AUNE S9c Pro DAC and Headphone Amp Review
A desktop DAC and headphone amplifier from AUNE with dual ES9068A chips, Bluetooth input and a 5W rated output, listed at $679.15. It suits desk setups that want USB, coaxial, optical, AES and Bluetooth inputs plus a 10MHz external clock input.
Our verdict
Suits desk users who want a DAC and amplifier with Bluetooth, several digital inputs and an external clock input. Look elsewhere if you need a confirmed list of outputs: the page names the third headphone port as 6.35mm in one place and 3.5mm in another. Read the 5W figure with care until a load is given, since every number here is the store's own.
- Best for
- Desk setups that want Bluetooth, several digital inputs and a 10MHz clock input in one DAC and amp.
- Skip if
- You need a confirmed headphone output list or an output power figure with a stated load.
Why 3.4/5: Its listed inputs, decoding formats and Bluetooth codecs lift it. A page without a specification list as text, a third headphone output given two ways, store terms that disagree with each other and no independent test checked for this review hold it back.
Two ES9068A DAC chips and a fully discrete amplifier sit inside the AUNE S9c Pro, a desktop unit listed at $679.15 with a crossed-out price of $739. The page names decoding of 32-bit/768kHz PCM, native DSD512 and 16x MQA, and rates the amplifier at 5W. Inputs are USB, coaxial, optical, AES and Bluetooth with LDAC and AptX HD, and a 10MHz external clock input is listed. A 2nd-generation PLL clock core sits near the top of the feature list.
Specifications
| Spec | Page says |
|---|---|
| DAC chips | Dual ES9068A (ESS Sabre), 32-bit |
| PCM decoding | Up to 32-bit/768kHz |
| DSD decoding | Native DSD512 |
| MQA decoding | 16x |
| Amplifier | Fully discrete, twin JFET input stage |
| Output power | Up to 5W, rated (no load given) |
| Headphone outputs | 4.4mm, 4-pin XLR, 6.35mm (feature list) or 3.5mm (text) |
| Inputs | USB, coaxial, optical, Bluetooth, AES; 10MHz external clock input |
| Bluetooth codecs | LDAC, AptX HD, AptX, SBC, AAC |
| Clock | 2nd-generation ultra-low jitter PLL core, full clock synchronisation |
| Power supply | 50W toroidal low-ripple linear transformer; 15V linear supply |
| Modes | Two PLL and filter modes: standard and pure music |
| Display | Built-in display screen |
Options and pricing
The page shows a crossed-out price of $739 next to $679.15. Two colors are listed, White and Black, each as the Bluetooth Version, and both were orderable at $679.15 when the page was read. The page text gives no difference between the two colors beyond their names, offers no version without Bluetooth, and does not say what is in the box or give dimensions and weight.
How it compares
The Moondrop x SMSL DHA15 All-in-One Desktop DAC & AMP is $649.99 and its name lists dual CS43198 DACs and its spec line names a Class A amplifier, while the S9c Pro is $679.15 and lists Bluetooth and a 10MHz clock input. Two FiiO units bracket it on price: the FiiO K15 Streaming DAC & Headphone Amplifier at $569, whose spec line names a streamer function, and the FiiO K17 DAC & Headphone Amplifier at $989.99. Pick the S9c Pro for Bluetooth and external clock input; pick the K15 if streaming matters.
Shipping, returns and warranty
HiFiGO sells from hifigo.com and says every order leaves its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after it is placed, and says its delivery times are estimates, not promises. Its shipping policy gives the United States 1-2 weeks (about 10 days on average) by Priority and 6-10 days by Premium, both with duties and taxes prepaid by the store; Canada 2-3 weeks; the United Kingdom 1-2 weeks; and Australia 10-15 days. Express couriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx) take 3-7 days, but then the buyer pays any duties and taxes. No shipping page names New Zealand, PO boxes are not accepted, and the free-shipping thresholds differ between the store's own pages, so check the cart. One of its two shipping pages adds that a lost parcel on an order above $50 gets only a 50% refund. A US buyer reported a $40 tariff charge in August 2025, after which HiFiGO said it had added a customs notice at checkout.
Read the return terms before you order. The homepage advertises 7-day returns. Both of HiFiGO's policy pages offer a 7-day dead-on-arrival cover (a replacement or a full refund, with the return postage refunded) and also describe 30-day returns, but a request made 7 to 30 days after delivery loses 30% of the MSRP as a restocking fee (10% more if the packaging is incomplete), plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same pages says there is no refund or exchange once 7 days have passed. One version recommends reselling an opened product locally. Custom IEMs and custom cables cannot be returned, no return address is published, and buyers describe sending items back to China.
