No qudelix 5k either, and that thing has a variety of filters, a full parametric eq, balanced and unbalanced out, Bluetooth, transparency mode, and it’s like half the price of the go blu.
@@theodorezurla496 Ikr. the only one I have not heard is the Honey H1, everything else from BTR5/7, RU6, Sparrow to Mojo/Mojo 2, Gryphon, micro iDSD Signature... I owned at one point or another and all of these are really good sounding products that synergize nicely with one or the other IEM.
I have the dragonfly cobalt but I rarely use it since the apple lightning to usb cables never really worked well for me. When the iPhone 15 comes out it should be USB-C so I can use it then.
Yep USB C adapter supplied with the cobalt works just fine but i've been through three Apple adapters and one none apple one they just break. At work I plug the cobalt into my laptop. I'm keeping fingers crossed that lightening adapter that comes with the gryphon i've bought is better quality but failing that i'll have the bluetooth option with the iphone.
i gotta say ifi has stepped up their game - theyre some of the best sounding affordable gear out there. love my gryphon. i'd say add ibasso to the list but looks like they dont carry the dc06. all in all pretty decent list. nice job as always ricky.
I'll add one more. The CEntrance HIFi m8 v2 with its 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 6.35mm, and 4 pin xlr outputs, along with USB and BT input you have a versatile portable that can accommodate both IEMs and all but the most demanding HPs.
Is there a big difference in power between the ifi go blue and ifi dac 2? I want to drive iems like timeless and headphones like momemtum 4 from sennheiser and maybe hd600. Thank you guys !
The iFi Hip DAC 2 has just a bit more power output than the Go Blu, but they should both be able to handle the Sennheiser headphones you mention with ease. Please reach out to us here if you need additional assistance: www.moon-audio.com/contact-us 🙂
@@moon-audioohhh quick answer ! Your channel is a benediction for me ! Thank you very much !!! I explain my situation: i use iems at home, at the gym and outside. The downside of wired iems is theeee wires 😂 and the dac amp (portable). For the wires it's om for me, but i have samsung galaxy s23 ultra for music (amazon hd) and i have hip dac2. This is huge in my pocket when i train :( The sound quality is so good !!! Please guys find me a dac amp smaller than thd hip dac2. Money is not a problem, and i want an excellent sound quality (i love the xbass of the hip dac2). Can you help me?
No the point of these dacs are to improve SQ. Listening to audio via BT diminishes the point of a dac due to loss of SQ when its not a direct wired connection
All of the USB DACs in the video can drive the HD660 S2 pretty well, but for the best sound the Gryphon (using the balanced 4.4mm output especially) will give you plenty of room to crank up the volume!
Portability, power output & wireless connectivity were the primary deciding factors for me. That said, the Go Blu @ 5.6V/265 mw balanced (+ BT 5.1) became the obvious choice.
I like the hip dac. I used it everyday for 2 years running. I liked the sound on the MOJO a bit more but it's too thick and broke after a year and no bass boost
Is the Audioquest dragonfly cobalt Any good planning to use with my car on the go and in home and walks or would ifi go blu or ifi go bar give more bang for buck for this use case ?
The GoBar will give you more features and power and the GoBlu will give you a more comfortable/convenient option for walking around. The Cobalt being a USB Type A base DAC with a USB C adapter does limit the situations in which you could use it, but we have heard that it sounds nice.
Typically a DAC/Amp will sound better for the same price point, but the additional features (local storage/touchscreen) balance out the experience. More expensive DAPs (Like the DX320 have the best of both worlds) but the price increase doesn't fit every budget.
And we get that! However, we see portable as anything that has an integrated battery and can fit in a messenger-style bag. So yes, some of these aren't ultra-portable like the USB DACs mentioned, but we know a lot of audiophiles that prefer to carry these larger devices around. 🙂
All of the devices listed in this video are built for headphones primarily and would only support 2 channel audio by themselves. You would be better off looking for an A/V receiver for DTS, 5.1, and 7.1 support.
