xDuoo X5 Digital Audio Player (DAP) Review

[caocaolatre199x]

Xduoo has designed a user interface that is not pretty, showing that their R&D investment in this X5 was not high. The output specs from the manufacturer is 270mW, but in fact only 155mW. With dual CS43131 and 155mW, perhaps a dongle also has better performance. Fiio Ka15 costs ~$109, with a balanced output of 571mW at 32 OHM will crush this music player.

 

[SuicideSquid]

Can a person use an Apple or JMAX dongle with this and get decent output?

 

[trevor_bartram]

Thanks for the review Amir.
It's not for me, but the flat-topped structure of the FFT harmonics looks suspiciously like it's clipping somewhere along the line.

Sinewave clipping would produce odd harmonics falling at 6dB/octave?

 

[Bob101]

Vastly predominant or only odd harmonics are 'the' teltale sign of clipping.

 

[Roland68]

"The DAP days are over."
[mr. darko, 2018]

Just like CDs, vinyl, and stereo, they've all been declared dead several times over.

What are the biggest growth markets in the hi-fi sector, in recent years and currently?
Oh yes, I just listed them.

I'm sure DAPs will be around for a long time, especially because there are many users who want a dedicated mobile player, and other people's opinions don't count for that.
Mobile and small desktop CD players are also currently experiencing a renaissance.

The X5 could have been a box office hit for xDuoo with this test.
Considering the performance and measured values of, for example, the TANCHJIM Space, DS2, or JM20 MAX, it can't be that difficult to achieve something similar in a DAP like the X5, can it?

 

[Somafunk]

I’ll bite my tongue about that guy…

Btw, I’ve heard that HiBy rewrote the Android audio pipeline for their (higher end only?) DAPs, so they should have better performance (as stock Android isn’t very audio-performant).

HiBy have tweaked the android experience so that it bypasses all the non-audio stuff, that’s why they can offer system wide PEQ on their devices, such as my HiBy R6 iii.

They also have their own software running on sub £200 players such as the R3/M300 model range, I previously used a R3 Gen ii which was a good wee device to see if I’d actually use a dap, within a few months I moved onto the R6 iii and that’s as far up the range I’d be prepared to go.

Shame about the xDuoo being a dud, it’s been slammed by a few of the better/more honest reviewers for poor sound and software that has issues with album art, reading the music library from sd card, poor screen resolution, poor U.I. Etc.

Needless to say “passion for sound” thought it was great , passion for bullshit more like

 

[Bob101]

Just like CDs, vinyl, and stereo, they've all been declared dead several times over.

What are the biggest growth markets in the hi-fi sector, in recent years and currently?
Oh yes, I just listed them.

I'm sure DAPs will be around for a long time, especially because there are many users who want a dedicated mobile player, and other people's opinions don't count for that.
Mobile and small desktop CD players are also currently experiencing a renaissance.

The X5 could have been a box office hit for xDuoo with this test.
Considering the performance and measured values of, for example, the TANCHJIM Space, DS2, or JM20 MAX, it can't be that difficult to achieve something similar in a DAP like the X5, can it?

Well, i find it hard to imagine that they don't know they have brought a somewhat compromised device to market. But the truth is that people who are going to buy this product are simply never going to notice, unless they're told about this thread on this forum, about it's shortcomings. Which doesn't make this acceptable, at least that is: for me. Would I be able to hear that degree of Sinad on my BT noise-cancelling headphones on the bus going to work? Don't think so...
But still: this is really poor perfomance, considering what is possible.

 

[staticV3]

I wish to see Hiby R3 Pro II review here
Any chance?

Absolutely! You just have to send one to Amir.

That's how ASR works, all reviewed products are sent in by ASR members or manufacturers.

 

[Roland68]

I just noticed that HiFi-Express has very detailed information about the xDuoo X5, both about its claimed specifications and its functionality and features, such as the Dual CS43131 and EQ adjustment.
There's a huge discrepancy between the manufacturer's specifications and the measured performance.
X5 data on HiFi-Express

@amirm
Does xDuoo have anything to do with the SMSL Group?
I thought they only sold their own brands SMSL (VMV), Sabaj, and Loxjie (without the dealer devices)?

 

[xanalog]

Thank you for testing it, @amirm,
Too bad, I cannot return it anymore and now I have to find a better performing (reasonably priced) DAP as a replacement.

Who is this for?

