AIYIMA D20 – Decoding in Development

[fredreadrick]

Let them do better, don't rush them. You can order another gift for the New Year.

This is part of the 10th Anniversary Edition.
I received my T20 last July and A20 in August. D20 is long overdue.

 

[AkosGy]

Well I suppose like many of us I did not want to wait until the infinity so I went with the topping d90 iii Sabre.

 

[fredreadrick]

Well I suppose like many of us I did not want to wait until the infinity so I went with the topping d90 iii Sabre.

Bought the topping e70 velvet and d70 pro Octo... Both are good dacs.

 

[Fxfighter]

I'm waiting for new d20

 

[zeroskiller]

My OCD demands a perfectly matched setup for my little hi-fi system.

@AIYIMA, take your time, but could you give us a rough estimate, early or late Q1 or even Q2?

 

[Vohutla]

@AIYIMA, May I make another wish before the New Year: make Bluetooth not only for input, but also for transmission to high-quality wireless headphones . There will be a TOP at all.

 

[Vohutla]

Well I suppose like many of us I did not want to wait until the infinity so I went with the topping d90 iii Sabre.

This is great, the chances of everyone getting something are increasing. We'll wait, hopefully it will be worth it.

 

[Tontom]

@AIYIMA, May I make another wish before the New Year: make Bluetooth not only for input, but also for transmission. There will be a TOP at all.

Don't do it....

 

[Vohutla]

Don't do it....

Why not ? For example, the Fiio BTA 30 Pro has a very convenient implementation for wireless headphones.


Although, I may agree.
For mass-market products, this would be practical. But we want Hi-Fi, and we want AIYIMA to express this ideology. We want the best.

It is better to find a separate transmission device with the desired parameters and price. Additional features will only increase the price of the D20, and it will be a shame if the transmitter's configuration is not the best. Over time, more advanced modules or standards will emerge, which will be easier to replace individually. This is why we love equipment made with separate units.

 

[Tontom]

D20 ... probably not until the 11th anniversary ?!

 

[Vohutla]

D20 ... probably not until the 11th anniversary ?!

For the Chinese New Year on February 17. Time flows differently there.

 

[Tontom]

 

[Tontom]

This will be a tough price war; the Topping E50II has the better AK4497S and PEQ via app......

 

[zeroskiller]

This will be a tough price war; the Topping E50II has the better AK4497S and PEQ via app......

True, but you cannot upgrade the Topping E50II via op amp rolling as the op amps are soldered and not socketed. The Aiyima D20 uses ES9039Q2M (ESS, analytical/detailed sound) + AK4493SEQ (AKM, warm/natural sound), if not mistaken, allowing switching between them for different sound signatures, something the E50II with its single fixed AK4497S cannot do.

Regarding PEQ, Aiyima plans to add it via future firmware upgrade (maybe not at initial Q1 2026 launch), if I remember correctly, hopefully to be configured through an app also. I am expecting a cheaper price point for the Aiyima (I guess between 150 and 200€).

 

[Fxfighter]

Hello. I just purchased two A20s for vertical bi-amping, which I'm really happy with. As soon as I can, I'll also purchase the T20, and to complete (and aesthetically pleasing) this D20 as well.
I expect a Parametric EQ to be installed, like Topping did, so I can have an all-Aiyima system. Judging by the photos, I don't think a headphone amp will be implemented, but please implement PEQ. I like the aesthetics, and I'd like to upgrade to the D20. Thank you

Can you explain what is vertical bi amping ?

 

[Rexzo]

Hi Fxfighter, two stereo amplifiers, one for the left channel and the other for the right channel (to which the speakers will be connected with bi-wiring connections, specifically the left speaker I connect the mid-high section to one channel, and the mid-bass to the high channel of the same amplifier). And so on for the other speaker.

 

[pickyAudiophile]

Regarding PEQ, Aiyima plans to add it via future firmware upgrade (maybe not at initial Q1 2026 launch), if I remember correctly, hopefully to be configured through an app also. I am expecting a cheaper price point for the Aiyima (I guess between 150 and 200€).

I suspect the price range to be a little higher, matching the Ampapa Q11 direct competitor by Douk Audio at around USD 270.00.

PEQ is a nice feature in general, however I find the typical 10 band EQ in mid price range devices just slightly too coarse for my purposes. With 10 band eq it's hard to isolate all these certain dips and peaks within an in-room frequency response curve.
31 band would be sufficient, but built-in processors in that price range just wouldn't be capable of executing that in real time, so it's unavailable and reserved for higher tier devices. - Therefore equalization by software (EQ Apo or Android tool) to me knows no alternative.

I welcome the XMOS XU316 receiver chipset which has WASAPI Exclusive Mode volume control features properly implemented.

 

[Vohutla]

I suspect the price range to be a little higher, matching the Ampapa Q11 direct competitor by Douk Audio at around USD 270.00.

Perhaps we will be sent a discount promo code as participants in the design of the D20 configuration..

 

[fredreadrick]

 

[Schlippwhip68]

The D20 U/I looks very intuitive.