@@moon-audio thanks. my logitech is already a receiver for 5.1 etc. the connectivity from m1 mac to the logitech via optical is the issue. the dac seems to be the appropriate interface as its usb-c to optical out. what i wanted to know is if the dac allows and accepts 7 or 5 channels configuration in the audio midi devices settings.
I’m thinking about buying one of this dacs wich one will be the best for iPhone or iOS in sound built quality and buttons for options? Will the Ifi hip dac2 will be good enough or gryphon in the gryphon I really don’t want no Bluetooth I want analog only but in analog for iOS wich one will do better in sound?
@@moon-audio so the gryphon will give a better sound for Apple Music wich is the highest quality will be hi ress lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz? I mean if the Ifi hip can go that high it’s perfect for me I just don’t want to spent about $500 more just to get no big difference I just want that 24-bit/192 kHz it’s not that money is problem it’s just that I want to make sure I get the highest 24bit 192khz that’s all”will the Ifi hip dac will do it?
It will be better than many other sources, but you would benefit greatly from jumping up to the iFi Gryphon. With the Hip DAC you might hit the volume max and it still might not be as loud as you would want.
Hi there, we started carrying Cayin shortly after we recorded this video. Stay tuned to see if it makes on next year's list! 🙂 www.moon-audio.com/cayin-ru6-portable-usb-dac/head-amp-dongle.html
We actually just added Cayin to our store, so stay tuned for our recommendations on their products! We're excited to carry them. 🙂 www.moon-audio.com/brands/cayin.html
@@moon-audio *Fiio Q3 vs Fiio BTR7 vs Ifi Hip Dac 2 vs Ifi Go Blu* In terms of pure sound quality, which one is the best?? Also, how would you rank them???
Seriously? no Cayin RU6, Fiio BTR7, Dethonray Honey... sponsored by iFi & Chord I guess
No qudelix 5k either, and that thing has a variety of filters, a full parametric eq, balanced and unbalanced out, Bluetooth, transparency mode, and it’s like half the price of the go blu.
I'm guessing he's just reviewing products they sell.
I have all those products you mentioned and I love all of them LOOOL
@@theodorezurla496 Ikr. the only one I have not heard is the Honey H1, everything else from BTR5/7, RU6, Sparrow to Mojo/Mojo 2, Gryphon, micro iDSD Signature... I owned at one point or another and all of these are really good sounding products that synergize nicely with one or the other IEM.
@@audiofile1178 but dude, honey is the best one! 😂
seeing a micro-b on any device more than 50$ makes me cringe. It's the 2020's, USB-C should be golden.
I have the dragonfly cobalt but I rarely use it since the apple lightning to usb cables never really worked well for me. When the iPhone 15 comes out it should be USB-C so I can use it then.
Yep USB C adapter supplied with the cobalt works just fine but i've been through three Apple adapters and one none apple one they just break. At work I plug the cobalt into my laptop. I'm keeping fingers crossed that lightening adapter that comes with the gryphon i've bought is better quality but failing that i'll have the bluetooth option with the iphone.
I've found I'm using my IFI GO Blue more than ever, it's definitely the best buy this year.
i gotta say ifi has stepped up their game - theyre some of the best sounding affordable gear out there. love my gryphon. i'd say add ibasso to the list but looks like they dont carry the dc06. all in all pretty decent list. nice job as always ricky.
Gryphon is affordable?
@@celpabedn guessing you arent or havent been an audiophile for too long lol
I love you Ricky ❤️
Omg u guys are so authentic that’s so wholesome! Loved all the jokes!
next desktop headphone dac/amp under $500, thanks for the review, nice one
Chord Mojo 2 it's best of the best dac what i have. Go blu great, massive, but Mojo 2 number 1.
I'll add one more. The CEntrance HIFi m8 v2 with its 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 6.35mm, and 4 pin xlr outputs, along with USB and BT input you have a versatile portable that can accommodate both IEMs and all but the most demanding HPs.
