The xDuoo Link Mobile DAC was released in 2020 and frankly, it made a lot of noise among portable audio lovers. The manufacturer, as we know, is a very serious ESS chip, newer at the time, and in terms of resolution: enviable 32-bit 384 kHz in PCM and native DSD256. Not all Hi-Ends can still do this. In general, the device was very curious, but just now it fell into my hands. Let’s see, let’s study, let’s take measurements, whatever you want.
Characteristic
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DAC: ESS ESS9118EC
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Output power: 32 mW into 32 ohms
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Audio Resolution: Up to 384kHz/32bit, DSD256
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Format decoding support: PCM, DSD
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Frequency range: 20Hz – 20kHz
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Power supply: 5 volts 0.106 amps
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Type C inputs
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Outputs: 3.5mm
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Dimensions: 60x13x7.2mm
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Weight: 13g
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Operating system: Android, iOS, Windows 10, macOS
Packaging and equipment
The device came in a long cardboard box with the manufacturer’s logo, a huge Hi-Res Audio certification sticker, and an erasable authentication layer.
Inside was the device itself, a warranty card, and a similarly sized instruction manual. Apparently, they decided to save money on the adapter for the usual USB port.
Design/Ergonomics
The DAC case is metal, with a Hi-Res Audio sticker, 3.5mm output, and a Type-C connector on the back.
The latter was placed on a fairly stiff connecting cable which, in my opinion, noticeably limits the bending geometry.
On the front, we find an LED indicator, a separate pause button, and a tactile swing to control the system volume from the source. Everything is assembled perfectly, looks great, no questions asked here.
But the device does not consume very humanly, for 5 volts I got 0.106 amps. Given the 32mW output power into 32 ohm load, this is a very serious value. Today, with such a power supply, one could count on 100, and maybe even more mW. However, as you understand, the device in this regard is far from a champion. Well, power-wise, the DAC is designed more for a variety of in-ear headphones. Of course it will rock some full sizes too, but I wouldn’t even try it above 50 ohms.
During use, a slight heating is felt, there is no noise during pauses, as well as headphone support, but in terms of volume, on average, I turned about 20% of the maximum, that is, there is some margin here.
By resolution we have available PCM up to 32 bit 384 kHz and native DSD up to DSD256. The device does not know how to decode MQA.
Software
With Windows computers, the DAC works both through WASAPI and through the ASIO interface. For the latter, you need to install the drivers from the company’s official website.
On Android and iOS, Link supports every possible app, including high-quality BitPerfect mode with hardware signal level control.
measurements
I made all measurements at 24-bit 96 kHz resolution on the E1DA Cosmos ADC. The results turned out to be exactly as stated by the manufacturer: a near-perfect frequency response curve, a noise shelf at minus 150 dB, excellent dynamic range, and distortion below minus 105 dB.
Also, the intermodulation ones are even a bit better, about minus 107 dB, and the harmonics in digital terms are 0.00182%.
In summary, all points here are “excellent”, except harmonic distortion and intermodulation at 10 kHz, which are rated “very good”. Not perfect, of course, but decent overall.
Sound
In the sound, you can feel a nice analog warmth and saturation, which classifies the device as musical. In terms of technicality and drawing nuances, however, this is also in full order, although the pictures themselves look a bit more rounded than, for example, on the Whizzer DA1. Well, compared to the much more relevant Hilidac Audirect Atom Mini, the hero of the review generally shows class. Everything is too merged in Atom Mini. So although in recent years the mobile segment of DACs has come a long way, but this, by and large, is only about power output and measurement numbers. As for the sound, at least in this price segment, the progress is not so obvious. Yes, for the most part, the sound has become better defined, clearer and more expressive, but to talk about it, you have to sit up straight and compare the devices head-on.
Breaking down the frequencies, the bass here has good depth and texture, the mid is smooth, juicy, and super melodic, and the highs, in my opinion, just competently complement the mid-frequency component. No brightness, sharpness or unnecessary aggression. The musical canvas itself is built quite holistically, subject to high-quality headphones, of course. The stage is not bad for what is served in breadth and very decent in depth. I will not say that this is a solution for listening to academic music, everything is clear with this in the price segment, however, the Link will not fall to the ground either: the instruments have the correct positioning, nothing falls into a mess, and the timbres differ in texture. What a conditional 3000 rubles, a lot.
Personally, I like Link’s sound. All kinds of music close to jazz, not too heavy metal, rock, ethnic and atmospheric electronic sounds great. Of course, it is not the level of a hospital or an expensive laptop, but it is no worse than a cheap audio player. According to the headphones, I think everything is extremely obvious: the full-size ones adjusted to build are immediately past. But vnutrikalki for him – just. He actively led him to ThieAudio Elixir and BGVP Tang Character. Furthermore, the first ears behaved exactly as I hear them in stationary bands, but the second ones, due to their emphasized massiveness, slightly masked the balance shift towards the high frequencies. Which I even liked.
I will only recommend xDuoo Link to those who like such a thick, voluminous and slightly rounded sound. Aimed rather to embellish you, and not to show a record of intelligibility, clarity of attacks or realism of what is happening. The DAC sounds really super comfortable, but, as they say, with noticeable embellishment. And finally, I decided to compare it to the more expensive Topping NX4 DSD portable DAC. Here, yes, the sound does seem clearer, a bit more aggressive and noticeably sharper, however by equalizing the volume you should hear the differences directly. That is, here the device proved to be very competitive.
conclusions
As a result, xDuoo Link personally hooked me, as they say, with its sound. In addition, quite good measurements, the presence of controls and catchy appearance. In the minuses, oddly enough, I will also include measures that could be even better – an “oak” connection cable and gluttony – at the level of balanced solutions with three or four times higher power output. All of this, of course, isn’t super critical, but a careful reader will get to the bottom of it anyway. The device sounds with a melody bias, that is, it is warmer, juicier and smoother than current competitors. At the same time, you will not get to the bottom of the drawing of the shades either. Basically, it’s pretty decent. And this is without discounts for the fact that the device is the twentieth year. Well, except I’d like more power, and so…
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Source: IXBT
