Also available with USB Type-C plug, see here.
Background
Our original Android DAC was the first commercially available dedicated Android DAC when it was put on the market in 2013. We are now happy to introduce a new Android model, made with the superior ESS Sabre ES9018K2M chip and 9601 headphone amp. It supports up to 96kHz/24bit, and responds to the phones up/down volume keys. It draws up to 60mA power which is a little more than the older Android DAC, but still very low and much lower than many other DAC that requires 200-300mA.
It also has an Improved microUSB plug that gets a good grip and doesn’t slip out of the phone easily.
Compatibility
Works with Android 5.X and 6.X (and future updates), and some 4.X devices. Just plug it and all sound will come from the DAC, no settings on special program required. See update above.
Sound
The high-end 9018 DAC chip combined with the Sabre headphone driver give a very detailed sound with a great soundstage. The noise is very low and can be used with also the most sensitive headphones. It is tested to work and sound great with Audio Technica ath-m50 (38 ohm, 99dB), Sennheiser hd650 (300 ohm, 103 dB), IEM: JH Audio JH-13 (28 ohm, 116dB).
Features
- Sabre ES9018k2m DAC chip and SABRE9601 headphone and line out driver, SA9023 USB receiver chip
- Works and sound great with most headphone (including low impedance IEM and high impedance headphones) and all line-level devices (preamps, amplifiers)
- Accepts 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz input files @16 and 24 bit (Android OS might downsample to 48kHz depending on Android version)
- Volume controlled by vol +/- buttons
- Improved microUSB plug gets a good grip
- Ultra-low noise regulator LP5907 with added noise-reducing aluminum solid capacitors (NCC PSF series)
- Patented Time Domain Jitter Eliminator (by ESS Technologies)
- Optical output
Performance
- 122dB SNR
- 110dB THD+N: 2V rms @ 600 ohm load
- 100dB THD+N: 30mW @ 32 ohm load
- No DC blocking capacitors on the output
- Power usage: 40-80 mA depending on sample rate and volume
- Dimensions:5.5 x 3.5 x 1.8 cm (without cable)
- Weight 30g
Case
This DAC 9018 is also the first DAC to use our new case. We have made a simple case at minimal added cost compared to our existing generic case.
| Weight | 0.04000000 kg |
|---|
3 reviews for Hifime Android DAC (ES9018K2M+SA9023) microUSB
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Karl –
I swaped 150uf cap for Audio Note 220uf 16V and 2 of 33uf for Black Gate NX 47uf and it is amazing now… Noise floor is dead quiet and sounds very good .
Spencer –
This dac is amazing for the price. Gets close to the dac in the ifi iDSD and the Mojo. You probably cant get a dac better than this for under 200. Also its small size makes it perfect for using it with your phone. The power coming out of it is enough to drive the LCD-X’s and iSine 10’s without any added amp, making my portable setup super compact.
Sagar Parikh –
As far as sound is concerned, it is as good as you are going to get for sub $100. It can easily compete with the big boys. One particular reason for me to get to buy it is the low power for sensitive iems. It is really difficult to find a good dac-amp with low power figures for iems. Many other companies do not mention it in the first place. As far as build quality is concerned, the biggest drawback is the permanently connected wire. If you use metro or bus for travel, you would have to be careful with it. Hifime could have charged 10 or even 20 dollars more but it would have ensured that the first thing to go wouldn’t be the silliest of all the components.