DAP Review

Hidizs AP80 Pro

Wired/Wireless Connections.

AP80 Pro is packed with a lot of wired and wireless options I would like to go over below based on what I have tested.

USB digital out.

I had no problem using it as a transport driving various USB DAC/amps where the connection was flawless with devices being recognized right away, including Hidizs own S8. Interestingly enough, despite S8 using CS43131 DAC, its 3.5mm output sounds very close in tonality and soundstage expansion to 2.5mm BAL output of AP80 Pro. Maybe just a little bit brighter in upper mids/lower treble, but it is very close. And based on that, S8 makes a better add-on for AP80 which can bring its performance closer to BAL output of AP80 Pro.

As a side note, S8 is a nice little DAC/amp with a dedicated Volume +/- controls and compatibility with Android, Windows, iOS, and MAC devices. It is not very powerful, better for use with IEMs, but its revealing tonality and wider soundstage expansion can enhance and improve the sound of either your phone or your laptop.

Line Out.

To enable the LO from 3.5mm headphone output, you have to select it in settings. It sets the volume output to fixed max level. I tested it with E12A, and found no clipping or distortion.

USB DAC.

Connected to my Thinkpad T480s (Win10), I didn’t have to install any drivers, just selected USB Audio in AP80 Pro settings to enable DAC. Windows recognized the device, installed necessary files automatically, and was correctly displaying bit rate during the playback.

Bluetooth.

I tested Bluetooth Tx with various wireless headphones and IEMs, and found the connection to be stable and operation in open space 35-50ft away (depending on which headphone/earphone I was using). Also, Bluetooth Rx works fine, turning AP80 Pro into a wireless dongle connected to different IEMs.

Conclusion.

The conclusion of my original AP80 review is still valid when looking at AP80 Pro. AP80 Pro is a great mini-DAP which took the “cool factor” of M0 micro-DAP one step further by making it more functional and user friendly thanks to a bigger 2.45” display size and physical playback buttons. Adding on top of that bi-directional hi-res Bluetooth which allows nearly lossless wireless headphone pair up or turning the DAP into a wireless dongle, USB DAC functionality, USB digital out to use the DAP as a transport, and a good sound performance – and you got one cool little DAP!

But I think many might have a question if they should upgrade from AP80 to Pro or not. First of all, if you are looking at either AP80 or AP80 Pro, for only $30 more Pro version makes more sense due to the improvement of balanced output performance (wider soundstage, blacker background) and support and enhancement of up to DSD256 native playback. But at the same time, if you don’t care about DSD256 and happy with performance of AP80 and its pair up with your favorite IEMs, I don’t think there is a necessity for an upgrade. I know that people are looking into AP80/Pro because of its “small” size and “big” functionality. And both AP80 and AP80 Pro nailed it!

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15 thoughts on “Hidizs AP80 Pro”

  1. Fantastic review! I must admit to being a little jealous of your collection. I’ve had my pro since early May and I’m enjoying it a great deal. A couple of adds, BT works nicely in the car I am having issues with some jaybird wireless headphones. I like my (very affordable) ms1 mermaids though. A great value set up IMHO. I made a pan unbox and generalist overview video if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcLwUedNMhw

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  2. Hi. .
    I like your reviews so much…
    I am Sooooo confused between Hiby R3 Pro & Hidizs AP80 Pro…
    Plz suggest better DAP in terms of Sound quality….
    Thanks

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    1. If you need streaming, tidal or quboz, that will be an easy decision. Otherwise, pick whichever looks better to you 🙂 if you want the smallest, or prefer volume wheel vs buttons. It’s your call.

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      2. You have both, right? Of course, this is a subjective opinion, but I have described how they compare relative to testing with 64 Audio U18t and VE Elysium, and in both cases I preferred pair up with AP80 Pro due to the reasons in my comparison notes. Plus, DX120 has a strong hissing with sensitive IEMs, so in many pair ups it was a no-go for me.

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      3. Can’t make up my mind between the Sony Walkman A55, iBasso DX120 and Hidizs AP80 pro.

        I was going to purchase the Cayin N6ii but I had to use the money to help my mother she had an emergency I couldn’t ignore. I can’t get over this months budget so I’ll wait a little longer.

        Care to give me a hand? Your advice would be extremely helpful.

        My priorities:
        Sound quality
        Build quality(dealing with broken parts or buttons is a no no)
        Reliability(I’d like it to last at least 3 years without issues, even if I purchase the Cayin)
        Wifi(Nope)
        Bluetooth (maybe, but not a priority)

        My parings are:
        Etymotic Er2xr
        Moondrop Blessing
        Tin Hifi T2
        Blon BL-3
        Moondrop Starfield
        ThieAudio Clairvoyance

        My current DAPs
        Dx90(I’ll give it to my cousin as soon. As I purchase a new DAP)
        Shanling M5s(on sale)

        Thanks for your time, I’d really appreciate your advice.

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      4. I’m not familiar at all with Sony A55, but between DX120 and AP80 Pro I would go with AP80 Pro, plus it is half of DX120 price. With build quality and reliability, I would assume that Sony will be ahead of both. So, maybe do a little more research about A55.

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      5. My problem with the Sony A55 is it’s power SE output(35mw). It doesn’t have a balanced output as well. It’s 26 hour battery life, smooth UI and well known Sony reliability kinda makes up for it, perhaps…

        The AP80 seems reasonable, but I question it’s build quality and UI functionality. It only provides around 13 hours of battery life.

        On this case, the DX120 is kind of a combination of both(excluding sound according to what I’ve read). It has a decent UI and it’s battery life provides around 15-16 hours of playback. It depends of course on the type of files, usage or headphones/iems I’ll be using.

        Anyway, at this point I feel like the AP80 could be a better choice by sound quality alone. What about the other things? Is the DX120 that far behind?
        Wish I could try them before spending my money.

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      6. Don’t get me wrong, dx120 is a great little dap, but it being 2+ year old audio playback only design, not even BT, and since you are using mostly iems some of which could hiss, if you want to stick with ibasso then maybe get dx160 instead? You will get a powerful Android dap with an excellent sound. But either way. Dx160 or ap80 Pro should be fine.

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      7. Thanks very much!! I’ll have this in mind.

        Although, I’d like to have a internet free DAP since I really want to disconnect from anything related. Having an Android device(in my opinion) takes away the experience.

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  3. Hey there. How does the AP80 Pro compare to the Shanling Q1 in sound, battery, Bluetooth strength and UI responsiveness? Thanks

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  4. Pingback: Hiby R2, FD1, and Beans – Twister6 Reviews

  5. hello, i have a ap80pro and i would like to know if it’s possible to connect the ap80 pro to a stereo amplifier to be able to use it as an audio source through its integrated DAC? In this case do you need a USB-c to RCA cable? thank you

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    1. If you are connecting amplifier, use 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable to connect analog signal from headphone output and set it to line out in ap80 Pro setting. USB C to USB is only for external dac/amp connection to bring out the digital signal to external dac.

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