Funny this, I received the Hifime today, a few hours ago. Courier didn't knock the door, just left it in the hallway. Good enough I guess.
Tiny plastic thing but the 'good things' are, as Hifime states, inside.
Just had a listen (Tidal) using the enclosed flimsy and cheap looking optical cable, its about a milimeter thick. In all fairness, Hifime does say to use a sturdier (see what I did there?) one but it gets you going. Got the QED Graphite so that will be next but it'll be tomorrow or the day after. Film night tonight.
The answer to its effectiveness is probably twofold; In combination with the recently acquired QED Revelation Signature speaker cable the combination is clear. Everything there, no harshness, very tight and lovely highs. Good focus. In short, everything Hifi probably should be in the context of my system and within the 'limitations' of the source and/or, more likely, my system again.
Now, the QED, whilst absolutely not a 'bright' cable, has definitively brought its own 'flavour'. It has better control in the bass (than the NACA5), tigthening everything up a tadio more. As always with cables, no 'night'n day' difference, noticeable nevertheless. Thing is, my cyrus amplifier already has a well controlled bass, due to no small part because of the PSX-R.
The little Hifime again adds a little more bass control than taking the output of the CCA directly to the amp. Together, it all adds up to superbly delineated bass of the sort so beloved at Hifi shows and Dealer demos.
Problem is, that might be desirable at normal to high volume but most of my listening is done at probably well below average loudness. At those levels the human ear, my ears, are less sensitive to Bass and Treble. - So whilst I appreciate the little bit more clarity/snap in the middle and extension in the highs the bass is probably a smidgen under nourished (for me). I like a tiny bit of bloom at those low volumes.
Long story short, for most, the Hifime will be a worthwile and very cost effective addition to a CCA (which most will have bought because its a cost effective solution). It does improve on most aspects of the CCA but the differences are subtle and again, far from night and day which I guess says quite a bit about the quality of the DAC and stage of the CCA.
If you have a system that benefits from a well controlled yet dynamic sound, the Hifime is, I think, the most affordable 'serious' addition to a Chromecast and/or perhaps another source with optical out. I dont know of to many others that use an ESS at this price.
It also hangs happily of the back and out of sight.
Will try with the Graphite next and perhaps swap my speaker cables.
Cheers