xDuoo XD10 Poke

Music and Soul - xDuoo XD10 Poke Review






Introduction

XD10 from xDuoo is an interesting DAC/AMP that comes to challenge the Status Quo of iFi and FiiO DAC/AMPs dominating the market. It is time to see if budget-friendly cham from China can hold its ground against other DAC/AMPs, and bring something interesting to the table.

xDuoo is a company from China, but they are not the provider of today's review sample, but rather X-TENIK Shop, a new store with a lot of interesting products, mainly xDuoo from China. They are very open and friendly, and they also produce videos for the products they are selling, they can really help you decide what product to purchase in case you're interested, shipping from them worldwide is quick, and they are very reliable with the warranty. If you ever spoke to me via a message, you probably know how much I tend to use the text emoticon version of a smiley face "XD", so reviewing XD10 was sure to happen sooner or later.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with xDuoo or X-TENIK, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by xDuoo or X-TENIK or anyone else. I'd like to thank xDuoo or X-TENIK for providing the sample for the review. The sample was provided along with xDuoo or X-TENIK's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal experience with xDuoo XD10 Poke. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in xDuoo XD10 Poke find their next music companion.



Product Link

https://www.xtenik.com/product/xduoo-xd10-poke/



About me

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:













This is one of those rare packages that go a step beyond in terms of color and design, and this is quite nice to see. Having unboxed so many products, I feel delighted when I see one that is a little more unique, and XD10's package sure has personality.

Inside the package, you can find a good amount of information on XD10, as well as quite a bit of glamour in terms of accessories. This is the iFi and FiiO kind of experience, where you get a lot of useful extras with your device. With XD10, you get a silicone PAD to strap, or rather glue it to your smartphone, you get a longer USB cable for connecting it to your computer, and you also get shorter OTG cables to use XD10 with a smartphone / tablet / portable source / transport.

There is also a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, which seems to be meant to use as an AUX cable, either as AUX in or AUX Out to a different Amplifier. I like the openness of xDuoo of including the option to use XD10 as both as DAC only and as an AMP Only, it is cool to leave the option in the hands of the user.

Other than this, the package is pretty fancy, for 250 USD, this is a personal favorite in terms of design and contents, XD10 reaches my personal golden standards at this price range quite easily, and actually raises the bar a bit. I love the fact that they include a silicone pad, this should come with any DAC/AMP, and I love the large number of cables, including special OTG cables. If anything would be missing from the package, that would be a carrying case, but since while you're carrying it, you're most probably keeping it strapped to a smartphone, I don't really feel the lack of a carrying case.



What to look in when purchasing a high-end DAC/AMP

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html



Technical Specifications









Build Quality/Aesthetics/UI/Firmware

Starting with the build quality, this is a solid device, quite literally, a full metallic little black rectangle. There are many things that I love about this, starting with the fact that it will not be getting any fingerprints, it won't get dirty easily, it doesn't scratch easily, and it looks amazing in person. Of course, that is more of an aesthetic thing. Still on build quality, the buttons are good quality, there are many buttons and switches on the surface of XD10, like a Filter button (which changes the digital filters), a Vol+ and Vol- button, and on the other edge, there are 4 switches, more than on most DAC/AMPs I ever seen, especially portable ones.



You can find an On/Off switch, which is pretty self explanatory. Next to it, a switch to select between AUX and USB Input.

There is also a Bass Boost switch, and a Gain switch. I recommend leaving the gain switch at High at all times, the sound seems to have better dynamics and better overall energy like this. The high gain doesn't introduce more noise, nor worse hiss, and XD10 actually has absolutely no hiss as far as I can tell, even with really sensitive IEMs.

The Bass boost is a bit on the thickish side, so it doesn't work only for bass, but for a slightly wider range of frequencies. It has little distortion, if you're not at the maximum 120 Volume, and it works up to about 100 volume with most headphones, although with Crosszone CZ-1, it stays distortion free even at 120 max volume, which is amazing. It works nicely with headphones that could use a bit more meat, like HIFIMAN SUNDARA, which sounds absolutely delightful with the bass boost at on, gain at high, and volume at 100.

There is a little display on the front of XD10, which shows when it is charging, it shows the kind of signal it is receiving (PCM), shows the current sampling rate of the data, what input is turned on, as well as the gain level and the volume level. I can't take a proper photo to showcase how awesome this little display is, coming from a range of DAC/AMPs that have no display, this feels like a totally new era. The display also feels retro, which works well with the overall design of XD10.



XD10 is a beautiful device with rounded edges, it is not sharp in the corners or in the edges, which is very important for a portable device. The inputs are large in number, a USB input, a charging microUSB input, and an Aux input. The Aux is labelled as AUX In/Out, but I could only figure how to use the AUX Input, not use it as an output. There is no clue in the manual either, on how to use the Aux Port as an output. This being said, I am very very satisfied with the AMP built in the XD10, and I imagine virtually everyone getting one will be using it this way.

