[jsmiller58]

Sorry - I am positive if I read the full thread - or even skim the pages - I will find what I am looking for... And I will tonight. But in the interim if someone will do me a solid...

Would you recommend this for someone who wants a portable DAC/amp that does not care about (for now, anyway) the BT functionality? I have many IEMs (SE846 being my favorites) and full sized cans (too many to mention but from easy to drive th-x00 to harder to drive DT1990 Pro).

I should note that I went in on the Kickstarter Hidizs HD1000 so that will come my way. But like we wouldn't have one pair of IEMs or headphones, why would we have one portable DAC/amp?

If not the xdsd, what else should I look for in the $300-$600 range?

 

[Mimouille]

All of this? I guess I didn’t do a very good job at explaining my impressions then. I do get wordy without saying much, sometimes. Apologies.

As for the Intruder it is a $700 amp. And sound wise to me a level up in detail retrieval, sound stage, separation, reach of bass, and layering. I can more clearly hear each instrument with the Intruder (which really is a feat with my hearing). If I had to decide on one amp, and one amp only it would be the Intruder. It is fully-balanced and has aged well having features that many new amps come out with now. From what reading I did, the same design has been in use for several years.

The PB3 is indeed only an amp, but when comparing it to the xDSD I feel that the iFi product gives a little more depth in sound. The iFi also has a bit better handle on bass presentation. I do still like the PB3, but the presentation of the xDSD is better.

As for source, again apologies for not mentioning that when I compared all three I was using the Opus #2 or my MBP. Attached via Coax to the iBasso or Intruder for the #2, and with BT on the xDSD mainly (both sources), but I do use the provided USB cable for the iFi to my MBP more now.

When hooking the Intruder up to my MBP that is where I got the “one level up.” But when comparing BT to Coax it is a less valid comparison, I know. That is why I said at the end I have more impressions coming but am still testing. And iFi has somewhat toughted the BT capabilities of the xDSD, so I hope to go more in depth with that.

I hope this helps clarify what I said. And, I do await your impressions, too as they are always solid and informative.

Cheers.

Thanks a lot, you almost convinced me to get a used intruder and then I checked old reviews saying it was very prone to RF sounds from wifi / phone and I gave up the idea. Do you use mostly iems or headphones?

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, a word about Bluetooth.

We will be the first to note that even with all the effort we have put into xDSD's design, Bluetooth is beaten by a wired connection.

However, as our xDSD is aggressively portable, to offer a way of cutting the wires was very important to us.

The Bluetooth connection should be seen as a way to cut the wires where convenience is the most important, while retaining most of the audio quality.

In comparison to any wired device a wired connection should be used and xDSD's Bluetooth functionality should be compared to other Bluetooth devices, not to wired USB only products, even if we ignore pricing.

Thanks!

 

[Mimouille]

Folks, a word about Bluetooth.

We will be the first to note that even with all the effort we have put into xDSD's design, Bluetooth is beaten by a wired connection.

However, as our xDSD is aggressively portable, to offer a way of cutting the wires was very important to us.

The Bluetooth connection should be seen as a way to cut the wires where convenience is the most important, while retaining most of the audio quality.

In comparison to any wired device a wired connection should be used and xDSD's Bluetooth functionality should be compared to other Bluetooth devices, not to wired USB only products, even if we ignore pricing.

Thanks!

From brief comparison, I don't feel it is a night and day difference...

 

[iFi audio]

From brief comparison, I don't feel it is a night and day difference...

It shouldn't be.

 

[ngoshawk]

Thanks a lot, you almost convinced me to get a used intruder and then I checked old reviews saying it was very prone to RF sounds from wifi / phone and I gave up the idea. Do you use mostly iems or headphones?

Hey no problem. And sorry if my response came off a bit brash. As for you Q, I use mostly IEM’s UM Maestro V2, 64Audio U8, CA Jupiter, FLC8S. The headphones I do use (and have used testing all three but with MUCH less time) are the Elear and Grado GH-2. I am indeed a very lucky man to have those...I would say my time is probably 85/15 IEM/HP.

 

[ngoshawk]

Folks, a word about Bluetooth.

We will be the first to note that even with all the effort we have put into xDSD's design, Bluetooth is beaten by a wired connection.

