HIDIZS SD2 DAC Dongle Is The Perfect Audio Upgrade For Your Smartphone

In case you haven’t heard, the hi-res music streaming service Tidal has simply introduced that it’s decreasing its top-tier subscription so that every one its subscribers can entry maximum-resolution music information for the worth of $10.99/£10.99 a month.

This welcome change means you not must pay further to entry hi-res variations of music encoded as excessive as 24-bit/96kHz. Of course, to do that you’ll need a Digital to Analog Converter to your smartphone or laptop.

Considering the announcement by Tidal, I assumed I might evaluate the newest mini-DAC from HIDIZ. Announced at CES 2024, the brand new HIDIZS SD2 USB Type-C to three.5mm Adapter Dongle DAC is now transport. HIDIZ makes a powerful vary of merchandise for listening to hi-res music and this tiny little dongle is considered one of its most reasonably priced and accessible merchandise.

The HIDIZS SD2 is obtainable in three colours: black, gray and silver. It weighs a mere 6g and in case you have an Android telephone or laptop computer, you may merely plug it in and luxuriate in great hi-res audio in all its nuanced glory. If you’re an iPhone or iPad consumer, then HIDIZ provides a neat little cable that converts from USB-C to Apple Lightning so you may take pleasure in all that hi-res goodness too.

The output of the HIDIZS SD2 is a stereo 3.5mm headphone jack for plugging in virtually any pair of wired headphones or earbuds. The dongle is suitable with Macs, PCs in addition to most smartphones, together with the newest iPhone 15, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max. Plugging within the SD2 will immediately improve the sound high quality of your telephone’s audio output.

The SD2 makes use of an ESS ES9270 DAC chip which may decode digital audio information as much as 32-bit/384kHz (PCM) and ​ DSD128. It received’t unfold MQA information however Tidal will default to the full-fat high-res digital codecs in that case. A small LED on the dongle modifications colour to point out the kind of file that’s being decoded.

The dongle additionally contains an amplifier stage for driving a pair of headphones and the frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 40kHz, enough spectrum to win it a Hi-Res Audio brand. The HIDIZS SD2 punches above its weight contemplating its reasonably priced worth.

Verdict: I examined the brand new HIDIZS SD2 on a number of Tidal tracks together with a few of my favorites from Diana Krall and Tom Jobim. This DAC has a barely analytical really feel due to its prolonged frequency vary. It works nicely with headphones which have a barely hotter response and with the suitable earbuds it will possibly generate some severe bass. I’d say it’s rather less heat than the iFi GO Link that I reviewed final month so in the event you recognize a barely extra centered soundstage, you’ll most likely benefit from the HIDIZS SD2, particularly if hip-hop and dance tracks are your most popular musical genres. At the worth, the HIDIZS SD2 is a no brainer audio improve for any smartphone.

Pricing & Availability: The HIDIZS SD2 USB Type-C to three.5mm Adapter Dongle DAC is obtainable now from Amazon and different retailers. The worth is $39.99 / £49.99.

More information: hidizs.web

Tech Specs:

• Product: HIDIZS SD2 USB Type-C to three.5mm Adapter Dongle DAC.
• DAC: ESS ES9270.
• Audio assist: Up to 32-bit/384kHz (PCM) / Up to DSD128.
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 40kHz.
• Output energy: 70mW + 70mW @ 32Ω.
• THD+N: 0.0015%.
• SNR: 118dB.
• Crosstalk: ≥64dB @ 32Ω.
• Hi-Res Audio Certified: Yes.
• Input: USB Type-C.
• Output: 3.5mm single-ended.
• Support for In-line Control / HD Mic: Yes.
• Sample-rate Indicator Light: Yes
• Colorways: Black, Grey, Silver
• Dimensions: 34.5ｘ20ｘ10ｍｍ
• Weight: 6g.