Lovely device but hardly portable.
@@morespinach9832 I carried a boombox on my shoulder as a teen. It was portable, so this is too
@@captainblaze4903 😂😂😂😂 👍🏼
I carry one of these all of the time while racking up 1000’s of kilometres in the urban jungle. I find it rich and full and non-fatiguing
Kind of surprised there's no DAC here from Schiit, in particular Hel 2[e].
What is your opinion on Ifi hip dac 3 compared to Ifi Go bar?
Love my IFI Go Blue 👍
Is there a big difference in power between the ifi go blue and ifi dac 2? I want to drive iems like timeless and headphones like momemtum 4 from sennheiser and maybe hd600. Thank you guys !
The iFi Hip DAC 2 has just a bit more power output than the Go Blu, but they should both be able to handle the Sennheiser headphones you mention with ease. Please reach out to us here if you need additional assistance: www.moon-audio.com/contact-us 🙂
@@moon-audioohhh quick answer ! Your channel is a benediction for me ! Thank you very much !!!
I explain my situation: i use iems at home, at the gym and outside. The downside of wired iems is theeee wires 😂 and the dac amp (portable). For the wires it's om for me, but i have samsung galaxy s23 ultra for music (amazon hd) and i have hip dac2. This is huge in my pocket when i train :(
The sound quality is so good !!!
Please guys find me a dac amp smaller than thd hip dac2. Money is not a problem, and i want an excellent sound quality (i love the xbass of the hip dac2). Can you help me?
Can I use wireless earbuds with these DACs? Will it improve the sound with iPhone/wireless earbud combination?
No the point of these dacs are to improve SQ. Listening to audio via BT diminishes the point of a dac due to loss of SQ when its not a direct wired connection
You left out the outstanding Cayin RU6
We actually just added Cayin to our store, so stay tuned! The RU6 may very well make it on this list in the future. 🙂
Which would be best to power the Sennheiser HD660 S2 ( 300 Ohms ) ?
All of the USB DACs in the video can drive the HD660 S2 pretty well, but for the best sound the Gryphon (using the balanced 4.4mm output especially) will give you plenty of room to crank up the volume!
@@moon-audio Thanks a lot ! Ordering it now :)
Hello ! You think ifi go blu with Focal Celestee is good ?
Yes, that is a great portable combo!
You had me at catable!!!
Portability, power output & wireless connectivity were the primary deciding factors for me. That said, the Go Blu @ 5.6V/265 mw balanced (+ BT 5.1) became the obvious choice.
is the ifi go blue comparable in sound quality compared to ifi hip ?
I like the hip dac. I used it everyday for 2 years running. I liked the sound on the MOJO a bit more but it's too thick and broke after a year and no bass boost
Is the Audioquest dragonfly cobalt Any good planning to use with my car on the go and in home and walks or would ifi go blu or ifi go bar give more bang for buck for this use case ?
The GoBar will give you more features and power and the GoBlu will give you a more comfortable/convenient option for walking around. The Cobalt being a USB Type A base DAC with a USB C adapter does limit the situations in which you could use it, but we have heard that it sounds nice.
I wonder compact player (iBasso DX170 or Shanling M3 Ultra) sound better or this type of best dongle DAC?
Typically a DAC/Amp will sound better for the same price point, but the additional features (local storage/touchscreen) balance out the experience. More expensive DAPs (Like the DX320 have the best of both worlds) but the price increase doesn't fit every budget.
What qualifies as portable? Some of those I would not carry in my pocket.
And we get that! However, we see portable as anything that has an integrated battery and can fit in a messenger-style bag. So yes, some of these aren't ultra-portable like the USB DACs mentioned, but we know a lot of audiophiles that prefer to carry these larger devices around. 🙂
The Title should be : Chord & iFi Presented: Best DAC 2022😂😂😂
Definitely bro 😂😂 no mention of ibasso dco6 probably the most powerful and best sounding usb dac I have ever owned
Does this allow 6 channels output on mac audio midi devices setting ? Want to have dts, 5.1, 7.1 audio out from m1 macbook to my logitech optical in.