However, as our xDSD is aggressively portable, to offer a way of cutting the wires was very important to us.

The Bluetooth connection should be seen as a way to cut the wires where convenience is the most important, while retaining most of the audio quality.

In comparison to any wired device a wired connection should be used and xDSD's Bluetooth functionality should be compared to other Bluetooth devices, not to wired USB only products, even if we ignore pricing.

Thanks!

Agreed, and that is a big part of what my further testing will include. This critter is good..very good.

 

[jsmiller58]

OK, zero, and I mean zero impulse control. Bought on Amazon...!!

 

[Mimouille]

Hey no problem. And sorry if my response came off a bit brash. As for you Q, I use mostly IEM’s UM Maestro V2, 64Audio U8, CA Jupiter, FLC8S. The headphones I do use (and have used testing all three but with MUCH less time) are the Elear and Grado GH-2. I am indeed a very lucky man to have those...I would say my time is probably 85/15 IEM/HP.

Hum interesting. And the intruder is good with iems and silent. Will check it out thanks

 

[gugman]

So, this is my first ifi product and I am very much impressed what this little thing can do
Thinking very seriously replacing my desktop setup with some ifi products !!!

Now I have a few questions regarding xDSD , if I may

1. never have been in need of this kind of adapter, so could you please advise exactly what kind of adapter do I need to use in order to connect 2.5mm balanced cable into the xDSD? providing link would be perfect
2. I understand that provided voltage for charging should be 5V , but does amperage matter ? minimum / maximum ? and I'd think that to use fast charger with the unit can cause some damage in a long run?
3. Can it be used while charging? (meaning that it won't be damaged)
4. I have zero experience with USB Audio Player PRO, since I am going to use Pioneer xdp 300r as transport via usb cable, will buying this program have benefit for me in terms of audio quality, or poweramp / hiby/ pioneer native player will do?

cheers

@iFi audio questions 1,2 and 3 were meant for you

 

[technobear]

@iFi audio questions 1,2 and 3 were meant for you

There is no standard for 2.5mm balanced connections. You will need to get the pinout information from your headphone manufacturer.

For the xDSD, it is as follows:

Tip - Left+
Ring - Right+
Ring - Left-
Sleeve - Right-

If your headphone uses the same pinout then there are many suitable adapters available via the usual suspects.

If your headphone is different, you will need to contact a cable maker or make your own.

 

[iFi audio]

There is no standard for 2.5mm balanced connections. You will need to get the pinout information from your headphone manufacturer.

For the xDSD, it is as follows:

Tip - Left+
Ring - Right+
Ring - Left-
Sleeve - Right-

If your headphone uses the same pinout then there are many suitable adapters available via the usual suspects.

If your headphone is different, you will need to contact a cable maker or make your own.

@iFi audio questions 1,2 and 3 were meant for you

As for your questions:

1. What you need is 3.5mm TRRS to 2.5mm TRRS.

2. 5V 1A will do just fine, 5V 1.5A will charge the device a bit faster.

3. You can absolutely use the xDSD while charging, or when fully charged on USB power. No problem at all, doing it all the time.

If you actually have the xDSD permanently attached to USB Power it will enter "Desktop" mode after the first time the battery is charged fully and the unit is turned off. In desktop mode the battery is charged to ~ 70% and kept in maintenance mode.

This state is maintained until the unit enters battery power mode (unplugged or turned on on battery).

4. We can not say as we are not the vendor, however we use USB Audio Player Pro. It is bit-perfect for our needs. As long as the player is bit-perfect then all is good.


---------------

And... hot damn! According to Kakaku.com, our xDSD sits on the very top in Japan in two rankings, portable amps and amplifiers in general.

http://kakaku.com/kaden/headphone-amp/ranking_2073/

http://kakaku.com/kaden/p-headphone-amp/ranking_V011/

 

[ngoshawk]

Holy buckets Santana sounds nice...

Just received the U12t, so only 10 min in. But my goodness this is nice...

 

[435279]

Just received the U12t, so only 10 min in. But my goodness this is nice...

I can only imagine, perhaps one day. Looks very nice though, thanks for posting a picture.

 

[gugman]

@technobear @iFi audio

Thank you !!!