The company xDuoo already can rightfully be regarded as an experienced market player portable Hi-Fi. Let everyone their product does not become a revelation in terms of sound quality, value for money and offer opportunities for the company’s traditionally high. Recently, their model range was supplemented with several devices, but most interesting, of course, is the flagship of the X20.
Fortunately for the people, not burdened with salary and above with six zeros, xDuoo continue to exhibit a very affordable price tag, despite the fact that its the older model they were able to “cram” a lot of things, starting with the ES9018K2M in the role of DAC and ending with two sets of generators for minimum jitter. Not paid attention and nezvalova possible, there is all that etiquette rules dictate to have a modern player: USB-C, working in both directions, balanced output, Bluetooth with aptX and more. To cope with softovoi part, xDuoo drew themselves Hiby, and this, perhaps, has become one of the main advantages of the device.
Specifications
- DAC: ES9018K2M
- OH: OPA1612
- Formats supported: APE, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, MP3, OGG, WMA, ISO, DSF, DFF
- DSD support: up to DSD256
- Input: USB-C
- Outputs: 3.5 mm nauchnikov, 2.5 mm balanced, 3.5 mm line-in, combined with coaxial
- Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX and Hiby Link
- Screen: 2″ TFT, 240 × 320
- Battery: 2400 mAh
- Working time on batteries: ~8 hours with the usual output, ~7 h with balanced output
- Charging time: < 3 hours
- Dimensions: 110 mm × 56 mm × 16.6 mm
- Weight: 138 g
3.5 mm output
- Power output: 210 mW @ 32Ω
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.15 dB)
- The ratio signal/noise: ≥114 dB
- Dynamic range: >75 dB
- Total harmonic distortion+noise: 0,0015%
Balanced output
- Output power: 300 mW @ 32Ω
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.15 dB)
- The ratio signal/noise: ≥116 dB
- Dynamic range: >112 dB
- Total harmonic distortion+noise: 0,0015%
Line out
- Output level: 1.7 Vrms
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.15 dB)
- The ratio signal/noise: ≥114 dB
- Dynamic range: >108 dB
- Total harmonic distortion+noise: 0,0012%
Packing and delivery
Kontrkultury from xDuoo decided to break the system and made a box for music player white color, it looks not supereffective, but on the other hand, why waste time and effort on something that will still be almost certainly discarded. Traditionally, in the box on top is the player, below is a variety of accessories, to which this time in addition to the warranty certificate with instruction include:
- USB-C cable
- Harsh as rebar and thick as rebar 3.5 mm interconnect
- A couple of plugs for 3.5 mm connector (2.5 mm balanced, apparently, decided not to worry)
- A pair of replacement protective stickers on the screen
- Several self-adhesive silicone feet (here really — surprised and puzzled)
Unfortunately, the kit doesn’t cover, but in this case the case need not to protect the player when falling on the floor, but rather the opposite — to protect the floor from damage falling X20.
Design and management
Before xDuoo tossed between two extremes, or, as in X10, they did not think about the design, or, as in X3 — I think too much, but in both cases it turned out sad. This time the managers of the company is properly measured need designers time, and a balanced player both in appearance and in UX. Of course, to state “the player cool design” stopped short, do not call design a metal bar with the buttons on the side, but at least the X20 does not cause surprise when you look at him and really good to manage.
Over the form of the body in xDuoo did not think long (front was a difficult task choosing the color of the button), therefore, before us is a completely flat rectangle with slightly beveled ends. Size it slightly larger than most of his colleagues on the price segment, but still quite pocket-sized solution. If someone decided to hold a competition for the title of the heterosexual player — competitors of this gadget would not be at all, even the controls here are limited only to buttons.
On the left side put the button on radical red colors and two volume keys, below is the reset hole (never useful) and a slot for MicroSD-cards. His memory of the player, no, but in our age of large maps is no problem.
The right side has a richer buttons, then placed the 3 keys to control the playback, they are used to navigate menus and confirm selection. That life did not seem quite so easy, the designers have mixed up the direction of the icon “Play” button that initially cost me a few mistakes, but you get used to that and begin to operate it blindly. Above are the buttons back and a submenu.
In General, if I have not clearly articulated higher — despite the jokes, “usability” player xDuoo successful, the device is operated and to the touch, and with open eyes. If the fault is that the buttons on the right side has to stretch the finger, but I quickly got used to.
