HIFIMAN HM901U Audio Player Review

HIFIMAN audio players are familiar to many audiophiles. Some consider them to be the best in their class, others - unnecessarily expensive, and still others look like a funny wonder for a lot of money. In general, the point of view of lovers of high-quality music reproduction varies greatly in views on the equipment, and many categorical statements are based only on the argument “I am an artist, I see that.” But many agree on one thing: HIFIMAN tries to produce well-thought-out and high-quality devices, introducing improvements over time and eliminating the identified shortcomings.



The HM901U player is positioned as an improved version of the HM901 model (“U” from the word “upgrade”). In the era of touchscreen, touch control and miniaturization, such an unjustifiably large and low-functional device for a simple man in the street looks strange, but it only adds intrigue: what to expect from such a large and narrow-profile device?


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No frills packaging - black cardboard box with golden manufacturer logo:



Charger and accessories are included with the player. Charging bipolar (± 8.4 V) and with a proprietary connector. The USB socket of the HM901U does not charge.



The list of accessories is modest: an adapter cable, a screwdriver with four screws, a 4 GB microSD card with an adapter.



HM901U even by the standards of "audiophile" players is large (117 x 72 x 28 mm), but the predecessor was no less.



According to the manufacturer, the HM901U is the improved HM901 version in terms of sound quality. The basis of the electronic filling is the ES9018 DAC pair, 2OPA627 and OPA2107 operational amplifiers.



The controls, their relative position, the diagonal of the screen - all migrated from its predecessor. With a solid weight of almost 300 grams, the player is obliged to the battery - the weight of the lithium battery is almost a third of the total.



As you can see from the labeling, the bipolar power source. This explains the impossibility of fast charging from USB and the preference in favor of a large charger - the full charge time is about 5 hours. It would be hard to imagine how much would be required to “refill” the battery from USB taking into account losses on a complex converter and a 2.5 watt limit (after all, USB 3.0 is still rare).

Under the battery is a compartment with a removable board amplifiers:



To dismantle the PCB, you only need to move the spring clip in the corner.



The idea of ​​changing amplifiers to your own taste is very good, as it gives you the opportunity to tune the player to your own tastes and headphones.



When ordering a player, the manufacturer has the opportunity to choose a complete amplifier board. In the described instance, the “Power” board is installed with an output power of 90 mW.



In total, there are at least six removable "modules" in the assortment that differ significantly in characteristics:



All playable files are offered to be stored on an SD card, the capacity of which can reach 256 GB.



By modern standards it is more than enough, and the quick replacement process allows you to carry record libraries with you for different moods and tasks.



On the right side are sliding controls: on, signal level, Hold; The traditional reset hole has not gone anywhere.



The eight-way analog volume control is very easy to use, both tactile and audible.



There is only one minor complaint about the player software: it takes a long time to load. Otherwise, it is very suitable for the general style of the HM901U: simple as a stick and extremely clear. The main menu consists of ten items:



Current playback - the meaning is clear from the title:



It should be noted that the lack of a touchscreen does not affect the ease of operation. So, rewinding with the help of buttons goes almost as fast as poking your finger in the right place of the progress bar.

Favorites - no comments, the most "priority" tracks.

SD card - displays the entire contents of the memory card:



Artist, album, genre - sort music by relevant criteria:







Item “All Songs” is similar to “SD card”, but without a directory hierarchy:



The item “S / PDIF output” offers only one action - on / off; the same goes for “Remove SD Card”.

In the "settings" are concentrated all the main options, of which a bit:



There are no advanced features like multiband equalizers, effects, etc. in the software. One will not like such asceticism, others will like it; a matter of personal preference. It is not necessary to consider the absence of a spreading tree of settings as a disadvantage.

A few more settings:


The HM901U is comfortable and pleasant, especially if there is a spacious pocket for carrying; however, with such sound quality, considerable dimensions are not a big minus. The metal case fits nicely in the hand and easily endures the daily routine of everyday use. Large buttons and knobs allow you to control work by touch without removing the device from the bag. The battery lasts for the stated 9 hours or a little more, if the volume does not exceed the average mark.

The sound quality is excellent. The player was tested in conjunction with Edition X and Edition S headphones, produced by the same HiFiMAN. Due to significant differences in the design of headphones, the impressions are different, but very positive. Particularly pleased with the ability to fine-tune the volume, the absence of distortion in complex scenes, good detail. On the manufacturer’s website there is a section “where to listen”, which we strongly advise to use. HM901U - the case when a single listening gives more than two or three paragraphs of sound descriptions, replete with terms of electroacoustics.