fredreadrick
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It mid March today.
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AIYIMA D20 – Decoding in Development
- Thread starter AIYIMA
- Start date
fredreadrick
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simoncelli
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I’m using my headphones with my FiiO K13 R2R DAC in my desktop setup, and I’m beyond happy with it. Since @AIYIMA didn’t get back to me for days, I went ahead and ordered the FiiO BR15 R2R Bluetooth + DAC for my A20 + T20 stack that drives my speakers—sorry!
I was dreaming of achieving visual consistency with a 3-tier device tower and managing everything with a single remote via triggers, but I guess the 'flavor' of the R2R sound is more important than all of that.
I was dreaming of achieving visual consistency with a 3-tier device tower and managing everything with a single remote via triggers, but I guess the 'flavor' of the R2R sound is more important than all of that.
OP
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- Thread Starter
- #105
Dear users and partners,
We are excited to announce that the AIYIMA D20 has successfully completed all testing and is about to enter mass production.
Due to production and launch arrangements, the release date will be slightly delayed. Please stay tuned for the official availability announcement.
Thank you for your patience and continued support. We look forward to delivering the exceptional audio experience that D20 brings!
— AIYIMA Official Team
We are excited to announce that the AIYIMA D20 has successfully completed all testing and is about to enter mass production.
Due to production and launch arrangements, the release date will be slightly delayed. Please stay tuned for the official availability announcement.
Thank you for your patience and continued support. We look forward to delivering the exceptional audio experience that D20 brings!
— AIYIMA Official Team
fredreadrick
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RemixVL
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When to expect? March or April or May???
simoncelli
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Then they posted on IG:
Dear audio enthusiasts,
To celebrate the upcoming launch of AIYIMA’s brand-new D20, we are excited to introduce a First Users Giveaway, giving audiophiles the chance to experience this high-fidelity newcomer before anyone else!
Event Rules:
Join the D20 discussion on the AIYIMA forum and share your thoughts or questions to automatically qualify for the giveaway.
Discussion Link:
D20 High-Fidelity DAC — AIYIMA 10th Anniversary Series Finale
Hello everyone, this is the AIYIMA Product Development Team! As our 10th Anniversary set series comes together, we are excited to officially introduce the finale of this series — the D20 DAC. This new product embodies years of our team’s audio R&D experience and pairs perfectly with T20 + A20...community.aiyima.com
Prizes: A total of 5 D20 units will be awarded to 5 lucky fans.
Draw Details: The giveaway will be triggered based on the number of comments—drawing for the first unit will start after 50 comments are reached. Details for the remaining prizes and draw dates will be announced later.
Join the discussion, share your expectations and suggestions for the D20, and you might become one of the first D20 users to enjoy exclusive perks!
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
The guy in the clip who performed the RCA hot plugging
did not reveal whether these dual RCA outputs are designated for alternative DAC chipset output simultaneously. Maybe! Maybe it is multi purpose, not just alternating DAC chipset output: RCA1 with D20's high pass filter applied feeding bookshelf speakers, while RCA2 -without filter- feeding mono(stereo) subwoofer(s) with low pass filter activated - that would be appreciated by me....But what about the XLR output capabilities with these two DAC chipset then. About volume control, etc. ...
There's just too many in-depth questions left open yet to comment in a meaningful way. - However, they still invite folks to join the conversation on their web site(?).
What I can see that when it comes to Bluetooth codecs...in-room wide range capable aptX Adaptive @24 Bit@420 kbit/sec (while still at -100 dB THD+N) unfortunately is missing, while supported by that older QCC5125 they chose in general. - So still no alternative to heavily range restricted LDAC when forced into preferable 990 kbit/sec@24 Bit mode.
I wish we would have seen BT progress been made, ideally implementing Snapdragon S5 Gen1 now instead.
That very kind of BT codec support combo we've seen for quite some years now, from 2021 on...
I am deeply disappointed by what I’ve seen. Instead of the laconic design of the A20, I saw a crazy 'Christmas tree' screen and a menu that requires endless joystick clicking... and with such a cheap, unpleasant sound! Guys, you should have kept it simpler.
I’m afraid I’ll have to pass because of this 'over-engineered' menu with tiny letters and long lines. I am not ready to keep clicking through your long, tangled menus and watching this light show, all while holding a lightweight device in my hands.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
You mean the sound of the rotary knob what you called "unpleasant"? - Agreed, it sounds somewhat light and hollow in operation.
While IMO, just IMO, I would not call the menu depth "endless"...
However, I would have preferred a display closely related to the T20 preamp, even if that would have meant a "cryptic" indication of the specific means of operation in control. I definitively would have traded in clarity for design in that case!
My major critizism comes from -at least right now- we've witnessed nothing special with this device. It somewhat resembles the Douk Audio Ampapa Q1, just plus LDAC support. In exchange for 1/4" balanced TRS we have -preferential- XLR+TRS combo jacks on rear.
Apart from the two DAC chipset gimmick, competition from e/g the well established Fosi ZD3 is not to underestimate, so reasonable pricing will be of concern.
They tried so hard they overdid it with that insane menu and a display that looks like a Christmas tree. Instead of a sleek, premium design, they made something for fans of colorful lights and people who love clicking through endless menus with a single rotary knob. It’s already starting to piss me off, just imagining how I’ll have to squint at tiny letters on top of all that clicking. So, they can take their time. The idea was good, but they should have consulted with grown men instead of Zoomers who can't put their phones down.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
On their FB on April 7th they published: "[...] Due to material costs and supplier coordination issues, the launch of the D20 will be delayed. We will inform you of the exact release date as soon as it is confirmed [...]"
- So indeed they're affected by the ongoing disruption of supply of various materials, at least affected by the psychological effects that influence prices even when there is no actual physical shortage apparent. So they decided to better wait with production to continue rather than sharply rising the initially suggested RRP while proceeding with production under these adverse circumstances.
The negative vibes around the D20 release may continue for quite some time I guess. Since prices won't come down anytime soon.
RemixVL
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I'm already thinking about getting a Fiio K15 or K13 RDR.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
...if I may add (pure DACs), the Douk Audio Ampapa D1, the SMSL D200 (despite it's shiny looks), the Topping D50 III, the Gustard/Audalytic DR70.
Maybe I'm gonna sell my A20 and wait for the A20 Mono release rather than for the DAC release! Since these Mono blocks (unfortunately) won't match the "Anniversary Series" dimensions, therefore cannot be placed on top of each other as a stack. - As it's essentially the existing A70 (Stereo) housing they took, just with a modified front and black plate.
These Amps then combined with a DAC from listed above, or FiiO.
Let's be honest, Aiyima's D20 DAC is unlikely to technically outperform DACs by these competitors, it's the "stack experience" that keeps them in play.
While their new TPA3255 mono amp build isn't likely to disappoint. I suspect better implemented PFFB than with the A20 Stereo version. A70 Mono wasn't all too bad either when it comes to measurements.
SMSL D200 can be used as preamp perfectly with un-attenuable by potentiometer Mono blocks like the upcoming A20 Monos, as shown in here. The →gain switch of the A20 Monos would surely help bringing them in an ideal range of operation then combined with the D200.
I might spray paint the D200 all matte black since I really can't stand shiny silver (alloy).
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-d200-dac-review.65764/
Last edited:
zeroskiller
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@AIYIMA I own an A80 (used as main system) and the T20/A20 combination, which is currently not being used because the DAC is missing. Based on your announcement, I decided to wait for it. Unfortunately, my devices are currently just gathering dust and sitting unused. What is the exact release date, and will it be available for sale on AliExpress first? I would appreciate your feedback.
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