XDuoo XA-02 - The DAC you want? The DAC you NEED?
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You can comment on this video at YouTube
Thursday January 9, 2025
David Mellor
David Mellor is CEO and Course Director of Audio Masterclass. David has designed courses in audio education and training since 1986 and is the publisher and principal writer of Adventures In Audio.
@ironhead3494: DO You even need an amp for a 32ohm headphone?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @ironhead3494: If whatever you're using doesn't have a headphone socket, then yes you do.
@ironhead3494 replies to @ironhead3494: @ very true, but I mean anything that has a headphone Jack should be able to push 32 ohms
@AudioMasterclass replies to @ironhead3494: It should. I don’t mind having extra power on hand though as headroom.
@CookinBeatloaf: Funny but the fact of LDAC and AptX LL in a budget all in one is actually significant. There are some downsides but at $200 for 1w unbalanced I might get this instead of the d50iii for my computer
@johnrus7661: Today that's not really the case anymore. Most modern music for the last several years is mixed with binaural listeners in mind. Because of the rise of bluetooth earbuds and headphone listeners.
@cremersalex: Another day, another DAC.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @cremersalex: You’re not wrong. DACs are popular. I won’t argue with the market.
@Wuppie62: What are your thoughts on this DAC/Head-Amp vs. the SMSL RAW-HA1, which you reviewed not so long ago?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @Wuppie62: Sound-wise I have no preference. It would be up to a potential purchaser to compare features and price.
@RosemarySoriano-n6v: Thank you so much!😊
@davidbaileys744: Most annoying review I have seen in a while.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @davidbaileys744: Great. I’ll try to do even better next time.
@myself61607: German RME makes a very good thing like this although perhaps more expensive. Its manual is a proper book.
@ac81017: Nothing against headphones, but i much prefer my fully treated listening room with a pair of Tannoy Canterbury along with a pair of REL Carbon subs for the low end. The 3D holographic image is out of this world.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @ac81017: Comment readers might (not) like to know that the price I see today for the Tannoys is £32,995.00 GBP per pair.
@ac81017 replies to @ac81017: @AudioMasterclassYou forgot the Rel subs. 😂
@AudioMasterclass replies to @ac81017: @ac81017 At a mere £7k for the reference series, I presume each, I thought they were too much like pocket change to mention.
@michaeldeloatch7461: I can't wear headphones very long -- my ear canals start to perspire. For classical, that's great for a binge listening session of all 17 versions I own of La Mer by Debussy. But with other genres, there are often subtle reverb and other effects introduced in production and frankly the mix gets too wet for my taste. Thank you for a thoughtful and useful review of this product.
@rabit818: Agree, the packaging and the logo looks good. The knob light seems bright (?). Love the “peel off” action lol
@AudioMasterclass replies to @rabit818: That peel off took me five or six goes. It's very sticky and you might notice some residue in the video. The knob isn't too bright unless you like to listen in the dark.
@robertoney5665: Audiophiles love bragging with their egos about "I CAN HEAR THE DIFFRENCE " using my DAC and the magical sounds that i can hear beyond the human hearing. Really?? Explain it with facts and not with opinions. I can't wait what magical B.S. you have to say. 😮
@AudioMasterclass replies to @robertoney5665: It's all about the Quantum Mysticism. Do you know nothing? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mysticism
@robertoney5665 replies to @robertoney5665: @AudioMasterclass I know more than you will ever know Mr Magical Audiophile.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @robertoney5665: Diddums. Of course you do.
@robertoney5665 replies to @robertoney5665: @AudioMasterclass 🤣 Why So Serious?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @robertoney5665: OK let's be serious. I've read your original comment carefully and what I see is that you think I'm an audiophile who can hear things that others can't. Is that correct?
@genericusername5909: Objectivist … the snark took a dark turn
@AudioMasterclass replies to @genericusername5909: An audio objectivist. What I think about Ayn Rand may or may not be a different story.
@MarkThomas-hm3ju: Thanks for clarifying the difference between headphone listening and two channel speaker listening. The recording room is likened to being a third instrument and the two channel speakers are able to translate the phasing of this (due to microphone placement in the recording) to your ears.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @MarkThomas-hm3ju: There's also the difference between the direct field and diffuse field. Headphones are effectively direct field. Listening on speakers in an untreated room will be diffuse field. That's a big topic though and I might address it in a future video.
@SwedeSnail: I really enjoy your videos. Finally, a channel that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I love your witty comments and your sense of humor! It’s great to see FUN videos about hi-fi without them becoming ridiculous in any way. Brilliant! THANK YOU!
