, delivering studio-quality sound on the go.

## Description

Discover the exceptional iFi hip-dac 3, a pocket-sized, high-resolution DAC/headphone amplifier, designed to enhance your portable audio experience. Now adorned in a lustrous Titanium Shadow hue and encased in a durable aluminium shell, the hip-dac 3 blends timeless elegance with cutting-edge technology. This device is not only a visual treat but also a feast for the ears, thanks to its true balanced circuit design, ensuring minimal signal distortion and pure, immersive sound. The inclusion of premium components like a custom iFi OV op-amp, a low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments, and an analogue volume pot, all converge to deliver a sublime audio experience. With its dual USB-C ports, managing audio connectivity and charging is brilliantly effortless, while its compatibility with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ensures smooth, jitter-free audio data transfer. Navigate through your listening experience with iFi’s innovative iEMatch technology, which optimises output for high-sensitivity headphones, particularly IEMs, while enhancing detail and dynamic range. The XBass analogue enhancement allows users to boost bass without muddying the midrange, creating a richer bass experience. The hip-dac 3 supports hi-res PCM and DXD up to 384kHz, DSD up to 12.4MHz, and is capable of fully decoding MQA, ensuring you capture every detail in your high-res audio files. Furthermore, it provides versatile output options with 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, utilizing iFi’s S-Balanced and differential amp design to minimize crosstalk and distortion. The durable 2200mAh battery ensures up to 12 hours of continuous playtime, allowing your music to always accompany you on your journeys. With the iFi hip-dac 3, experience your music in unparalleled quality, wherever your travels take you.

Review: Excellent portable DAC - It’s essentially a Zen Dac 3 in your pocket. Musical sound like other ifi’s with burr brown chipset. Only downside is the volume knob that accidentally gets bumped.
Review: si le prix ne vous fait pas peur, c'est un bon appareil

## Features

- General Disclaimer: The image colour may differ from the actual product due to lighting. Please refer to the product for accuracy.
- Enhanced Design and Functionality - The hip-dac 3, now available in a Titanium Shadow hue and encased in a sleek Aluminium frame, is not only visually striking but also encompasses a range of updated features and circuit enhancements, such as new metal film capacitors and an updated GMT circuitry, to elevate your audio experience.
- Advanced Connectivity and User-friendly Controls - Equipped with two USB-C ports for simplified cable management, the device facilitates clear and high-quality audio playback and allows simultaneous charging. Furthermore, user-friendly controls such as a switch to activate iFi's iEMatch technology and LEDs that indicate the format and sample rate of the incoming audio are integrated.
- Optimized Audio Performance - A true balanced circuit design, the hip-dac 3 guarantees optimal performance and pure sound by minimizing signal distortion and efficiently driving a wide range of headphones with up to 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load.
- Versatile Audio Support and Playtime - The hip-dac 3 provides extensive audio data support, including hi-res PCM and DXD up to 384kHz, DSD from 2.8MHz to 12.4MHz, and full decoding of MQA. It also offers a notable 7-10 hours of playtime with a 2200mAh battery and comes with a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A to USB-C cable to ensure a smooth and lasting user experience.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0CKFKNNJH |
| Best Sellers Rank | #32,571 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #44 in Headphone Amps |
| Item model number | 0312008 |
| Manufacturer | Abbingdon Music Research |
| Product Dimensions | 10.2 x 7 x 1.4 cm; 135 g |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** iFi
- **Interface type:** USB
- **Mounting type:** Table Top
- **Number of channels:** 4
- **Number of pins:** 32

## Images

![hip-dac3 - Portable Hi-Res DAC/Headphone Amp - True Balanced Circuit, Dual USB-C, PCM 384kHz/DSD256/MQA Decoding, XBass Analog Enhancement, iEMatch & up to 12hrs Playtime - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-nKz5gvKL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Do I need additional software or cable to use it with my Android phone, iPhone or MacBook?**
A: No, just plug and play. Everything you need is already in the box

**Q: Can I use this for gaming?**
A: There is no mic input or pass through. But if you only want to use it for headphones while playing, it's as easy as pie

**Q: Can I use this with my Bluetooth adapter?**
A: The unit requires a digital input. So no

**Q: What's in the box?**
A: iFi hip-dac; USB-A to USB-C Cable; USB-C to USB-C Cable; Quick start card; Instruction card

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent portable DAC
*by R***J on 7 June 2025*

