A review of the newly released SD2 dongle DAC from Hidizs.
I have had the SD2 for about a week and I have tried it out in a number of different situations.
This is more of a personal review rather than a technical one, you can find spec and tech reviews online.
For specifications and products see this link >here< and Amazon; >here<
For an unboxing and quick exploration of the SD2, the You Tube video is at the end of this post.
After opening the box, inside I found the SD2, *an apple lightning adapter and a USB A to type C converter as well, which in itself, offers great value for the overall asking price.
*Edition dependant, check product link for details.
I have an iPhone 14 pro, so the adaptor was essential. This allowed me to use my Hidizs MM2 IEMs with the setup.
When I compared them with my wired Apple headphones the sound improvement was immediately noticeable. A substantial warmth increase with a richer bass which was not overpowering. I was surprised that something without external power could achieve this level of volume and improvement in quality. Apple Music uses ALAC on its streaming service, and some include Hi-Res, The SD2 supports Hi-Res Streaming Audio. It also has a sample rate indicator, red and blue keeping it in line with other products in their range. I have the DH80S which also has this feature.
I found the SD2 a unique little device aesthetically pleasing to look at, light but strong and it offers great sound quality.
Being a runner, I regularly use headphones when I am out for longer runs. My main go to is my AP80 Pro X which has kept me company for many kilometres, although sometimes I like to listen to podcasts for which I use the phone and Bluetooth headphones, however they only last about 2 hrs which is not great. I am training for my first ultra this year and I am out for 3 to 4 hrs at the moment. I did try the DH80S interfaced with my phone which works well but it a little too bulky for my running pack, so having the SD2 plugged into my iPhone is a game changer for me. I now have access to unlimited streaming music, podcasts and I still get updates from my Garmin Forerunner 955 watch through the headphones, win win!!
There has been no discernible battery drain with the inclusion of the SD2 (which uses the phone to power it) and it is lighter and less bulky than the DH80S… will this be the start of my running love affair with SD2? Â
I tested it in my MSI laptop, it was as easy as plug it in to the type C port, the computer recognized it and selected it for use! Truly ‘Plug and Play’ Could I notice any discernible difference with or without it? YES, my laptop is no slouch and can play triple A games without any issue and has pretty good sound specs, however, the SD2 offered more volume and a clearer sound profile than just using headphones alone. I checked out a set of headphones with an inline mic and they worked like a dream. I played a couple of rounds of Fortnite with a few friends and had no issues communicating with them through the SD2 and inline mic on the headphones.
While writing this I thought why not try the SD2 plugged into the AP80 and compare it with the DH80S, I know that’s a little unfair as the DH80S is a powerhouse. However, the little SD2 was not an easy push over, sure it does not quite have the volume and richness of sound as the DH80S, but it was never meant to have. It scores over its bigger brother in its compact and light weight size, it fits right in the IEM case along with its cable and it works all the time as there is no need to charge it up!
Overall, this little HiFi dongle DAC packs a lot of bang for the buck, it’s small size and versatility with different digital products makes it a new essential piece of kit in my bag. All this wonderful audio goodness for under £40. What’s not to love about it!
Get yours here on the Hidizs site; >here<
Or here on Amazon; >here<
Related videos; AP80 Pro X , AP80 Case