NuPrime Hi-mDAC
$ 139.00
Most versatile and portable USB DAC (PCM 384kHz & DSD256 decoding)
The Hi mDAC is a portable high-resolution DAC and headphone amp. Capable of PCM 32/384 and DSD 256 decoding, it is ultra-compact and low power consumption and connects easily to your computer or mobile device.
Out of stock
The Hi-mDAC outperforms anything in its price class and compares favourably to digital-to-analog converters and headphone amplifiers costing significantly more. It provides the listener with truly full-range sound with commanding bass and an impressive full-frequency response. The improvement in sound quality is easy to hear.
State Of The Art DAC Chip & Custom USB Chip
Many low cost portable DACs can only decode up to 24-bit/96kHz PCM and do not support DSD decoding. The Hi-mDAC is capable of decoding sample rates ranging from 44.1kHz to 384kHz (PCM) as well as native DSD decoding ranging from DSD 64 up to DSD 256, making it the most capable USB-powered portable DAC on the market today!
Hi-mDAC utilizes a new chip CS43131 from Cirrus Logic. The CS43131 combines a next-generation, low power audio DAC with a high-fidelity headphone amplifier to provide a superior system-level audio performance without draining battery life. To minimize pre-echos and ringing artifacts, the CS43131 is designed with proprietary digital-interpolation filters that support five selectable digital filter responses. Filtering options include low group delay with pseudo-linear phase and a fast or slow roll-off. Volume matching of the analog output levels and channel mixing enable a seamless transition between the DSD and PCM playback paths. The onboard low noise, ground-centered headphone amplifier provides proprietary AC impedance detection to support headphone fingerprinting to provide a consistent and transparent audio experience for the end user regardless of transducer impedances or frequency responses.
A NuPrime customized low power USB communication chip together with the CS43131 achieved the previously unattainable goal of a lower power high performance portable DAC & headphone amp device.
COMPATIBLE
The Hi-mDAC is compatible with a wide range of devices — Apple computers and iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, all PCs and many Android devices.
CONVENIENT
The Hi-mDAC is one of the smallest high performance USB DACs available on the market today. Measuring just 5.0cm x 2.2cm x 1.2cm, the Hi-mDAC can travel easily in your pocket, backpack or briefcase. With a USB cable that connects to your iOS device or Android, it’s a great way to get improved sound quality from your smartphone or tablet.
OUTSTANDING SOUND & BUILD QUALITY
If you’ve only listened to music through your existing computer sound card or the built-in DAC in your iOS or Android device, you will find this USB powered external DAC an unmistakable improvement in sound quality. If you have an older external DAC that can only decode 24-bit/96kHz PCM, the Hi-mDAC will allow you to hear and feel more of your favorite music. The superior sound will provide a definite upgrade to your listening experience.
The chassis is CNC machining from two pieces of aluminum with precise mechanical specifications.
FEATURES
- 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD 256 decoding
- Discrete USB audio receiver and D/A converter. Asynchronous transfer mode for doubled jitter-reduction at data input and over-sampling filter stages
- High-performance headphone amplifier
- Optical output (shared with 3.5mm headphone out) capable of S/PDIF and DoP stream
- USB powered, no external power supply required. It can be powered directly by mobile phones
- USB port
- Works with Android (4.1 & above with OTG), iOS (with camera adapter USB cable), Windows 7/8/10, & Mac. Windows device driver download is required; other devices do not need a driver.
Accessories
- USB-A to USB-C cable included
Standard micro USB or lightning cable can not be used to connect Hi-mDAC to Android or iOS device respectively. They were designed to connect a computer to the mobile devices.
NOTE: Set the source volume to 100% for best performance
Android Devices
Use a micro USB Male to USB Female OTG adapter with the USB-A to USB-C cable to connect Android devices to Hi-mDAC.
Connecting Hi-mDAC to iOS Devices
or 
Use Lightning to Camera Adapter cable (if external power is needed for extended listening, use the Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter cable) and the USB-A to USB-C cable to connect iOS devices to Hi-mDAC.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Input: 1 X USB (32-bit/384kHz & DSD256 decoding)
- Output: 3.5mm analog or 3.5mm optical (PCM 192kHz, DoP64)
- Frequency Response: 20-20kHz +/- 0.5dB
- S/N Ratio: > 100 dB (20-20kHz A-weighted)
- THD+N: 0.005% @ 1mW
…
Hi-mDAC achieved something quite remarkable. First and foremost, it drives my Audeze LCD-3 and gives me “commanding bass” as stated on the website. Where the Sennheiser HD-800S felt a little cramped last time, the Audeze sounds quite the opposite with a wide sound-stage and delightful lows….
…
The Hi-mDAC is fast and precise, at any level of volume. The layering is impressive, the sound feels natural, effortless and I think NuPrime really did a good job in term of tuning. This isn’t a DAC that’ll wow you right off the batch, on the contrary, the more you’ll listen to it the more you’ll get to love it.
…
Tonality
Highs : clean and transparent. The Nuprime achieves a good job there, with a good amount of air. Trebles are precise, never harsh and with the right headphone, you’ll get a level of comfort that I wouldn’t believe possible a few years ago. It’s never dry, never sibilant, never boring. Very impressive!
…
Mids : excellent layering and great spaciousness. The mids blends perfectly with the rest of the spectrum. The soundstage is excellent, sometimes astounding until you reach the highest level of volume. If so, the mids tend to fall behind the highs and lows, giving us an odd V-Shap signature. Still, this is only if you really push the DAC to its limit.
…
Lows : fast and powerful. Bass is impressive, very impressive. Usually, this is where small DAC falls short, but this is never the case with the m-DAC. 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.
… by Nanotechnos, headfonia.com <- Click on this URL to view full review
ON-Mag’s opinion: 
(5/5)
…
The NuPrime Hi-mDAC sound is a great little blend of power and detail, all without getting aggressive. The soundstage is not disproportionate but surprisingly coherent, carried by a rather neutral or even slightly brilliant signature. Unless you come across a monster headset like the Hifiman Susvara or an extremely high impedance headset, the Hi-mDAC can power all headsets or almost without a hitch.
… by Guillaume Fourcadier, ON Magazine (full review)
…
No question about it, this NuPrime Hi-MDAC has the best build quality in a small form factor DAC that I’ve ever seen…and dang, I own so many and have reviewed so many….
…
Our Verdict
Gods honest, I am so tired of the larger DAC’s that claim to be portable but are the size of small bricks. These little DAC’s are the future and I want these companies to push the boundaries of what is possible.
The Hi-mDAC is the first I have heard that is actually very musical, enjoyable on a tonality viewpoint and that offers a slick sense of style in the physical dynamic impact area of the listening experience.
By that, again, I mean it sounds smoother and easier to listen to than most other small DACs. The tradeoff is that it is quite chunky and much bigger than the others, but still, it is petite. And it has decent power! To see a budget tiny DAC performs well with demanding planars such as the Dan Clark Audio Aeon Flow is impressive.
Of course, it does not power it as well as a good desktop amp, but for a casual walk, or sitting outside somewhere, doing the dishes and cleaning the house with this Hi-mDAC in your pocket? I cannot complain when I look at the bigger picture.
We have come far with these little guys and I am happy to keep this in my pocket for the duration of my day, at least, until my phone dies and cannot power the DAC anymore.
… by Michael, Headfonics.com (full review)
