hiliDAC Audirect Beam 2 Reviews | Drop

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hiliDAC Audirect Beam 2

Jan 18, 2022

Verified Buyer

Compact, Quirky, HOT, and Great!

I've had the Beam 2 for a long while now, and it's seen many use cases as COVID changed up my travel/commute/hybrid-WFH lifestyle. Through it all, it's been a powerful and useful little audio companion, supplementing my ifi Hip Dac V1 in most cases where I didn't see the need to lug around the ifi's heft, USB-A connection, and battery limitation especially when using the particular IEMs & headphones in my collection I tend to pull out for the purposes above. PROS: -Extremely versatile; I've used it with multiple desktop & laptop PCs and both Android & iPhone. Powerful enough for all of the IEMs and headphones I tend to travel/commute to work with in both balanced & unbalanced modes; -Website isn't very well designed but is very specification-comprehensive and does list driver & firmware updates on the "FAQ" page; -Shipped in a small display case box with excellent USB-C <-> USB-C & USB-C -> Lightning cables (I use both): nicely braided and with sculpted metal connectors, and included a USB-C <-> USB-A adapter for Laptop/PC use; -Built very nicely, with subtle printing, easy-to see LED power/bitrate light, and a slim profile that's easy to love and get used to; -Has a warm, musical sound signature reminiscent of Class A, tube/valve, and some ifi products I'm used to. CONS: -EMI is certainly audible on occasion when using with a mobile phone, but it's hardly constant nor especially annoying -Speaking of "warm sounding," this thing can run HOT. I tend to listen to music at high volumes and cranking the Beam 2 will turn it into a lovely little aluminum pocket handwarmer; not hot enough to burn you, but certainly hot enough to surprise your hand or possibly irritate people with sensitive skin in a thin pocket at high volumes/power levels -Power Consumption: A lead-in from the prior point; if you regularly listen at higher volumes, it becomes quickly clear that the Beam 2 isn't the most efficient pocket DAC/AMP in the world; it warms up quickly and significantly, and the draw on your average phone will be noticeable. On long trips where I only use the Beam 2 off my phone, I typically alternate charging my phone and using it's built-in headphone jack (LG G8) and using the Beam 2 for 6 or so hours before needing to top-up again. It's very well suited for use with a laptop, as it's compact, capable, and the power draw will be hardly noticeable. Overall, there are a great many use cases I've found the Beam 2 perfect for - I don't feel the need for an even more compact DAC/AMP, and while I do still have and use my Hip DAC when travelling with more power-hungry or 4.4mm balanced cans, the Beam 2 is too convenient not to use in most cases.

Recommends this product? Yes

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