All of the devices listed in this video are built for headphones primarily and would only support 2 channel audio by themselves. You would be better off looking for an A/V receiver for DTS, 5.1, and 7.1 support.
@@moon-audio thanks. my logitech is already a receiver for 5.1 etc. the connectivity from m1 mac to the logitech via optical is the issue. the dac seems to be the appropriate interface as its usb-c to optical out. what i wanted to know is if the dac allows and accepts 7 or 5 channels configuration in the audio midi devices settings.
Does Spotify provide the level of quality that it would be worth owning a dac?
It does! The difference isn't as large as you would get with a better source (Qobuz/Tidal/Deezer/etc,) but the difference is still very noticeable.
Chord MoJo 1 was more like Chord MoFo for me which stands for Mobile Fock-up. But now, the gen 2 is more indeed MoJo!
I’m thinking about buying one of this dacs wich one will be the best for iPhone or iOS in sound built quality and buttons for options? Will the Ifi hip dac2 will be good enough or gryphon in the gryphon I really don’t want no Bluetooth I want analog only but in analog for iOS wich one will do better in sound?
The Gryphon greatly outperforms the Hip DAC in sound quality, but the Hip DAC is a great place to start if you want something under $200!
@@moon-audio so the gryphon will give a better sound for Apple Music wich is the highest quality will be hi ress lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz? I mean if the Ifi hip can go that high it’s perfect for me I just don’t want to spent about $500 more just to get no big difference I just want that 24-bit/192 kHz it’s not that money is problem it’s just that I want to make sure I get the highest 24bit 192khz that’s all”will the Ifi hip dac will do it?
@Saez Rosario Yes, the Gryphon performs better overall! That said the Hip DAC is an excellent DAC and it will handle 24-bit/192 kHz files very well. 🙂
can the Hip DAC give enough power to Beyer 1990's?
It will be better than many other sources, but you would benefit greatly from jumping up to the iFi Gryphon. With the Hip DAC you might hit the volume max and it still might not be as loud as you would want.
good for 1990´s Hip Hop Dac
Soo , which is the loudest ?? Blow your ear drums ?? Lol
Please don't blow your ear drums out! The iFi Diablo in "Super" Mode via the balanced output is the most powerful out of what's listed in the video.
Cayin RU6 should inside this list... or still live in 2020 world
Hi there, we started carrying Cayin shortly after we recorded this video. Stay tuned to see if it makes on next year's list! 🙂
www.moon-audio.com/cayin-ru6-portable-usb-dac/head-amp-dongle.html
And for cars ? Apple car play?
Too early... FiiO Q7 and upcoming Xduoo XD05PRO not mendtioned...
Fabulous review, thanks so much
Glad you enjoyed it! 😁
Hopefully you can review another brand which it's not very known, Hidizs. They have some portable DAC that are worth the money.
You lost me after two minutes . I just wanted to hear what you think of these DACS .
for mobile.. Do i need to buy a DAC to hear enemy footsteps? headset?
CX31993
E9219C
E9280
sound blaster g3
which one?
No. This is audiophile grade for music. Better get a gaming headset.
How about Luxury & Precision W2?
Khadas Tea?
I literally can't believe they skipped Cayin Ru6 fr
We actually just added Cayin to our store, so stay tuned for our recommendations on their products! We're excited to carry them. 🙂 www.moon-audio.com/brands/cayin.html
@@moon-audio damn
@@moon-audio *Fiio Q3 vs Fiio BTR7 vs Ifi Hip Dac 2 vs Ifi Go Blu*
In terms of pure sound quality, which one is the best??
Also, how would you rank them???
@@princesmith8008 which one best ?
Cayin C9? :(
Bruh that's an amp only
Cayin RU 7
No love for the Questyle M12 either