Review of xDuoo XD-10 Poke - the new portable DAC with great sound

Purpose

All music lovers know about digital lossless formats that provide lossless and distortion-free quality. However, even they do not guarantee good sound if you use a regular smartphone, laptop or cheap player. The fact is that the electronic components of these devices are far from ideal, so they get a flat and inexpressive sound at the output. Gadgets with a built-in dedicated digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are an exception, but unfortunately they are expensive and not very common.

What if you have a simple smartphone or laptop, but want to enjoy high-quality sound? There is only one way out - to purchase a separate device that is specially designed for processing and amplifying digital audio. The so-called external DAC. In terms of characteristics, it surpasses the sound path of an ordinary smartphone or laptop by a head, and its power reserve allows you to connect even cool high-impedance headphones. xDuoo XD-10, in addition, has a small size and excellent autonomy, so it can be used both at home as a stationary device, and for a walk together with a smartphone.

Specifications

DAC	AKM AK4490
Amplifier	OPA1662
output power	2 x 250 mW into 32 ohms
Recommended load impedance	8-300 Ohm
Signal-to-noise ratio	112 dBA
Distortion	0.015% at 1 kHz (USB)
Frequency range	20 Hz - 20 kHz (± 0.5 dB)
Format support	PCM up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DXD up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DSD up to DSD256
Gain	0 / + 6dB
Bass enhancement	0 / + 6dB
Battery	LiPol, 2 200 mAh, 3.7 V
Charging time	Up to 3 hours
Operating time on a single charge	Up to 16 hours depending on signal source
Screen	0.91-inch, OLED, monochrome
Dimensions (edit)	101 x 55 x 16 mm
The weight	130 g

The specifications of the xDuoo XD-10 are very similar to the xDuoo XD-05. This DAC has become popular among lovers of high-quality sound, so the manufacturer decided to simply improve some of its parameters in the new model. First of all, the changes affected the size and weight: xDuoo XD-10 looks much more compact.

To reduce the size, I had to sacrifice the battery. Its capacity is 2,200 mAh versus 4,000 mAh for the xDuoo XD-05. In all other respects, Poke is in no way inferior to its predecessor. It uses a high-quality AK4490 digital-to-analog converter, a powerful OPA1662 operational amplifier, two master oscillators and a reliable PGA2311 volume control.

Packaging and equipment

The xDuoo XD-10 comes in a colorful cartoon-style box. A bit strange decision for a serious gadget, but we will not condemn it: it turned out original and cute. The Poke box stands out sharply from the strict packaging of competitors and is perfectly remembered.

The interior design is not inferior to the external one. The top cover opens like a book cover with detailed instructions with illustrations. The xDuoo designer needs to express gratitude for the work: everything looks at the level of the world's best brands.

Review xDuoo XD-10 Poke: package content

The rich package has always been the strong point of xDuoo. This time, the manufacturer did not change its principles and provided the XD-10 with a complete set of necessary cables and adapters. These include a microUSB cable for charging, a cable for connecting to a computer, three short adapters for use in pairs with different sources, an audio cable with two 3.5 mm connectors. We did not forget to put in a special Velcro, which can be used to attach the XD-10 to a smartphone or a player.

Appearance

The XD-10 looks like a metal box the size of a cigarette pack. The cases come in different colors, we got the black one. On the top cover - the motto and the name of the device.

XDuoo XD-10 Poke review: front and right side

The main controls are located on the right edge, including the power, mode selection and gain switches. There is a monochrome screen on one of the end sides. All the necessary information is displayed here: battery charge, operating mode, volume level, current digital filter and input signal resolution. To the left of it is a jack for connecting headphones or an external speaker system.

On the left side there is a place for buttons for changing the volume and selecting a digital filter. By the way, push-button adjustment works much smoother and more reliable here than in the XD-05, which used an analog rotary knob.

Connectors are located at the bottom of the device. In the center is a recessed USB plug that serves to connect an external digital signal source. On the sides of it there is a line in / out and a socket for recharging. The gadget can play music and charge at the same time, which is convenient in case of stationary use.

In general, the appearance of the XD-10 can be described in three words: stylish, modern, youthful. It's great that the manufacturer paid attention not only to the sound and filling (with this xDuoo never had big problems), but also to the design. This approach is more typical for large companies that are not afraid to invest in the development of unique designs, but not for small, albeit very proud Chinese manufacturers.

Connection

Review xDuoo XD-10 Poke: with smartphone

Connecting the XD-10 DAC to your smartphone is easy. It is enough to select the required cable in the kit and connect the devices with it. After that, all that remains is to insert the headphone plug, and you can listen to music. No additional configuration is required.

Pairing with a laptop or computer is a little more complicated. Immediately after connecting, the device is detected by the system (in our case, Windows 10) and even works. But for the full disclosure of its capabilities, it is recommended to install a special driver. You can download it on the manufacturer's website.

After installing the driver, you need to open system preferences and select the XMOS XS1-U8 MFA (ST) speakers as the default audio output device. This will route the digital signal to an external DAC bypassing the built-in sound card. Now you can connect headphones or an active speaker to the XD-10.

Sound

The sound perception of the XD-10 is largely dependent on the previous experience of the listener. If you have previously used only the standard path of your laptop, tablet or smartphone, then the difference will seem very noticeable to you. xDuoo Poke delivers a much deeper and richer sound with a full spectrum and detailed scene.

Review xDuoo XD-10 Poke: with headphones

The default bass cannot boast of prohibitive depth, but if you turn on the additional bass boost (BassBoost), then it will not seem a little. The mids are well developed and positioned. The upper ones for their price category sound great, but in some compositions their insufficient elaboration is felt. Therefore, xDuoo Poke should appeal to those people who do not like an overly accented upper range.

For those who have already purchased xDuoo XD-05, this gadget will not be a step forward. In fact, the xDuoo XD-10 produces almost the same sound. But if you listen to music on the go, the compactness of the new model can play a decisive role.

Outcomes

XDuoo has again got a decent DAC, which has every chance of gaining popularity among lovers of high-quality sound. The XD-10 is a direct descendant of the XD-05 model, which, we recall, has become one of the company's bestsellers.

The manufacturer did a good job on the package and compactness, while maintaining excellent sound. It should be especially noted the bright and memorable design, which distinguishes this device from the background of the same type of competitors. If you want to make a cool gift for a music lover, xDuoo XD-10 Poke is what you need.

At the time of this writing, the cost of xDuoo XD-10 is 13 559 rubles in the GearBest store and 17 038 rubles on AliExpress.