On the bottom are placed three exits, the main thing is not to accidentally stick the headphones in line-out (remember, there are convenient plugs? I recommend). On the top side placed USB-C connector, and it fully meets the expectations: charging, access to the memory card, USB DAC, USB OTG, USB Audio — all in stock. The USB DAC works with a slight delay, but otherwise function surprisingly works flawlessly without. The player is able to display digital signals (including DSD) via coax and USB, which gives us to understand that the “player-transport” X10T died before they were born.
On the front panel is just the screen, expect for a budget player it’s smaller than the allotted under his insert, but want the other for 200 $ is clearly stupid. Resolution and color rendition at the screen is average, but the margin of brightness is quite good, even in the sun it is still readable (though not so good). In the upper left corner above the screen is a small svetodiody for indication of important events (mainly related to the battery).
The battery life is not phenomenal, but on the average level by modern standards, pulls from inventory, MEEAudio P1 in the role of load when playing FLAC 44.1/16 player worked 8 hours and 15 minutes. Full charge time was 2 hours and 45 minutes. For powerful enough devices — very decent figures.
Firmware
So like any girl should be a mystery, but in any Chinese player — probbach (write here is more appropriate verbal noun do not allow me the rules of the site), product managers xDuoo (or Hiby, I don’t know who did the design of the firmware) decided to take it out on the menu. It contains 6 points, while made with a “circular” navigation, that is, when moving the right column, pressing the down button moves the selection up. Add to that the clear highlighting of the current item, and you will understand the essence of the difficulty felt by the user first operating the player. Fortunately, developers have used this one “feature”, and get used to it very quickly.
Otherwise, praise Confucius, everything turned out very smoothly, responsible for it in the first place Hiby, who designed the firmware, and secondly, xDuoo, decided this time to theoutsourcing this important process.
The firmware is before us is a typical product Hiby with maximum use of the practices of the company. The menu is divided into 6 parts, so to describe them I’ll be in the navigation order.
Music Browser. Everything is as expected, viewing the media library by folders, the available SD card and USB OTG flash drive. Someday, Chinese programmers will learn how to determine what USB flash drive not plugged in and remove the “extra” menu item, but it happened clearly not soon. In the same section there is a menu library upgrade (which made it difficult to put it in the next section, this is where the media library lives — a mystery bigger smile Yuri Loza). The “option” button allows you to delete files and folders and add music to favorites.
My Music. Here is the anticipated music library: browse by genres, albums, artists and all together. Extra bonus — list of favorites, playlists and recently played list. Here also there is a submenu available that is called the “option”button.
Now Playing. This menu item displays the current album cover and a brief information about the currently playing track, it is expected, brings us back to the playback screen. The latter is quite traditional, occupies most of the album artwork, pressing the “option” button opens a sub-menu with quick settings.
Bluetooth Settings. Everything is also expected to include a wireless interface, select the device to connect, turn on-turn off aptX and Hiby Link. By tradition, the player can work as a Bluetooth transmitter and as a receiver, but in the latter case, the quality is limited SBC-codec.
System Settings. The diversity of system preferences, from the choice of language (Russian is present) to a mode “Car” (the player automatically turns on when receiving power via USB and turns off when disconnected). Of course, there are brightness settings, timers, shutdown, firmware upgrade, etc. Also for some reason in this sub-section put the option to move to the next folder when playing.
Music Settings. The same familiar settings everything connected with sound. Gain, digital filter (only two options), playback order, equalizer (as usually implemented is so-so), memorizing volume and position when you turn off and all other settings that have a decent modern player.
Speaking “in General”, the firmware is quite stable, fast and does not contain any problems. Player is friends with a non-Latin alphabet (assuming that the owner knows what UTF-8 or know how to use my head and Google), so the idea is to give to outsourcing gave wonderful results.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, 99 Meze Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
The search for “their sound”, launched xDuoo another X10, finally succeeded, and X20 the company’s engineers have managed to make the flow of both “his” and without strong distortions in the sound. If you appreciate the sound of the entire model, then player a little dark and a bit relaxed, but this is done very carefully and sparingly.
Bass slightly accented, though, perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that the bass seems to be accented because of the peculiarities of filing the upper half of the frequency range. Bass are generous in depth, although the “lower bass” control is not perfect, for this price range more than well, the player has a solidity in the flow, decent textures, and good resolution. Hlestkost not perfect, but is also at a decent level, especially when using fast headphones. Speed characteristics are not outrageous, but “four” is quite pull.
