xDuoo XD-05 Plus Portable DAC / Headamp Review and Measurements

For the difference in price I would hope the ifi sounds better. Even the more reasonably priced xDSD is still $150 over the xDuodenom.

 

I thought USB Audio Player doesn't. At least earlier versions were bypassing Android audio stack.

 

Some dude on HF tried over 40 opamps in his XD-05 Plus and ranked them: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/xdu...ion-impressions.789886/page-119#post-15729305

He has a separate posts where he rates some of the really bad ones, in his opinion.

Normally I don’t put much stock in HF because of the hive mind mentality, but this guy did the homework for sure. His most recommended chip is the AD827SQ, which is in the stupid realm, because it costs $51 on mouser (at least it’s a dual so you only need one).

 

Most of the people there have tried only the Burson and the stock opamp. Sounds like the Burson has bass issues which does not sound like something I’d want.

 

That’s what I’ve ordered and for now that’s what I’m sticking with!

 

Wow, they really needed to use a torx t6 head for the screws on this? I have a decent collection of different screwdrivers and drill bits and yet I do not have this so I'll have to run to the hardware store next to work tomorrow. Couldn't just be a phillips head.

 

It came with the extra screws, but no screwdriver that I could see. I’ll check again.

Yeah, no screwdriver. The headfonia review noted that the quick start guide listed a “magic stick” as an accessory but there was no such item packaged with the unit. I’m wondering if a run of these went out without the screwdriver by accident.

 

Torx is way more durable.
Practically no chance of using the wrong bit size and strip the head...

 

Initial thoughts with stock opamp: This sounds very clean. I get why Marv used the Leckerton as the reference point. I remember when I owned the Leckerton it didn’t draw much attention to itself. It just passed the music along. Not that it was a “wire with gain”, but it wasn’t flashy, and the XD-05 feels the same way.

This is my first time doing extended listening with an AKM DAC. I partly avoided devices with the 4490 (I know this uses the 4493) because of the Velvet Sound and partly because I simply had other gear that already worked for me. I do plan to use the DAC portion of the XD and it also sounds clean, well balanced along the FR, but with some shoutiness in the treble and a touch of digital sheen here and there. The soundstage is more forward and flat than the Geek Out V2+ Infinity, and I’m not sure detail retrieval is really on par either. Oddly this DAC also emphasizes different aspects of songs than my other DACs do (Modi MB, Gungnir MB, GO). I confirmed this was the DAC itself by going line out to the Lyr 3. I would take the amp section of the XD over the amp section of the GO without a doubt. I’m not sure I’d take the DAC of the XD over the GO though. It doesn’t sound bad, just not quite as stellar as the GO when going line out to a better amp.

I do hope an opamp swap will bring out more of the potential in the XD. As it is it sounds good, clean and balanced, but not as refined as I know portable sources can sound.

 

Yes. The AK4495(SEQ) and AK4497 are the epitome of velvet sound. Now that AK4493/AK4499 exist I would not recommend any devices that use these chips anymore...

 

I did fall asleep listening to this last night, so perhaps our use cases aren’t so far off. I am loathe to move to a less capable DAC though, especially since I’m so used to the GOV2+ sound. I’ll swap the opamp tonight and see what that does for me.

 

Boy, what a night and day difference this makes. The stock opamp is competent, but flat and accentuated some of the flaws of the DAC portion. The OPA2134 adds a little space (not a ton) but significantly is much kinder to the DAC. The device is now a far more enjoyable listen with the FDX1. This setup makes for an excellent bedside AIO.

 

Must. Buy. 627.

 

I found this adapter on the xduoo website and it would make this amp much nicer for iOS users.

https://www.xduoo.net/product/type-c-to-lighting-cable/

but I thought only the official Apple cck adapter could carry audio out of an iOS device. ??

 

I asked Apos Audio about the adapter and they said they’ve tested it and it works with ios devices. IFi sure wasted a lot of valuable space in their Nano and Hip Dac/amps. Damn.

Apos said they don’t list the cable but sell it and to just reach out.