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.
Quick specifications: Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC
Pricing and availability
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.
Commenting on the launch, Raghav Somani, Founder and CEO of Headphone Zone, said:
For us to associate the Headphone Zone brand name with any product signifies our commitment to superior sound quality and performance. I strongly believe that an affordable hi-res dongle DAC is precisely what India’s audiophiles require at this juncture. I am confident that this DAC is a definite winner, not only revitalizing music enjoyment but also democratizing audiophilia as a hobby.