Luxsin X9 Smart Stereo DAC & Preamp

[hkessler]

Yeah, mate…generally speaking, it’s almost always best to keep stuff simple and minimal. More stuff just means more chances for problems or signal alteration.

That's been my philosophy, thanks for confirming!

 

[Luxsin]

My Favourite : )

View attachment 472392

Very nice design, so we don’t actually need to widen the slots? like in your first picture with those large slots, and then apply green, yellow, and red coloring?

 

[Lux Maldini]

the are 2 subs out. Can you set delay, crossover and EQ for each sub. And simultaneously can you set EQ per xlr out?

In this case it would be a nice MiniDSP alternative

Why replace it?

 

[dimon0869]

Very nice design, so we don’t actually need to widen the slots? like in your first picture with those large slots, and then apply green, yellow, and red coloring?

I also really like the first picture (with the horizontal long level indicator), and the other two, with smaller segments are also good, but I think the green-yellow-red colors of the scales are preferable. But is it really impossible to make all three options, and also add the fourth one that you like (with the yellow color of the spectrum analyzer and the red level indicator). I also really ask you not to forget to make a peak level hold on the channel level indicator.

 

[TynanW]

Very nice design, so we don’t actually need to widen the slots? like in your first picture with those large slots, and then apply green, yellow, and red coloring?

"Very nice design"

It wasn't really a design !! Just a quick test to fit all the elements comfortably onto the screen - if I were to design an actual display page I would spend a week on it, and not an hour !!

"so we don’t actually need to widen the slots?"

It's subjective, an aesthetic choice, there's no right or wrong ! Here's a quick visualisation of what it would like in situ.

 

[dimon0869]

"Очень приятный дизайн"

На самом деле это был не дизайн!! Просто быстрый тест, чтобы удобно разместить все элементы на экране - если бы мне нужно было разработать реальную отображаемую страницу, я бы потратил на это неделю, а не час!!

«Значит, нам на самом деле не нужно расширять слоты?»

Это субъективный, эстетический выбор, здесь нет правильного или неправильного! Вот краткая визуализация того, как это выглядело бы на месте.

[МЕДИА=YOUTUBE]JUqnk2KLs0A[/МЕДИА]

Мне почему-то картина не открывается, не понимаю почему.

 

[TynanW]

Мне почему-то картина не открывается, не понимаю почему.

Click ! ----> Direct Link to Youtube Video

 

[dimon0869]

Click ! ----> Direct Link to Youtube Video

This looks amazing!!!

 

[dimon0869]

I just wonder how long it will take Luxsin engineers to think about making similar screens for the device?

 

[Lux Maldini]

A really nice box with some great features. Its interesting with these "Smart" DACs. There are about 10 features that could be implemented for a full digital pre-amp use case. Some examples....

1. DAC
2. All digital audio inputs...Coax, Optical, USB
3. ARC input
4. Analog inputs with high quality ADC
5. Phono input MM/MC
6. Trigger support
7. Sub support (1 good, 2 best) with high pass support on the analog outs (why is it that smart DAC producers can't wrap their heads around the fact that a large percentage of people want to use these boxes with 2.1 or 2.2 system?)
8. LAN/Wireless Network connectivity (for streamer support)
9. Parametric Equal with configs for all individual outputs
10. Any number of other DSP functions from streaming and/or protocol support to zone/grouping configs

In the old days, you bought a pre-amp that supported about 20 functions and you only used 50% of them. Now, all of these new Smart DACs implement a limited number of capabilities/inputs/outputs and you are left figuring out if the box you're looking at implements the ones that you need/want. For me, this has everything that I need except a USB digital out....so close.

Why do you want USB output?

 

[Luxsin]

I also really like the first picture (with the horizontal long level indicator), and the other two, with smaller segments are also good, but I think the green-yellow-red colors of the scales are preferable. But is it really impossible to make all three options, and also add the fourth one that you like (with the yellow color of the spectrum analyzer and the red level indicator). I also really ask you not to forget to make a peak level hold on the channel level indicator.

We are really love to fulfill the requests from our user, but since each user’s preferences can be quite different, and the X9 already comes with 12 different VU meter styles, we’ll plan to add two more spectrum meters this round.

About the peak level hold on the channel level indicator, just to confirm: do you mean you’d like the indicator to stay at the peak level without dropping back down?

