Pros: Low power consumption, Warmer sounding signature, Improved separation and layering, Nice presentation of technicalities, Nice Type C-to-C cable included

Cons: Limited functionality/Indicators

DAC: Dual C43198 DAC Chips
Outputs: 3.5mm (Single-ended) + 4.4mm (Balanced)
Input: Wired (Type C)

Price: 79.99 USD

Intro

Disclaimer: The Simgot DEW4X was provided at no charge by Simgot. However, this was done in understanding I was to give my honest thoughts and opinions of the DEW4X. It is available for purchase here should you find yourself interested in one or feel free to use your own links.

Simgot have gone above and beyond to attempt in their products of late and I have had quite a good experience with their new releases. Having heard they have a new dongle, I was undoubtedly excited. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the DEW4X.

Build Quality

The build quality of both the device and the included cable is great and is what one would expect at this price point. I like the sleek all-black look of the aluminium chassis, and the black fabric weave cable synergizes well with it. The device is very compact with the 2 outputs (4.4mm and 3.5mm) just side by side. This wouldn’t present an issue anyway as the DEW4X does not support simultaneous output of both balanced and single-ended. I love the feel of the huge buttons and they work great when I’m feeling for them in my pocket and I find myself able to control the volume without taking it out of feeling my pants excessively in public.

Functionality

Built around the C43198 chips, which are touted and marketed for their low power consumption, the DAC does feature a relatively (and noticeably) lower power consumption compared to other dongle DACs I’ve tried. The DAC itself doesn’t have any UI and is very feature compact, keeping features minimal. Overall user experience is quite good, with it being pretty much plug-and-play on both my iPhone as well as Desktop and both do not require any additional configuration of apps or drivers. Those looking for custom EQs or other built-in features would have to look elsewhere.

Some tips provided by Simgot on usage/features of the DEW4X:

• There is a Low/High gain mode which you can switch between when pressing both volume buttons at the same time
• Avoid inserting into both 3.5mm and 4.4mm during use simultaneously
• The volume level has a power-down memory function
• The DEW4X volume button adjustment and phone volumes are independently controlled

Sound Impressions

Despite the lower power consumption, IEMs seem to be sufficiently powered with it. I’ve tried it with the Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite, the 7Hz Timeless Planar, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2, as well as the Tang Zu Xuan Nu.

Sound quality-wise, the DEW4X does provide a noticeable improvement in sound quality over default dongles. There is greater technical detail brought out and also an improvement in the separation and layering of the music.

I also noticed that the DEW4X colours the sound slightly, with a slightly warm sound signature, which makes for a very versatile and easy-listening experience. That said I can imagine there would be purists who would want their music sources to be as transparent as possible and may not like this added characteristic. The warm signature doesn’t infringe or compromise on the cohesiveness of the overall sound or the details and it’s something I really enjoyed while using the DEW4X.

Comparison

Simgot DEW4X vs Kiwi Ears Allegro

This comparison was somewhat inevitable, having recently reviewed the Allegro. The Allegro shares a similar price point, build quality and form factor as the DEW4X. In terms of functionality and features, they are pretty much the same as well. Right off the bat, the most observable difference would be the design choices. The DEW4X opts for a more understated all-black colourway contrasted against the more playful and characteristic game console-like look of the Allegro. If this is what matters when choosing a DAC, the winner between the two would surely be up to you. They are both equally well-built with aluminium shell and I have not experienced any functional issues with either. One personal plus point I would give to the DEW4X is its larger volume which makes it very easy to locate and press. What would be more helpful is if Simgot could add a shaped marker on one of the buttons to immediately know which the volume up button is.

Conclusion

The DEW4X is a surprisingly lovely device to have in my arsenal. I found myself reaching for it over my Fiio BTR7 when I’m not carrying too many things and the convenience of Bluetooth can be forgone. I enjoyed the warm sound signature of the DEW4X and especially loved the mids on these. It brings out a certain lushness in the mids and deftly avoids sounding too sterile, something I noticed on several other DACs (which may not necessarily be a bad trait). All in all, the DEW4X does bring about a noticeable step up to your audio game should you decide to upgrade your setup from the stock phone dongles although US$80 might be a bit of an investment for the casual listener.