I noticed an issue there, if you plug in an AUX cable while USB is playing, it will play both input signals, at the same time at a lower level. I am not sure if this was intended in the original design, but this seems to be the way it goes. This being said, it is a minor bug and most people will not be using XD10 as an AMP only, even less have both the USB and the Aux In jack populated.

The specifications of XD10 are out-of-this-world, with 250mW + 250mW in 32OHM, basically being able to power HIFIMAN Sundara quite well. This is absolutely outstanding for 250 USD.

XD10 has excellent ratings of low distortion, and SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio). There is one thing that is not so excellent, and that is the battery. My smartphone has a larger 5500mAh battery, while XD10 has a 2200mAh battery, which is a little on the low side. The battery life is rated at about 8 hours, and in practice, it is about 7.5 hours even in heavy usage, but I'd like to see a larger battery on thicker devices, where it is possible. This being said, it is in line with other DAC/AMPs at this price range, and it should get your through a day of listening without an issue.



If you're a fan of High Resolution Music Files, XD10 has got you covered, with support for anything, from 32 Bit / 384 kHz PCM signals to DSD at 64 (2.8MHz) even to DSD at 256 (11.2 MHz).

The UI is cute, and at the firmware level, it is stable, doesn't require a driver for my PC nor my smartphone, nor my tablet, it works with everything I tested it with, is fluid, and is coherent. No bugs encountered in my entire usage, besides the one mentioned above.

All in all, I am a fan of what xDuoo have done with XD10, and it reaches the golden standard of build quality, aesthetics, UI and firmware, for a DAC/AMP priced at 250 USD.



Sound Quality

For the sonic part, xDuoo XD10 uses an AK4490, which is an excellent DAC, with a musical and smooth "Velvet Sound". This doesn't mean much by itself, and an ideal source is as transparent as possible, but all professionals working in the music industry will tell you that more often the problem is about how well two pieces of equipment work together rather than how transparent they are.



With XD10, the subject is quite complex, because it is fairly transparent, so it doesn't have a strong tuning of its own, but after switching between it, and iFi xDSD, FiiO Q5, NextDrive SpectraX and Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, I could detect that without the bass boost engaged, XD10 is pretty darn neutral, a little on the cold side, with an energetic, detailed and fairly good sound for its price point. It has enough power to drive HIFIMAN Sundara, the main Planar headphone I've been pairing it with, and it has a natural overall speed. The bass switch will give XD10 a much thicker and more satisfying sound, and although it could be a bit boomy, it won't cause it to distort. Some headphones will really take advantage of this bass boost, which is not quite that subtle, being rather an imposing bass boost, while other headphones may sound better without it turned on. So far, with iBasso IT01S, I didn't feel the need to turn on the Bass Boost switch, while with Sundara, it worked well for certain music styles, like electronic and dubstep. Sundara sounds excellent with XD10, without the bass boost, if you're listening to Metal, Black Metal or Punk.

The bass, regardless whether the boost is on or off, is on the natural side of things in terms of speed, but it has good resolution, especially for the 250USD price mark. The bass can go really low, and it can keep up with Technical Death Metal, if you want to put it to the test. The more interesting thing about the bass, is the bass boost, which clearly makes the sound quite a bit thicker, affecting a wide array of frequencies, and bleeding into the midrange, but which works well with some headphones. The bass boost is noted to be at 6dB, which I think is conservative, it feels like it adds a tad more.

The midrange is clear, natural, and, while the bass boost is turned off, is slightly cold and slightly analytical, and while the bass boost is turned on, is thick, and warm. This is because the bass boost affects the midrange as well, and while this may not be for everyone's tastes, especially if you were looking for a less colorful bass boost function, I could say that I am enjoying XD10 greatly in both modes with the right headphones and with the right music. The midrange has a good soundstage, and things expand really nicely in width, with a really fair amount of depth as well, considering the price point of XD10. The tone is natural, and the detail levels are quite good, it is not an analytical device, but it performs stellar for its price point, sometimes putting more expensive DAC/AMPs to shame in terms of how detailed and feature rich XD10 can be.

The treble is also fairly natural, it doesn't have any roll-off, but it is neither grainy nor harsh, but it isn't soft either. To describe it properly, it is a really natural treble that extends all the way it should. The high-end sparkle has a touch of a specific tuning of its own, where some certain treble peaks are just ever so slightly attenuated to avoid harshness and to provide better overall balance. This is very hardly noticeable if you're using XD10 on its own, and the treble feels very natural this way, but if you're quick switching between it and another DAC/AMP, you can notice that it has a specific way of presenting the treble. Some devices sporting the same AK chip have a similar way of conveying the treble, so I'm inclined to believe this is part of their "velvet" sound thing.

