The Collector : Audio Gadgets

Hidizs is a Hong Cong based audio company known for delivering quality portable audiophile equipment like DAP, DAC, Amps and IEMs.  S8 is an offering by Hidizs that surprises us with its features, size and price. It is a USB DAC-AMP that comes with 4 types of connector and is super useful for all types of sources we use, be it an android phone, an  iPhone or any laptop. With most of the phones getting away with the headphone jack, USB dongles solve a dire need of the hour. This does not need any kind of app installation even on laptop. Just connect it with the device and you are good to go. In just an inch square of size S8 packs so many capabilities that it mind blowing. Its design is minimalistic and simple. CNC machined aluminum case makes it sturdy and strong. It's extremely lightweight so super easy to carry. It comes in two colors, white and black. The front side has just 2 buttons on them, the top side has  a headphone jack and bottom side has a micro-USB port. The...

Portability is the need of current time and a powerful USB Amp DAC is kindling desire of every audiophile who cannot carry their beloved desktop setup everywhere. I am a victim of this problem myself.  This USB Amp DAC by Lotoo solves that purpose beautifully while giving a remarkable listening experience. In a thickness of mere 13mm and a length equivalent to a big pen drive, Paw S1 packs in itself a plethora of features. Lotoo, an audio brand of Infomedia,  is a well-established name in Audio industry. Paw S1 is a well-deserved addition in their current lineup. Paw S1 comes in a sleek black box with a model and its name stylishly displayed on the front side, the other sides of the box display technical features and other relevant information about the product.  Inside the box, one would find the unit along with an USB type-c to USB type-c OTG cable, manual and warranty card. The device has a classy black aluminum body with a little display screen on the front side. The ...

Burson is an Australian brand which took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' line up DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game changer for audio equipment.  Playmate2 is the  latest entry in their product catalog, this is an all-in-one entry-level desktop DAC/AMP. Housed in a stylish white box, I received the Playmate2 without it’s OpAmp upgrade. The package arrived with the basic components including the unit, power supply , USB-C cable,  mic splitter etc. immaculately kept in a thick styro-foam framework for safekeeping.   I personally liked the looks and aesthetics of the product.  The entire chassis is metal and build to act as a heat sink as a result of which the unit runs at minimal temperatures even after a long listening session. The volume knob is placed at the front side of the equipment along with a small screen,...

IKKO Audio (IKKO Technology Co. Limited) is a relatively new Chinese brand that designs & develops Hi-Fi components like In-Ear Monitors, DAC/AMP. The IKKO Zerda ITM03 is a DAC/AMP Dongle with a pretty small form factor. For review I have received the USB-C variant of the dongle, but it is also available with Lightning connector. The body is made up of aluminium alloy sandblasted oxidized shell with monster OCC Silver-Plated silicone fully wrapped cable and weighs only 12 grams. Overall, it feels like a rugged product to hold. It offers 3.5mm audio as well as optical out. The IKKO Zerda ITM03 features the CS43198 Chip featuring high impedance of 600 Ω, a 130 dBA dynamic range, a THD+N rating of -115 dB, and inter channel isolation of >110 dB and support sampling rates upto 384kHz and Native DSD x128. The Zerda ITM03 is compatible with operating systems like Android, Windows PC’s, MacOSX and iOS. It supports plug-and-play which means you doesn’t need to install any drivers. As IK...

The Cozoy TAKT C is an external portable DAC/AMP module that has built in cable with USB-C port and has been designed to be used with various devises such as smartphones, tablets and computers using similar ports or adapters. Now a days lot of smartphones are adapting to USB sound architecture instead of using a 3.5mm jack, for those devises this comes as a bliss as of its portable and high fidelity design. Cozoy Takt C decoder and amplifier is engineered with AL6063 aircraft-grade aluminum and advanced metal procession fusing high-efficiency circuitry designs with leading software implementations. With minimal design footprint Takt C powers earphones effortlessly across a wide band with great detail and dynamics. Takt C supports multi-platform and is device-powered. It has advanced SABRE9018Q2C Reference D/A Converter for unprecedented dynamic range and ultra low distortion, and it also equipped with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology, the build achieves an impressive 120dB sign...