just in case you're Indonesian or understand Bahasa Indonesia, you can watch my review of the AP80 PRO-X here It can also be used solely as a transport,which means you can connect AP80 Pro-X to another Dac/Amp via the Type C port,one of the in house product is DH80S for example Timbre on the AP80 Pro-X sounds natural to my ears and in fact it synergizes quite well with most of my iems.Comparing it to the Cowon Plenue PD2 that’s similar in terms of size and output,sporting both 3.5 and 2.5 balanced out,PD2 is sounding a little warmer and less energetic. Disclaimer: the Hidizs AP80 Pro-X Copper Edition was sent to us, free of charge, by the brand in exchange for our honest opinion. About Hidizs

Although not advertised, the PRO cases will fit the X. Wait a second! Is that a PRO case on an X? Design How does AP80 Pro X compare to KA3 when driving E5000? As expected, AP80 Pro X is a bit behind KA3 due to the difference in driving power (70mW vs 120mW). On the same busy crescendo around 3:05, KA3 helps E5000 render the tremolo of cellos cleanly rather than a blob of low-pitched sound.

Design & Build

I would like to think of the AP80 PRO-X as an excellent Bluetooth DAC/amp with the added bonus of the DAP. The AP80 PRO-X showcases its geometric aesthetics through an X-shaped design, featuring an angular diamond surface and the intricate geometry of a six-sided ice crystal. Crafted from a single piece of aluminum using 5-Axis CNC technology, its right side is adorned with these visually appealing elements, complemented by the presence of a Japanese ALPS volume wheel. Together, these components create an authentic visual delight, captivating viewers from every angle. Soundstage and imaging are average with the AP80 Pro-X. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still one of the best in its current market price. Oftentimes, soundstage does not feel cramped. However, it is noticeable that space is limited, with maybe around 1 inch overhead. The rest of the external and internal data, as well as the chips used, is commented in the specifications, so I don't see the need to repeat these parameters.

As an updated version of the first AP80, the AP80 Pro keeps the same form factor, the same UI, and the same CPU, but double down on the DAC. A nice upgrade, which offers more power, and more details, ditched the sim-tray, for a classic micro-SD port, and cost just a little more than before. And the last, but not the least – should anyone upgrade from AP80 PRO? Only in case if better MQA handling is vital. Otherwise – probably not. But shifting from regular AP80 or something like Shanling M0 is a must. AP80 PRO-X is just so much better in all aspects. Press the heart icon to access My Favorites, Recents and Playlist (Create new playlist, Save playlist, Load playlist). Hidizs has been making DAPs since 2009 when they started work on the original AP 100. Since that time the market has grown by leaps and bounds and we’ve seen Hidizs respond with the AP60, AP200 and their most popular model to date the AP80 which arrived in 2018.I was a bit puzzled why Hidizs no longer includes a silicone protective case for AP80 Pro-X. I was able to use Pro-X with an AP80 Pro silicone case, so there is no need to design a new one. I know, the silicone case hides the beauty of this DAP, but I think it would have been a great idea to include one, especially when handling Pro-X outdoors to enhance the grip. Hiby’s MSEB gives you a huge amount of audio customization options. If you can’t achieve the sound you want with EQ, you’ll surely be able to get there with the help of MSEB. The options include:

I have tested the Hidizs AP80 PRO-X using various headphones and earphones: among them, the RØDE NTH-100, the HiFiMAN Arya, the Sennheiser HD 6XX. Streaming Spotify was really good sounding while listening to high resolution material from Qobuz yielded satisfying results minus a loss in overall fidelity and refinement.Purely in terms of sound, the Hidizs AP80 PRO-X sounds perfectly neutral, with no addition of its own to the sound of your headphones. Detail is very good, and transient speed is quite fast as well, leading to a rich sound. As for the upper midrange - treble, it sounds open but a bit dry and lean, treble is well extended without sounding harsh Lows are fast and tight, and highs are snappy. For my preference,I find this pairing to be pretty good. Connecting the AP80 Pro X via Bluetooth is easy. The unit has bi-directional Bluetooth meaning it can transmit a signal as well as receive one. The DAP supports all manner of Hi-Res wireless codecs including AAC, SBC, HiBy UAT, Sony LDAC and CSR APT-X. USB DAC The only thing to be aware of when driving headphones with the AP80 PRO-X is that its limited power output will indeed influence the sound of high-impedance headphones, as it may not have enough power to drive them properly. Still, in most cases it should provide you with a clean listening experience at moderate volume levels. To give you a practical reference, the HD 6XX (whose impedance swings between 300 Ω and 500 Ω) are driven to a level which I find plenty loud even on low gain. Final Thoughts

The AP80 Pro-X has its sound dictated by its prefabricated SoC. It will sound very similar to other devices using the same all-in-one chip. The presentation is neutral without being analytical or edgy. Nothing is boosted, which results in great midrange clarity. Staging is wide with good depth resulting in a decent headroom even with the single-ended circuit. Dynamics is great, the image is vivid. It also has good intimacy. As a result, the imaging prowess is boosted a little, as the AP80 Pro sounds a little more fluffy and aired out than the others. But, only in Balanced Mode. In standard 3.5mm, it sounds exactly the same to my ear. As you can see, the number of controls is very large and I think the system does not miss any option. It has the perfect form factor. The player is easy to grip with one hand while allowing my thumb to access the entirety of the screen. Hidizs retains the same built-in FPGA chip HBC3000, enabling native decoding support to DSD64/128/256. MQA decoding is still supported with up to 8x, compared to the old 4x unfolding.Making loud noises does not mean that a pair of IEMs or earphones are driven to their full potential. When fed more power, underpowered IEMs or earphones would sound crisper and more separated (thus making the soundstage feel larger).