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Simgot DEW4X Review: Small & Mature

Kindlefirehditaly

Disclaimer:

Hi everyone! After having had the opportunity to get to know Simgot with the review of the EM6L, they also sent me their brand new DAC/Dongle, the Simgot DEW4X.

It is my first dongle with the Cirrus Logic CS43198 chip. I don’t know exactly if it should differ much from the more common CS43131 but I will try to convey to you as best I can the sensations I have had.

Though I’m still not as skilled as the most knowledgeable person you can find online, I’m starting to acquire an intriguing amount of Dac.

The review, as always, will be completely unbiased and uninfluenced.

I would like to remind you that I am just a person who enjoys trying out new items and listening to a lot of music; I am not an expert.

My opinions are obviously subjective.

Tech Specs:

Packaging:

The box is decidedly simple: thin cardboard with a chrome effect. The package opens in a classic way; we find the Simgot DEW4X among some foam.

Front Box
Back box
inside

As accessories, we have:

First look & accessories
High quality type C cable
Branded

​​Given the price of the dongle, the packaging is absolutely perfect, the set of accessories is complete and the covered cable is nice and thick but still has good flexibility. I would say it is of excellent quality.

Build quality/First impressions:

I confess that I thought it was bigger but in reality, it is one of the most compact dual chips. The construction is very solid and simple. The metal body has satin black paint; on the front we find the “X” logo, which vaguely resembles that of Twitter; and on the back we have some specifications and acronyms. As you will see from the photos, the design is very minimal, so minimal that even the volume buttons do not have + and – signs (many others have no signs at all). The feedback from the buttons is excellent, they are stable and seem resistant and durable.

Front Simgot DEW4X
Back Simgot DEW4X
Outputs Simgot DEW4X
Buttons
Type C + Small hole (LED?)
Closer look to outputs

The same goes for the LED inside, which does not have its own hole but can be seen by looking inside the outputs. I am not sure if it was a design decision, but they could have used the X on the front to light it up. Actually, looking more closely at the body, there is a small hole near type C! Honestly, you can see the LED light better by looking at the outputs.

Power:

This is not the most powerful dongle; the market is raising the bar with each passing month. Fiio has dropped several bombs, including the Fiio KA11 and KA17, which have absurd powers. However, it’s not just a matter of brute power. I expected the Simgot DEW4X to produce a sound similar to that of a DAC equipped with CS43131. The shape indicates that the motherboard is not the standard PCB that is commonly used on multiple dongles. In terms of pricing, it is comparable to the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, which is slightly more powerful.

Low Gain
High Gain

Testing the SE 3.5mm with 140 mW at 32 ohm:

Testing the BAL 4.4mm with 300 mW at 32 ohm:

360 Overview

Sound Signature:

I must say that despite it being the first dongle with this chip, I was positively surprised by the overall sound quality and as a chip, it is slightly superior to the more widespread CS43131, where, in my opinion, some details are lost. Obviously, I would like to remind you that to establish these things, you should put each dongle on a test bench and measure everything with precise instruments. My review is based on what my ears heard, with possible placebo effects included.

Simgot DEW4X
Labeling
Side
Volume & gain
Matte Finish
Great looking dongle

We don’t have digital filters but at least we can change the gain by pressing both buttons together at the same time. To understand which mode you are in, you have to look inside the outputs: if you see blue, you are on high gain; if it is green, you are on low gain.

Fast Comparison:

vs iBasso DC04 Pro

iBasso DC04pro has something more than the others; they may be small things but although the chip is identical to that of the Moondrop Dawn Pro, the OP-Amp department is evidently more refined. I don’t think the price difference is just a matter of brand but to be sure, they would need a teardown. It comes across as more musical and refined, with a soundstage that seems wider.

vs Hidizs S9 PRO PLUS

Hidizs S9 Pro is a decidedly good model; like all the Hidizs I have tried, they are not very analytical but a little colorful to my ear. In price, it is equivalent to the Simgot DEW4X and personally, I prefer it. It has a sound that I would define as more “mature.”

vs Moondrop Dawn Pro

First look Moondrop Dawn Pro

If you are on a limited budget, this is the best choice if you are interested in balanced output. Furthermore, it is slightly smaller than the DEW4X, even if the quality is slightly lower. Here we find the accompanying app where you can manage your dongle. Read the full review for more information.

Who do I recommend this DAC to?

The Simgot DEW4X is an excellent dongle that is ultra-compact and has a decidedly more robust appearance than the competition. I am just sorry that some minor details were overlooked, such as the LED, which did not have a dedicated hole on the shell. Watching through the audio outputs is not a big deal, but it seems like a minor oversight. I’m sure a companion app would have been useful to many, but apart from a few important brands, there are usually no accompanying apps.

Personally, in terms of sound quality, I currently place it immediately after the iBasso DC04Pro, followed by the Hidizs S9 Pro. However, if I had a limited budget, I would definitely take a look at the Moondrop Dawn Pro or the Fiio KA11.

8.5/10

Pros:

Cons:

Where to buy:

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Aliexpress

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