Today, we are looking at the ddHiFi Surface Hybrid IEM. It retails for $279.99 USD.
Disclaimer: DDHiFi sent us the Surface for this review. As always, this article reflects my unbiased opinion.
ddHifi
Founded in July 2017, Guangzhou DD Electronics Technology Co, Ltd is the company behind the ddHiFi brand. Under the leadership of CEO Demond Ding, a former member of FiiO and OPPO, the company has made a name for itself in the audio industry with its unique design language and wide range of high-quality products.
ddHiFi has become increasingly popular among audio enthusiasts and specializes in headphone adapters, DAC-AMP dongles, interconnect cables, earphones, and accessories.
The brand’s design philosophy is based on simplicity and functionality, focusing on user-friendly products and elegant yet modest designs. Their focus is on creating durable and practical products that match their vision of quality, design, and performance.
Today, we are reviewing their Surface IEMs, also known as the E14D, which are equipped with four balanced armature drivers and a dynamic driver. It’s a co-engineered model, developed in collaboration with Moondrop. The final tuning was refined through listener feedback collected during several audio exhibitions in China.
You can purchase the Surface from ddHiFi’s online shop and the official Aliexpress store for $279.99 USD.
DDHiFi Surface aka. E14D
The ddHiFi Surface, model E14D, is a five-driver hybrid in-ear monitor featuring a 3-way crossover design. Inside each shell, you’ll find one dynamic driver handling the lows, paired with four balanced armature drivers dedicated to midrange and treble. The driver modules draw structural inspiration from Moondrop’s current line-up, but the tuning has been tailored by ddHiFi and finalized with direct user feedback from audio exhibits.
The shell is crafted from imported medical-grade resin via 3D printing, with a machined aluminum faceplate and an integrated reinforcement ring around the 2-pin connector socket. The entire acoustic structure, including the sound tubes and internal cavity geometry, has been physically optimized for Surface’s specific tuning.
Specs & Highlights
- Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 4 Balanced Armatures
- Crossover Design: 3-Way (Physical+Electronic)
- Impedance: 15Ω ±15% (@1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 118dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Frequency Response: 10Hz – 30kHz
- Effective Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz (-3dB, IEC60318-4)
- THD: ≤1%
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-Pin
- Termination: 4.4mm Balanced
- Shell Material: Transparent 3D-printed resin
- Faceplate: CNC-machined aluminum
Packaging & Accessories
The ddHiFi Surface arrives in a compact, well-curated package that reflects the brand’s minimalist design language. The outer sleeve features a matte finish with tasteful, line-art style waifu illustrations in soft rose gold tones. While the artwork might not be for everyone, it worked well for Moondrop in the past.
Inside, the accessories are laid out cleanly. You get the earphones, a 4.4mm-terminated BC120S cable, three pairs of grey silicone ear tips (S/M/L, from KIWIEARS’ KIWI-FLEX series), a textured storage hard case with a click-lock lid, and the usual paperwork. The ear tips are grippy and soft, and they come with a filter-style nozzle design.
It’s great that ddHiFi includes their BC120S cable within the package, which is made of silver-plated oxygen-free copper in a Litz braided structure.
The storage box is one of the better inclusions here. It’s made from a sturdy, stone-textured plastic composite that feels durable without being bulky. It’s spacious enough to fit the IEMs and the cable without needing to force them in. This is something I wish more manufacturers paid attention to.
While the accessory spread is relatively modest, the overall presentation is clean, practical, and aligned with ddHiFi’s design ethos. Though, I’d prefer to see one more set of ear tips included.
Design, Build Quality & Fit
The Surface blends design elements from both Moondrop and ddHiFi. The transparent resin shell feels distinctly Moondrop lightweight, ergonomically shaped, and clearly 3D-printed, while the faceplate and socket housing carry ddHiFi’s usual industrial design language.
The CNC-machined aluminum ring around the connector isn’t just for looks either; it adds a layer of structural reinforcement that gives the IEM a sturdier feel and shouts ddHiFi compared to Moondrop’s nuder, resin-bodied monitors.
In hand, the Surface feels solid and durable. The faceplate has a brushed surface, and the pattern is precisely machined, with no visible gaps or misalignments. It’s a clean build overall, with no rough edges or finish inconsistencies.
Fit is excellent for medium-sized ears. The nozzles aren’t too long or aggressively angled, and the lightweight shells nest comfortably in the concha without creating awkward pressure points. Isolation is decent, not class-leading, but enough to block out moderate ambient noise with a good seal. I experienced no discomfort over multi-hour sessions, and tip rolling wasn’t necessary to get a stable fit.
This is a very well-built IEM that carries premium materials with a budget-ish price tag, featuring both brands’ best design aspects.
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