Is This the Best Budget DAP Right Now? Hidizs AP80 Pro Max Review
- ducurguz
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
This Review was written by Kristina Savić
Disclamer
After a while it is time for me to review my No1 outdoor source of audio joy. Thanks to my audio reviewer colleagues who were willing to send me this DAP for an honest review, here we are. There are no expectations made upon me and nor am I biased towards this product. I just write what I observe from personal experience.
Introduction
Hidizs has been a well known player in this audio world for 17 years and they have set the bar pretty high making quality products like DACs, DAPs, Amps and IEMs. This time we are addressing a little powerful DAP known by the name AP 80 Pro MAX. On the first look it really impresses with build quality, although it is rather small in size.
The materials that were used in crafting this DAP is aluminium chassis with dual glass panels for a modern aesthetic. Holding it in hand you get the feel of a well crafted, durable yet refined product that is very light and compact. You can immediately distinct physical buttons and a textured volume knob on one side. The whole front surface is taken by the responsive 2.95 inch touchscreen.
On the bottom you get a USB C, 3.5mm and a 4.4mm balanced output which makes it pairable with most of the IEMs and headphones available on the market. And on the other side of the DAP you have a slot for a microSD card. It functions as a versatile audio device. It can be used as a standalone DAP for offline entertainment, then as a bluetooth DAC/Amp with features like LDAC and UAT support, and finally, you can use it as USB DAC for smartphones/laptops.
It runs on a HiBy OS, a Linux based - custom made by Hiby, operating system which in my experience from Hiby R3 II 2025 is rather simple and intuitive for use. Because it doesn’t have internal storage, a microSD card is a must. So you can add up to 2TB of music. You can connect wireless headphones or IEMs or earbuds to it, or use it as a Bluetooth receiver and stream music from your phone back to AP 80 PRO Max.
Streaming from the AP 80 PRO Max is limited on two platforms Tidal or Qobuz, so no popular Spotify, nor Youtube Music, and you cannot install them. Using your phone you can control the settings and basic controls using HiBy Link, so you get a bigger screen for remote controlling the DAP. In general, one compact and rather elegant piece of audio art in my hands which is also very practical in multiple ways.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dac Chip : Dual ESS ES9219C, supporting native DSD256, PCM up to32-bit/384kHz, and 16x MQA decoding
- SoC (Processor): Ingenic X1600E
- Operating System: HiBy OS (Linux-based).
- Audio Outputs: 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced.
- Output Power: 4.4mm Balanced: Up to 190mW+190mW @ 32Ω - 3.5mm Single-ended: 70mW+70mW @ 32Ω.
- Battery: 1300mAh, providing 8-12 hours of playtime
- Charging: USB-C 2.0/ supports fast charging
- Storage: MicroSD card slot supporting up to 2TB memory
- Bluetooth: 5.1 (Bi-directional, supports LDAC, UAT, aptX, AAC, SBC)
- Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz, supporting Tidal, Qobuz, DLNA, and AirPlay
- Screen: 2.95-inch IPS touchscreen (360×640 pixels)
- Material: CNC-machined aluminum alloy with dual-sided glass panels
- Dimensions: 82.8mm × 51mm × 15.5mm
- Weight: 81g
- Controls: Japanese ALPS volume wheel and 3 physical buttons
- USB DAC mode
- Price: $189
IN THE BOX
- Hidizs AP80 Pro Max
- USB C to C cable
- USB A to C cable
- Other manuals and booklets
BUILD/ DESIGN
From the first moment observing the DAP you get that feeling that you have a long-lasting, durable device. Nothing is unnecessary in its design. It looks nice and it serves its purpose. The balance between size (very small) and the weight is excellent. If it were any lighter it wouldn’t be easy to manipulate. Buttons are big enough and nicely tactile, so they are both appealing to the eye aesthetically and they are practical. The wheel button is mostly used for volume and for pause/play and again it looks good, somewhat steampunk-like, and is pretty durable.
The touchscreen is 2.95 inch HD IPS and relaxed in its response while navigating menus. Both front and back panels of the DAP are made of glass, so I recommend keeping it in the leather case (it is sold separately). It is one easygoing, pocket friendly DAP, that is easily locked by one push to the wheel button and you are ready to go without worrying of accidentally turning it off or changing the song you chose.
Buttons are easy to find without looking and changing your preferences. The device also goes to shut down if not used for a while, so the battery save mode is always on. Hold the wheel button for a few seconds, and you are back listening to your favourite songs. Whole sensitivity and solidity of the buttons is done very nicely, so the accidental touch won't change anything that is unwanted.
There are both standard outputs on the bottom - 3.5mm and 4.4mm and sensitive IEMs do expectedly well on both of them, but there is a little better bass resolution and stable performance using the balanced output.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Considering that I have had a HiBy R3 II 2025 before the AP 80 PRO Max, the HiBy OS isn’t a surprise for me. It feels the same, I don’t feel significant changes in response speed for starters. The menu navigation is enjoyable, there is no lagging that could annoy me, and I didn't notice any repeatable glitches that are systematic. The AP 80 PRO Max is powered by the new X1600E SoC which provides fast operations, easy navigation and good bluetooth stability. It makes the whole experience of using it effortless. It also has dual ESS ES2919C DACs which are responsible for a clearer sound with lively dynamics, deep basses, nice upper details and low distortion.