All in all, XD10 is fairly accurate and transparent, there is hardly any coloration if you're not engaging the Bass Boost, situation in which the sound gets thicker, warmer and more lush regardless what IEMs or Headphones you're using.



Potable Usage

xDuoo XD10 Poke was designed as a portable DAC/AMP device, and it does its best to be one, in my honest opinion, doing its job fairly well.



Starting with the shape, it is rectangular, not too thick, not too thin, not too wide, and not too short (some devices can be a bit thick and short for strapping on most smartphones, not being quite as comfortable as a more natural shaped device as XD10).

There are no EMIs with XD10. I do test this by placing the device right on top of my wireless router, then streaming something to my portables. It is a good test to ensure you're not going to be hearing a lot of interferences from random sources while using a device portably.

The battery life is fair, and good enough for a day of usage, XD10 living for about 7.5 hours with more aggressive usage, like high gain, and high volumes, and with the bass boost turned on. It is good to mention that I wish more producers included larger batteries in their devices, but this rating is still fairly good and I can't complain about XD10 as it lives as much as other devices in this price range.

XD10 comes with all the cables you will need to connect it to your smartphone, or tablet / computer, it comes with a silicone band to place between it and your source, the only thing that is really missing from the package being probably some bands to strap it to a source.



The display of XD10 is easily visible even in full sunlight, which is great if you want to check what settings you're running, and the hardware buttons all around its body are placed well, easy to remember, and easy to use, even while XD10 is in a pocket, so you don't have to worry about mispressing a button, or about not being able to change the volume, bass boost, or eventually turn it off, if you need to.

The design is also beautiful, I think this is something that XD10 has nailed really well, you can have it strapped to your smartphone and walk proudly with it, it doesn't look quite as industrial as some other options, but that's pretty good if you want to keep casual with your overall style.



Comparisons

There are quite a few devices you may be considering instead of xDuoo XD10, like iFi xDSD(400 USD), FiiO Q5(350USD) and HIDIZS DH1000 (300 USD). From the start, XD10 has the best price of this list, but it is time to test whether it also has the best performance, and whether it is the right choice for you.







xDuoo XD10 vs iFi xDSD - iFi xDSD is quite a bit more expensive than XD10, almost double the price, and I should probably be comparing XD10 to iNano BL, but on a short notice, iNano BL is 200 USD, so almost 25% less expensive than XD10, and in all fairness, XD10 has more driving power, a more energetic sound, a display, and is the better overall option compared to iNano BL, unless you're driving only easy-to-drive IEMs, want the stellar iFi warranty, and need a small device, situation in which iNano BL has got you covered better. Back to comparing XD10 vs xDSD from iFi, this one is quite interesting. The package is similarly good for both devices, although xDSD comes with better quality cables, and quite honestly, I have been using XD10 with iFi's blue cable for most of my tests. xDSD comes with a carrying pouch as well, but it doesn't come with bands to strap to your source, nor with a silicone band to separate it from your source, although iFi has implemented rubber feet on xDSD, which work like magic for it, and they have an interesting approach for not requiring silicone bands, having some velcro adhesive bands inside the package, to strap xDSD to your transport. This being said, more often than not, I found myself using cheap rubber bands on both xDSD and XD10, as you can probably notice in my latest videos. In terms of features, only xDSD features Bluetooth, while both devices offer a line out mode, and both devices offer digital filters for a different sound, although iFi's are better implemented. Both XD10 and xDSD require a separate charging cable to charge. xDSD will gather smudges and fingerprints, and the finish is more sensitive than the one on XD10, which is much more solid and made for practical usage, although xDSD is more eye candy as a desktop device, with its smooth, lean and luxurious appearance. Only xDSD features a physical volume wheel, while XD10 has volume buttons. The special effects are implemented differently, with iFi's X-Bass affecting less frequencies than XD10's bass boost, so iFi's is more universal and only affects the bass, and the sub-bass, while XD10's thickens the entire sound. I tend to keep the bass boost on both units turned on with certain headphones and music, but iFi's I keep turned on almost 80% of times, while XD10's, about 30% of time. iFi's 3D soundstage feature is quite handy, and XD10 does not have this type of feature, and I keep it turned on almost 50% of time with iFi xDSD. iFi has a balanced output, at least in theory, but you require a special cable to take full advantage of it. From iFi's paperwork, the balanced output is engaged at all times, and should provide a better sound. XD10 offers two gain modes, while xDSD does not, but both are fairly hiss-free, so this isn't quite that important. Both have a similar battery life in practical usage, XD10 maybe squeezing a hour more.

