Hidizs S9 Pro Review

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Sound performances

For this review, I chose to pair the Hidizs S9 Pro with the  Beyerdynamic’s DT700 Pro X and the Shanling ME800. If the prior has been my top choice for a sub-€250 headphone, the ME800 is my first choice for whoever wants a hybrid IEM.

As for the source, I kept my MacBook and iPhone, combined with the ddHiFi TC28i. For the files, I mainly used Apple Music and Spotify, as I ended up using the S9 Pro almost exclusively on the go, or on the train.

Overall signature

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the FiiO KA3, which shares the same DAC as the Hidizs S9 Pro, and was VERY impressed by the end result. So logically, I expected the same performances with Hidizs little player. Did it happen? All in all… almost!

In fact, the S9 Pro is very capable and achieved some impressive results paired with the Beyer, outputting crystal clear highs and powerful lows, even at low to medium volume levels. Listening to my usual test playlist, I could definitely hear the improvement compared to the KA1 I reviewed last week, but the KA3 remained a tad above, with a deeper soundstage.

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Going balanced definitely made a difference though, and compared to the FiiO, I even found the S9 Pro to be more accurate in this regard, paired with the Shanling ME800. Apple Music offers Dolby Atmos files, and played through the DAC, with the Shanling, through the 2.5mm output, the S9 sounded outperformed the KA3 in my opinion.

On the other hand, power-wise, the Hidizs S9 Pro couldn’t outperform the KA3 which remains the go-to pocket DAC for anyone seeking a pocket powerhouse. With the DT700 Pro X, lows were tighter and mids sounded more organic, closer to the original recording – a real magic trick for a DAC this small, and so affordable.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of power, enough to push big cans like my Audeze LCD-X, or the Meze Liric, but compared to the FiiO, passed 50%, the dynamic range seems to lower, and I found it harder to discern micro-details. Still, compared to the KA1, the S9 Pro keeps the upper range, and if you pair it with easier-to-drive headphones, the Hidizs is on-par – sometimes above – with the FiiO KA3.

Head to head against the EarMen Sparrow, another DAC equipped with a newer ESS Chip the S9 Pro sounded quite different, actually. Like the KA3 seems to focus on details, and dynamics whereas the Sparrow showed crisp highs and softer mids, giving me a completely different experience.

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Paired with the good old FiiO FD5, the combo gives you a perfect mix of accuracy and dynamic, a mix that should accommodate listeners seeking a precise DAC on the go . And if bad recordings are not welcome, compared to the FiiO K3 and KA3, there is not much difference. For people that may find the DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X a tad too dry, this is perfect if you need a small DAC on the go – or don’t get a Beyer, get a Meze.

As promised in the product sheet, the  Hidizs S9 Pro absolutely dead silent, even with sensitive IEMs like the FiiO FA9. To be sure, I tried various sources to check if EMI shielding was okay too and 99% of the time, I was pleased to hear the same pitch-black background. And this time, even when I took the subway, I never encountered any parasite.

Of course, compared to Apple’s own dongle, this is a big improvement. The same can be said when opposed to ddHiFi’s TC35i: better dynamics overall, better bass control, cleaner high-mids, especially with big cans like my Audeze LCD-X. Compared to the TC44A, and most of all the TC44C, the difference wasn’t as big, ddHiFi latest DAC pushes more dynamic range in my opinion, especially when paired with a good IEM.

In fact, when the TC44C took the lead with classical and electro tracks, like Rezz – Chemical bond, the S9 Pro shined with pop and jazzy songs, like Sun Rai – San Francisco street. This was especially true with dynamic, bass-hitting, tracks like Universal Consciousness from Charlotte De Witte, where some kicks seemed to popup right into my face, with the ddHiFi and FiiO, whereas the Hidizs sounded more laid-back, and to be honest, less aggressive. 

Still, this is, once again a surprisingly good DAC, with no real flaw, sonically speaking.

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Tonality

Highs: clean and crisp. The S9 Pro has lively treble and with IEMs like the Shanling, it gives tons of details. Going balanced doesn’t make a difference, but I did notice a major difference switching between 16bit files and 24bit files on this one, more than I used to hear with other similarly priced DAC, so you better feed it well.

Good test track : Through and through – Leaving Laurel

Mids: open and linear. Vocals and acoustic tracks were an easy job for the S9 Pro, even more once paired with a good IEM. The sound stage is wide and voices glided easily into my ears, especially paired with the Shanling ME800. Yet, I preferred the DT900 Pro X with this DAC, as some good pairing occurred, giving me the right amount of details and a wide soundstage..

Good test track: Places – Brace! Brace!

Bass: tight and powerful. Hidizs did a great job here, and the S9 Pro was really impressive, even in single-ended mode. Sure, going balanced makes a big difference, even more, if you pair it with a solid can like the Audeze, or the Meze 99 Classics. A nice surprise!

Good test track: Orbit – Rezz

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Conclusion

I never had a chance to try the previous version of the S9, but clearly, the Hidizs S9 Pro is a DAC with experience. It’s well-built, tiny and lightweight, compatible with each and every device, and – more importantly – sounds wonderful. Paired with a good IEM, like Shanling’s or FiiO’s latest models, it’s utterly impressive, without breaking the bank.

Would I take it over ddHiFi’s TC44C? That’s a tough question, as the latter falls more in line with my favorite genre (electro, classical, ambient) but if you’re a pop/rap/jazz/vocal lover, you may prefer the S9 Pro. There’s no bad choice really, and honestly, both shall offer a great experience.

4.3/5 - (90 votes)
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A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist.

3 Comments

  • Reply May 27, 2022

    Jeroen Wijnands

    Could this power my old 250 ohm DT770?

  • Reply October 9, 2022

    Gérald Forget

    S9 Pro gets very hot and drains IPad current quickly, more so than Red Dragonfly which I owned. Its boxy shape makes it much less agreeable to hold than Dragonfly’s rounded edges. Hidizs cable (Lightning to USB-C) purchased at the same time to connect with IPad was found defective after 4 months of normal use, within warranty period. Three months after we have agreed to compensate with a replacement adaptor, nothing was received and, furthermore, hello@hidizs failed to answer my last request. I will not buy from this company again and cannot recommend it.

  • Reply November 26, 2022

    GeeVee

    How does it compare to Dragonfly Cobalt or Red?

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