Compact and Powerful: HIDISZ S8 Pro DAC for Hi-Res Music

The HIDISZ S8 Pro is a compact DAC dongle that delivers hi-fi audio from your smartphone to your headphones. Designed by Chinese brand HIDISZ, the S8 Pro is also known as the Robin, despite its dissimilarity to the bird.

The S8 Pro is no larger than a cigarette lighter and features two copper-colored buttons for volume control, as well as a knurled copper knob for play/pause functionality. It offers two output options: a traditional 3.5mm unbalanced stereo jack and a balanced 4.4mm connector, catering to different headphone types.

To connect to your smartphone, HIDISZ provides a short USB-C to USB-C OTG cable for Android devices, along with a USB-C to Lightning adapter for iPhone users. Once connected, the S8 Pro serves as the audio output, allowing you to enjoy high-quality audio from streaming services like Tidal or Deezer.

The device supports digital audio files up to 32-bit / 384kHz PCM and DSD256, thanks to its two Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips. These chips ensure excellent channel separation and a focused soundstage, providing a detailed and nuanced sound quality.

The S8 Pro also features several digital filters for sound customization, including High Pass, NOS, De-emphasis, and others. While the impact of these filters is subtle, they can enhance your listening experience, especially when paired with high-quality headphones.

In terms of power output, the S8 Pro offers 80mW through the unbalanced 3.5mm output and 160mW through the balanced 4.4mm output, providing ample volume for most headphones. Overall, priced at £79 / €79 / $99, the HIDISZ S8 Pro offers excellent audio performance and versatility, making it a great choice for headphone enthusiasts.