The Missing DAP Link – ddHiFi BC44XLR Interconnect HiFi Cable Review
ddHiFi BC44XLR is a 139 USD interconnect cable, serving a simple, but essential purpose for music lovers, connecting a DAP or digital audio player to an external amplifier, and today we will see just how do the two cables sound and if they are fit to be part of your next audio system. This review was initially written together with the ddHiFi BC30XLR Interconnect cable, but I eventually decided each was worth being made into an individual review, so the introduction part is very similar between the two reviews.
Introduction
ddHiFi is one of the companies I really still like reviewing products of, even in the entry-level range. This is because they can actually create relevant, fun accessories that music lovers use and can keep using even with high-end systems. To be honest, the ddHiFi BC30XLR has been part of my audio system for more than a year, and I use it even with some high-end DACs and AMPs, and in this review we will see why. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. ddHiFi has provided the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
PROs – Fully Balanced Design, Very ergonomic, flexible and high-quality, sonically transparent with a smidgen of warmth, no added noise or EMI / RFI that I can hear, outstanding value and performance.
Cons – No cons at this price point.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4jEF9iJ
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
ddHiFi BC44XLR is a more specialised cable than the RC20A and the BC30XLR the company makes, the new BC44XLR being designed to connect a device such as a DAP with a 4.4mm Balanced output, to an amplifier that uses Balanced XLR inputs with a 3-Pin connection.
ddHiFi employs a very similar connection to the other high-end cables they have in their store, with a dual-shielded coaxial structure, and this design includes three layers of conductors and three layers of insulation for the best EFI / RFI isolation and a reliable tensile strength.
The core conductors are made of two different diameters of pure silver with a single crystal copper played with silver and Furukawa copper-silver alloy. This combination has a cross-section area of 22.8AG, and here we’re talking about the Positive cable, because the negative one has a thinner AWG of 24.3, while the shielding has a 21.5 AWG diameter.
ddHiFi sells the BC44XLR in two lengths, both 100 and 150 cm options, and it is a lighter cable than the BC30XLR, having a weight of 90 grams. It is actually less flexible than BC30XLR and it is directly comparable to ddHiFi BC150B, having literally the same construction and quality, at least from an external point of view, except for the connectors.
Sound Quality
Overall Signature – ddHiFi BC44XLR is hard to judge for its signature, because usually I cannot test this connection in particular with any other cable, and most of the time DAPs can have a line out for the 4.4mm balanced output but they won’t have a separate XLR output for me to reliable test and compare the BC44XLR with other cables.
What I can say confidently about this cable is that it has a natural sound, slightly warm and slightly smooth, a wide soundstage and a punchy bass, with a good tightness in the bass, and a slightly more musical and more euphonic midrnage.
There’s a good extension in the treble, and it has a good resolution too, although it will reveal more background noise and hissing than most cables, but this is because the 4.4mm output, even if it is a line out, will have more noise when amplified, compared to using a DAC/AMP with its direct headphone output.
This makes ddHifi BC44XLR a reliable way to tell which DAP, which DAC/AMP and which source has no noise, and which has some, and for example with iBasso D16, I can reliably tell there is zero background noise even when it is powering Keces S300+, but I hear quite a bit of noise with FiiO Q15 and Shanling H5 if using them in the same way.
This being said, D16 is made to be a Desktop DAC too, and iBasso designed it for this, while neither Q15 nor H5 are made to power an external amplifier.
Value and Conclusion
ddHiFi made an affordable and fun cable in the BC44XLR, but it is a niche product specialised for a diehard audiophile, and it is far from being a general-usage product, so I cannot recommend it to everyone out there, and in fact, it is one of those products that has an excellent value and price / performance ratio, but is addressed to a small market. ddHiFi could have made it much pricier and people would have still bought it out of necessity, so I love the fact they kept it affordable and in line with their other products.
At the end of the day, if you have a nice DAC or DAP and want to power your stereo system or external desktop amplifier from it, I fully recommend ddHiFi BC44XLR, it has outstanding performance and should make you really happy with your system.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4jEF9iJ
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
- If you have a dime to spare, please donate, and help us! It would make the day brighter for me and my wife-
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
--- Contact Us ---
