Luxsin X8 DAC & HP Amp Review

[davmol]

I think it sounds the best of the 3 when comparing out of headphone out and I have set up them with a RCA switcher so it makes it easy to compare by instantly switch the device in use.

So you are comparing the DACs? Using RCA outs into a switcher, then switcher out to a separate headphone amp? If so then to make a good comparison you should pick an enjoyable listening volume, and then try to align the volume on each DAC using their volume controls.

Closely aligning the voltage on the end of each RCA output using a multimeter is typically the easiest and most accurate way to level match. You might find when level matched in this way that they sound exactly the same. At least that was my experience from past testing.

 

[dumbsuck]

Why?

Cirrus logic cheats (DRE) to win favors with measurement fetishists while their DACs' sound is mediocre. Have the JM20 Max and it sound shrill, sharp and grainy. Might be the Cirrus logic DAC, might be the opamps in it, don't care--have seen/heard enough to not like the company (Cirrus logic). AKM DACs also don't sound too good to me, highs too smooth, lack attack and detail. Only ESS DACs have ever sounded right to me so far.

 

[VilmFilm]

Any similar products but with subwoofer crossover management? Not just a lowpass on the sub/RCA outputs?

Seems like it's only the large expensive x9 variants. They need to make a cheaper smaller version for 2.1 setups....

 

[robbiekhan]

Cirrus logic cheats (DRE) to win favors with measurement fetishists while their DACs' sound is mediocre. Have the JM20 Max and it sound shrill, sharp and grainy. Might be the Cirrus logic DAC, might be the opamps in it, don't care--have seen/heard enough to not like the company (Cirrus logic). AKM DACs also don't sound too good to me, highs too smooth, lack attack and detail. Only ESS DACs have ever sounded right to me so far.

The X8 does not have this issue at all, you should have known this if you fully read Amir's #1 post as it is specifically noted. And in fact compared to other CS DAC products, this has a specific option to turn off DRE, it is off by default anyway. You cannot tarnish every product with the same brush without knowing what's what about it first.

Thankfully I have heard a broad range of DACs to date and ESS by far is the most analytical/sterile to what I value in musical enjoyment, some like that, some don't, but that's fine as everyone hears things differently. I prefer the CS43198 config in this, it's got that old skool Wolfson character to the lows and mids, with all the detail up top presented nicely. It is also only one of a tiny number of DACs with octa-config, and I believe the only one in dual mono parallel with this specific implementation inside so none of the DACs or amps you have heard to date will be the same as this either.

 

[Chagall]

Cirrus logic cheats (DRE) to win favors with measurement fetishists while their DACs' sound is mediocre. Have the JM20 Max and it sound shrill, sharp and grainy. Might be the Cirrus logic DAC, might be the opamps in it, don't care--have seen/heard enough to not like the company (Cirrus logic). AKM DACs also don't sound too good to me, highs too smooth, lack attack and detail. Only ESS DACs have ever sounded right to me so far.

Please provide proof that you can hear the difference in a blind test and proof of cheating by Cirrus.

If you don't like measurements - why are you here, talking nonsense?

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

So you are comparing the DACs? Using RCA outs into a switcher, then switcher out to a separate headphone amp? If so then to make a good comparison you should pick an enjoyable listening volume, and then try to align the volume on each DAC using their volume controls.

Closely aligning the voltage on the end of each RCA output using a multimeter is typically the easiest and most accurate way to level match. You might find when level matched in this way that they sound exactly the same. At least that was my experience from past testing.

Correct, in this case it was connected to an amp that has a bypass mode that simply passes signal through unaltered to avoid any potential influence the amp's signature might have to the comparison.

Yea it was obviously volume matched or else would not be very useful comparison, I even went to go as far as lowering the DAC's volume one step whenever I found something having an advantage and listen again. The differences found are no way huge and mostly noticeable because of the quick switching possibility. Having mastered music for 14 years as a hobby paying close attention to various differences when making small adjustments to EQ, stereo width/soundstage, phase adjustments, reverb, dynamics control/compression/limiting, obviously helps in these cases too (trained ears).

 

[Yevhen]

Please provide proof that you can hear the difference in a blind test and proof of cheating by Cirrus.

If you don't like measurements - why are you here, talking nonsense?

I hear the difference as well In a blind test. At least the older Cirrus dacs. They have a measurable hump.

About the measurements here. They don't cover everything. For example, I bought a portable Topping G5 because of the great SINAD. But in reality, it is a great performer only in the lab when used with PC and power supply, while in real portable use case - complete disappointment.

 

[Sokel]

Please provide proof that you can hear the difference in a blind test and proof of cheating by Cirrus.

If you don't like measurements - why are you here, talking nonsense?

It's probably about this:

On the Distortion of Cirrus Logic CS431xx-Based Devices: A Comparative Review

TL;DR / Changelog [5/20/25] Eleven DAC/HP amp combo devices adopting either the Cirrus Logic CS43131 or CS43198 were tested, and seven of them were found produce the distortion dubbed a "Cirrus hump." Based on measurements from multiple sources (including this review), a list of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

They DID made their tricks there, that's the truth.

