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Hidizs S8 Pro Robin - Peaceful Chirping for the Ears - Honest Audiophile Impressions

Writer's picture: dbstechtalkdbstechtalk

USB C Dongles are everywhere now, new releases popping up daily it seems. One of the more recent releases comes from popular brand Hidizs, the S8 Pro Robin.


The Hidizis S9 Pro will set you back $100 from your bank account; it's currently on sale for $70 on the Hidizs website.


Purchase/More Information:



Box:

Hidizs has opted for a straightforward sleeve and hard shell box for the S8 Pro. The front of the sleeve features an image along with some branding. Ohh, we have a Hi-Res sticker, It's Got to Sound Good!

On the back of the sleeve, the specifications are printed in small text.

Once you remove the sleeve, you'll find a hard shell box displaying the Hidizs logo and the phrase "Relish Music, Beauty in the Details!" on the top.

Beneath the lid, a foam insert securely holds the S8 Pro. Under the foam, you'll discover the accessories: a USB-C cable, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, a USB-C to iOS adapter, and some paperwork.


Build/Design:

The Hidizs S8 Pro shares the same construction as other Hidizs USB-C dongles I've encountered. It's a sturdy metal piece with a smooth surface, rounded edges, and slight flaring to protect the volume rockers from accidental presses.

An embedded LED Hidizs logo changes colors when settings and filters are adjusted, and it remains lit during use to indicate the data/bit rate.

However, the logo and volume buttons are upside down, which I find frustrating. I wish the LED logo was on the headphone jack side and that the volume rocker buttons were arranged so the volume up button was on the USB-C end. Additionally, the round rocker in the middle doesn't rotate; it's just a play/pause button. Overall, the S8 Pro Robin feels and looks premium.


Filters:


Filters are adjusted by simultaneously pressing both the volume up and down buttons.

Red - High Pass Filter

Green - NOS Filter

Blue - Deem Phasis Filter

Yellow - Fast & Slow Filter

Purple - Low-Latency & Phase-Compensated Filter

White - Wide Band Flatness Mode


I favored the Green NOS (No-Oversampling) filter because I believed it provided the most precise and natural sound reproduction. My next preference was the White Wide Band Flatness mode, which resembled the NOS but leaned slightly more towards an analytical rather than a natural presentation.


Output Power:


The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin offers solid driving power, delivering 80mW per channel for single-ended and 160mW per channel for balanced outputs. I encountered no difficulties powering any IEMs available for review. However, when it came to headphones, the S8 Pro Robin had a harder time driving them with ease. The S8 Pro is designed primarily for powering IEMs. Unfortunately, the ability to power headphones is sub-optimal, as even some headphones that are typically easy to drive presented significant challenges.


Sound Impressions:


What does the Hidizs S8 Pro sound like?


The impressions below were formed using the NOS filter and Wide Band Flatness mode with the Westone Mach 60. Several other IEMs and headphones were also tested.


Headphones:

Rode NTH-100

Austrian Audio Hi-X60

Kiwi Ears Division

Sivga Anser

Presonus HD9


IEM:

ThieAudio Oracle mkiii

Tangzu Nezha

SoftEars Studio 4

Fiio FA19

DUNU DK3001BD


The S8 Pro Robin by Hidizs employs dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips, resulting in an outstanding sound presentation.

The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin delivers a sound that leans towards a balanced profile, ensuring an even distribution of bass, mids, and treble, without any single element overshadowing the others. It leans towards a natural, organic sound with natural tone & timbre.


Bass:


The bass definition provides a subtle emphasis, especially on the mid-bass section, enhancing the texture for bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals appropriately. It maintains a clean, rumbling, detailed, and well-separated bass response.

The bass is powerful yet controlled, offering a robust and balanced bass response without being overpowering.


