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Surgical
121
Oct 22, 2017
BUYER BEWARE: While this is a great sounding DAC/Amp, the USB male connector on the back will lose connection at the slightest bump, so do yourself a huge favor and not buy this for portable use if you plan on using USB, I currently have my USB cord secured with Sugru (plug for Sugru moldable rubber) and it now works perfectly for DESKTOP USE ONLY. (Even just bumping my desk would cause the connection to fail, this occurred with 3 different USB cords, the connector isn't broken on the DAC either it's just a horrendous design choice to use a USB male connector directly on the device ).
It's really sad because USB is toted as the cleanest signal transfer because it's not as vulnerable to outside interference, while you can use a Aux cable to connect inputs to the DAC it's irritating to know that you are not getting the cleanest and best possible experience that the device is capable of giving all because of a poor design choice.
If you plan on using USB at all you should just skip this device all together and maybe grab something like the 02+SDAC or for portable maybe an OPPP HA-2SE.
Brosefstalin42
260
Oct 22, 2017
SurgicalThe O2 gives 100mW more power at 32 ohms, but the SDAC won't decode above 24/96, and won't do DSD I believe, so the DAC is not for those with a DSD collection.
If you need DSD, the magni line from Schiit along with an external powered DAC only unit like the Topping D30 will fit the bill and only be about $40 + more in shipping and give much more power into 250, 300, and 600 ohm headphones if you have Sennheiser and beyerdynamic that run those resistances.
If you want portable, there are plenty of options other than this, but this has one of the strongest portable outputs capable of decently driving 300 ohms, as I've not seen many portables have more than 500 mW into 32 ohms which turns into approx 150-180 mW into 300 ohms, as the hd 6xx takes about 200 mW max sustained and the different frequencies can peak up to supposedly 500 mW, something a portable isn't going to do unless you have a battery backup that can supply the voltage and amperage for a wall-powered unit (not cheap or portable but if you absolutely HAVE to it's about the only option). The Pic HeadAmp Power is probably the most comparable on massdrop right now, and a few SMSL portables might meet the power but some might need a separate DAC.
A portable with XLR out might push 300-350 mW which will handle a 300 ohm headphone most of the time, but typically you're looking closer to $300+ on a portable plus a USB power bank to supply it if it doesn't take a DC adapter.
Kinda sucks that the flaws in this between outdated xmos drivers (I didn't have any issue with unsigned drivers from windows 10 64 bit but others have, there are two installs that are needed, you can't just extract the second part and get it to run and be recognized as signed apparently) and USB adapter design choices, this is probably the best all-around portable DAC/Amp around. Very clean sound floor, good decode rates with DSD for the price, optical option as well.
Surgical
121
Oct 23, 2017
Brosefstalin42I'm not currently looking for any portable DACs. The xDuoo XD-05 is fine for desktop use with the cable secured with tape or putty. I am here to warn people not to buy it for portable use because of the USB cable issue. It's an excellent device in terms of performance, it will just most likely fail in a portable setting due to the connection.
gpwz
12
Oct 23, 2017
Surgicalwas that only of your case or universal?.. coz I never heard anyone else complain about it.. just ordered it few days ago and it is on the way :( .. if it is, probably no way using it as desk DAC while charging at same time..
Surgical
121
Oct 23, 2017
gpwzIt works fine as a desk amp although the constant battery charging icon is a little unnerving. (I've been using daily for almost a year in this setup.) I believe I have read that using it as a desk amp is perfectly fine. Most people are probably using the AUX/3.5mm for their portable devices which is why you don't see many complaints. The USB connector isn't broken,it just doesn't stay connected, I tried 3 different cables... USB-Male connectors are designed for the end of cables only, not installed onto devices, they are not rated for that for good reason. Maybe mine is sliglty too small from the factory and the cables wont fit snug but I doubt that. It does sound really great though. Worst case senario you will have to use the AUX in or digital in. Or do what I did and permantely attach a cable wilth plyable putty that hardens into rubber after setting.
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gpwz
12
Oct 25, 2017
SurgicalThanks! nice putty btw...
tj44
12
Nov 2, 2017
SurgicalHi, I have exactly the same issue you describe. Whenever moving it even for a very slight shift it will disconnect. Very very annoying to say the least. For that price they could use proper connectivity. Sad as for the rest it is working quite well besides the outdated driver that they won't upgrade.... Is this the symptom of a nice but unfinished engineering/design or the no/poor quality control to achieve acceptable low pricing? Wonder what the Xduoo company has to say about this unless they don't care about their one time customers (as a result of all that is stated above).
jay.smith
4
Nov 9, 2017
SurgicalI'm also having this problem. Tried the Sugru trick but no dice. I ended up getting a Dragonfly Red and it sounds better\is way more portable anyway.
earlgrey77
26
Nov 14, 2017
SurgicalAgreed. This DAC is for desktop use. Or as "portable" as in "I can take it somewhere and use it there". Like when I travel, and I can use it at night in the hotel room. Or I take it from the desk into my bedroom. Which is good enough. But people need to be aware.
Blue78
27
Nov 30, 2017
SurgicalOkay...finally I figured out the issue and its solution !! in short; I opened the device and reached to the main board, and where is male USB, I checked the connection and found 1 of the 4 pins which supposed to be all welded to the board was not welded at all (the first pin barely hoocked in there)!! unfortunately I didn't take a pic before welding it but i took and posted below after welding it and success in getting this stupid manufacturing defect sorted out! See the pic with circle showing the 4 pins. So I suggest if you know and be a very careful on how to weld, then you can do it -of course on your own risk!- otherwise you send it back to the supplier and get a refund or a replacement. I did also revisiting on some other pins with welding just incase some of them were loose too.
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another thing have been solved out with this strengthening welding -makes no sense to me- is the imbalance of channels on low volume seems gone away!!- again a defect ?! Hopefully you can get yours fixed.
lastly; if you have also some other defects -like mine for a 6 months device bought from gearbest and not Massdrop- I have removed the itchy sound coming from the potentiometer by spaying it from the side holes with electronic flush contact cleaner spray. Just be carful not to splash the device.
not bad device...but lots of quality control defects!
Surgical
121
Apr 12, 2018
Blue78Would you recommended soldiering? I haven't done any electronics repair before. The USB has totally failed, I'm currently using the aux input, I am convinced it's the loose pins causing it but I haven't bothered to open it because I don't have the right screwdriver. I have no other issues with it. I can't return it or send it back unfortunately so self repair is my only option really.
If you could let me know what type of screwdriver to get that would be a big help so I can at least look into it. Thanks!
Blue78
27
Apr 12, 2018
SurgicalYes you can re-Solder all USB pins yourself. Just get Solder and iron and on each single pin of the USB point towards it until you see solder melted over that pin (just don't get the Solder leak/melt and get connected between/over adjacent USB pins as it won't work...see again my posted photo to see how each pin soldered separately...however you need to weld from the back side of the board where USB pins pinned out of circuit board)
tye type of screw driver used is Torx and the size of head is 7 (fits perfectly) or 6 (would work but a bit loose).
hope this helps
Surgical
121
Apr 13, 2018
Blue78Yes that helps a lot, thanks. I might find an electronic repair shop first and get a quote if that's the problem. Thanks again for replying.
Atomicminded
22
Jun 18, 2018
Blue78Just got mine a few days ago. My soldering job is even worse! Wow, I'm gonna have to get this fixed.
Barbarian_Pig
0
Jul 20, 2019
gpwzI've had zero issues with mine and I use it for portable.
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