Physical check and comparing them side by side, they are almost the same size, no issue to carry both of them. The different is only at the USB data input. One is standard USB-A at the Dragonfly and USB-C at the LG Hifi Plus. I prefer USB-C now days for better compatibility and only one cable needed to do all task. As usual, I am using my Mi 8 Lite smartphone with USB Audio Player Pro as music player app, then using the OTG cable connect to the DAC. While I have no issue running this app to the Dragonfly Black, but not for the LG Hifi Plus. The first time connect to the device there is warning message from the app, it is the volume issue running to the maximum and need to reduce for normal listening volume. This LG Hifi Plus also not working properly with this app. On many times I find the app running very slow and not responsive until I close the app, plug out the LG Hifi Plus DAC, and start the steps over. So this would be a major issue for this outdated product. Anyway, I just notice that the app recognize this LG Hifi Plus DAC as a B&O adapter. Well thank you:)
Another problem regarding the music format is the DSD files. On USB Audio Player Pro, I need to set up the USB audio for DSD Mode to DSD to PCM conversion instead of DoP. In DSD with DoP setting makes music play on LG Hifi Plus not smooth. It has quick mute gap every few second. Hopefully this is only a software issue and can be fix once the UAPP updates their application. Honestly I cannot tell the difference between those setting when listening the DSD music files on Dragonfly Black or Chord Mojo and Hugo, but we want the higher possible setting right?
Continue to the sound output, this LG Hifi Plus do not deliver much power output when I am using low impedance Sony MH1 earphones. The Sony MH1 is 16 ohm impedance by the way. The Dragonfly Black which always on its high power output, means no impedance sensor to switch internally like this LG Hifi Plus, is having so much power when connect to this Sony MH1. It sound better for sure than the LG Hifi Plus. Listening with Sony MH1 earphones, I will take half of the total volume on the Dragonfly Black, while on the LG Hifi Plus, I can crank up near to the maximum volume to get the same loudness. The power output on the amplifier will impact so much on the dynamic of the music. It is very important on how much the music swing when the beat start from slow to fast. The Dragonfly Black with Sony MH1 sound better than LG Hifi Plus.
Like I said earlier, the LG Hifi Plus has their own impedance sensor to check what earphones are plug into the headphones jack. Just like their V series smartphones line up on LG. This can be indicating when the USB DAC connect to the smartphones, you cannot disconnect the headphones from it, otherwise it will re-initialized. This LG Hifi Plus is sure have several output modes determined on which the earphones plug into it.
Different story when I hook up my Sennheiser HD600 or others high impedance headphones. This LG Hifi Plus deliver sound to those headphones easily. Now the LG Hifi Plus in par with Dragonfly Black in term of power output. Sound quality also now get much better. The sound more dynamic and detail. But still you can hear the high frequency not as smooth as the Dragonfly Black, yet the lower frequency slightly thinner.
To conclude this review, sound quality from LG Hifi Plus which I describe on previous post is not very special is still in there, but better on high impedance headphones like Sennheiser HD600. I playing this LG Hifi Plus for more than 100 hours to pass the breaking in and the sound more forgiving on high frequency. The mid range also tamed, not over shooting, more on warm sound. It is sound much better now. Still comparing to the Dragonfly Black, the sound stage from LG Hifi Plus is still behind. It is also less musical and micro detail which the Dragonfly Black again, noticeably better. The bass on LG Hifi Plus is quite okay, quite right amount of bass comparing to the Dragonfly Black is more louder. This bass section is very subjective by the way, so I cannot say more except I am quite on the LG Hifi Plus side.
So I guess I should give my end word. The LG Hifi Plus is definitely an obsolete product, it will comes with compatibility problem for the future. The physical look is simple and elegant, B&O style for sure comparing to the Audioquest Dragonfly. Then if you looking for that, you can find this LG Hifi Plus is a good choice, but for the sound quality it is not really special. There is much better option to go a little bit extra cash for get the better sound on other device comparing to this LG Hifi Plus. Recently I really enjoy listening the Inger Marie Albums. The voice has it's own characteristic which very easy to listen.
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