Hidizs SD2 Hifi Type-C to 3.5mm Dongle DAC Review – Of Gods, Generals And Agave

It’s not like I needed more bad habits, but in anticipation of democracy ending this year, I’ve recently gotten into Tequila, which has a number of analogues to DAC/dongles, i.e.:

• Price is a (very) imperfect measure of quality (although $50-60 seems to be sweet spot);
• Larger, established brands are typically trumped by the smaller boutique stuff; and
• It’s a hard commodity to write about—descriptions of aroma/taste etc. rarely do justice to the actual drinking experience.

Try Siete Leguas or Marcame Anejo, which wholly outclass the Don Julios and Patrons of the world.

Which, in an admittedly roundabout way brings me to Hidizs’ latest the $39.99 SD2. Straight up, I don’t really like the SD2’s stubby, hexagonal form factor, which seems more inclined to get snagged in a pocket than a conventional cabled dongle (and also looks funny). Build quality, however, is excellent—machining is impeccable and the jewel-like alloy casing exudes quality. 

The SD2 does PCM 384/32 DSD 128 as opposed to the ostensibly higher-rez PCM 768/32 and DSD 512 on Hidisz’s pricier models; whether or not you can hear the difference is an open question. In case anyone still cares, the SD2 is MQA-capable. Tiny blue/red sample rate indicator will surely please obsessives. 

 Output power on the SD2 is spec’d at 70mw, which renders it beefier than prior Hidisz house favorite S3 but less robust than the Hidizs S9, which, unlike the SD2 also has balanced outs for more juice. As such, I found the SD2 to pair well with efficient (16-32 ohm) IEMs and fully capable of driving fairly tough loads like the Koss KSC75.

With more challenging phones like the 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600, the SD was adequate but slightly underpowered, which is audible mainly at the low end, which sounds more billowy and slow than with the SD2 than through the balance out of the S9.  I did observe that compared to my current go-tos like the Truthear Shio, the SD2 is quite a power hog, although it remains cool to the touch.

So how does it sound? Quite a bit like the S9 actually, with a ballsy, bright tonality that accentuates midrange and imparts a lot of sparkle and crispness at the high end. As with the S9, there is considerable coloration to the proceedings—voices and percussion have a hyper-pixilated quality that can sound analytical or overly-energetic on some material, although micro-details are very cleanly presented. Background is very quiet and at least on more sensitive phones, bass is speedy and tight and soundstage is expansive and three-dimensional, with a lot of air between instruments. 

Where the SD2 really stands out is in its stereo imaging, which is as precise as I’ve heard at this price point. The position of each performer is immediately discernible, and there’s no recognizable bleed between frequencies. Large-scale orchestral works are impressively sorted out, as are dense rock tracks (you can actually hear Ian Stewart’s piano on the Stone’s “Shake Your Hips”).

Now, among its peers the Truthear Shio or Cozoy Tact have a more natural/neutral presentation, but are notably less resolving and extended—your preference will likely be source-dependent. Hidisz’s own S3 (orig. $69, now discounted to $39) trails the SD2 in dynamic slam and high-end detail, but sounds a tad smoother and has a similarly wide soundstage and much of the same forward, energetic character.

Ultimately, even when the effects of my Tequila binge have subsided, the SD2 earns a thumbs up—it’s a very big-sounding piece which throws off a lot of sonic information. 

Disclaimer: per past practice the SD2 was sent to us unsolicited by Hidisz. You can buy one here: https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-sd2-hifi-type-c-to-3-5mm-adapter-dongle-dac. It’s your money, after all.

Specifications Hidizs SD2

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