Xduoo Link USB Type-C DAC/Amp Discussions | Drop

Xduoo Link USB Type-C DAC/Amp

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Oct 23, 2019

Apple supplies a similar dingus with their iPhones. Includes a DAC for sure, don't recall if there's an Amp in there too, but as we have already covered in previous conversations, any new to 3-year old iPhone or iPad (or MacBook) will drive 4XX or 6XXs without any issues. Of course hooking up an external amp certainly won't hurt anything, and you'll certainly be able to get more volume with one, but strictly speaking--it isn't necessary. That said, forty-bucks probably won't break your bank, and when people notice this thing plugged into your phone and cans/IEMs, while they watch you bobbing your head up and down like an idiot, they're naturally going to assume your kit sounds much better than theirs, and that, in its self is almost worth the $40, right? BTW: the dingus I refer to above is shown in the lower right-hand corner of a photograph in this link: https://drop.com/talk/9773/i-recently-bought-the-massdrop-version-of-the-6-xx-but-now-im-confuse-because-i-find-out-i-will-not-?discussion=true

(Edited)

Narq

912

Oct 23, 2019

RayFI can't imagine using my 4XX without an amp, but that's good to know.

Eli35

653

Oct 23, 2019

RayFMy $0.02, both my HD6XX and HE4XX need an amp to sound "good", and by "good" I mean they don't lack any bass and reach decent volumes, specially the HE4XX. From all sources I've tried so far (PCs and smartphones), they sound somewhat dull and cold, distant, definitely far from what I'd call "good". And, of course, better amp and/or DAC makes a good difference with both (again, specially with the HE4XX, since the HD6XX are well known to be somewhat forgiving with low quality sources).

Oct 23, 2019

Eli35I don’t doubt what you say for a second—but my comments referred specifically to Apple phones/tablets/laptops. For other makes, you DEFINITELY NEED add-ons ;- )

(Edited)

Oct 23, 2019

NarqI know it's true--I read it on the internet!

https://drop.com/talk/9773/i-recently-bought-the-massdrop-version-of-the-6-xx-but-now-im-confuse-because-i-find-out-i-will-not-/2208696

Eli35

653

Oct 24, 2019

RayFOk, that makes sense. I'm definitely not into Apple, but good to know tho, thanks!

Eli35

653

Oct 26, 2019

I'm sorry for your loss, getting a good smartphone stolen must suck and specially if it doubles as a DAP. Hope you can get your hands on something good soon, good luck!

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Oct 26, 2019

My 8plus has no issues with firing up the 4 or 6xx. With an Oppo amp they get louder, but not necessarily better—as stated in the link above.

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Oct 31, 2019

RayFApple’s $9 usb-c/lighting to 3.5mm scored unbelievably high, especially for the price, beating everything. It’s only been dethroned by the latest dongle DACs that are coming out for >$50. Here are the measurements: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ There are now going to be better ones like Musiland (same as Meizu, & already measured and better) or Hidizs S3 or iBasso DC02 but all of those are $50 up, that is used DAP/portable dac&amp category and any of those will wipe the floor with any dongle DAC. Or even consider used/refurbished(aliexpress) V/G series phone like the V20 b&o/korean edition for 100 USD, and $7 for USB audio player pro and you’ll have the sleekest no frill setup.

Nov 1, 2019

Eli35Yeah it’s an entirely different thing to „drive“ a headphone and „drive it properly“ enough.

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Nov 1, 2019

FrykaufVery interesting! But I must point out, you're not going to make any friends among our resident Apple-Haters by providing factual data like that! I have used that dongle on a few occasions when traveling light was important and felt it was damned acceptable. As mentioned, I did buy Oppo HA-2 at some point and I like using it too--even though it's more of a handful to carry. Definitely not willing to give my Apple phone--as a matter of fact I'm about to buy an iPhone 11 Pro. Lots of cool features/upgrades but I haven't heard anything about it's sound quality as of yet. Have you run across anything?

Nov 1, 2019

RayFYeah and some people are saying the Apple dongle is bad because only outputs low volume, but that’s entirely Google’s fault and they should have been slammed about it much more than Apple for removing the jack https://www.soundguys.com/android-usb-audio-class-3-0-18494/ Yeah the 11 Pro is the last gen with the notch, the „perfected“ version of that design, so yeah if you want the best oiled machine to have for couple of years, it’s the best since the 8/6s. And what do you mean about the sound quality? The speakers? Because they didn’t improve the lighting dongle, and they don’t even provide it anymore with the phone :/ . As far as I know they didn’t update it yet (and I don’t think they’ll ever will, they lack the reason/motivation for that). Here are some measurements from GSMarena https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_11_pro_max-review-1991p3.php

Nov 1, 2019

FrykaufGood data thanks! No, by sound quality I mean sound-everything, the ability to deal with FLAC natively, a built-in DAC that brings its up to speed (or better) with any other portable music playing device--considering the price, there's no excuse for the thing not to be best in class, regardless of class--in my opinion anyway. Seems like they're avoiding anything wired and instead going full Bluetooth. Nothing against that, but I do like to listen with "real" headphones now and then.

