Disclaimer:
I am always grateful to Hidizs, who continues to make the most significant contributions to my hobby. Thank you so much for kindly sending me the Hidizs S8 Pro to test and review!
Though I am not as skilled as the most knowledgeable person you can find online, I am beginning to accumulate an interesting amount of Dac.
The review will, as always, be completely objective and uninfluenced.
I would like to remind you that I am just a person who enjoys trying new things and listening to a lot of music; I am no expert.
My opinions are clearly subjective.
Tech Specs:
- Dual CS43131×2
- PCM Supports Up to 32bit/384kHz / Native DSD 64/128/256
- 4.4mm Balanced & 3.5mm Single-ended Output
- CNC Aluminum Alloy Integrated Molding
- Practical Function Buttons (volume +-/filter switching)
- Sampling Rate Indicator
- 80mW+80mW@32Ω 3.5mm SE / 160mW+160mW@32Ω 4.4mm BAL
- Compatible with All platforms: Windows/Mac OS/iPad OS/Android/iOS/Harmony OS
- Hi-Res Audio Certification
- Price 69 USD
Packaging:
The Hidizs S8 Pro comes in a black and sturdy, well made plastic box, which is quite simple and standard for Hidizs.
Once opened inside, we find the DAC embedded, and below we find the accessories:
- Type C to type C cable (a little bit short)
- Hi-res Stickers
- Type C to USB
- Type C to lightning (new accessory)
- Manual + warranty
A good assortment of accessories. The quality of the type C cable leaves something to be desired but we have everything you need to use it on multiple platforms.
Build quality/First impressions:
The build quality is reminiscent of the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus; the dimensions are identical, the lateral design differs slightly, and the metal buttons have slightly higher feedback than those on the Moondrop Dawn Pro. The body is made of aluminum, which is very lightweight. The design of the central button appears to be a later addition; looking at the base, you can see a small square button. In my opinion, the wheel was glued on later, but I could be wrong. If it had a volume knob function, it would have been a very cool feature.
However, the buttons work very well; they have all of the functions you would expect from a dongle without apps, and the central button, when pressed twice quickly, allows you to advance to the next track. It is not possible to go back to the previous one.
Power:
In terms of power, there are now far more powerful devices on the market, even at this price point. To be honest, I was expecting something similar to the Fosi DS2, which produces more interesting results. The 3.5mm SE output has fairly standard power, whereas the balanced 4.4mm output delivers 320 mw at 32 ohms. Overall, a good value, but it does not stand out among the many dual Cirrus Logic dongles.
To be honest, it appears to be even more powerful than the S9 Pro Plus, but this could simply be due to the high gains. In any case, it is more than enough to power the majority of my IEMs. Not a problem, even with planars. It is sold bundled with the MP145.
In terms of consumption, I would say that it performs admirably. As you can see from the photo, it consumes very little and has a very low operating temperature. Even after several hours of use, the metal shell does not get hot.
Sound Signature:
The Cirrus Logic CS43131’s sound has recently become more refined. I would classify this as one of the refined ones, but with the Hidizs sound signature, which tends to slightly warm the sound. That’s not a bad thing; it depends on the pairings. But there are models that have gone to much more analytical levels and with that more sparkling touch on the high frequencies.
There are 6 filters that can be changed by pressing both volume buttons:
The difference in filters is honestly very difficult to hear, especially if you are not used to paying critical attention to what you are hearing. If you think that switching from one filter to another will upset your life, know that you will be disappointed. The changes are extremely delicate and require almost bat-like ears. I sincerely admit to you my difficulty in hearing real changes and therefore I would not recommend this DAC if your hope is to have 6 filters that completely distort the sound.
Comparison:
Personally, Hidizs S9 Pro Plus costs practically the same when it is on offer. We have slightly more power from both outputs and the sound is definitely more refined. In both cases, the build quality is very similar but the feedback from the buttons is better on the S9 Pro Plus. The real difference is that the buttons on the S8 Pro work to control the volume and playback pause. This works on both my iMac and my Android smartphone.
vs Moondrop Dawn Pro
Slightly more analytical than the S8 Pro, it is compact in size, the cable is a little cheap and the buttons dance in the body. It may not be the best in construction quality but it has an app to manage its functions. It’s $20 cheaper… That’s not a little money. I honestly don’t hear any notable sonic differences between the two.
vs EPZ TP20 Pro
Similar price but the build quality seems superior to mine in EPZ. Analytical sound is similar to the Fosi DS2, which is inspired by the iBasso DC04Pro, which is one of the best Cs43131 produced to date. The TP20 Pro works exactly like the S8 Pro and with two very similar prices, they are direct competitors. The feedback from the buttons is better, as is the overall quality. There are no adapters to use it on any device.
The Fosi DS2 2024 version with double cirrus logic at 59 USD promises over 500 mW at 32 ohm, which is why it turns out to be one of the most interesting dongles released recently. We have no filters, apps, or buttons other than the volume ones. Solid construction, quality cable, and lots of power. If that wasn’t enough, it’s the dongle that comes closest to the sound signature of the iBasso DC04Pro. Definitely more powerful than the Hidizs S8 Pro. I think that, together with the Fiio KA11, these are the entry level killers.
Who do I recommend this DAC to?
I am not the one to tell you which one to buy. They all sound great, and the differences are impossible to detect for someone who does not own six or more dongles, as I do. This is to inform you that if you are new to this hobby, any product you purchase will be excellent.
The Moondrop Dawn Pro is slightly delicate; the aluminum body has holes that allow water or dirt to enter, and the buttons may not last long. The TP20 Pro is excellent; it has all of the features except the filters (which, to be honest, I do not consider essential). The Fosi DS2, on the other hand, currently leads the CS43131 dual cirrus market. It is difficult to compete at the price; in my opinion, Hidizs waited too long to release its first Cirrus Dongle. The market is currently oversaturated with products with equal or higher specifications, making it difficult to stand out. But I can confidently state that Hidizs provides excellent after-sales service.
I hope to see a version that uses the new CS43198, perhaps of much higher quality.
7.7/10
Pros:
- Functional Buttons on OSX & Android
- Natural, slightly warm
- Removable cable + Type c to USB + lightning
- Led is showing the sample and filters
- Good power
- Good consumption management / Runs quite fresh
- Aluminum frame alloy case
- De-pop function
Cons:
- Type C cable could be better
- Buttons feedback (reminds me of the Moondrop Dawn Pro)
- Filters impact slightly
- No gain switch
- No app
- Price should be 10 USD lower.