by
Sound Review by machinegod
| TL;DR |
| Not Recommended if you like: |
|
| Recommended if you like: |
|
Introduction:
The DDHifi TC35 is a Type C to 3.5 mm dongle DAC by DDHifi which retails for 21 USD. It is among the cheapest dongle DACs in the market made by a company that caters to the audiophiles.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Specification:
- 7N Silver-plated OCC Litz Earphone Cable.
- Decodes up to 192 kHz/24 bit sampling rate.
- 114 dB SNR and -98 dB distortion.
- USB Type C & USB2.0 High Speed.
- Supports UAC1.0/2.0/3.0 Protocol.
- Supports parts of the in-line remote control (CTIA) (Varies with phone)
- Detects Earphone Automatically
Unboxing:
The TC35 comes in a slim cardboard box inside which is a transparent plastic case housing the TC35 and a Type C to USB A adapter.
| Overall Sound Performance | |
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
Reference Tracks / Remarks:
The Knife by Genesis
The bass lines in the second half of the song are pushed out prominently which is a remarkable feat as it is almost lost in the mix. The transition into the second half of the song is chaotic in nature, but in this case it doesn't fall flat like in many other budget DACs.
The Voice by Alan Parsons Project
The wonderful layering of instruments and depth in soundstage is not portrayed here as much as I'd have liked. It only presents a wall of sound.
Rock and a Hard Place by Rolling Stones
This song can sound a bit thin and harsh sometimes when put through a DAC. In the case of the TC35, the harshness does indeed manifest in the electric guitars making it sound overly crunchy.
Concentrate by Brendon Moeller
The bass thumps throughout the song are clean and quick and doesn't bleed into the other frequencies. When the cymbals pan left and right, it is evident that the imaging is emphasized left-centre-right. It is a bit hazy when it comes to diagonally in front.
Flight to LAPD, Blade Runner 2049 OST
The sub-bass rumble in this track is visceral, the TC35 reproduces it well and doesn't turn into a hodgepodge of distorted mess.
Silverado by Fourplay
Mastered to perfection already, instrument separation is key to this song. And listening to this song through the TC35 is an enjoyable experience.
The Knife by Genesis
The bass lines in the second half of the song are pushed out prominently which is a remarkable feat as it is almost lost in the mix. The transition into the second half of the song is chaotic in nature, but in this case it doesn't fall flat like in many other budget DACs.
The Voice by Alan Parsons Project
The wonderful layering of instruments and depth in soundstage is not portrayed here as much as I'd have liked. It only presents a wall of sound.
Rock and a Hard Place by Rolling Stones
This song can sound a bit thin and harsh sometimes when put through a DAC. In the case of the TC35, the harshness does indeed manifest in the electric guitars making it sound overly crunchy.
Concentrate by Brendon Moeller
The bass thumps throughout the song are clean and quick and doesn't bleed into the other frequencies. When the cymbals pan left and right, it is evident that the imaging is emphasized left-centre-right. It is a bit hazy when it comes to diagonally in front.
Flight to LAPD, Blade Runner 2049 OST
The sub-bass rumble in this track is visceral, the TC35 reproduces it well and doesn't turn into a hodgepodge of distorted mess.
Silverado by Fourplay
Mastered to perfection already, instrument separation is key to this song. And listening to this song through the TC35 is an enjoyable experience.
Design & Build
| |
Pros
|
|
Cons
|
|
| Functionality | |
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
Conclusion:
A strong recommendation for a beginner audio-enthusiast who wants to step up from the average phone or iPad . At 21$ this unit is a plug, play and forget solution that sounds better than the standard phone and iPad.
The TC35 makes the phone and iPad sound like mush with no proper instrument separation, which also distorts pathetically on higher volumes. A very good price/performance ratio at its price.
*All ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed product.
No comments:
Post a Comment