Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
inifist
99
Aug 7, 2018
Quite decent specs for the price. I wonder what kind of parts they're using though. Anyone know what the sa9123 chip is? Can't find any info on it. Is it a custom chip?
trapnine
50
Aug 7, 2018
inifistI think that's the USB chip, as they don't list the DAC... Hoping the actual DAC is the AKM4490 but that might be wishful thinking.
trapnine
50
Aug 7, 2018
inifistUPDATE: I finally found a site that lists the DAC - audiophonics.fr. They say it has the AK4452, which I believe. It is one of AKM's 'velvet sound' DACs, like the 4490. The AK4452 is the same DAC chip used in the SDAC, which sounds great to me. The way xDuoo describes their amp section on their site, and the power specs, makes me think it's a lot like the XD-05, which is great. I'm grabbing one.
nickhem12
12
Sep 2, 2018
trapnineHow do you like yours so far? Was looking at this one because of the multiple inputs and applications.
trapnine
50
Sep 2, 2018
nickhem12Well, I haven't fully put its through its paces, but so far so good! It has enough power, but on high gain it still taps out before I do on all my open cans, which vary in impedance (AKG K7XX, Senn HD58X, Monoprice m1060 (what should I get next?)). It does get to full, deep sound before doing so and I can't make it distort, so maybe they left some headroom for revB. Overall it's got enough power for sustained listening and doesn't get bogged down. But if it had any less power, I'd be disappointed. IIRC it's more powerful than the FiiO Q1 Mark II and much less than the XD-05.
It has a similar sound character to my SDAC, which I believe shares the same DAC chip and what I've been using to feed my Darkvoice 336se. I will definitely be spending more time with it, comparing the performance to my XD-05. It's feels about a third the volume and weight of that amp, and I'm loving the XP-2's small size and attractive design. I'm also looking forward to the longer battery life. We'll see.
The USB and analog work well - tested USB on a Mac and my Huawei Mate SE phone, and tested analog from the O2/SDAC's phone output. It was clean at various input and output volumes. But the real reason I bought it was the Bluetooth. Have only tested with my phone so far, and it sounds great. In BT mode it will blow away the amp in your phone, and that's really the point of the thing. And it won't use up your phone battery (it does seem like you can charge the XP-2 from your phone over USB (the charge light comes on) while listening over BT - that's a neat option if you need to charge it up in a pinch). I'm not a super critical listener, but if I really try I do think USB sounds a tiny, tiny bit better in the highs than BT mode. You really really have to pay attention - BT mode sounds plenty good to me for on-the-go use!
I DO think it's a great pocket amp option in BT mode, noting issue below. I always worry about USB pocket use wrecking the charging port of my phone, and it's just easier to use the phone without a wire coming out of it.
The XD-05 is still my favorite portable amp but it's just too big for pocket use. I also have an iFi Micro iDSD BL, but for whatever reason I just prefer the fun sound of the XD-05. And the micro is gigantic - I mostly use it for TV or the rare basshead moment when the XD-05 doesn't have enough power or I want the 3D effect. The iDSD has gobs of power.
One issue: The mode selector should be a SWITCH and not a cheap little easy-press button! The same type as the gain switch would have been perfect!! I've accidentally hit the mode button several times now just picking it up from my desk, and it changes it from BT to USB and kills your music and connection. Not looking forward to how easily that button will get pressed in-pocket! They armored the volume pot properly, but the mode button actually sticks out (!) and could become the Achilles heel of this thing's main use case!
I might have to fashion a shield for it if I really start using it on the go, or maybe I can make it harder to press somehow. The BT does reconnect very quickly, which is nice, but since there are 3 modes with a tiny hard to see LED indicator, it's not easy to put it back in the right mode (especially without looking). If it was just a physical 3-mode switch like on the XD-05 it'd be solid and usable in pocket and ya wouldn't need the indicator. And it'd remember your favorite mode every time you turned it on!
But as it is, it's workable and I'll be using it. It always starts in BT mode and it's just one click to get USB. And since the blue BT light is always on in BT mode, you can use that too (which is good, since as an R/G colorblind guy I can't really use that tiny color-based indicator anyway). One way to put it back in BT mode by feel is to just turn it off and back on again...
Oh, and I wouldn't kick a bass boost switch out of bed! :)
nickhem12
12
Sep 3, 2018
trapnineWow dude thanks for the in depth reply! Really looking forward to using this thing at my workspace at work and home. Good to know about the selector switch but I’m hoping this won’t be a major problem. stoked to hear that the Bluetooth is solid as well. Thanks again!
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile