REVIEW - xDuoo XD-10 Poke – Portable Amplifier & DAC
Website – xDuoo
Specifications
Price: U$249.
Available
in Black or Blue color.
The
box is very unusual and quite unique for xDuoo products. It is very
fancy and colorful. It opens like a book with the manual attached to box
itself; it can be annoying if you want to actually read it, though. The upper
layer holds the XD-10 unit and beneath all the included accessories. The
package is quite complete including all the needed cables – a short 3.5mm to
3.5mm audio cable, USB to micro-USB cable for charging, USB to USB cable for
computer use, and three USB short cables with micro-USB, Type-C and Sony
Walkman series plugs. Also there is an adhesive silicone pad to attach the device
with any portable source, instead of using rubber bands. A very complete set
and just missing a USB to Lightning cable for Apple iOS devices.
Design
The
XD-10 is a very compact device, well designed for daily portable use. While it
is clearly being advertised as a ‘perfect’ match for the Sony Walkman portable
players, and particularly matching the dimensions of the NW-30 series (40 and
50 as well), the size is right for any compact player or smartphone. With the
same specifications it may appear to be a mini version of the previous and well
regarded XD-05, cutting the weight to half and much smaller dimensions. It is
about the same size and weight as the recently reviewed XP-2 model. Build
quality is very good. All aluminum alloy chassis, anodized and sandblasted with
a smooth texture and well rounded edges. There are different writings on both
top and bottom panels.
The
layout is simple and well organized. At the front there is the 3.5mm audio jack
and the small OLED screen. Like the XD-05, the screen is too basic primitive
without much brightness. It shows all the current info, battery, volume and
gain levels and the selected input, USB or AUX. Moreover, on the USB input it
will show the current sampling rate, digital audio quality, PCM or DSD, and the
selected filter.
On
the left side, there are three physical buttons, volume ‘+’ and ‘-‘, and filter
switch for USB use. What I find a bit annoying
is the distance between the volume buttons is a bit too far, while the
filter button is too close to the ‘-‘ so can be easily pressed by mistake. It might
surprising for xDuoo to have changed the volume knob used on the XD-05, XP-2
and other models to single buttons, but it is probably to match the sides
buttons of the Sony and similar players design with all control buttons on the
placed at sides.
On
the right are placed the four switches, power off/on, input for USB or Aux,
bass, and gain for low to high. There is a little of rattling sound from the
switches, nothing annoying but could have been easily fixed.
The
rear part has the audio 3.5mm plug that works for line-in when the ‘Aux’ input
is selected, and apparently can be used for line-out too. In the middle, there
is the USB for digital input. Like the XD-05, the XD-10 uses an inverted
standard USB, Type-A, socket. With the various cables included it can be
connected to either USB Type-A, micro-USB or to Sony players’ proprietary line-out.
Lastly, there is a small micro-USB socket for charging only, so the device can
be used while being charged. Unlike the XD-05, there is no optical input and
more importantly no option for op-amp rolling which was a key feature for the
05 model.
Battery
Battery
time is very good on ‘AUX’ input, close to 20hrs with low gain and at moderate
volume levels. However, on USB mode the battery drops to 8, or below depending
on the audio quality. Charging time too, is rather slow taking around 3hrs.
Sound
Quality
Main gears used:
final E5000 & E4000, final Sonorous
II, Meze 99 Classics, Dita Audio Twins.
Sources:
Fiio K3, xDuoo
XD-05 & XP-2, Fiio M6 & M3k, iBasso DX220, Asus Notebook (Win10 OS).
Technical
hardware specifications are almost identical to the previous and very popular
XD-05 model. AK4490 DAC chip and same bit and sampling rates support, output
levels and more. As such it is not surprising the XD-10 despite being smaller
and really portable still presents a very similar sound presentation. Of
course, it is not possible to completely compare both models, because as
mentioned, the xDuoo had dropped the multiple input options of optical and
coaxial, and also limited the gain options to only one. What is really missing
is the op-amp rolling option which was a selling point of the XD-05, so the
XD-10 cannot be ‘upgraded’ to a better sound.
