iFi Hip Dac 3 Portable & Headphone Amp Starter Kit with AIRO Astra IEMs (IF0309001-0025)

iFi Hip Dac 3 Portable DAC & Headphone Amp Starter Kit with AIRO Astra IEMs (IF0309001-0025)

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit gives you a complete portable Hi-Res audio setup built around the hip-dac 3 and AIRO Astra in-ear monitors. With Burr-Brown True Native conversion, iEMatch, XBass, PowerMatch, USB-C connectivity, and up to 12 hours of battery life, it brings together portability, flexible headphone support, and high-resolution playback in one compact bundle.

A Complete Hi-Res Starter Kit

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit is designed for listeners who want an easy way to move into portable Hi-Res audio. It pairs the hip-dac 3 with AIRO Astra IEMs, giving you both the DAC and headphone amplifier plus a matching pair of in-ear monitors in one package.

The AIRO Astra IEMs use titanium-plated dynamic drivers for smooth, natural sound and feature an ergonomic shell designed for comfort. Combined with the hip-dac 3's built-in iEMatch function, the bundle is made to work especially well with sensitive in-ear monitors.

Burr-Brown True Native DAC Architecture

At the heart of the iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit is a Burr-Brown True Native chipset. This design keeps supported music formats unchanged or bit-perfect rather than converting them into another format before playback.

The hip-dac 3 also uses a 16-core XMOS chip alongside the Burr-Brown DAC, creating a foundation for detailed, dynamic, high-resolution audio from compatible sources.

Hi-Res Playback Across Multiple Formats

The hip-dac 3 supports a broad range of digital audio formats, from MP3 through DSD256, PCM384, and DXD384. Hi-Res PCM and DXD playback is supported at sample rates up to 384kHz, while DSD playback ranges from DSD64 through DSD256.

Full MQA decoding is also supported, including the complete three-unfold decoding process. Want one portable unit that can handle both everyday music files and high-resolution formats? This setup is built with that flexibility in mind.

iEMatch for Sensitive In-Ear Monitors

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit includes iEMatch technology to better suit high-sensitivity IEMs. It adjusts output levels while keeping source impedance low and maintaining a suitable load for the amplifier.

This helps reduce hiss while preserving detail, making it especially useful with the included AIRO Astra IEMs. Think of iEMatch as a finer control layer between the amplifier and sensitive earphones, helping the two work together more naturally.

PowerMatch and XBass for Flexible Listening

PowerMatch gives you switchable gain so you can better match the output of the hip-dac 3 to the power requirements of your headphones. This makes the unit more adaptable when moving between different headphone designs.

XBass works in the analogue domain to correct missing bass response in headphones, earphones, and open-back designs. Instead of changing the digital signal, the system applies bass correction through analogue circuitry.

Balanced Circuit Design with Strong Output

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit benefits from a true balanced circuit design developed to reduce distortion and deliver cleaner output. Internally, it uses components including a custom iFi OV op-amp and Texas Instruments power IC.

From the balanced output, the hip-dac 3 delivers up to 400mW at 32 ohms and up to 6.3V at 600 ohms. The unbalanced output provides up to 280mW at 32 ohms and 3.2V at 600 ohms.

Updated Circuitry for Cleaner Sound

The hip-dac 3 includes new metal film capacitors designed to improve frequency response. An updated version of iFi's GMT circuitry works alongside a new crystal oscillator to further reduce phase noise.

These internal changes support the goal of delivering a purer and more controlled audio signal without making the device larger or less portable.

USB-C Connectivity and Dual Headphone Outputs

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit uses USB-C for digital audio input and supports audio up to 32-bit/384kHz. Its asynchronous USB design is intended to support jitter-free data transfer from compatible devices.

For headphone connectivity, you get both a 3.5mm single-ended output with S-Balanced circuitry and a 4.4mm balanced output. That gives you more flexibility when choosing compatible headphones and cables.

Compact Aluminium Design for Portable Listening

The hip-dac 3 measures 102 x 70 x 14 mm and weighs 135 g, giving it a compact form that can fit into a pocket or bag. Its aluminium design keeps the familiar hip-dac shape while housing a powerful DAC and headphone amplifier inside.

It can replace the DAC and amplifier sections found in compatible mobile or desktop devices while remaining small enough for portable use.

Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life

A 2,200mAh lithium-polymer battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime. That gives the iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit enough battery capacity for extended listening sessions without relying constantly on an external power source.

For a device this compact, that battery life helps make it practical for travel, commuting, or long listening sessions away from your desk.

Key Features

• Includes hip-dac 3 and AIRO Astra in-ear monitors
• Burr-Brown True Native DAC architecture
• 16-core XMOS processing
• Supports MP3, DSD256, PCM384, DXD384, and Full MQA decoding
• iEMatch technology for high-sensitivity IEMs
• PowerMatch switchable gain control
• XBass analogue bass correction
• True balanced circuit design
• USB-C digital audio input
• 4.4mm balanced headphone output
• 3.5mm single-ended S-Balanced output
• Up to 400mW output at 32Ω from the balanced output
• Up to 12 hours of battery life
• Compact aluminium design
• AIRO Astra IEMs with titanium-plated dynamic drivers
• Ergonomic AIRO Astra shell design

Specifications

• Battery: Lithium-polymer 2,200mAh
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• DAC: Burr-Brown
• Dimensions: 102 x 70 x 14 mm (4.0" x 2.8" x 0.6")
• DNR Balanced: <109dB(A)
• DNR Unbalanced: <103dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• Formats Supported: DSD256 / PCM384kHz / Full MQA Decoder
• Headphone Outputs: 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm single-ended
• Input: USB-C
• Net Weight: 135 g
• Power Consumption: <2W idle, 4W max
• Balanced RMS Output Power: 400mW @ 32Ω; 6.3V @ 600Ω
• Unbalanced RMS Output Power: 280mW @ 32Ω; 3.2V @ 600Ω
• SNR Balanced: <109dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• SNR Unbalanced: <103dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• THD+N Balanced: <0.006X% (360mW/2.0V @ 600Ω)
• THD+N Unbalanced: <0.01% (100mW/1.27V @ 16Ω)

Note: The black variant is available in selected countries. If unavailable, contact your region's distributor for further information on availability.

Portable Hi-Res Audio in One Bundle

The iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit brings together a compact DAC and headphone amplifier with AIRO Astra IEMs for a complete portable listening system. With Hi-Res format support, Burr-Brown conversion, balanced output, iEMatch, PowerMatch, XBass, and up to 12 hours of playback, it gives new Hi-Res listeners a straightforward way to build a capable portable setup from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the iFi Hip Dac 3 Starter Kit include earphones? Yes. The bundle includes AIRO Astra in-ear monitors with titanium-plated dynamic drivers and an ergonomic shell design.
• What audio formats does the hip-dac 3 support? It supports formats ranging from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384, DXD384, and Full MQA decoding.
• What is iEMatch used for? iEMatch adjusts output for sensitive in-ear monitors while keeping source impedance low, helping reduce hiss and preserve detail.
• What headphone outputs are available? The hip-dac 3 includes a 4.4mm balanced output and a 3.5mm single-ended output with S-Balanced circuitry.
• How long does the hip-dac 3 battery last? Its 2,200mAh lithium-polymer battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime.