ddHiFi TC44Pro – Review

Sound performances

For the purpose of this review, I used the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, the Letshuoer S12 Pro, and my good old Meze 99 Classics. For the source, I used my iPhone and all files were streamed from Spotify for convenience, Apple Music for Hi-Res source, and my own library for local tracks.

Overall signature

So, is the ddHiFi TC44Pro a real upgrade over the TC44A? Yes! Should you get this or the TC44C? Hmm… tougher question, let me elaborate.

As you’d expect, the TC44Pro sounds very close to the TC44C, as both share a very similar circuitry. It’s fast and precise, at any level of volume, and the layering is a big step above its little brother. It also feels more natural, with deeper lows and sharper mids, confirming the brand’s steady progress, fine-tuning every aspect of their sound signature over each generation of products. The TC44Pro pushes a lot more micro-details than the TC44A, that’s a fact, but compared to the TC44C, the difference remains narrower. And if the latter handles low-frequency more accurately, on a daily basis, the TC44 Pro was a perfect match to my Letshuoer S12 Pro, driving them almost effortlessly. 

Micro-details, balanced signature, precise timbre, you get it all and, the end result outline years of hard work. It’s a lovely device, and honestly, to get this level of detail, out of a box this small, is a real delight. It kind of reminds me of the iFi Go blu in terms of versatility, even if the Go Blu delivers more output power, but remember that the TC44Pro is almost half the price of the iFi… Out of curiosity, I also paired them with a set of HiFiman Svanar – great but complicated IEM.  And, to my surprise, the pairing happened to be quite good, with better detail retrieval on the ddHiFi that the FiiO KA3 I usually use with them… it really depends on your IEM/headphone. But in that case, the TC44 Pro did a brilliant job.

Pan effects are delightful, voices are outstanding, and the TC44Pro gave me clean, authoritative bass, something that I would have not expected for a CS43131 powered DAC. Add to that very nice mids and voices, and the TC44Pro really is one of the best dongle-sized DAC you could get at the moment. Coupled with commendable mid-tones and resonating vocals, the device comes across as one of the best dongle-sized DACs currently available in the market

All in all, an excellent DAC, that will replace the TC44C on my UM, as it offers almost the same level of performance, for a fraction of the price.

Tonality

Highs : clean and transparent. The TC44Pro raises the bar and achieves a superb job there, with sharp, harsh-less trebles, and excellent layering at any given volume. With the right headphone, you’ll get a level of power and accuracy that I wouldn’t believe possible a few years ago, with a DAC this small. My new reference in this price range!

Track : Believe in Me – Jamie Lidell

Mids : excellent layering and great spaciousness. The mids blend perfectly with the rest of the spectrum. The soundstage is splendid, sometimes astounding even at the highest level of volume. Compared to the TC44A the mids don’t tend to fall behind the highs and lows, and everything sounds pretty even now.

Track : Nobody Speak – DJ Shadow

Lows : fast and powerful. Bass is impressive, very impressive. Usually, this is where small DAC falls short, but this wasn’t the case here, and I could push volume way higher than I thought. It’s fast, powerful and with a good headphone, you’ll be rewarded by deep, tight, toe-tapping bass. Plus side, it never oversteps on the other frequencies.

Track : The Chasm – Dan Terminus

Noise and power

Noise: nothing noticeable on most headphones and IEM. I only encountered hiss once with my Unique Melody, but 99% of your systems should work flawlessly.

Power: power-wise, you’ll be able to drive most headphone of your catalog and all IEMs with ease. It’s not incredibly powerful, but considering the size, it remains quite impressive and you always feel in control.

Conclusion

Once more ddHiFi did what they do best: take of their “old” model, try a few fixes here and there, and upgrade it to the upper level. Quintessence of that process, the TC44Pro really is the epitome of ddHiFi dongle-mania. Build quality is flawless, performances are knees and heads above the stock DAC of my phone, and even tickles the fancy of much larger models.

The perfect on-the-do dongle, for anyone in search of a real improvement, in a pocket-sized device, that won’t break the bank. A great DAC/Amp!

Pros

• exquisite design and sturdy built

• plug&play by essence, perfect for on-the-go sessions

• great sound and enough power to driver mid range desktop headphones

• good pricing

Cons

• lanyard is funny but not mandatory

• slightly less powerful than the TC44C