Pros: Easy installation; pocket-sized shape; impressive 30-foot RCA cable.
Cons: Rather expensive; quality could be much better.
Verdict: Unless you're dying for a portable audio solution, the Hi-Fi link and the $50 price tag attached to it isn't a really very attractive solution.
Although the focus on multimedia-robust laptops & mobile devices has significantly changed for the better, very little attention is placed on high-quality audio solutions. Although scarce in numbers, a few companies - like Xitel with their Hi-Fi Link - have developed external USB audio devices to try to bring high-fidelity audio to road warriors.
Overview & Installation The heart of the Hi-Fi Link is a 20-bit Philips digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Xitel claims a 0.005% noise-to-signal rate and 90dB channel separation rate with impedance matching to their rather impressive 30-foot, gold plated RCA-to-headphone jack cable.
Installing the Hi-Fi Link is Plug & Play simple. Plug the USB cable into the device, then into the system and it installs automatically under Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, XP and MacOS 9.04 with audio extension and above. If you want to connect the Hi-Fi link to an RCA source like a home stereo, use the provided RCA cable; if you want to connect with headphones or computer speakers, just plug directly into the device.
Audio Performance As portable audio solutions go, the Hi-Fi Link isn't too bad, but Xitel's claims of "...pure audio excellence" or "...an exceptionally pure and dynamic signal" don't quite hold ground when put to the test. While audio plays back without any distortion or interference, the audio feels very flat, devoid of a dynamic output. Highs and lows seem to meld together and everything sounds very straight and narrow. While quite an improvement on cheap audio like AC '97-based devices, it can't compare to most system sound cards or external devices like the Creative Extigy. However, in fairness, the Xitel Hi-Fi Link is pocket-sized and really not meant to be compared to full sound card solutions, it's a portable solution above all else.
The Bottom Line Retailing for $50, the Xitel Hi-Fi Link is an adequate-quality portable audio solution for the mobile user. However, the $50 isn't very well-spent unless the user is really in dire need of decent portable audio.
"Sounds wicked on my system" I bought the HiFi-Link after watching a Tech TV article where they compared it to the Extigy and gave it the thumbs up. Have had the Extigy and it gave me nothing but problems. Paid $50 for Xitel's little silver unit and it sounds wicked! The included cable is also pretty trick. Sure it's simple, but it does what it does very well. From Mike, November 05, 2002
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. HiFi-Link Specs
Interface(s)
Original USB
Released date
September 2003
Platforms
Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, MacOS 9.0, MacOS X
