CIXUN USB-C to XLR Adapter

[amirm]

This is a review and measurements of the CIXUN USB-C to XLR adapter (balanced DAC)(1 meter). It was kindly donated by a member and cost just US $16 on Amazon including shipping!

The cabling and connectors are surprisingly good quality! I don't know that I can buy just the wires for this cost.

While there are a ton of USB-C DAC dongles, they lack balanced XLR output. So if this adapter (and others like it) perform, it would be a super useful way to drive balanced speakers without another box on our desk.

CIXUN USB-C to XLR Adapter Measurements
We start with our usual dashboard:

Gosh, this is not what I wanted to see. Instead of nominal 4 volt output, we only have 0.75 volt. Not only that, there is a lot of low frequency noise including mains leakage which one hopes to avoid with balanced output. And series of distortion, pushing SINAD down to "poor" category.

Naturally, dynamic range is quite low, not remotely clearing 16 bit hurdle:

I suspect lots of jitter from the dashboard and that is indeed what we have:

Wideband THD+N sweep shows rising distortion at low frequencies:

The bit of good news is that frequency response is correct:

I don't think we need to run more tests.

Conclusions
What a useful and well built device we have here, sold at ridiculously low price. Alas, objective performance is quite poor across the board. There is an opportunity for a company with better know-how and care for measurements to build a better one and sell it at say, $49.

I can't recommend the CIXUN USB-C to XLR adapter. While it solves an important problem, it does so with almost no attention to design hygiene.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

 

[Toni Mas]

Great stuff for the price and so many hassle free use cases!

 

[respice finem]

There will be others, hopefully better.
That said, after reading reports of PC volume control "spontaneously" defaulting to maximum, after updates etc., I would be cautious with such devices.

 

[Toni Mas]

Yes, there are plenty of similar no-name me-too versions, those branded by Berhinger among others.

 

[Sokel]

Main goal of balanced is suppression of noise at/and long runs.
Doesn't look like a success to it. At all.

Thanks Amir!

Edit: what does the "unlocked" at the dashboard means, it's the first time I see it.

 

[Toni Mas]

Ok

Main goal of balanced is suppression of noise at/and long runs.
Doesn't look like a success to it. At all.

Thanks Amir!

Edit: what does the "unlocked" at the dashboard means, it's the first time I see it.

Xlr connectors in this case is just a convenient feature with no technical benefit at all to hook in a hassle free way (without adaptor), a mobile phone, tablet or Pc to a device providing mainly Xlr inputs, like a mixer, PA speaker, etc... Stuff for Berhinger customers and similar...

 

[welwynnick]

Thanks Amir.
I'm puzzled by what the product manager was thinking.
I get the market need for low cost, low performance adapters with RCA or headphone output - but XLR?

 

[Toni Mas]

Thanks Amir.
I'm puzzled by what the product manager was thinking.
I get the market for low cost, low performance, adapters with RCA or headphone output - but XLR?

Yes, DJs, amateur home studio owners Will apreciate those Xlr though have no idea of what are supposed to do. Simply need them to connect to their gear...

Even mono versions exist if stereo not required or un necessary.

 

[Sokel]

Ok

Xlr connectors in this case is just a convenient feature with no technical benefit at all to hook in a hassle free way (without adaptor), a mobile phone, tablet or Pc to a device providing mainly Xlr inputs, like a mixer, PA speaker, etc... Stuff for Berhinger customers and similar...

XLR is not convenient and a pain to use for following unbalanced gear for example.
Seems to me that they smelled fresh blood out of the new balanced trend, hence this kind of gear emerged.

 

[amirm]

Edit: what does the "unlocked" at the dashboard means, it's the first time I see it.

It is nothing. I ran the test signal from my Roon player and AP was just capturing analog input. Its unlock indicator relates to its digital output not being active.

 

[amirm]

I get the market need for low cost, low performance adapters with RCA or headphone output - but XLR?

Every computer these days has USB-C. This allows you to go from your computer to an active balanced speaker or audio mixer:

 

[JeremyFife]

Seemed too good to be true ... oh well.

Thanks for the review

 

[JSmith]

Very cheap, but very average... thanks for checking it out @amirm.

Pics wise, this is all... from marketing material;

Unsure what this has under the hood DAC wise... maybe a CS43131? If so, should be better than this... poor implementation.


JSmith

 

[Toni Mas]

XLR is not convenient and a pain to use for following unbalanced gear for example.
Seems to me that they smelled fresh blood out of the new balanced trend, hence this kind of gear emerged.

No It is simply matter of convenience: I have an input XLR connector to my amplified pa speakers, so i prefer an XLR cable rather than a RCA one + RCA to Xlr adapter, even if no technical improvement on an old UCA202...Btw, the important for these users IS not using an interface, simply use a "cable", and those look and cost like a cable with the "right" and "pro" connector they need...

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

Good morning.

Such a cable is useful for using 'KRK tools' with its 'EQ recommendation' function.

This software (under ANDROID) allows, as it indicates, to recommend 'EQ' settings with KRK ROKIT monitoring speakers among others.

Here is the official KRK video to better understand ->

To my knowledge, I do not know of any manufacturer of monitoring speakers that offers this and especially considering the price requested for their models

Have a nice day

 

[Miley_B]

I see this style of device regularly used on live event work, usually for quick connections where ultimate sound quality probably isn’t the priority.

A key requirement of this device for me would be what happens when connected to a mixing desk and +48v phantom power is active. It is easily turned on by mistake or with some cheaper mixers it is a global switch for all XLR inputs. I’m not sure if this unit could tolerate phantom power or what would happen with the connection to the computer.
I have seen many non functional 3.5mm headphone sockets on laptops as a result of direct connection to 48v.

 

[Dennis_FL]

Yes, there are plenty of similar no-name me-too versions, those branded by Berhinger among others.

Amazon has a ton of them

 

[xema]

Who the hell need this kind of shit???
Any dongle or small desktop dac will sounds better and have more flexibility on cable length

 

[Toni Mas]

Who the hell need this kind of shit???
Any dongle or small desktop dac will sounds better and have more flexibility on cable length

If needed a longer cable XLR to XLR can be safely plugged to this one and get 3m, 5m, 10m... XLR is a very rugged and convenient connector, beyond any purists considerations...

 

[jmdesignz2]

Very cheap, but very average... thanks for checking it out @amirm.

Pics wise, this is all... from marketing material;

View attachment 482613

View attachment 482614

Unsure what this has under the hood DAC wise... maybe a CS43131? If so, should be better than this... poor implementation.


JSmith

“Studio grade”

Grade F