Nevertheless,
the XD-10 Poke offers a very good sound quality, especially now with the
compact size it makes a perfect match for weak or at least not very strong
sources. I don’t have any of the Sony DAPs of NW series, but the FiiO’s players
M6 and M3k make good references. Both in line-in and USB connections, the gain
in driving power is very high when using more demanding IEM sets, like the
final E5000 and B1 or the Dita Audio Twins, all that sounded rather weak and
limited directly from the small players. With very sensitive stuff, the XD-10
has a surprisingly clean background and no hiss to be heard at least on low
gain.
Either
on low or high gain, and with bass gain off, the sound out of the XD-10 is very
clean and quite transparent. It is pretty neutral with no coloration to the
sound. The improvement in extension is very immediate with greater dynamics and
openness. That said, the sound is kind of flat on the bass region, lacking a
bit of depth on the sub-bass, but then very well controlled on the mid-bass
area. There is still better definition and layering and a clean transition to
the upper frequencies. Towards the midrange, it can be perceived a slightly
forward with a fuller texture, but nothing out of neutral to break the imaging.
The texture is a bit ‘synthetic’ where vocals can sound kind of more
artificial; they are detailed and forward but miss some emotion on them. There
is a strong sense of transparency and clearer separation with a good
improvement on details. Treble has very good quality too, and shows greater
control with brighter sets. If anything there is little of extra tilt at the
lower-treble that can sound kind of artificial. The resolution is very good for
the price, micro details are easily picked.
The
bass gain, unfortunately, is not well implemented. It only works well on very
light and neutral earphones and headphones adding some lift and body to the
lows. However, with anything above neutral, the bass gain is just overwhelming
and uncontrolled. Furthermore, it affects the whole midrange making it overly
muddy. The bass gain on XD-05 works much better, but with the XD-10 keeping it
off is best.
Pairings
final
E5000
The
E5000 is one of those IEM that strongly benefits from extra power. Also, the
E5000 sound signature holds a strong bass response and has a better synergy
with a source with good clarity and resolution. The XD-10 is a very good option
for that. The bass is full and with good mid-bass control, though lacks some
layering between sub and mid-bass. The midrange is slightly forward and puts
vocals even ahead but not with the most natural texture; the E5000 can give
very sweet voices, even more than the E4000 if paired correctly, and XD-10 is
still not the best in that regard. Treble is smooth and more energetic.
Soundstage is wide, not much depth but the presentation is very detailed.
Dita
Audio Fidelity
Another
demanding IEM, not as E5000, but still needs a good source to shine. The
Fidelity can sound bright and aggressive too where the XD-10 gives a good
control to the treble. Overall the sound is very neutral with a tad forwardness
on the midrange. The Fidelity is one of the very few sets that the XD-10 bass
gain has a good effect; the sound is fuller from the lows to the whole
midrange, and still remains very clean. Very good resolution, just do not
expect to sound as high-end as the Dita Fidelity price may suggest with just
the XD-10.
Meze
99 Classics
Strong
bass with the usual mid-bass lift the 99 Classics have, yet controlled and
clean towards the lower midrange. Midrange itself is not very sweet and lacks
the emotion on the vocals. Treble is a bit forward and with the XD-10 the
slight dip on the lower treble is less obvious. The soundstage is not very
impressive, though; the 99 Classics can offer a wide stage for a closed
over-ear headphones.
Comparisons
XD-10
VS XP-2
Priced
about half the XD-10 and sharing similar compact form factor and build quality,
the xDuoo XP-2 offers different features for portable use. It also works
as an amplifier and DAC device (and with a standard micro-USB slot), but has
the additional function of a wireless amplifier via Bluetooth 5.0.
When
it gets to sound performance, these two devices are different. Technically, the
XD-10 is clearly more powerful, about twice the XP-2 output, and also supports
a higher audio quality rate. More importantly, they both really differ in the
sound quality and presentation. The XP-2 is darker sounding with a stronger
emphasis on the low-end, more distant and less present midrange and very smooth
overall presentation. The laid-back nature put details at a second priority,
though for the price the sounds is fairly natural. The XD-10 not only is just
more powerful but presents a more forward and much detailed sound. Greater bass
control and resolution with wider extension on both lows and highs ends. Micro
details are easily heard and overall makes a much better all-rounder device, in
a similar way to the XD-05.