@AudioMasterclass replies to @SwedeSnail: Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I do take my facts seriously but the rest is fun fun fun (until daddy takes the T-bird away).
@blast2662: Hello! What would you prefer: SMSL RAW-MDA 1 or xDuoo XA-02, comparing them only by sound and price? I'm choosing between these models.
Thanks!
@LDFades replies to @blast2662: I haven’t heard the XA-02 but took delivery of the RAW MDA1 this week and can say it sounds great in my initial listening sessions. Using Senn HD560S headphones.
@blast2662 replies to @blast2662: @LDFades Thank you for your answer. But how come you didn’t listen to xDuoo XA-02 if I leave a comment under the xDuoo XA-02 review?)
@blast2662 replies to @blast2662: @QueefMcGeesHouse You clearly got something mixed up. The S.M.S.L RAW-MDA-1 is a combo device, both a DAC and an AMP.
You even have a video titled: "S.M.S.L RAW-MDA 1 DAC/Headphone Amp Unboxing."
So, you've listened to both devices, the xDuoo XA-02 and the S.M.S.L RAW-MDA-1. Which one would you prefer if comparing them solely based on sound quality, ignoring all other features except the price?
@muckymcfly: @4:15 - A very british review section.
@nicksmith4507: Or perhaps it comes with Adenosine Triphosphate for more energetic bass.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @nicksmith4507: I think that might be an optional extra. Audiophiles who are particularly dedicated may like to read up - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate
@davegleeful: Manual written in Chinglish 🙄?
@MGoudsmits: What a useless device. DAC seems a hype but serves no purpose. At least if you own a modern amplifier that has a DAC built in. Edit: I mean an extra DAC as device.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @MGoudsmits: You’re no fun.
@MGoudsmits replies to @MGoudsmits: @AudioMasterclass ha indeed too serious
@duskonanyavarld1786 replies to @MGoudsmits: You need a dac for digital media. I cant hear difference between dac and headphones amps.
@andymouse replies to @MGoudsmits: DAC serves no purpose ? but you must have a DAC in your amp. If you don't have a DAC this suddenly becomes a very useful device.
@MGoudsmits replies to @MGoudsmits: @andymouse Absolutely, I meant the extra DAC which I made clear with remark your Amp should have one already.
@middleearthltd: I came for the unboxing music and I got a review as a bonus
The unboxing music was unattributed and is not identified in the drop-down menu
One would hope it is on BandCamp
@AudioMasterclass replies to @middleearthltd: It is - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/track/daisys-irritating-unboxing-music
@MrSlipstreem: Affordable great DACs have been around for a very long time. I remember buying my first CD player in 1986. The specs and sonic performance were unbeatable at the time and it sounded incredible! I was considering resurrecting it recently, but it's not going to be cheap and will take many hours to do, so I started looking around for an easier and hopefully cheaper alternative. The answer in my case was a secondhand 21 year old Sony CD/DVD player with RCA outputs for £20 that wipes the floor with my "audiophile" CD player in every way possibly imaginable. The quoted distortion figure is far higher than for the XA-02, but it's still over 100 times lower than any human being could possibly hear.
@cdl0 replies to @MrSlipstreem: I took the plunge and repaired my 1989-vintage Sony CD player myself. It had been dumped in the loft for over 20 years. It boasts RCA, optical, and headphone outputs, and 18-bit, 8-times oversampling Burr-Brown DAC, which is good enough for me. 🙂
@baritonfelix: Dare I say it, there is some unpleasant room ambience if you listen with headphones.
@thexfile.: No music being played through XA-02 ?
@cdl0 replies to @thexfile.: You can't hear it, I suspect. 🙂
@AudioMasterclass replies to @thexfile.: Ho ho, well done.
@Retro480i: Nice... so it sounds like you like this unit. I'm using a Steinberg UR22mkII for ADC and DAC, as a budget studio preamp. I also have the Behringer U-Phoria UM2, which for casual use is fine but sounds like a tire loosing air compared to the Steinberg. But if I ever get to use my Genelec 1030AM speakers on a regular basis, I'd like a high quality DAC like this.
@CookinBeatloaf replies to @Retro480i: I would not want this for monitors. A topping d50iii would be a better option if you don't care about the latency benefits of your interface
@tonygroenewoud-powell53: The stereo separation of the audio on the unboxing segment, actually made me jump! Using speakers though, not headphones ;-)
@AudioMasterclass replies to @tonygroenewoud-powell53: A tonic to your nervous system then. Maybe have a small gin to calm down.