Hidizs S9 PRO Balanced & Single-Ended Mini HiFi DAC & AMP, 768kHz/32Bit, DSD512 Portable Audio Decoding Amplifier for iPhone iPod Android PC with Windows/Mac OS/iOS/iPad OS System (Black)

Product Information

The latest planar IEMs are very easy to drive even on SE output, such as the Kefine Klanar, which doesn’t even need 40% volume to reach excellent sound pressures. Hidizs is not giving fans a break. After the fire at the AKM plant in Japan on 20 October 2020, many of the audio devices that used AKM chips have had to move to another manufacturer, due to the difficulty of finding them. This is the case of the S9, which used an AK4493EQ as a DAC. The new S9 Pro uses Sabre's ESS9038Q2M, one of their flagship chips for mobile devices. The external design is largely the same, but the specifications have been improved. Channel separation is higher, harmonic distortion is lower and power is higher, especially in its balanced mode. All other properties are the same. Thus, this new dongle supports DSD521 and PCM32/768, it also has ASIO support and can run on Windows 10 without drivers. Let's have a look at the performance of this new product. As alluded to previously in my original S9 Pro review, the Hidizs S9 Pro (and the Copper Edition) offers the same power output (100mW into 32Ω from its SE output, 200mW into 32Ω from its balanced output). I have some types of audio file formats in my digital collection, most of them are of lossless format. I've also tested them in the Hiby Player Music app in USB exclusive mode. To some, this may come across as a minor grievance that does little to detract from your experience with the device. At the end of the day, it boils down to how each user plans to incorporate the device into their daily life. Our Verdict

The measurements of the S9 Pro are excellent. Even its power output is clearly higher than specified. Without load, the single-ended output exceeds 2V (2.1V), while the balanced output almost doubles this value (4.1V). Once again it falters in BAL at 33Ω, it matches the values for SE: 2.2V, 150mW and 66mA, a bit far from the 180mW it promises. It would have been necessary to reach 2.4V, but it is very close. Green light: Anodizing fast roll-off (Default filter): Voices are slightly advanced and high frequencies are extended with reduced resonance.I have been using it to power quite a few IEMs, from budget offerings such as the Salnotes Zero, up to high end models such as the Aroma FEI WAN, and it has done a good job of driving all of them. I didn’t find that it caused anything in particular to stand out in comparison to other neutral sources that I have used, making it transparent and, well, neutral to my ears. The S9 Pro Plus has arrived a few years after the S9 Pro and I think it is a worthy upgrade to the previous model. The S9 Pro was (is) a very good dongle but, in my opinion, it was just a little harsh in its presentation. Improvements from sources are primarily minor and nuanced, despite my textual descriptions. If you are beginning your head-fi journey, getting different IEMs or earphones would yield more benefits. If you know your gears very well, improvements from sources can be delightful I am not going to do my usual rant about how difficult it is for me to compare clean SS amplifiers, so I will just get on with it.

The S9 Pro Plus pairs pretty well with Hidizs own MP145 Planar, it gives the MP145 sense of even more details without sounding harsh and it does improve the decay of the MP145 to be more natural. By now, I have tried other DACs that mount the ESS9038Q2M, such as the F.Audio KS01 and EPZ Tp30, but also the old Hidizs S9 Pro. The ES9038Q2M is a powerhouse that supports high-resolution audio. With a maximum 32-bit/768kHz PCM sampling rate, it delivers unprecedented precision. This level of detail captures even the subtlest nuances in music, guaranteeing a pristine audio reproduction. The chip boasts an impressive Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of up to 128dB and an astonishingly low Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) of -120dB. These figures define audiophile-grade audio quality. And the best part? This technology isn't limited to high-end audio systems but extends to portable devices, setting a new standard for audio quality.Optimize the pure tone mode, disable WiFi and Bluetooth in the pure tone mode, and clear the recently task list. This flexibility allows you to adapt the filter effects to your headphones, maximizing your listening experience. I do have some issues with the S9 Pro Plus Martha with my Snapdragon powered devices on “non exclusive USB mode”

Hidizs inspired to name the S9 Pro Plus after " Martha” the last surviving passenger pigeon. This unique naming decision serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse world we inhabit, reinforcing our love for nature and life. If you're discovering the story of passenger pigeons through Hidizs for the first time, then this truly encapsulates the essence of our mission.

Anodizing fast roll-off (Default Filter): Slightly forward vocals, extended high frequencies with reduced resonance.