HiFiGO's warranty runs one year from the order date for parts and labor; its policy names desktop DACs and amps, IEMs and dongles at one year and gives cables and adapters three months. HiFiGO decides between repair and replacement, the buyer pays the shipping, and faulty items go back for service, not for a refund. Claims go to [email protected], the only contact the store lists: its pages name no company, street address or phone, and its terms are governed by the laws of China.
On Trustpilot, HiFiGO had 4.6 out of 5 from 378 reviews when we checked on 2026-10-28 (91% five-star, 5% one-star), and it had replied to about 75% of negative reviews; Trustpilot notes the store has not invited customers to review recently. The one-star reviews mostly concern the short return window and the deductions on returns, items listed in stock that turned out back-ordered, slow email support and a tariff charge on a US delivery in 2025. HiFiGO says its products are genuine and come in the brands' retail packaging; it does not claim to be an authorized dealer.
What we liked
- Dual ES9068A DAC chips with 32-bit/768kHz PCM, native DSD512 and 16x MQA decoding, per the page
- Five input types (USB, coaxial, optical, AES, Bluetooth) plus a 10MHz external clock input
- Bluetooth codecs are named: LDAC, AptX HD, AptX, SBC and AAC
- Three headphone outputs, including 4.4mm and a balanced 4-pin XLR port
- Built-in display screen and two selectable PLL and filter modes, per the page
Worth noting
- The third headphone output is 6.35mm in the feature list and 3.5mm in the text
- The 5W figure has no load stated, and no THD, SNR or headphone impedance figures are given
- No specification list as text, so figures have to be picked out of marketing copy
- Nothing on size, weight or what comes in the box
Questions before you buy
Which headphone outputs does the AUNE S9c Pro have?
The page lists three. The feature list names 4.4mm, 4-pin XLR and 6.35mm, while the text names a 3.5mm single-ended output, a 4.4mm and a 4-pin XLR balanced output. Confirm the single-ended size before buying a cable or adapter.
Which Bluetooth codecs and inputs does it list?
Bluetooth input supports LDAC, AptX HD, AptX, SBC and AAC per the page. The other inputs listed are USB, coaxial, optical and AES, plus a 10MHz external clock input.
What output power does the S9c Pro list?
The page says up to 5W and rated at 5W, and adds that this can feed demanding headphones and IEMs. No load, impedance or sensitivity is given, so the 5W cannot be tied to any particular headphone from the page alone.
Where does HiFiGO ship from, and how long does it take?
From its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after the order. The shipping policy gives 1-2 weeks to the US by Priority (6-10 days by Premium), both with duties and taxes prepaid, 2-3 weeks to Canada, 1-2 weeks to the UK and 10-15 days to Australia. Express couriers take 3-7 days, but the buyer pays any duties.
Can I send it back if I change my mind?
HiFiGO gives 7 days to report an item that arrives dead, damaged or wrong. Its policy also describes 30-day returns, but requests 7 to 30 days after delivery lose 30% of the MSRP plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same page says no refund or exchange after 7 days. Ask [email protected] before you open the box.
What warranty does HiFiGO give?
One year from the order date for parts and labor, for faults in build or materials (the policy names desktop DACs and amps, IEMs and dongles; cables and adapters get three months). HiFiGO chooses repair or replacement, the buyer pays the shipping, and a faulty item is serviced rather than refunded. Claims go to [email protected].
Sources & verification
What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.
From the store
- AUNE S9c Pro MQA 16x DAC with Fully-Discrete Headphone AMP product page: specs, options and priceSpecs, options and the listed priceRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO shipping policyShips from China in 1-3 business days; US 1-2 weeks by Priority or 6-10 days by Premium, duties prepaid; Express buyers pay dutiesRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO shipping and order tracking pageA second shipping text: Premium also for Canada and Australia, Canada free shipping from $99.99, lost-parcel rulesRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO refund policy7-day dead-on-arrival cover; 30-day returns minus a 30% restocking fee; its FAQ says no refund after 7 daysRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO warranty and refund policyWarranty by product class (1 year; cables and adapters 3 months); 30% fee for resealing an opened productRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO terms of serviceOperator named only as HiFiGo; governed by the laws of China; contact [email protected]Read October 28, 2026
Independent
- HiFiGO reviews on Trustpilot4.6 of 5 from 378 reviews (91% five-star, 5% one-star); the store has not invited reviews recentlyRead October 28, 2026
What we couldn’t verify
- The page lists the third headphone output as 6.35mm in the feature list and as a 3.5mm single-ended output in the text.
- The 5W figure has no load, and the page promises low distortion and high SNR and DNR without giving a figure.
- Sound descriptions (neutral, natural, vivid, more dynamic) and the claim that the PLL core took nearly 4 years to develop are the page's own words, and no independent test was checked for this review.
- HiFiGO's policy pages contradict each other: 30-day returns with a 30% restocking fee in one place, no refund or exchange after 7 days in the FAQ.
- HiFiGO's pages name no company, street address or phone number; the only contact given is [email protected].
Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.
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