 

[dumbsuck]

Please provide proof that you can hear the difference in a blind test and proof of cheating by Cirrus.

If you don't like measurements - why are you here, talking nonsense?

The nonsense I am talking is my subjective experience with DACs where despite the objective truth says I should not be able to hear a difference, and in a blind test I would probably not be able to tell apart DACs with > 70 dB SINAD and a straight frequency response in the 20 to 20,000 Hz range, my subjective experience differs and puts the sound coming from my Topping D10s + L30 combo above anything I've heard. And that's not even an audiophool thing, because the average audiophool, from what I've read online, dislikes Topping, at least the cheaper half of their products. I'm here because I value measurements, because they can show when a product is a complete dud, and because I bought the D10s and L30 based on, among other things, the reviews these got in here. And I am glad I did! At the same time, I cannot help but feel that my E-MU 0404 USB and especially Shanling UA-3, lack detail and realism in upper treble and sound too "smooth", and that my JM20 Max sounds too harsh and I prefer the Samsung USB-C to 3.5" dongle.
Regarding the general audiophile subjective "feelings" about DACs, I think it's like this: First, AKM was a favorite, because people claimed it had "smooth sound", but then their factory burned and everyone started using ESS and many people who never heard ESS DACs liked the sound, or thought they "liked" the sound (because objectively all non-faulty DACs sound the same) and now all audiophiles are bored with their toys again so they discovered Cirrus logic's DACs and so now CS DACs are the new favorite.
In the end, I do believe this is just audiophiles being audiophiles, making up things. But, my personal subjective experience is important to me, even if it goes against what I believe should be the objective truth, so I will keep preferring ESS DACs.

 

[Sonic-Wall]

After comparing the Luxsin X8 with the RME ADI-2 Pro FSR I never touched my RME again.
The X8 sounds so much better and has a great usability.
The real game changer is the AI-driven PEQ, and other sound enhancements, enabled by the dual-core Cadence HiFi DSPs.

 

[gtg465x]

Cirrus logic cheats (DRE) to win favors with measurement fetishists while their DACs' sound is mediocre. Have the JM20 Max and it sound shrill, sharp and grainy. Might be the Cirrus logic DAC, might be the opamps in it, don't care--have seen/heard enough to not like the company (Cirrus logic). AKM DACs also don't sound too good to me, highs too smooth, lack attack and detail. Only ESS DACs have ever sounded right to me so far.

FYI, DRE is disabled by default on the X8, so I'm sure the measurement taken by amirm are without it.

 

[xanalog]

Thank you for the review, @amirm,
This Luxsin X8 sounds like it has everything you want, including VU meters: Are you going to keep it?

I wish the industry would move away from IIS interface to HDMI ARC.

I hope the industry hears you and makes our dream come true.

As I suspected, this is due to noise shaping which pushes audible noise into ultrasonics:

If I lower the measurement bandwidth as to exclude that, performance becomes superb:

Please don't lower it.

 

[CedarX]

FYI, DRE is disabled by default on the X8, so I'm sure the measurement taken by amirm are without it.

Source?

 

[gtg465x]

Source?

I own it.

 

[CedarX]

I own it.

Does it have a DRE on/off setting?

 

[gtg465x]

Does it have a DRE on/off setting?

Yes, and when I first took it out of the box and was exploring settings, it was set to off. I own another Cirrus DAC and was aware of the issues relating to that feature, so I was paying close attention to that.

 

[CedarX]

Yes, and when I first took it out of the box and was exploring settings, it was set to off. I own another Cirrus DAC and was aware of the issues relating to that feature, so I was paying close attention to that.

Repeating some the measurements with DRE “on” would have been interesting…

 

[gtg465x]

Repeating some the measurements with DRE “on” would have been interesting…

Agreed. Presumably you would get some IMD hump showing up, but the SINAD might be off the charts too. I personally see no reason to turn it on when the measurements are so good without it and it could introduce other issues, but I’m certainly curious. I’m guessing the octo-DAC parallel architecture is what allowed them to get such good measurements with these chips without the use of DRE.

 

[EJ3]

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the Luxsin X8 balanced DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $699.
View attachment 539360
Lots of effort has gone into making that angular front panel as to tilt up the beautiful display upward. This makes it a lot easier to see and use as it is a very responsive touchscreen. As you see, it has room for proper visualization of two VU meters and such. Interestingly, the unit has Wifi enabling it to be controlled over the web (and the app?).

Finally, great aesthetics meet proper specs. I currently have no use in any of my systems for HDMI, but, hey, you know, that could change.

 

[Gremlins]

Cirrus logic cheats (DRE) to win favors with measurement fetishists while their DACs' sound is mediocre. Have the JM20 Max and it sound shrill, sharp and grainy. Might be the Cirrus logic DAC, might be the opamps in it, don't care--have seen/heard enough to not like the company (Cirrus logic). AKM DACs also don't sound too good to me, highs too smooth, lack attack and detail. Only ESS DACs have ever sounded right to me so far.

That is highly subjective and therefore useless for all of us
Just read Yesterday a guy saying the exact opposite than what you say

Funny how we can have black or white

But as long as people believe they are happy, i am fine with opinions