Gamers, What's Your Audio Set Up?

[hornetstinger]

I'd pick any audio geared dac/amp over these creative gaming ones that may require prop drivers/software really, something like the Fosi Audio K5 Pro?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fosi-Audio-K5-Pro-Headphone/dp/B0BFHFSX4C/ref=sr_1_3#customerReviews

Easy return to Amazon too if you don't like it.

Stereo is easy enough, USB DAC/pre-amp/headphone amp/speaker amp etc. Probably good idea to shift away from optical/coaxial/hdmi audio as USB is universal enough USB ports on a computer.

Issue is multi channel audio, I still use optical out and will be for a while as HDMI audio is flawed

 

[Raymond Lin]

eerrrrr.....why do I want this?

xDuoo DM-01 Desktop DAC/Amp

The DM-01 is a retro-futuristic hybrid DAC/amp with a 12AU7 tube, CS43131 DAC, and 1500mW output power. Designed with atomic-age aesthetics, it blends tube warmth with modern digital precision. Featuring Bluetooth 5.4, USB DAC functionality, and a CNC-machined aluminum body, it’s built for...

apos.audio

 

[mrk]

A bit too all over the place for my liking Side mounted headphone socket?! Also gotta guess how good the DAC side of things is as not all DACs are implemented equally, and no OpAmp rolling means no means to fine tune the sound if needed.

Would have one without the audio internals, just a metal robot desk-toy though.

 

[Raymond Lin]

A bit too all over the place for my liking Side mounted headphone socket?! Also gotta guess how good the DAC side of things is as not all DACs are implemented equally, and no OpAmp rolling means no means to fine tune the sound if needed.

Would have one without the audio internals, just a metal robot desk-toy though.

I won't get it....like the screen isn't a screen...that should be a real screen showing bit rate etc.

Headphone back could be out of his shoe, 6.35 and 4.4mm in each foot.

But I like it's first iteration enough that if they bring at least a screen to the belly....I would be very tempted.

 

[hornetstinger]

A bit too all over the place for my liking Side mounted headphone socket?! Also gotta guess how good the DAC side of things is as not all DACs are implemented equally, and no OpAmp rolling means no means to fine tune the sound if needed.

Would have one without the audio internals, just a metal robot desk-toy though.

If I was designing that robot the headphone socket would be on the front or rear groinal area.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/reddwarf/images/3/34/Tikka.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150328203922

 

[Raymond Lin]

If I was designing that robot the headphone socket would be on the front or rear groinal area.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/reddwarf/images/3/34/Tikka.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150328203922

Someone said that on Head-Fi ! lol But then it would only be 1 headphone out...unless they make it into boobies like Austin Powers.

 

[mrk]

They had one job....

 

[Raymond Lin]

It's here!

Fits in that spot perfectly.

It turns red when it's at 69....

Since it came with a weird EU plug, I had to use my RL Powercord

p.s. it doesn't get that warm, and this is Class A?

 

[Venali]

Anyone have any advice on a room layout for my speakers? It's driving me nuts. The only thing I can think of is to put the bed in the middle of the room like in the picture below. I could also put it in the alcove top right, but it makes the speaker + tv position awkward. Bottom right could work behind the door, but I don't like the idea of sleeping with my back to the door. Please ignore the awful ms paint skills, if possible.

 

[mrk]

Top right seems fine?

It's here!

Fits in that spot perfectly.

It turns red when it's at 69....

Since it came with a weird EU plug, I had to use my RL Powercord

p.s. it doesn't get that warm, and this is Class A?

Class A/AB gets hot, the FiiO K11 R2R doesn't get hot either, just lukewarm to the touch for ref. The Aiyima A80 is what gets very hot like a Class A/B amp but that is a speaker amp with lots of power and a triple stacked PCB with some large capacitors etc.

The XA02 is Class D but with the power supply inside the unit like many other Class Ds like the NAD D 3045 for example. You won't find a Class A/B that is smaller than a VRC typically as the transformers are huge and the units weight several KG.

Can the volume dial LED be turned off? That looks like it could be a distraction?

 

[Raymond Lin]

Top right seems fine?


Class A/AB gets hot, the FiiO K11 R2R doesn't get hot either, just lukewarm to the touch for ref. The Aiyima A80 is what gets very hot like a Class A/B amp but that is a speaker amp with lots of power and a triple stacked PCB with some large capacitors etc.

The XA02 is Class D but with the power supply inside the unit like many other Class Ds like the NAD D 3045 for example. You won't find a Class A/B that is smaller than a VRC typically as the transformers are huge and the units weight several KG.

Can the volume dial LED be turned off? That looks like it could be a distraction?

It's Class A....everywhere i've read says it's Class A.

xDuoo XA-02 - xDuoo official store

Price is only $199, worldwide free shipping on xDuoo official store

xduoo.net

As for the screen, no, it's always on, as is the ring light too. I know....wish it could be dimmed but I'll live.

edit - Took me like 30mins, finally figured out how to make the Mac to output 24bit/192khz!