It’s essentially a Zen Dac 3 in your pocket. Musical sound like other ifi’s with burr brown chipset. Only downside is the volume knob that accidentally gets bumped.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by B***K on 12 October 2024*

si le prix ne vous fait pas peur, c'est un bon appareil

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by R***G on 23 December 2023*

I had been researching portable DAC/amp solutions that would allow me to stream Tidal high resolution audio and Spotify audio from my iPhone 14 Plus. I seriously considered a Chord Mojo 2, but kept reading about intermittent white noise problems with iOS devices using Lightning connections. I wanted something compact and light to carry as I listen to music therapeutically when I am at home or on the road for work. I read about the iFi hip-dac3 and wondered how much I would give up in audio quality selecting this over the Chord Mojo 2. I decided to purchase this as I read on Web forums that this DAC/amp worked well with iOS devices. I also like the simple, yet elegant, industrial design with intuitive controls. Better, it has a 4mm TRRS balanced output along with a 3.5mm unbalanced TRS output. My Sony MDR-MV1 studio monitor headphones have a 24 ohm impedance and can be used in unbalanced or balanced modes, so they're not difficult to drive. I really love them because they are light and comfortable. I can literally wear them all day, they fit that well. They are Sony's first open back professional headphones with a neutral presentation for professional monitoring use, so I wanted something that was smooth and able to drive these headphones that have an exceptional bass response for open back headphones. For reference, I listen to a wide range of music from jazz to classic rock to large orchestral classical music. I also purchased a Miter case to protect the beautiful Shadow Titanium anodized Aluminum enclosure of the hip-dac3. When I opened the package for the hip-dac3, I was pleasantly surprised to find a 5-6 length Apple Lightning-to-USB-C OTG connection cable. iFi's product description does not state that this cable is included, so that was a bonus. It also came with a USB-A-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. I also discovered just how compact the hip-dac3 is relative to my iPhone 14 Plus. I can hold my iPhone and hip-dac3 in one hand while I carry it around with my Sony's on my head. It really is a nice portable combination that I can take with the Sony's when I am on extended business trips or tooling around the house. As for sound quality, I love this combination when playing high resolution tracks streaming from Tidal. The hip-dac3 also decodes MQA streams. This was not a requirement for me as I am not an MQA fan. I prefer the high resolution FLAC tracks, but it is kind of neat to see the LEDs around the volume knob change colors depending on the digital source. Prior to receiving the hip-dac3, I used a Sonic Unity mDSD USB dongle DAC that takes power and audio from my iPhone through the bulky Apple iOS Lightning Camera Connection Kit. Apple's CCK works reliably, but it looks like a Rube Goldberg apparatus when everything is connected. This was more cumbersome to handle, and not very rugged. The Encore mDSD is an ESS DAC-based device that can be a bit dry sometimes and even harsh when pushed. The hip-dac3 is smooth as silk with its Burr-Brown Multi-Bit DAC and iFi's custom op amps in a full-balanced circuit driving my Sony's. Since it runs on batteries, I definitely have more clean and smooth headroom. Listening to classical scores by Holst and Stravinsky, this amp can reproduce the symphonic fireworks. Playing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Animals" at high resolution really fleshes out the engineer's mixes. The pace and rhythm really got my head to bobbing, feet to tapping and had me singing along. When music listening engages me in this way, I know I have a great thing going. I played Wayne Shorter's remastered "Speak No Evil" at high resolution, and the interplay and flow between Wayne Shorter and his ensemble really stirred me. This device faithfully reproduces tone and timbre. I am sure the Chord Mojo 2 is a fine DAC/amp, but I am really pleased that I purchased the iFi hip-dac3. I highly recommended this.

## Frequently Bought Together

- iFi hip-dac3 - Portable Hi-Res DAC/Headphone Amp - True Balanced Circuit, 400mW Output, Dual USB-C, PCM 384kHz/DSD256/MQA Decoding, XBass Analog Enhancement, PowerMatch, iEMatch & up to 12hrs Playtime
- Miter Case for iFi Hip-dac/Hip-dac2/Hip-dac 3 Portable dac, Handmade Italy Artificial PU Leather Case Cover for HipDac 3 (Black)

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*Product available on Desertcart Germany*
*Store origin: DE*
*Last updated: 2026-02-04*