I’d like to extend a special thanks to Lily from DD Hifi for sending us these samples for review. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Accessory maker DD HiFi has carved out a rather interesting niche for itself in the audio ‘dongle’ market of late, and has now pushed the envelope even further with the introduction of its latest dongle ‘flagships’, the $106 TC44Pro E3 (affectionately dubbed Eye 3), and $159 TC44Grip.
It seems the design brief for these newcomers was based on two fundamental questions: “What if we made dongles ridiculously small?” and “What if we completely reimagined how dongles attach to phones?” The result is two devices that couldn’t be more different in approach, yet share the same DNA under the bonnet.
Eye 3 represents DD HiFi’s quest for ultimate miniaturisation, while Grip throws conventional dongle wisdom out the window with its magnetic phone-mounting system and integrated charging capabilities. Both pack dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, but their execution philosophies are worlds apart. Think of it as the difference between a Swiss Army knife and a bespoke tool; both have their place, but serve distinctly different masters.
After spending considerable time with both devices, it’s become clear that DD HiFi isn’t just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. These are two thoughtful responses to genuine problems in the portable audio space: size constraints and the perpetual “charge or listen” dilemma.
But do they actually solve these problems, and more importantly, do they sound good while doing it?
Design and specifications
TC44Pro E3: the miniaturisation marvel
Eye 3’s party trick is immediately apparent – it’s genuinely tiny. At just 44.3 × 17.5 × 11.6mm and weighing a mere 13.6 grams, this is DD HiFi’s “3rd-gen thumb-sized DAC/amp” that somehow manages to pack serious hardware into a space barely larger than a USB stick.
The aluminium alloy construction feels reassuringly solid, with a silver and copper finish that screams “premium” without being shouty about it, and the design language is distinctly T-shaped, with dual outputs (3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced) at one end and USB-C connectivity at the other.
Three small buttons are embedded flush into the body: volume up, volume down, and a gain toggle. These buttons are almost comically tiny, clearly prioritising aesthetics over ergonomics; you’ll need fingernails or genuine dexterity to operate them reliably.
Round the back, two indicator LEDs provide feedback on bit rate (blue for PCM, green for DSD) and gain status (yellow for high gain). It’s functional information presented in the most minimal way possible.
TC44Grip: the phone-hugger revolution
Grip takes an entirely different approach to its tiny sibling. Rather than dangling from your phone like a technological tail, it magnetically attaches to the back of your device, creating what DD HiFi calls a “unified, streamlined aesthetic.”
The concept is undeniably clever, built around a thick, shielded pure silver cable that emerges from a cable groove and allows for easy deployment and retraction.
A magnetic mounting system includes three different attraction pads: an aluminium alloy version with strong magnetic pull for daily use, and leather options with embedded ferromagnetic plates for occasional use. Two decorative pads (black and khaki) can be applied to the carbon fibre surface for enhanced grip comfort.
But here’s where it gets properly interesting: Grip includes a dedicated USB-C charging port that supports up to 60W PD fast charging. This means you can simultaneously listen to music and charge your phone, solving one of the most persistent annoyances in the dongle DAC world.
Continue to technical specifications…
