High-Energy Little Companion—Meizu HiFi DAC Earphone Amplifier Experience

High-Energy Little Companion—Meizu HiFi DAC Earphone Amplifier Experience

We might have gotten used to using TWS earphones, especially since most smartphones have abandoned the 3.5mm headphone jack. However, wired earphones still hold an irreplaceable advantage over TWS earphones in terms of stability, latency, and sound reproduction.

Remember when Meizu released two generations of DAC earphone amplifiers, which sold out instantly upon launch? Now, Meizu’s sub-brand mblu has taken the baton and introduced the mblu HiFi DAC Earphone Amplifier, priced as a true "youth-friendly product."

Packaging

The packaging of the mblu HiFi DAC earphone amplifier follows the style of Meizu’s HiFi DAC earphone amplifier, with the mblu logo printed in the top-left corner.

The back lists the amplifier’s specifications and selling points. It boasts a high signal-to-noise ratio of 124dB, a dynamic range of 111dB, and adaptive impedance support for 16Ω–600Ω loads—impressive specs on paper.

Details

The internal packaging is minimal, containing only the DAC earphone amplifier itself—no manual or additional accessories. To achieve the ultimate cost-performance ratio at ¥79, even packaging has been simplified.

The audio cable features an mblu blue design, with both ends coated in a metallic-like paint (likely plastic).

The amplifier is engraved with "mblu HiFi Audio" in a matte finish, visible only at certain angles. It uses the Conexant CX31993 independent DAC chip. Conexant Systems Inc. is the world’s largest independent developer of communication semiconductors, supplying audio chips to top brands like HP, Dell, and ThinkPad—proving its expertise in the field.

The CX31993 is an upgraded version of the CX21988, offering significant improvements in signal-to-noise ratio, distortion, and decoding performance—even rivaling the CS43131 used in Meizu’s HiFi DAC earphone amplifier.

The 3.5mm headphone jack ensures compatibility with most wired earphones.

The mblu HiFi DAC earphone amplifier uses TPE + Kevlar material, balancing durability and flexibility—more robust than Meizu’s all-TPE design.

Compatibility

As a Type-C DAC earphone amplifier, it not only works well with smartphones but also with other C-port devices.

Testing it on my laptop (HP Omen 5) via a Thunderbolt port, it was automatically recognized as "KM-HIFI-384MHZ", with playback functioning normally.

An iPad Pro 2021 (iOS 15) also recognized the mblu HiFi DAC earphone amplifier, with full support for volume controls—excellent experience.

Sound Quality

Now, the most important part—how does it sound?

To test its true capabilities, I paired it with the Meizu Live quad-driver in-ear monitors (18Ω impedance). The mblu HiFi DAC can deliver up to 31mW output at 32Ω, easily driving the Live earphones. Music reproduction was rich in tonality, with sharp dynamics and excellent resolution.

This is truly a high-energy little companion—allowing me to enjoy high-quality music on my mobile devices (none of which have a 3.5mm jack). Some may argue TWS earphones are more convenient, but none can compete in sound quality.

I also compared it with the FiiO M6. While the M6 has better specs and slightly superior sound, considering the 10x price difference and portability, the ¥79 mblu HiFi DAC earphone amplifier is an unbeatable deal for music lovers.