 

[mrk]

It's Class A....everywhere i've read says it's Class A.

Hmm very interesting, I guess it is just aDAC/headphone amp which is why it;s compact then.

As for the screen, no, it's always on, as is the ring light too. I know....wish it could be dimmed but I'll live.

You discounted the R2R because it had an RGB logo on the top, even though you can turn it off, yet now you have an amp with a fixed always on LED!

 

[Raymond Lin]

Hmm very interesting, I guess it is just aDAC/headphone amp which is why it;s compact then.


You discounted the R2R because it had an RGB logo on the top, even though you can turn it off, yet now you have an amp with a fixed always on LED!

I know...but in particular I didn't like the logo lighting up lol (I know i am weird and i know it can be switched off)

This isn't THAT bright but you are right that it should be able to be dimmed.

 

[mrk]

I'm guessing Mac doesn't do exclusive mode so won't dynamically adjust the output sampling rate to the DAC if one track is 96K and another is 48? You don't want a fixed 192 else you end up upsampling the vast majority of stuff to 192 (which is 99% of everything pretty much) which could lead to clipping/distortion or noise. Safe bet is to set it to the most common sampling rate of media played back, which would be 48K as all video is 48K typically, and music is either 44.1 or 48 unless hi-red where it can go up to 192 but that's rare even on Tidal.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I'm guessing Mac doesn't do exclusive mode so won't dynamically adjust the output sampling rate to the DAC if one track is 96K and another is 48? You don't want a fixed 192 else you end up upsampling the vast majority of stuff to 192 (which is 99% of everything pretty much) which could lead to clipping/distortion or noise. Safe bet is to set it to the most common sampling rate of media played back, which would be 48K as all video is 48K typically, and music is either 44.1 or 48 unless hi-red where it can go up to 192 but that's rare even on Tidal.

Yeah, just looked into it, MAC doesn't do it dynamically so I have left it at 24bit/44.1khz. I don't play many games on here anyway and the games i play are simple ones so if i forget to change the sample rate to 48khz it's not the end of the world. If I remember then I will up it to 48khz.

A small part of me was worried that it's broken and not detecting the high res audio sample I've downloaded online but it turns out i need to actually change the output in OS level.

p.s. it's been on for 2hrs now and it's only 32c, perhaps the massive metal casing helps cooling it..

 

[Angst]

Looks nice, how does it sound? Not all class A get hot hot, i think it's down to individual implementations, my class A amp just gets a bit warm to the touch aswell.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Looks nice, how does it sound? Not all class A get hot, i think it's down to individual implementations, my class A amp just gets a bit warm to the touch.

I am not very good at describing audio without being super cliche...

The silence feels like there is a void, zero hiss. Super clean. Lots of detail and separation and it can go from quiet to loud in a track without breaking a sweat, very dynamic. i am only on 32/100 on the volume on high gain and it's a good listening level on the Edition XS. I might even try low gain to give myself more control in the volume adjustment. The bass boost button is fun, but not sure i will use it with the XS though.

The most important thing is that I can tell my headphones sound better through this than befoer!

 

[mrk]

perhaps the massive metal casing helps cooling it..

What voltage and amps is the power supply on it, should say on the back on the label? That will give an indicator, for ref the K11 R2R is 12v 2A (24W), meanwhile the Aiyima A80 one is 48v 5A, so a whopping 240W output (120W per channel). I would not expect a DAC with HP amp to get hot to be honest. Both A80 and K11 are all metal too.

Also yeah with headphones in this class you will find the better the amp iis the more the headphone scales. The HD6500 series is renowned for that too but planars especially pair well with higher quality amplification.

 

[Raymond Lin]

What voltage and amps is the power supply on it, should say on the back on the label? That will give an indicator, for ref the K11 R2R is 12v 2A (24W), meanwhile the Aiyima A80 one is 48v 5A, so a whopping 240W output (120W per channel). I would not expect a DAC with HP amp to get hot to be honest. Both A80 and K11 are all metal too.

Also yeah with headphones in this class you will find the better the amp iis the more the headphone scales. The HD6500 series is renowned for that too but planars especially pair well with higher quality amplification.

It doesn't have an external PSU, it's built in, hence my powercord lol

There is a few physical features that i wanted in this which it has.

Metal built, metal knob, using a normal kettle lead. Superficial but better tactile feeling is nice. OLED is a bonus.

 

[Angst]

I am not very good at describing audio without being super cliche...

The silence feels like there is a void, zero hiss. Super clean. Lots of detail and separation and it can go from quiet to loud in a track without breaking a sweat, very dynamic. i am only on 32/100 on the volume on high gain and it's a good listening level on the Edition XS. I might even try low gain to give myself more control in the volume adjustment. The bass boost button is fun, but not sure i will use it with the XS though.

The most important thing is that I can tell my headphones sound better through this than befoer!

Sounds like a great purchase then. I might pick one up on amazon to have a look at as I've just sent back a topping l30 and an smsl da300ex.