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

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Jul 29, 2020.

  1. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    As long as the interfacing chip inside is legit Apple, it'll work. I wouldn't trust buying something like that on aliexpress, but it should work if it's bought through legitimate channels.
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Sorry OT, but this is the first thread I've seen mention of Apos Audio.
    Is there anything I should know about them, other than being just another online retailer? Or was this just a, "Hey, I'm ordering something. Buy at the same time and we'll save on shipping."
     
  3. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    They look like a serious retailer/reseller that give an extra year of warranty. I purchased an SP200 with them before and they quickly gave me an RMA/replacement so my only dealing with them so far was really stellar.
     
  4. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I’m curious how the xduoo compares to the iFi nano or AK DAPs (xduoo snd iFi with Android/iOS)
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    With A&K, it depends upon which model. I prefer certain models over others. It really depends upon the DA chip used. Their voicing is consistent throughout, so that is a bonus.

    I can only speak for myself, and lot of this stems from experience in finding the synergy between the ZX2 and Andromeda: my primary reason for trying out the xDuoo was because I could roll opamps to maybe get the sound that I wanted, which was to tone down the balanced armature timbre in the mids/highs and move away from the organic sound of the ZX2 to get less colored, that is more articulate bass, while avoiding overly "square" transients. With the OPA627 in the xDuo, I feel that I have achieved that I wanted to do with both the Solaris 2020 and Ara IEMs.

    I got my Ara back to try out with the xDuoo and OPA627 - the sound is fantastic. With pop songs, I can hear into the mix, the different microphones, effects, and processing each mix track came from. The slight downsides are the need to decimate a few bits (CFA are too sensitive, so this extends the usable range of the volume knob) and there is a bit of noise with USB Audio Player on Android which is required so that Android OS does not resample. However, I have gone back to using the Qobuz app where the noise is much less evident and I don't think I'm hearing anything wrong with the 44.1kHz to 48kHz resampling - not even sure if I can tell.

    The iDSD Nano BL may also be a good candidate to achieve the sound that I'm trying to shoot for. The built-in IE Match could help with noise and expanding the volume knob usability range. I know the dynamics and attacks are a little bit softer, but this may not be a bad thing with balanced armature IEMs. We lost our iDSD Nano BL loaner in the mail. It's cheap enough that we could pick up another one if there is more interest.

    Again, this is just my preference and the sound which I am specifically trying to achieve rather than any absolute statement.
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2020
  6. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    HA HA HA yeah - basically why I have my SFD-1 still. It takes enough of that bite off while still remaining as technically competent as I'll ever need in my life probably. It is probably overkill, and probably not the very best at what I am trying to achieve, but that is literally what my goal is too... "MY preference.. MY goal"

    EDIT: CRAP - SORRY. I need to add something useful to this thread

    I would like to know how the GO2PRO fairs against the XD-05+ and the iFi whatever is the best for IEM's all-in-one unit.

    I currently still have my Vi DAC (Broke itself electrically - needs repair) GO450 and GO2PRO infinity because at the time, they made a lot of sense as A-I-O units, but I no longer support that company, so I've been keeping my mind's-eye open for the next "revelation" in this crazy little hobby.
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I still use a GOV2+ and the XD-05+ is the first AIO I’ve heard that’s made me content to move on from the GO. It has a better amp section and the DAC is good. As mentioned earlier in the thread, just as a DAC the GO still edges out the 05, mainly in that the GO has more space and stage. Even with better opamps, the 05 DAC remains fairly flat in that regard.

    The big caveat here is that you will need to roll opamps to get the sound you want with the 05. I do plan on selling my GO at this point though, as I’ve listened to the 05 almost every night since I’ve gotten it and have had no desire to switch back.
     
  8. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    HECK YEAH, MAN! Thank you very much for the info!

    I'm sorry, but I don't remember your headphone chain. Can you tell me how you have your setup tailored to your likings?

    Thank you.
     
