[rbalcom]

Can anyone please tell me if this looks to be the right one for my xDSD?

There is no information in that Amazon listing about how it is wired. The xDSD jack is a 3.5mm TRRS wired:

Tip - Left+
Ring - Right+
Ring - Left-
Sleeve - Right-

Since the seller says he can make any configuration you need, why don’t you contact him through Amazon to see if it is wired in the above configuration?

 

[rafaelo]

My new balanced adapter came in and I prefer it more as it is far more suitable for my portable needs than the previous one. It is more flexible like and because of my specific cables.

 

[Hinomotocho]

There is no information in that Amazon listing about how it is wired. The xDSD jack is a 3.5mm TRRS wired:

Tip - Left+
Ring - Right+
Ring - Left-
Sleeve - Right-

Since the seller says he can make any configuration you need, why don’t you contact him through Amazon to see if it is wired in the above configuration?

I don't have much knowledge of balanced connections - I asusumed that since balanced 3.5mm seems quite rare that there would be only one configuration, but I'll contact the seller

 

[iFi audio]

Can anyone in here rank the following 3 devices in terms of MAX headphone output/loudness please?

We commonly do not comment on other manufacturers' products. However we might comment on the capabilities of chipsets used.

M0 uses ESS ES9218P

http://www.esstech.com/index.php?cID=422

ESS is basically a digital vol. control based smartphone SoC which combines a DAC and a headphone amplifier.

G1 uses TPA6133 headphone amp & PCM5102 DAC

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpa6133a2.pdf
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm5102a.pdf

Discrete DAC and headphone amplifier, as neither the headphone amplifier nor the DAC contain a volume control, this is handled upstream from both, likely in the ComTrue CT5301 ASRC.

http://www.comtrue-inc.com/index.php/downloads2/send/6-ct7301-ct5301/1-data-sheet

xDSD uses whatever we use (it's used non-standard anyway so looking at the datasheet tells less than half the story, so we take the results from our AP2).

We will look at maximum output voltage (600 ohm), SNR at 1V out and then rank the achievable loudness in dB with the loudest the "0dB" slot:

• xDSD 3.8V & 109dB (~3.2uV output noise)
• ES9218P 2.0V & 110dB (~3uV output noise)
• TPA6133 1.6V & 98dB (~ 12uV output noise)

• xDSD 0dB
• ES9218P -5.5dB
• TPA6133 -7.5dB

The xCAN in balanced mode would show in the list above as +6dB from xDSD.

In term of usable SNR with most headphones xDSD and ESS Sabre are comparable, maximum output is lower.

The TPA6133 has a poor SNR compared to the other two and combined with the lower output it offers 19dB (almost 10 times) less available dynamic range for amplification than what we use in the xDSD and around 25dB (almost 20 times) less than the xCAN.


ESS Technology :: es9218p
http://www.esstech.com

 

[seaharp1]

Other than being a bit on the short and thin side, it looks functional. So if playing with something this short and thin is ok with you, it will work fine instead of iFi's thicker and longer blue cable.

iFi's thicker and longer blue cable

where is this available?

 

[RockStar2005]

We commonly do not comment on other manufacturers' products. However we might comment on the capabilities of chipsets used.

M0 uses ESS ES9218P

http://www.esstech.com/index.php?cID=422

ESS is basically a digital vol. control based smartphone SoC which combines a DAC and a headphone amplifier.

G1 uses TPA6133 headphone amp & PCM5102 DAC

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpa6133a2.pdf
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm5102a.pdf

Discrete DAC and headphone amplifier, as neither the headphone amplifier nor the DAC contain a volume control, this is handled upstream from both, likely in the ComTrue CT5301 ASRC.

http://www.comtrue-inc.com/index.php/downloads2/send/6-ct7301-ct5301/1-data-sheet

xDSD uses whatever we use (it's used non-standard anyway so looking at the datasheet tells less than half the story, so we take the results from our AP2).

We will look at maximum output voltage (600 ohm), SNR at 1V out and then rank the achievable loudness in dB with the loudest the "0dB" slot:

• xDSD 3.8V & 109dB (~3.2uV output noise)
• ES9218P 2.0V & 110dB (~3uV output noise)
• TPA6133 1.6V & 98dB (~ 12uV output noise)

• xDSD 0dB
• ES9218P -5.5dB
• TPA6133 -7.5dB

The xCAN in balanced mode would show in the list above as +6dB from xDSD.