Mids:


The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin shines in its midrange performance, where its balanced and organic sound excels. It delivers a clear and natural midrange with a pleasant warmth that enhances vocals and instruments. The S8 Pro Robin offers a well-rounded presentation that feels full and lifelike, avoiding being overly forward or recessed. The smoothness of the mids makes long listening sessions enjoyable, especially with acoustic tracks, where guitars and pianos sound particularly resonant and rich. The midrange details emerge beautifully, free from harshness or sibilance. Tracks with layered instruments, such as classical or jazz, maintain a sense of separation and clarity, allowing individual elements to be distinguished without feeling congested. For those who appreciate midrange-heavy genres like classical or jazz, the S8 Pro Robin handles these with finesse, letting the essence of the music shine through naturally and engagingly.


Treble:


The treble frequencies on the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin deliver a clean and smooth experience, prioritizing a balanced sound instead of a bright or harsh treble. The treble is well-extended but avoids becoming piercing, retaining a softness that enhances the overall listening experience, particularly during extended sessions. A notable feature of the treble on the S8 Pro Robin is its sense of control. Instruments such as cymbals, hi-hats, and string instruments have a natural shimmer without sounding too forward or sharp.


Technical Abilities:


The Hidizs S8 Pro offers technical capabilities that are suitable for its price range. The soundstage is adequately wide, effectively conveying venue sizes from intimate and cozy to large and expansive, though it doesn't quite reach grand dimensions. Imaging across the wide stage is precise and accurate from left to right. The depth of the stage is also considerable, enabling confident analysis of layers. Detail retrieval is a strong point, as it captures details with refinement, definition, and focus, without overlooking anything. The tone and timbre are natural, with a good balance of note weight and body.


Comparisons:


How does the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin compare to a couple of my favorite USB-C dongles?


vs Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini: At a significantly lower price of $25, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini provides a neutral and natural sound. While it isn't as powerful as the S8 Pro, it can still drive most IEMs it encounters, though it struggles with headphones. In terms of sound, the Allegro Mini is less colored than the S8 Pro, offering a more neutral palette compared to the warmer, bass-heavy S8 Pro. The treble of the Allegro Mini is slightly crisper and edgier. Both have similar stage width, but the Allegro Mini occasionally exhibits a grandness that the S8 Pro avoids. The S8 Pro has slightly better detail retrieval, but the difference is minimal, and their resolution is quite close. Preference will determine the choice of tone and timbre, with the S8 Pro being warmer and thicker, and the Allegro Mini being neutral and brighter.


vs Hiby FC3:


Priced slightly lower at $70, the Hiby FC3 provides a neutral and analytical sound profile. It features a single-ended design, and its 70mW output is comparable to the S8 Pro. The FC3 excels in technical performance, offering superior detail retrieval, accurate resolution, better layering, and more precise imaging. In contrast, the S8 Pro delivers a warmer and more musical sound, which some might prefer for its fuller tone and timbre compared to the neutral, analytical nature of the FC3.


vs Fosi Audio DS2:


At a lower price of $60, the Fosi Audio DS2 outperforms the Hidizs S8 Pro. The DS2 offers 130mW single-ended and 510mW balanced power. It can effortlessly handle any IEM and many headphones that are easier to drive. Sonically, the Fosi Audio DS2 provides a neutral, natural, and analytical presentation. It features a more natural and accurate tone and timbre, better detail retrieval and resolution, a larger and deeper soundstage, precise imaging, and more defined layering.


Conclusion:

In conclusion, I appreciate the Hidizs S8 Pro Robin for a laid-back listening experience. However, the S8 Pro doesn't provide the most neutral and analytical sound that I seek in music reproduction. While the S8 Pro Robin offers musical enjoyment, it lacks the technical capabilities of other dongles on the market, including some that are considerably cheaper. Additionally, the S8 Pro isn't the most powerful and has limitations in its compatibility, particularly with headphones. The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is a decent dongle, but it doesn't quite measure up to compete with the more neutral, analytical dongles available.


I am Dave the Honest Audiophile. Thanks for reading, and I will catch you in the next one. Don't forget to enjoy the music and that honesty is the BEST policy!


I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research.  I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear.  I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.

Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.


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