  9. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    For the Xduoo it’s USB in from my iPhone out to the FDX1. On my main setup it’s a RPi with Volumio and 502DAC doing coax out to a Gungnir MB A1 to a Liquid Platinum and modded HD580s.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I bit the bullet and bought an iFi nano and someone is loaning me an ak-100 that’s why I asked. To me they sound very similar with the iFi having a bit more warmth. The ak100 has way more space in the volume pot for sensitive CA iem’s I guess because it’s digital not an analog pot. The iFi unit I have doesn’t overcome its channel imbalance until just past 9 o’clock, which is just about exact listening volume.

    I immediately upgraded my Tidal subscription to hifi when I got the units.

    enjoying the increased resolution and refinement from both and they both fix the og Solaris’s subwoofer tendency straight from my iPod touch. They’re basically neutral now with both units.

    Aside from the channel imbalance my biggest annoyance with the IFi nano is it’s lack of a dedicated charging input. So you can’t just plug it in and keep listening. They instead opted for a line out which is ridiculous for this small portable amp dac. Especially if it runs out of power all the time.

    Anyways, the devil on my shoulder wants to see how the xduoo or an AK300 (for WiFi and Tidal) would compare.
     
  11. Dash

    Dash Friend

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    I would also take a look at the Ifi hip dac.
     
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Won’t work with sensitive ca iem’s. Once again, iFi seems to always make one critical error with their portable amp DACs. Instead of an ieMatch jack, they put a bsss boost button on it. A super small amp dac like that has great appeal for iem users who are often portable, much more than the number of people who need bass boost. Such a shame.
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thinking about getting this with the Ara. If I want to be retarded enough to do the dual OPA627, how easy is to remove the stock Opamp? Dumb question, but it's been 10 years since I did a swap. OPA2134 I'll get that to. What can I say, I'm dumb.
     
  14. Baten

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    It's.. really just, pull them out and put other(s) in (in the right direction).
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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  16. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I don’t know about dual vs single opamps and how that’s configured in the Xduoo that confuses me but back in the day I had a PPA amp and I managed to change the opamps. It really is just pulling one out and sticking one back in. And I’m seriously amp stupid I can’t even solder. I know the big things sticking out of amps that look industrial and cool are called transformers. I think. I may have just embarrassed myself.

    point is I think you can do it. But yes definitely get the right one.
     
  17. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    I was randomly looking at this the other day. It looks to me like the 8-pin DIP parts, the ones you would want for the xDuoo, are the OPA627BP, OPA627AP, or the OPA627APG4. The other OPA627's are either SOIC (surface mount) or TO-99 (metal package, circular pin layout). The SOIC's would require a little adapter board and some soldering, probably too much hassle. Out of the PDIP parts, the OPA627AP and OPA627APG4 appear to be identical parts that arrive in slightly different packaging (exact same price). TI specs the OPA627 in two performance levels, or grades, A and B. Counterintuitively, the "B" grade part, the OPA627BP, is the higher performance version with tighter tolerances (and hence is more expensive). The OPA627AP is spec'd with wider variance in pretty much every entry in the datasheet [link here]. See the electrical characteristics listed on page 5. Now does any of that shit matter for the xDuoo? Probably not. I doubt there would be an audible difference. But if the nervosa of having the lower performance part would bother you, then you could just order the OPA627BP. It costs about $9 extra per item.

    Edit: I blew up Marv's image in [this post]. It looks like he used the OPA627BP.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2020
  18. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks dude. Was confused on BP, AP, SOIC, and junk like that. AP 627 is most likely the one that @purr1n has, it's only $28 per part.

    I can do it, but I have fat fingers. :eek:
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I got the OPA627BP in a DIP package (pins), not surface mount.
     
  20. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    eh, I'm hopeless. I bought one. And an OTG lightning cable. And OPA2134 and 2x OPA627BP.

    I'm going to be selling a lot of stuff sometime soon because it's all not budgeted for. What have you done to me?

    I just want to compare to my iFi Nano. I hear something that suounds ike distortion on the Nano at slightly higher volumes, and I don't hear this straight out of my iPod. I'm not sure what it is. Sounds like my Solaris has a blown driver on both sides. I also don't hear it with the AK120 though I prefer the sound signature of the Nano.
     

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