ddHiFi M130B (Coffee Cable) Review

  

Introduction:

ddHiFi (DD Electronics Technology Co.Ltd.) is a very productive company that is specialized in development and production of audio equipment’s and accessories including Storage/Protective cases, USB DAC/Amplifier Dongles, various type of Adaptors, Cables and In-Ear Monitors.

The M130B (aka Coffee Cable) is a USB Type-C Earphone Upgrade Cable with built-in DAC, OP-AMP and Microphone. The ddHiFi M130B is a versatile cable designed to enhance the audio experience of mobile users, just plug and play for your Android Phone, Tablet or PC with Type-C output. With its built-in decoding and amplification capabilities, this cable offers a convenient solution for listening to lossless music on smartphones and tablets. Key features include a standalone decoding chip, a specialized in-line control design, audiophile-grade OCC wire, and compatibility with various earphone connectors.

Let’s take a deeper look at the design, hardware features, and sonic performance of the M130B.

 

 

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank ddHiFi for providing me the M130B (Coffee Cable) earphone upgrade cable for review purposes. I am not affiliated with ddHiFi beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.

 

Price & Availability:

The actual MSRP price for the ddHiFi M130B (Coffee Cable) is 109.99 US$. The cable can be ordered with both 2-Pin or MMCX connectors.

More information’s can be found under the link below;

• ddHiFi M130B USB Type-C Earphone Upgrade Cable

 

Package & Accessories:

The ddHiFi M130B arrives inside a small square shaped white box with the ddHiFi branding and the motto “Life and HiFi” on the top.

Inside of the box are the following Items/Accessories:

• 1x ddHiFi M130B (Coffe Cable) All-in-one Earphone Upgrade cable
• 1 x Print Material

 

Design & Build Quality:

The ddHiFi M130B ‘Coffee’ is a premium USB Type-C earphone upgrade cable. Featuring a standalone DAC chip and OP-AMP, it offers enhanced audio quality and includes a CTIA-standard microphone for hands-free calls. The ‘Coffee’ branding is inspired by its attractive brown color and premium construction.

The cable base of the M130B was derived from the shielded OCC earphone upgrade cable Nyx, with its main core made of high-purity OCC. The high-purity 25.6AWG OCC core consisting of 49 strands, each with a diameter of 0.06mm, while the 23.6AWG OFC shielding consisting of 112 strands, each with a diameter of 0.05mm.

The cable features a soft, tangle-free brown outer layer and is approximately 1.2 meters long. Weighing only 26 grams, it is lightweight and comfortable to use.

The connectors do have a metal housing with a nice brown anodized finish, while the inner surfaces have L (Left) and R (Right) markings.

The M130B is available with both 0.78mm 2-Pin and MMCX connectors, both of which are known for their durability. The MMCX connector is compatible with not only standard MMCX earphones but also the IE series from Sennheiser, including the IE900 and IE600

As previously mentioned, the M130B features an in-line microphone with controls located at the splitter. Its unique design separates the signal wires from the ground wires, ensuring optimal audio quality. Additionally, the in-line controls are compatible with the CTIA standard.

The USB Type-C connectors feature a striking bi-color design, combining gold and brown elements to match the rest of the cable. Moreover, CNC-molded metal shell increases grounding area and enhances shielding effect.

The overall build quality of these upgrade cables is exceptional, consistent with the high standards set by ddHiFi’s other products.

 

Technical Specifications:

Cable:

• Conductor: 25.6AWG OCC (core) + 23.6AWG OFC (shielding)
• Cable structure: 0.06mm×49 strands OCC (core) + 0.05mm×112 OFC (shielding)
• Cable length: 120cm
• Weight: About 26g
• In-line controls: Supports CTIA standard
• Connector: MMCX and 2-Pin 0.78 for option
• Plug: USB Type-C

DAC:

• DAC chip: ES9603Q (stand-alone)
• PCM decoding capability: 32bit/384kHz
• Output power: 45mW+45mW @32Ω THD+N < 1%
• Dynamic range: >120dB (A-weighted)
• SNR: ≥112dB (32Ω load/A-wt)
• Frequency response: 20Hz~20kHz
• Noise floor: <3μV (A-wt)
• Crosstalk: < -60dB (32Ω load)

 

Hardware Features:

Stand-alone chips for Decoding (DAC) and Operational Amplifier (OP-AMP:

The ddHiFi M130B USB Type-C upgrade cable equipped with a standalone ES9603Q DAC chip and OP-AMP section. This combination ensures stable performance and ample output power of 45mW+45mW @32Ω THD+N < 1, which is quite impressive. This making it ideal for enjoying lossless music on your mobile device.

