Headphone Zone and ddHiFi are back with another collaboration, this time addressing one of the most common frustrations in the IEM community: Type-C cables that sound terrible.
The new Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC Cable (₹1,999) and Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC Pro Cable (₹2,999) are now available exclusively on Headphone Zone.
When Headphone Zone launched the Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC in 2024, the response from India's audiophile community was overwhelming. But along with the praise came a consistent request: "Can you make something for people who don't want to carry two devices?"
Many IEM users choose Type-C cables specifically for convenience. One cable, straight from phone to IEM, no dongle in between. The problem? Most Type-C cables use cheap chipsets that produce noisy, compressed audio. The very convenience that draws people to Type-C ends up making their IEMs sound worse than they should.
Headphone Zone went back to ddHiFi with a challenge: build a Type-C cable that doesn't compromise on sound. Put a real Hi-Res DAC inside a cable. Make it plug-and-play. Keep it affordable.
The result is two products that finally give Type-C users the audio quality they deserve.
Hi-Res DAC Cable (₹1,999) For most IEM users, this is all you need. The cable features the same CX31993 DAC chip found in the standalone Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC, delivering 45mW at 32Ω with support for 32-bit/384kHz PCM decoding. Clean signal, low noise floor, proper Hi-Res audio, all in a cable that plugs straight into your phone.
Hi-Res DAC Pro Cable (₹2,999) For IEMs that need more power, or users who want extra headroom. The Pro version adds the MAX97220 independent amplifier stage, the same amp chip from the standalone DAC, pushing 65mW at 32Ω with output levels up to 1450mV. Same DAC, same amp, cable form factor.
Both cables feature silver-plated copper construction, in-line controls for music and calls, and USB-C plug-and-play compatibility.
"We listened to our community. A lot of people love the convenience of Type-C cables but hate how they sound. They don't want to carry a separate DAC. They just want to plug in and listen. The problem is, most Type-C cables use garbage chipsets that make your IEMs sound worse, not better.
So we asked ourselves: what if we put a real DAC inside the cable? Not a compromise. Not a cheap chip. The actual CX31993 that powers our best-selling Hi-Res DAC. And for people who need more power, we added the MAX97220 amp as well.
The standard cable is priced at ₹1,999, the same as our Hi-Res DAC dongle. You're not paying extra for the cable form factor. You're just getting a different way to experience the same audio quality."
— Raghav Somani, Founder and CEO, Headphone Zone