 

[Lux Maldini]

I have some questions about the parametric EQ (also in comparison to RME ADI-2 DAC fs):
- How many EQ bands can be created ?
- Can EQ band be applied to single channel only (L or R) ?
- How are filter implemented, IIR (probably) or FIR ?

- Is there a "mono" switch

Hello, may I ask why a "mono" switch is needed?

 

[Lux Maldini]

I’ve been looking for a one-box DAC/preamp that ticks four specific boxes:

1. Top-tier DAC performance
2. Top-tier preamp quality(for digital sources)
3. True analog volume control
4. A dedicated subwoofer output

After two weeks of research, Luxsin X9 is the only unit I’ve found that covers all four.

The Eversolo DMP-A10 also does, but it’s about 3× the price.

I also looked into the Eversolo DAC-Z10, which might qualify, but I haven’t found solid confirmation about whether it includes a dedicated sub out or what its final price will be.

I’m cautious about being an early adopter though. Especially since the X9 seems primarily marketed toward headphone users, which might shape firmware development priorities (e.g., faster fixes for head-fi features vs. preamp/sub integration refinements). But I also haven’t found anything else that does what this unit does.

Are there any other devices you’re aware of that match this set of requirements?

Genuinely curious if I’ve missed something.

Hello, I would like to ask how do you determine if it is a top tier DAC?
What are the main areas of focus?

 

[Lux Maldini]

The latest firmware for X9 adds separate adjustable delays on the main output and on the subwoofer output. I am, in fact, now utilizing one of these preamps in my true stereo 2.2 setup with an 8.15ms delay to the mains allowing me to fully integrate two symmetrically placed subwoofers with the speakers. The crossover setting in subwoofer effects controls the high- and low-pass filters simultaneously. The volume control is analog (at least for the mains--I can't tell if the subwoofer outputs' volume are controlled analog or digitally in lock-step to the main outputs, but they are in perfect sync regardless). For anyone looking for true stereo subwoofer integration with an analog volume control, this is really a killer product with no equal in this price range once you take the analog volume control aspect into consideration.

Hello, may I ask why some people prefer analog volume control? Does this simulation refer to the difference between potentiometers and encoders?

 

[Luxsin]

I have our graphic guy quickly created some visuals as below, which one (or two) you guys prefer? or any other suggestion?

1:

2:

3:

4:

 

[dimon0869]

We are really love to fulfill the requests from our user, but since each user’s preferences can be quite different, and the X9 already comes with 12 different VU meter styles, we’ll plan to add two more spectrum meters this round.

About the peak level hold on the channel level indicator, just to confirm: do you mean you’d like the indicator to stay at the peak level without dropping back down?

The peak level should remain and be held for 1-2 seconds.
If you have only two new options, please make one option with level indicators to the right of the analyzer, and the second option with a long level indicator under the spectrum analyzer, and at least let the level indicators be in green-yellow-red.

 

[dimon0869]

I have our graphic guy quickly created some visuals as below, which one (or two) you guys prefer? or any other suggestion?

1:

View attachment 472695

2:

View attachment 472696

3:

View attachment 472697

4:

View attachment 472698

All are wonderful!
I'm even afraid to ask you, but PLEASE, leave all four, and those spectrum analyzers that were already in the latest firmware can be deleted.
Tell me, is the number of possible screens with indicators limited by the amount of free memory in the device, or by something else?

If you can only leave two of these four, then the second from the top is a must, and also either the first, or the third, or the fourth. It's hard for me to even decide - I like all four, so I ask you to add them all.

 

[hkessler]

3:

View attachment 472697

4:

View attachment 472698

4 and 3 would be my preference in this order. And thank you for listening to user feedback!

 

[dimon0869]

4 and 3 would be my preference in this order. And thank you for listening to user feedback!

On our device, with a small screen height, it will be very difficult to control the signal levels by channels - the indicator turns out to be very short and not very informative, which is why there was a request to make a separate picture with a horizontal long level indicator.

 

[Roman Blagov]

I would suggest such a VU-meter design. The top section is taken from the level indicator of the Soviet cassette deck 'Mayak-233'. The decibel indicator is from the 'Elektronika MK-56' calculator. On the top part, 'Л' stands for Left, and 'П' for Right. FeCr indicates the tape type.

(Instead of these specific indicators, one could probably insert something custom. Unfortunately, I don't have a Mayak-233 on hand, but I do have the calculator. If necessary, I can photograph the indicators in high resolution for digitization.)