Difficult to understand the (Dutch) Aune web pages (
https://www.auneaudio-europe.com/index.php/products/aune-x8-magical-dac-32-768k-dsd512-silver.html). No useful information on the
X8 Magical DAC at all can be found.
Looking at the device snapshots, my understanding is that there are USB, Coax and optical inputs, a dc power jack with on/off switch (?), and RCA connectors for pre-amp and audio outputs.
A dealer in the UK (
https://edenaudio.uk/shop/home/179-aune-x8-magic-dac.html) has the technical information needed, at least to compare with other device specifications.
Looking at the web pages again, apart from the RCA outputs, there is no connection for headphones, so a headphone amplifier is required. The dealer heads the techical specifications with "
Aune X8 32Bit/768k ES9038 DSD512 Lossless HiFI Audiophile Headphone Amplifier" and makes the following suggestions:
X8 with FPGA tech + X7s = 32Bit/768k DSD512 audio system for headphones
X8 with FPGA tech + X5s 6th Anniversary Edition = audio source system
X5s 6th Anniversary Edition + X8 with FPGA tech + X5s 6th Anniversary Edition = multi-function system
Is it really proper to describe it as a "
Lossless HiFI Audiophile Headphone Amplifier" when there is no headphone output anywhere on the device and another box is needed to connect a pair of cans ?
Just below the heading is: "
The X8 is a DAC of the aune X series. It uses aune’s self-developed FPGA technology and supports music files up to PCM768/DSD512. The Op-amp is interchangeable and there are seven filter models to choose from. It’s a DAC purely focused on sound quality."
Further down the page there is "
Self-developed FPGA Core. The X8 adopted the Self-developed FPGA as the processing core of digital signal, which makes DSD128 via coaxial possible. And the digital signals are also cleaner."
Presumably this refers to to digital signals from USB / Coax / Optical inputs, where the "home grown" FPGA replaces the XMOS XU208 chip, or similar. By the way is there anything particularly special about the "FPGA tech" compared to the XMOS silicon?
One review (
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/aune-x8.23815/reviews) has the following "
The X8 uses aune’s own self developed FPGA, which is a rather different DAC technology, as only a handful of manufacturers utilize FPGA. (for reference, FPGA is also the same tech that is utilized by Chord from the Mojo up to the DAVE). This is an interesting approach compared to the usual AK and ESS DACs, which aren’t bad by any means. But this is a breath of fresh air. The X8 also has a good range of support (32/768k) it plays up to DSD512 and PCM 768k. " and "
Simply put, the X8 is musical. It is a little mellower and laidback compared with the usual ESS DACs at this price range, which sounds more aggressive ".
Really ?, does the FPGA carry out the digital to analogue function rather than the ESS ES9038 chip(s), Q2M or Pro ?, dual mono or multiplexed ?
All very confusing when all I am thinking about is a sweet sounding DAC, preferably without the headphone amplifier.
The Aune web pages need to offer better specifications.
In the meantime is there anyone out there who can explain what the X8 Magic DAC actually offers and perhaps how it compares with others at similar prices?
With the high price of the X8 compared to Topping or SMSL devices anyone contemplating a purchase needs a better understanding of what is on offer.
Get a transparent DAC, whatever what's inside!
