amazon Xduoo Link reviews
Xduoo XD05 Plus debuted as a convincing comeback of Xduoo after a period of silence. This is inherently a portable DAC / AMP model, but it has the ability to pull full-size headphones as gently as stereos and accompanied by solid, detailed sound.
Shortly after that, Xduoo continued to launch a new product which was also DAC / AMP, but with a much more compact convertible cable called Xduoo Link. Whether the Xduoo Link has the quality as his elder brother, let’s continue with this article.
DESIGN AND FINISHING
Seeing the Xduoo Link, I immediately thought of the design of Cozoy TAKT C.
It used the convertible cable, but the decoding part is placed in a rectangular block with the size of a finger, with the control button above. With a larger volume of conventional DAC / AMP convertible cables, Xduoo Link will be able to cram plenty of components to enhance audio performance.
Typically, the convertible DAC / AMP models in the market will only be black and silver. Xduoo Link is different, it has a black and orange scheme that looks quite disruptive. However, the use of colors that are individualistic may not be convenient for the majority of users.
On the top, Xduoo Link is equipped with control keys including a volume up and down button, a stop button for playing music, and a small hole. You may mistakenly think this is where the microphone is located but instead, this location is the source indicator of Xduoo Link. The light will turn red when it is successfully connected to the transmitter.
On the back, we have a sacred Hire gold stamp with the logo and product name.
The finishing details on Xduoo Link are quite well manufactured but not as excellent as on Cozoy TAKT C. The contiguous part of the metal and plastic parts still have some areas that are a bit rough. Overall, at this price, the design of Xduoo Link has nothing to be blamed at all.
CONFIGURATION AND STATISTICS
This DAC / AMP cable uses DAC / AMP chip, code-named ES9118EC of ESS USA.
Certificated by Hi-Res in Japan, Xduoo Link supports extremely powerful decoding capabilities, PCM 32Bit / 384kHz, and DSD256. The dynamic index is incredible, the SNR reaches 115dB which greatly improves the details and clarity of the music when compared to listening directly on a phone or computer.
Configuration parameters:
Capacity: 32mW @ 32ohm
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz (± 0.5dB)
THD + N: 0.0018% @ 1kHz
S / N: 115dB
Crosstalk: ≥77dB
PCM: 16-32Bit / 44.1kHz-384kHz
DSD: 1Bit / 2.82mHz-11.2mHz
EXPERIENCE AND SOUND QUALITY
The soundtrack of Xduoo Link is very static, even when being plugged into a PC. There isn’t much background no matter how high the headset is. This proves that the circuit of the Link has been very well optimized by Xduoo.
Xduoo Link does not seem to overheat after a long period of use. When compared to the Cozoy TAKT C, the Xduoo Link is still a lot cooler.
One thing to note is that when using Xduoo Link with a PC or Laptop, it will give a better sound performance on the phone. This can be explained by the fact that the power output on the computer’s USB port has stronger currents that make the sound brings solid and better depth.
As for the sound on Xduoo Link, the overall sound is balanced in all 3 bands, thick, warm, smooth, and natural in the analog direction. The mid-range is the most vivid and soulful part of Xduoo Link.
Bass: The amount and the average beat speed make the bass range quite natural and soft. This bass strip will definitely be enough for most music, but it will be difficult to achieve perfection due to the unstable texture and not really clear blocks.
Mid-range: Very smooth, warm, and inspiring. The vocal is made quite thick and flattering to most general listeners. Experimenting with some jazz pieces like Chantal Chamberland’s How Deep Is Your Love, the singer’s voice is extremely poised and natural. The vocals are blocky and centered in the music which you can feel just by closing your eyes.
Although it’s not tuned in the style of detail extraction, the detail of the music shown through Xduoo Link is still quite smooth.
Treble range: Even though it’s smooth, it can still get high if needed. The tinkling sound is separated but not bunched up, so it sounds very pleasant. This range is also well-controlled when no harsh notes appear.
Soundstage and sound: At a price of less than $ 50, Xduoo Link surprised me with the stage space that is recreated. It’s more spacious and deeper than all DAC / AMP models of this price range. There is a lot of space between the instruments, so it feels very airy and pleasant, while the ability to layer is quite decent. Images are reproduced at an acceptable level. The position of the instrument in the track is precisely arranged and easy to visualize.
With this sound quality, Xduoo Link will be extremely suitable for the lyrical music genre because the mid-range and the soundstage are incredible in the price range. Other genres will also be featured on this DAC / AMP
CONCLUSION
Indeed, the quality of Xduoo products is improving day by day. With excellent soundstage and sound quality, the actual sound has a warm and smooth feeling, while the design and manufacturing are considered great compared to other products in the same price range.
where can you get a Xduoo Link online
Linsoul xDuoo Link Type-C to 3.5mm ESS9118EC Decoding Portable Headphone Amplifier Adapter Cable: Buy it now
Xduoo Link ESS9118EC DAC Type C Support 32Bit/384khz DSD256 Headphone Amplifier for Cellphone: Buy it now
