XDuoo MU-605 or other recommendations for Studio setup?

[OOLASRPLUS]

HI,

First post here so hi to all.

I've been looking for a Bluetooth receiver that outputs to balanced XLRs or 1/4 balanced Jacks, and can receive 24bit 96khz.

There doesn't seem to be many around that can do this. Either being RCA outputs or 48Khz.

I've seen a few online reviewers that favour XDuoo products.

I will be connecting the receiver to two powered studio monitors with built in bi-amps that process at 96khz, 40hz to 28Khz, that each have a combi balanced 1/4 | XLR input.

I'm in the UK, and I have found this on eBay for £143 from China, or Amazon UK for £179.

Is the XDuoo MU-605 worth the cost? Any alternatives that I have missed?

Many thanks,

Simon.

 

[Snoopy]

Bluetooth isn’t fast enough for 96khz resolution. So why would it matter if it outputs less ?

 

[staticV3]

Hi @OOLASRPLUS! Welcome to ASR.

While there are Bluetooth codecs that support 96kHz sample rate, actually transmitting at that rate means sacrificing audible sound quality in favor of being able to send ultrasonic noise along with the audio as well.

It's completely counterproductive if you're after high fidelity.

Instead, you'd do well to utilize the limited bandwidth of Bluetooth audio entirely for frequencies that our ears can actually take advantage of.

In practice, that means limiting the sample rate to 44.1 or 48kHz.
Any higher and sound quality will deteriorate.

 

[OOLASRPLUS]

Thanks for the replies.

There are a few alternatives I have found with balanced XLR outputs, and cheaper.

I have emailed XDuoo to find out which Qualcomm Bluetooth chip they use, as their latest chips do claim 24bit 96Khz, although there are some drawbacks...

I was also looking at the Fosi Audio ZD3. Similar price.

Even cheaper

Denon Professional DN-200BR?

There is a lot of kit in the studio, so good shielding against electronic interference is also a must.

we use mainly Van damme or Mogami quad cables.

Any other suggestions for me to look at?

Cheers,

Simon.

 

[staticV3]

Any other suggestions for me to look at?

Which studio monitors will this be used with?

 

[OOLASRPLUS]

iLoud Precision 6

 

[staticV3]

iLoud Precision 6

Personally, I would wait until SMSL release a DAC with the new QCC5171/5181 chip for aptX Lossless support.

This is already available for cheap with RCA and SPDIF output though from what I can tell, not yet combined with a high quality balanced desktop DAC. https://store.sure-electronics.com/product/796

Alternatively, you could connect the BEA1 to a regular desktop DAC and get the same end result right now.

 

[OOLASRPLUS]

@staticV3

I spotted this one on Amazon.

Blafili B3.

Never heard of this brand, although until a few days ago, I'd never heard of XDuoo.

It's another one like the XDuoo MU-605, claiming to have aptX HD Low Latency support and 24bit 96Khz resolution. Uses a QCC5125 chipset.

You may be right in waiting it out...

I am noticing the difference switching from a direct TRS out to the monitors at 96khz, to my current Bluetooth receiver. Temporarily using the PreSorus MicroStation BT which I've had laying around for a few years now. Due to changes in the studio layout, Bluetooth seemed the best solution, but my ears aren't liking it.

I'm probably nit picking or imagining things, but there seems to be that extra clarity and depth missing switching over to Bluetooth.

Plus there is this very intermittent high frequency buzz occasionally, very low volume, lasts a second or two, but an annoyance when it happens. Almost sounds like processor noise, except over Bluetooth I wouldn't have thought that would be an issue, and is usually caused by bad grounding, C states etc..

Cheers,

Simon.

 

[staticV3]

I'm probably nit picking or imagining things, but there seems to be that extra clarity and depth missing switching over to Bluetooth.

Here's a tool for testing Bluetooth codec audibility: https://btcodecs.valdikss.org.ru/sbc-encoder/