Midrange served with a bias in macro-dynamics, it is not a model for lovers of microdialysate and monitor dryness. Due to the decent performance in the field “macro” player perfectly conveys emotions, gently accentuating them. However, he is not particularly critical to the quality of the recording (driving player, good accent of emotion, I think it is clear which styles it will be good), but the characteristic information of the track still will not disappear. An imaginary scene somewhere in the middle of the width and less than the average drop in depth but horizontally separated instruments well, although a slightly better separation plans would supply twenty good.
HF is probably the most simplistic part in the sound of the player. X20 should suit the tastes of those who don’t like top of the range softened the attack and decay for HF allows the player to sound comfortable enough. The top is still very legible, but sometimes it lacks a larger presence. I think the player just “locked up” for not much quality records where a decent RF — a rarity, since most of the music player copes fine.
So how to compare the player with all the models that are available on the market, it is physically impossible to map, I chose mostly models of the same segment. To compare the X20 with the obviously more expensive models pointless, and considerably worse — disrespectful.
FiiO X3 III. Almost all parameters player FiiO acts as the antithesis xDuoo it concerns and firmware, and sound. “The third Troika” is playing neutral, with a slight slope in light supply, at a monitor sound for lovers of nepribrannoy, while “twenty”, on the contrary, emphasizes emotion and a little potemneet sound (however, without a strong bias).
Shanling M3s. Of course, the price would be more logical in this comparison include M2s, but in fact the X20 can quite compete with the older model. The Shanling player is working better treble, offering a more interesting sound this part of the range, but the midrange and bass, perhaps, the balance is leaning in favor of the xDuoo (if you discard subjective preferences, of course).
xDuoo X10. Actually, “younger brother” to the X20 is noticeably falls short, but is included in the comparison to demonstrate the fact that xDuoo work and sound. X20, of course, more expensive and a half times, but this is the case, when to pay, it might be worth. The older model sounds more natural, more engagement and better detail practically the whole frequency range.
Hidizs ‘ AP100. This player was included in comparisons for one simple reason — the flow of it is reminiscent of the X20, but the brainchild xDuoo develops these ideas at a higher level: better resolution in the midrange, tighter deep bass, in General, almost all that allows to say about “half-step” or slapped another cliché with a similar meaning.
Compatibility
One of the advantages of the X20 its power, it is not record-breaking but sufficient for most modern headphones, including panoramer. Of course, the background noise with the most sensitive IEM is a sort of “payback” for the most power, but its volume is at quite acceptable level, so no problems with the selection of headphones to X20 is not expected. Me for example, he loved the Boy with HiFi OS V3, FiiO F9 Pro Audio and Campfire Cascade (of course, this is subjective and is not a complete list).
Genre player is quite versatile, but a discount on the price, for complex styles, perhaps we should consider something more expensive. Purely in my opinion, the player should appeal to those who like the sound of a La Hidizs ‘ AP100 — head in the bass and added a “drive” on the lower midrange. The quality of the recording X20 tolerant enough, somewhere in the 6 points out of 10.
A few traditional tracks-examples
Amon Amarth — Valhall Awaits Me Always. Start the collection, shall we say, not the most complex and intelligent representative of the heavy genre. Fortunately, “Amun” the lack of complexity in their music perfectly compensate for emotions and drive, and X20, are often valid approximately in the same key, great for their creativity, enhancing the effect.
Perry Como — Young at Heart. There are artists and songs that work like a time machine, and the song is one of them. In an embodiment of the player xDuoo he clearly performs its task, leaving us in the distant past, allowing you to enjoy this vintage recording, backing vocals, orchestral background and take it out just fine.
Marillion — Kayleigh. I don’t think there are among my readers are music lovers who are not familiar with the work of Marillion and especially their biggest hit. But since last year they released a remaster (or Remix) to which the hand of the One Who Makes the Best Remaster, can’t go back to this album again. I will not again praise of Stephen, but he again managed to modernize the album, fully preserving his spirit, and xDuoo X20 with it’s driving flow shows is very good.
Insights
Don’t know whether it would be too pathetic to write something like “finally xDuoo all out”? X20, of course, it’s not “the killer of all competitors,” as it is some places are trying to position, but this is by far the player for which it is not necessary to do a discount on the price, justifying some flaws low cost. Before us is a player with all the modern “chips”, good sound and easy controls, and the low price is just the “added bonus” to its undoubted advantages.
To buy xDuoo X20
An overview of the player xDuoo X20 — no discounts and compromise
Pavel Dmitriev