The resolution is covered by the DSD256 and PCM 384kHz/32bit and they managed to get a highly immersive experience using all lossless formats. AP80 PRO MAX offers comprehensive sound customization options-PEQ, EQ, digital filters, and the proprietary MSEB sound tuning system. The MSEB allows you to intuitively adjust warmth, thickness, vocal presence, airiness and temporal sharpness- for fine tuning and adjusting IEMs just so much so you don’t harm the signature tonality. And for more changes to adjust the tonality even more and according to your preferences there is an Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) that allows you to play with multiple frequency bands in bass, mid and treble area.
SOUND AND TECHNICALITY
The delivery from the AP 80 PRO Max in most cases is very clean and controlled sound. The smooth sub- bass area continues effortlessly towards the disciplined mid-basses that don’t mess around too much with the midrange.
There is a bit of warmth that takes away the zest from the lower midrange and the upper-mids part is very clean and fun and fast. Treble is extended high enough, so it doesn’t disrupt the competitive nature of some more opened IEMs or headphones. But it also doesn’t mean that it adds sharpness or metallic artifacts in the upper midrange or lower treble. So, the overall tuning is safe and non-fatiguing. The detail retrieval is stable from basses up to the treble area.
Nice balance of revealing details both macro and micro, and not being too analytical. The background is quite calm, not perfectly black though.
BASS
No loose end in this region. We have a nice bass extension that could provide a nice canvas for a decent rumble, when the tracks ask for it. The space is always opened to expand when needed and that is commendable. The tuning of warmth from below flows towards the very much controlled mid-bass area that is not supposed to collide with lower midrange. The density of the whole bass region is sufficient to be felt and being energetic at the same time and the level of warmth bleeds towards us into the mids. It is not like a hole and it is not boomy.
Nicely, almost naturally fast, it fits in most IEMs that I have tested, and I have tested almost 30 IEMs with this DAP, comparing the different configurations between different source types. It shows nicest synergy with IEMs with bright to neutral signatures transferring the warmth and taking off their somewhat nervous character. This does not mean that they smother the warmer signatured IEMs, too.
MIDS
A clean area. All instruments kept their unique sound and decay is set very nicely so that the energy isn’t taken away from vocals and instruments. Vocals are centralized and up front oriented with a good balance of the macro- and micro- details ratio.
The way that the layering is done technically is nice and complementing for the separation in midrange without sacrificing the musicality as a whole. The tuning has kept the true weight and colour of the notes in the midrange so we have very much organic timbre to both male and female vocals, guitars (electric and acoustic ones), pianos and wind instruments. Nothing is left sterile, dry or overlapped but rather supported in its natural origin.
TREBLE
A good extension in the treble area is providing a nice amount of precise and clear details. Nothing sharp in this area, but it gives freedom to your IEMs to keep their natural signature and won't make the tuning of your IEM or headphone magically warmer if it isn’t. I can only say that it nests the higher frequencies in a rather spacious canvas, so the presentation is left up to your headphone or IEM to dictate the colour of the sound. Again, they are not the best buddies of planar oriented IEMs, and really good for BA configurations alongside DD.
SOUNDSTAGE
Nicely defined wide canvas that is kept very clean and empty and possesses a very good ability to reproduce every instrument without changing the signature of the IEM os headphone. Enough air and density to keep things free and controlled and never giving the impression of congesting or muffling the sound. Imaging is very accurate and following the changes of the moving air is felt easily due to an elasticity of the soundstage. So the driver configurations that get the most of it are DD, BA and could be listened to on high gain and up to 60% volume.
Planars need little less power than that and for closed back headphones with DD there is a need for a lot more volume to get to their full performance. Additionally if there is also only 3.5mm output then the challenge is even greater. Open back headphones are not a good match for this DAP.
LET’S SUM IT UP
After spending this much time with AP 80 Pro Max I can say with pretty good certainty that it is one very potent player that offers high fidelity sound reproduction. This device pairs up nicely with most of the IEMs that I tested. And if you decide to play with the EQ that is given, volume knob and gain you are in for a real treat which ends up in customizing your own preferred sound easily and in a fun way.
The AP 80 PRO Max is the combination of beautiful design, durable and good quality build, nice battery life and customizable HiByOS software to spice up the experience. The sound quality is defined by a dual ESS ES9219C DACs which is really capable for this price category. It provides consistent and clean sound - deep and engaging basses, clear and energetic midrange, and detailed enough, open treble. This all is a recipe for a fun and engaging experience you get using AP 80 PRO Max - Wi-Fi Streaming, MQA decoding, MSEB tuning- pushes this little gentleman up the leader easily towards more expensive DAPs.
Learn more at Hidizs AP 80 PRO MAX:
PROS
- Excellent sound overall
- Very nice build and size
- Excellent battery life/ Fast charging
- Large storage ability
- Nice pairing with a lot of different driver configuration IEMs
CONS
- Some touchscreen buttons are too small
- Light glitches
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