In term of usable SNR with most headphones xDSD and ESS Sabre are comparable, maximum output is lower.

The TPA6133 has a poor SNR compared to the other two and combined with the lower output it offers 19dB (almost 10 times) less available dynamic range for amplification than what we use in the xDSD and around 25dB (almost 20 times) less than the xCAN.


ESS Technology :: es9218p
http://www.esstech.com

Hi iFi Audio,

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all this. It is GREATLY appreciated, and I will not forget it either!

Ok. I will continue keeping a CLOSE eye on the xDSD as it apparently not only meets but also EXCEEDS all my expectations.

It's really surprising that something as tiny as the Shanling M0 can be louder than the larger Ampio G1, but I guess it's all about the technology inside. I am happy that your company chose to use TI's luxury line DAC (Burr Brown) vs. the TI TPA & PCM DAC combo, considering your findings. And yes, the ESS IS better than the TPA/DCM combo, but it's still an integrated SoC, which of course isn't going to bring you the quality that a dedicated setup like the xDSD I'm sure has.

 

[Hinomotocho]

I checked with the seller on Amazon regarding the 3.5mm TRRS to 4.4mm adapter I ordered (haven't yet received) and he confirmed that it is configured:
Tip - Left+
Ring - Right+
Ring - Left-
Sleeve - Right-

 

[iFi audio]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all this. It is GREATLY appreciated, and I will not forget it either!

Ok. I will continue keeping a CLOSE eye on the xDSD as it apparently not only meets but also EXCEEDS all my expectations.

Our pleasure!

 

[rafaelo]

Unfortunately the Geekria balanced adapter from Amazon looses connection from one channel very often, it seems really sensitive to me but I am so happy with my other adapter which provides excellent sound quality too.

On an other note and as addendum to my xDSD review the xDSD does an extremely good combination with my HD 6XX on balanced mode. Before I was in favour of HE4XX now I am not so sure anymore.

 

[SeinUndZeit]

@iFi audio I bought an xDSD a few weeks ago and have been enjoying it since then. I primarily use it on the go, but in the last week I was always home and tried connecting it to my main system.

It has always been connected to an Ifi iPower 5v to the micro USB charging port, even when switched off, but it never seems to settle into Desktop mode. It is pretty warm to the touch and the light near the micro USB is white.

What am I doing wrong? How to activate Desktop mode?

Thank you!

 

[iFi audio]

where is this available?

Inside of the box with your iFi hardware.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, let us point your attention towards this xCAN space...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-xcan-the-official-thread.891479/#post-14553964

 

[Bansaku]

@iFi audio Quick question. If I make a 3.5mm balanced to RCA for use with my stack (xDSD--> micro iTube2--> micro iCAN SE), will it damage the micro iTube2? If not, will it be of any benefit or is it simply better off just to use a standard SE 3.5mm connection?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio Quick question. If I make a 3.5mm balanced to RCA for use with my stack (xDSD--> micro iTube2--> micro iCAN SE), will it damage the micro iTube2? If not, will it be of any benefit or is it simply better off just to use a standard SE 3.5mm connection?

Nothing will get damaged, but the benefit (if any at all) would be slight and questionable.

 

[iFi audio]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-xdsd-the-official-thread.873787/page-66#post-14553613

@iFi audio I bought an xDSD a few weeks ago and have been enjoying it since then. I primarily use it on the go, but in the last week I was always home and tried connecting it to my main system.

It has always been connected to an Ifi iPower 5v to the micro USB charging port, even when switched off, but it never seems to settle into Desktop mode. It is pretty warm to the touch and the light near the micro USB is white.

What am I doing wrong? How to activate Desktop mode?

Thank you!

Desktop mode should activate itself.

You may want to try to completely disconnect the xDSD and turn it on and then off and make the power connection when turned off.

When turned off, the unit does remain powered and may have a small amount of temperature rise, as the MCU and battery management are still operating. Desktop mode simply adjusts the target voltage and charge current for "equal to storage life" battery conditions.