Review of xDuoo XD-05 - DAC amplifier for high-quality sound lovers

Why do you need a DAC

Take a look at this simple diagram from Wikipedia that illustrates the recording and playback process.

Sounds made by a performer or musical instrument are analog in nature. To make them convenient to save, process and transfer, they are given a digital form, that is, they are turned into zeros and ones. This is done by specially trained sound engineers who, with the help of expensive studio equipment, ensure the maximum quality of analog-to-digital conversion. We cannot influence this process in any way.

Further, the digitally preserved music goes to the consumer's device. It is important to remember that digital music is really a kind of canned food, the quality of which does not deteriorate at all during storage and transportation. If you get your hands on a music recording in high quality uncompressed format, then this is exactly the set of 0s and 1s that the sound engineer recorded in the studio.

Everything seems to be good, you can enjoy the unsurpassed sound quality. But the problem is that in order to listen, you need to perform the inverse transformation: restore sound vibrations from ones and zeros that can be perceived by our ear. And this is where difficulties arise.

Every computer, laptop, smartphone has a DAC that performs digital-to-analog conversion. But this tiny microcircuit is not able to do its job correctly. Moreover, it even introduces distortion, so that in the end we get completely different from what was recorded in the studio.

Millions of people have been listening to some terrible mess for decades without even knowing how their favorite compositions should actually sound.

But there is a way out.

Almost all modern gadgets are able to send sound in its original digital form to a third-party DAC connected to them. These devices are crafted by audio experts from specially selected electronic components to provide crystal clear and reliable decoding of the digital signal. As a result, we hear almost the same sound that the singer or musician performed during the recording.

Why xDuoo XD-05

The ideal device for aspiring audiophiles, as this article is intended for, must meet several important criteria.

The first DAC should be versatile, simple and reliable. After all, not all users want to deal with the numerous characteristics and supported formats, few people enjoy long-term fiddling with settings and wires. That being said, ease of use should not affect sound quality. Price is also an important factor.

The xDuoo XD-05 meets all these criteria. It has a full range of interfaces for connecting audio sources: there are optics, coaxial connector, USB with mobile device support and line-in.

Inside it has the most relevant electronic filling to date, which allows you to process almost any type of digital format. We will not confuse you by listing all the abbreviations and standards. Detailed technical data can be found in the table.

DAC	AKM AK4490
Audio processor	CirrusLogic CS8422, XMOS XS1-U8A-64
output power	Up to 500 mW into 32 ohms
Recommended load impedance	8-300 Ohm
Signal to noise ratio	112 dBA
Distortion	0.025% at 1 kHz
Frequency range in amplifier mode	10 Hz – 100 kHz (± 0.5 dB)
Frequency range in DAC mode	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 in native and DoP modes
Gain	+3 dB, +6 dB, +15 dB
Bass enhancement	0 / + 6dB
Battery	LiPol, 4000 mAh, 3.7 V
Charging time	Up to 5 hours with 2A charging current
Operating time on a single charge	Up to 23 hours depending on used signal source
Screen	0.9 inch OLED monochrome
Dimensions (edit)	139.5 × 75 × 23mm
The weight	270 g

In the xDuoo XD-05, in addition to the digital-to-analog converter (AK4490), there is a high-quality operational amplifier based on the Texas Instruments BUF634 microcircuit. This means that you do not need to spend money on another expensive device and rack your brains over whether they work or not. You can directly connect headphones or an active audio system to the xDuoo XD-05 and enjoy high quality sound.

xDuoo XD-05 has a built-in battery, so this device can be used both in stationary and portable versions. This feature is useful for those users who want to enjoy high-quality sound even on the road. In this case, the DAC can be attached to the smartphone using special rubber rings that come with the kit. There you will also find all the cables you need to connect to a laptop or mobile device.

How to connect the DAC xDuoo XD-05

Let's start with the computer. The developers of xDuoo XD-05 have provided all possible ways to connect an external source, but we will focus on connecting using the USB interface.

On the back of the gadget there is an unusual USB connector, which is located in a recess. We take out the complete cable and connect one end of it to a computer or laptop, and the other to the xDuoo XD-05. We turn on the DAC with the rotary knob located on the front panel.

After that, you will hear a characteristic system sound, signaling the discovery of a new device. I haven't tested older versions, but Windows 10 recognizes this DAC perfectly and can work with it right away. You just need to open the Sound Device Manager and select xDuoo XD-05 as your default playback device. Linux operating systems also support DACs.

I'm sure you will immediately feel the difference between the standard sound of your laptop and the sound of the xDuoo XD-05. However, this is not all. The potential of this device is revealed only after installing special drivers. They can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website at this link.

The drivers are installed as usual: unzip the archive, run the file, agree to the license agreement and click "Next" several times. After installation, do not forget to go to the sound properties and check that XMOS XS1-U8 MFA is listed as the default (this is how the name of the device will look after installing the drivers).

You also need to set up your music player. Almost all serious programs for playing music can work with an external DAC, you just need to point them to it. For example, in AIMP, open the player options and in the "Playback" section, select "WASAPI: Speakers (XMOS XS1-U8 MFA)" from the "Device" drop-down list.

Connecting xDuoo XD-05 to a smartphone does not require any additional gestures. You just need to connect the DAC to your mobile device using any OTG adapter. Modern smartphones and tablets perfectly recognize the xDuoo XD-05 and begin to transmit a pure digital signal to it, which, after decoding and amplification, will go further to the headphones or speaker system.

I am sure that the result of all these manipulations will not disappoint you. I liked the sound of xDuoo XD-05 so much that I decided to tell about it separately.

What is the sound quality of the xDuoo XD-05

Experienced audiophile gadget reviewers know how to write poems about the incomparable depth of the stage, the detail of the vocals, the assertiveness of the high frequencies and the refinement of the lows. However, this verbal fog often hides the essence.

I'll put it simply: the sound quality of the xDuoo XD-05 is beyond praise. I had no idea that digital sound can be so detailed and clear. My old Sennheiser headphones sounded like they were an order of magnitude more expensive, and the table speakers were energized and found such a powerful bass in their depths that the table surface began to vibrate slightly to the beat of the music.

Familiar compositions are revealed in a new way thanks to the fact that the smallest details that were previously hidden due to incorrect decoding became audible. The clatter of the drummer's sticks, the plucking of the strings of the guitarist, the breath of the vocalist - so many new details in the compositions heard to the core.

xDuoo XD-05 practically does not add its own coloring to the sound, so it plays equally well both rock classics of the 70s and modern electronic beats. If you suddenly want a more emotional presentation, you can choose one of the four built-in filters. Switching between them is done using the button on the side panel.

Evaluation of sound quality is always deliberately subjective and highly dependent on music, headphones, and personal preference. Therefore, I decided to check my feelings with the opinion of experts. After rereading several hundred pages on specialized audiophile forums, I found almost unanimous approval of the xDuoo XD-05 sound. Moreover, some experts call this gadget almost ideal in terms of value for money.

At the time of writing this review, the cost of xDuoo XD-05 is 11,757 rubles. It may seem that the amount is large, especially for a device that you have done well without before. But if you really love music, this might be one of your best investments. Few gadgets can give so many pleasant sensations to a music lover who is tired of the plastic sound of ordinary smartphones and laptops.