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Nov 2, 2019

RayFWhen you’re outputting via usb-c, usb or lighting on any phone or any device (laptop, PC) you’re bypassing the internal DAC, it’s just a digital transport of digital audio signal stream between devices. And be mindful with the selection of DACs you want to connect to. iOS has hard limits on how much „power“ can be drained from the device by the DAC, DAC dongles will be fine but anything more than that (& uncertified devices) needs Apple camera connection kit (2 versions btw) and the DAC itself needs to be connected itself to external power if it doens’t have it’s own battery (to wall power or battery bank). But again DAC dongles are OK. Now to FLAC, no Apple natively doesn’t support FLAC, or is just able to play FLAC in the Files app?,idk (only MP3, AAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF) but 3rd party apps like Tidal, VOX, Neutron music player, KaiserTone, Onkyo player, NePlayer or Hiby can play it and I recommend it over the stock Apple apps. I really like VOX on my MacBook (really nice and easy) so I would try their iOS app. And Neutron if you really like to have all the options and are able to deal with the UI. And Onkyo just works well. NePlayer and Hiby seem to have subpar interface, I would try them last. Also KaiserTone is less known but seems like a well developed paid iOS app with quite a bit of functions and people who tried it really liked it. And all of those should work no problem with external DAC dongle or full DAC&AMP. To Bluetooth (I don’t dislike it but I’m looking for a better solution, so just something you can try yourself) - and Yes I’m a bit mad

personally I like a lot of power and full size headphones portable and so far only the Chord Mojo seems to be still portable while really powerful (more than than are only the Xduoo xd-05 plus (1W), or micro iDSD black label (1-4W) - but those aren’t portable, more like transportable).
so the Chord Mojo also have very overpriced never working accessory called Chord poly (Wifi + Bluetooth+Wifi streaming), I liked the idea but I wanted more storage & more control &actually for it to work (better app & standardized hardware) &normal price
so I’m looking into either Rapsberry pi zero W+Volumio(or other OS)+short M.2 drive and just using the phone as a „remote“ player
or Up2stream Pro/Linkplay EVB kit+m.2 drive that would also be a remote but can also stream over Wifi&Bluetooth &support ALL the streaming services available. (both solutions use linkplay commerical platform hardware and customized apps, 4stream/Muzo player respectively)
there’s even a 3D case I could modify it to fit it the same way the Poly connects to the Mojo
but I’m waiting for Chord Mojo 2 that’s going to come out in the coming months to try it, the still sold first version had not balanced connection, had reliability issues (cooked itself and/or the battery to death) and it should have had some wireless conectivity built in and not an accessory as expensive or more than the actual DAC&AMP

By „remote“ I mean having all the music on that drive and then controlling it on the phone with the app (it’s essentially like streaming from your external storage but the other way & working portable - plus it doesn’t care if you use bluetooth or wifi to control it, it serves original quality to the DAC&AMP) For now I’m just sticking with my Fiio X5III DAP (custom kernel) + USB Android Player Pro + Deezer app for streaming songs (unfortunately deezer didn’t allow UAPP to include it) - but also UAPP supports Tidal and Qobuz, and I highly recommend using them with UAPP over the Tidal and Qobuz music apps. Just a note if someone is looking for audiophile grade music app for their phone or DAP (they are so good because they use their own exceptional USB driver that for some phones & all daps works even with their internal DAC).

Nov 2, 2019

FrykaufLOTS to absorb... Good suggestions and stuff to try--I'll check 'em out. Thanks!

Nov 2, 2019

FrykaufJust „something I’ve been cooking“ that anyone else can cheaply try too with any dac&amp. I just want to find „the perfect portable solution“ to every conceiveable way and quality of music. (I think you should be able to stream DSD music over WiFI with the Up2stream/Linkplay as well). The „No compromise“ portable solution. And you can use any device to control it too. (Volumio also works in browser, like most of the OS for rapsberry W or I could even put Roon on it) and the Up2stream/Linkplay - they say you are somehow able to control/output with iTunes or Foobar 2000 with UDP/HTTP api but honestly controlling it just via the mobile app seems totally fine to me. And yes you can output stream to it music with AirPlay and DLNA and UDP so no problem there.

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Nov 2, 2019

RayFNo problem :)

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