Eleven XIAudio Broadway Headphone Amp Review

[IAtaman]

rolling batteries

Rolling batteries? Now that is an astonishing idea. Did you know that's how nuclear fission was discovered. Oppenheimer was rolling his U-235 based batteries for his x-ray machine to get pure images, he though he might as well roll Uranium into Thorium and kaboom, you just invented the A-Bomb. After that no one ever underestimated the creativity of pseudo science.

 

[poxymoron]

Ridiculous. $2.6k will buy you a SOTA headphone, DAC and amp. Pass.

 

[respice finem]

I watched a video review of this and the guy there claimed that you can "roll the batteries" (switch for different brand) and get different sound!

Let me guess: the blue batteries sounded cooler, the red ones warmer? Oh, and the dead ones muted the output.

 

[Koeitje]

@gallionetech this is yours right? I love that you send it in to be tested. These are the kind of boutique devices that are a bit harder to get your hands on for reviews. Hope you are also glad you did . What did you end up buying instead?

 

[Adi777]

Ridiculous. $2.6k will buy you a SOTA headphone, DAC and amp. Pass.

DCA Stealth/Expanse, maybe some Audeze - circa 4000/5000€, RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE - plus minus 2500€, Niimbus US 5 PRO - circa 5000€/Benchmark HPA-4 - circa 3500€.

 

[thewas]

Thanks @amirm for another honest review. My only comment would be: that thing is ugly as hell.... Looks like a very expensive DIY project or prototype unit...

Would make a perfect pair with the RAAL SR1a.

 

[pavuol]

I very much like this particular marketing picture, now imagine the broadway soundstage for your brass symphonies with this setup

 

[delta76]

Anyone paying that much for this amp is beyond me. Performance aside, I would expect a top notch, luxury design for that price mark. I don't see it here.

 

[MacCali]

I watched a video review of this and the guy there claimed that you can "roll the batteries" (switch for different brand) and get different sound!

LOL what kind of batteries are they?

 

[IAtaman]

LOL what kind of batteries are they?

Round probably.

 

[respice finem]

Round probably.

Square ones would sound edgy

 

[IAtaman]

Square ones would sound edgy

Due to infinitely many odd harmonics, oddly..

 

[respice finem]

Due to infinitely many odd harmonics, oddly..

That unique experience must be worth the price LOL

 

[uwotm8]

"Poor" just by the look and price even before reading

 

[MacCali]

4x 18650. Interesting

 

[Multicore]

Mind your hands on those sharp corners.

 

[AdamG247]

So, of late, the hi-end philosophy is “Pay More Get Less”. Logo should be “Making Audio Painfull Again”. Another spectacular crash and burn….

Great Review Amir. Keep saving us money with your community service efforts!

 

[Aperiodic]

Benchmark DAC3 is $1K less than this

 

[Phoney]

I watched a video review of this and the guy there claimed that you can "roll the batteries" (switch for different brand) and get different sound!

Where can I get the most expensive batteries for the ultimate hifi sound? They should make batteries and sell them for $1000!

Clearly Amir would have to use the right type of batteries for the best performance in his testing. Clearly it's unfair to test this unit without the batteries that would drive it to its full potensial!

 

[solderdude]

Due to infinitely many odd harmonics, oddly..

Not oddly as this is a balanced design.
When one would measure it SE there would probably be a lot of 2nd harmonics.
Appears to be audible transparent and powerful enough for higher imp. headphones.

Way too expensive for what it is/offers.

picture from: https://www.audionet.com.tw/thread-12588-1-1.html