For this dufus and hope you don't become like me and buy such a POS, going strictly with its published specs!
---------------------------------
Unbalanced Headphone Output (3.5mm)
◆Output power: 200mW（32Ω/THD+N<0.001%）
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥115 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞75 dB
◆THD+N: 0.001%@1kHz（32Ω@1kHz）
Balanced Headphone Output (4.4mm)
◆Output power: 270mW（32Ω/THD+N<0.001%）
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥120 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞115 dB
◆THD+N: 0.0009%@1kHz（32Ω@1kHz）
Line Out (3.5mm)
◆Output level: 2.0Vrms
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥115 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞108 dB
◆THD+N: 0.001%@1kHz
----------------------------------

Yeah this is poor/mediocre... a shame for the member who sent it in, but thanks for the testing Amir.

I had purchased this newer xDuoo X5 as a replacement for an older xDuoo X20 DAP, which I have used for about 5 years for feeding my audio systems in vehicles.
Oh, Yes: I should mention that I don't use a phone, ...hence the purchase.

ADD: I voted for it as a PostmanPanther.

 

[jcarys]

For those that don't understand the device's purpose, it is small enough to fit in the pockets of my running shorts. Space is at a premium, and I definitely don't want to drag along my increasingly expensive Pixel phone. And unlike my Pixel, I have added a 2TB card and have tons of music available anywhere I am on the planet. I'm still using my Sony from 2019, now augmented with the JCally JM20Max - a perfect combo (for now).

 

[Roland68]

Thank you for testing it, @amirm,
Too bad, I cannot return it anymore and now I have to find a better performing (reasonably priced) DAP as a replacement.

For this dufus and hope you don't become like me and buy such a POS, going strictly with its published specs!
---------------------------------
Unbalanced Headphone Output (3.5mm)
◆Output power: 200mW（32Ω/THD+N<0.001%）
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥115 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞75 dB
◆THD+N: 0.001%@1kHz（32Ω@1kHz）
Balanced Headphone Output (4.4mm)
◆Output power: 270mW（32Ω/THD+N<0.001%）
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥120 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞115 dB
◆THD+N: 0.0009%@1kHz（32Ω@1kHz）
Line Out (3.5mm)
◆Output level: 2.0Vrms
◆Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz(±0.5dB)
◆SNR: ≥115 dB
◆Crosstalk: ＞108 dB
◆THD+N: 0.001%@1kHz
----------------------------------

I had purchased this newer xDuoo X5 as a replacement for an older xDuoo X20 DAP, which I have used for about 5 years for feeding my audio systems in vehicles.
Oh, Yes: I should mention that I don't use a phone, ...hence the purchase.

ADD: I voted for it as a PostmanPanther.

If you live in a country with reasonably good consumer protection laws, returning the device shouldn't be a problem, whether new or used.
The measured values deviate by 25-50% from the manufacturer's warranty, which is far beyond any tolerance.
The second channel can clearly be considered defective. The deviation from the first channel and the manufacturer's specifications is simply too large.

You could also request a statement from the manufacturer and ask whether your device is defective or whether the measured values are actually that bad.
And they should also help you return the device.

 

[lewdish]

Pretty expected and typical of xDuoo tbh. I do love seeing more DAP reviews. Keep em coming!

 

[Deus]

Absolutely! You just have to send one to Amir.

That's how ASR works, all reviewed products are sent in by ASR members or manufacturers.

I would like to, but wanna see tests before make decision to buy it

 

[staticV3]

I would like to, but wanna see tests before make decision to buy it

Doesn't everyone?

 

[xanalog]

Doesn't everyone?

Is that a dig at me?

 

[RogerSmith]

The performance is really poor, I also heard that the interface and funcionality are not great. So why do manufacturers, who want to release a good DAP, not kind of put all of a well performing dongle inside it and build the software/interface around it and add a few buttons?

 

[staticV3]

Is that a dig at me?

Thank you for your sacrifice

 

[staticV3]

Btw, had Amir turned down the DAP volume by 2-3dB, he'd have gotten a 1kHz dashboard with 3.1Vrms and 95dB SINAD in both channels:


It's only in the last 15% of the volume where the Xduoo clips and loses some SINAD, so perhaps not as bad as some may think from the dashboard as it is now.

 

[Curupira]

As per ShenzenAudio, they're using dual CS43131 chips, which indicates that there is something seriously wrong with their circuit design, as these chips can output <-105 SINAD as shown in similar dongles, IMD hump notwithstanding.

EDIT: here is FiiO's measurement on their own dual CS43131 DAP on bal, -4dB sinusoidal signal, balanced headphone out, high gain (32Ω load):