The M130B supports PCM decoding up to 32bit/384kHz, ensuring compatibility with various popular lossless music apps such as Apple Music, QQ Music, Netease Cloud Music, and Sony Lossless Music. Whether you prefer 44.1kHz, 96kHz, or 192kHz lossless music, the M130B delivers exceptional audio quality. This is evidenced by its impressive dynamic range (over 120dB), signal-to-noise ratio (≥112dB), and frequency response (20Hz~20kHz).

Microphone & In-Line Control:

The in-line controls have a round button in the middle that can control phone calls and music playback, and a small switch that can change the output mode from phone out to line out. The in-line microphone is hidden inside the controller, and uses a high-performance MEMS microphone circuit that can be used for daily calls, playing games, live streaming, and more. The in-line controls and microphone are compatible with the CTIA standard, and work well with most devices and apps.

 

Equipment’s used for this review: 

Cables           : ddHiFi M130B ake “Coffee Cable (2-Pin variant)
IEM’s              : ddHiFi Janus 2, IO Audio SOGNO, KINERA Hodur

 

Albums & tracks used for this review:

• Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Adele – My Little Love (Deezer HiFi)
• Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
• Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Radiohead – Live in Berlin “ Album” (Deezer HiFi)
• U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Bear McCreary’s – Valkyries (Deezer HiFi)
• Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
• Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
• Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
• Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy (Spotify)
• Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
• Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Metallica – Dyers Eve (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Rush’s – Tom Sawyer (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)

 

The Sound:

The ddHiFi M130B (aka Coffee Cable) is an USB Type-C upgrade cable with a Stand-alone DAC and OP-AMP designed to significantly elevate the audio experience of mobile users with their earphones on the go.

This review is written after a burn-in process of approx. 60 hours and I primarily paired the M130B with several IEMs, including the ddHiFi Janus 2, Kinera Hodur and the IO Audio Sogno.

Bass / Midrange / Treble / Soundstage & Imaging:

Crafted with high-purity copper conductors, the M130B aims to deliver a more refined and detailed listening experience. Compared to stock cables I have tested during this review, including the ddHiFi Janus 2, Kinera Hodur, and IO Audio SOGNO, the M130B offers a noticeable improvement in several key areas.

For instance, the bass response is deeper, more controlled, and provides a more impactful and satisfying low-end, offering a more immersive and engaging listening experience. Additionally, the midrange is characterized by increased clarity, separation, and a more natural and engaging presentation of vocals and instruments, allowing listeners to discern subtle nuances and details in their music. The treble is smooth and extended, offering a good balance of detail and brightness without sounding harsh or fatiguing, ensuring a pleasant and enjoyable listening experience.

One of the most notable improvements offered by the M130B is a significantly more expanded soundstage, creating a more immersive and three-dimensional listening experience. Instruments are positioned with greater precision and depth, providing a more realistic and enjoyable listening experience, especially for genres that benefit from a wide and deep soundstage. Furthermore, the M130B is designed to reduce noise and interference, resulting in a cleaner and more transparent signal. This helps to preserve the integrity of the audio signal, allowing you to hear more of the subtle nuances and details in your music.

The M130B is a significant upgrade over stock cables in terms of sound quality. It offers a more refined and detailed listening experience with deeper and more controlled bass, clearer and more separated midrange, and smoother and more extended treble. Additionally, the M130B provides a more expanded soundstage, creating a more immersive and three-dimensional listening experience. If you are looking to improve the audio experience of your mobile earphones, the M130B is definitely worth considering.

 

Conclusion:

The ddHiFi M130B, or “Coffee Cable,” is a premium USB Type-C earphone upgrade cable that offers a significant enhancement to audio quality. With its built-in DAC, OP-AMP, and microphone, it provides a convenient and high-performance solution for mobile users. Whether you’re using an Android phone, tablet, or PC, the M130B delivers enhanced audio clarity, detail, and a more immersive listening experience. Its standalone decoding chip, in-line control design, and audiophile-grade OCC wire contribute to a superior audio performance. If you’re seeking to elevate your mobile audio experience and won’t carry a relative larger dongle with you, the ddHiFi M130B is a worthwhile investment.

 

Pros & Cons: 

• + Convenient plug-and-play functionality
• + Audiophile-grade OCC & OFC wire material
• + Sleek and Lightweight Design
• + Overall Sound Performance
• + Clean and Powerful Output for a USB Type-C IEM cable (45mW+45mW @32Ω)
• + In-line Microphone and Controls

 

• – Limited output power compared to USB DAC/AMP dongles
• – Limited sampling rate support compared to USB DAC/AMP dongles

 

Thank you for the Read!