Now, the sonics of the two are pretty similar, both are very detailed, very energetic, very clean, very clear and wide-sounding devices, the main differences being that xDSD is a bit more detailed than XD10, provides a better overall vividness and dynamics, and has a better overall transparency, both with IEMs and hard to drive headphones. Picking between the two should firstly be done by the price, xDSD being quite a bit more expensive, but offering better detail, better soundstage, more effects, Bluetooth features, a physical volume wheel, a better digital filter, better cables included in the package, better overall dynamics, and being the better sounding device in general, while XD10 tends to be a tad tighter and faster overall, and considerably thicker with the bass boost turned on. If you want a little display, XD10 offers it, and if you want to save a few bucks, XD10 is quite a bit less expensive. XD10 stands its ground very well, and is an interesting more budget alternative to iFi xDSD, although iFi's warranty may be a bit better, with them having a really amazing warranty record and customer interaction, where xDuoo warranties may require more steps to get solved.

xDuoo XD10 vs FiiO Q5 (AM03A) - Now, I know it is a little unfair to put up XD10 against Q5, since Q5 is 100 USD more expensive, or almost 50% more expensive, but this is a fun test people might want to be doing, especially since some people would rather save up 100 USD more for Q5, instead of going for the cheaper option, unless the cheaper option can also hold its ground for that price point. Starting with the package, both devices come with a large number of accessories, including cables and a silicone band to place between the DAC/AMP and the transport, but only Q5 comes with bands to strap it to your transport. The aesthetics will be pretty subjective here, but both device have a nice aesthetic, with Q5 looking a touch more industrial and technologic, while XD10 looks more forward and casual. The build quality is great on both, and both Q5 and XD10 feature a large number of physical buttons, but only Q5 features a volume wheel, while XD10 features volume buttons, while only XD10 features a display to show its current state, while Q5 does not, but can provide some indicators to a smartphone with the proper apps and settings, and in the proper mode. Q5 also features bluetooth, including APT-X, which XD10 does not. Depending on the AMP module installed, Q5 features a line out, like XD10 does, but only Q5 offers optical line in, and the possibility to use an amplifier module with a 4.4mm Balanced jack. On this note, XD10 does not offer a Balanced Jack at all, so if you are planning to be using balanced headphones / IEMs, then only Q5 offers it. No, on to the sound, the fight is a bit unfair from the start, as once again, Q5 is more expensive than XD10, but Q5 has a more detailed sound, with a similar neutral tuning, with slightly more natural overall treble presentation, with a more energetic overall sound. When comparing Q5+AM03A with XD10, XD10 has better driving power and can control planar headphones better, so if you have a hard to drive headphone, XD10 is better in the default state, but you can always purchase a different AMP module for Q5, like AMP5, which has better overall power than XD10.

I keep the bass boost turned on 30% of the time with XD10, while I keep it turned off almost always with Q5. Both devices have a stable firmware, will connect easily to your portables, and desktop PC, and both have good, and similar battery life. Now, if you have more money to invest, it would make sense to go for FiiO Q5, it has bluetooth, it has better details, a more natural treble presentation, it has volume wheel, and it has just the better default sound, compared to XD10, and it has upgradeability options, but XD10 has you covered, if you want to save almost 100 US Dollars, XD10 is the only of the two that has a display to show its current state, and XD10 has the better driving power, control and authority with all headphones, especially planars, in the default state, Q5 requiring AMP5 to have better driving power.

xDuoo XD10 vs HIDIZS DH1000 - Starting with the package, XD10 has the better overall package design, with that hip rabbit on the outer cover. XD10 also has a better overall package content, with more cables included in the package, although DH1000 has the advantage of using smaller cables to connect to a smartphone. DH1000 will collect fingerprints and smudges, while by design, XD10 does not. Even so, the design is beautiful for both devices, but in a very different way, DH1000 being the smooth, lean and sleek looking device, while XD10 looks much more casual, cool and hip, with the comic sans inspired logo, and the more aggressive design. The battery life is similar between the two, and DH1000 sports two headphone output ports, while XD10 just one, and DH1000 sports a Balanced output, while XD10 does not. For DH1000, both ports can play at the same time, so you could be sitting next to your important one and be listening to music together on a bus ride, if one of you had a 2.5mm balanced port, while this is not possible with XD10, but DH1000 doesn't feature multiple filters, a display, a hardware bass switch, and other switches that XD10 has. XD10 also features a line in, in case you want to be using it as an amplifier, and XD10 also features two gain modes, which DH1000 does not. Of course, all those features, package and aesthetics are second to the sound, which is the most important aspect of those devices, and here, XD10 is the more neutral device, which for a source should be a win all the time. Now, this isn't absolutely always the case, and DH1000 has that really smooth, lean and less detailed sound going on for it, which may pair well if you had an analytic IEM or headphone, which you wanted to be smoother and less analytical. DH1000 tends to have a deeper soundstage than DX10, and a similar level of instrument separation. DX10, on the other hand, has a more energetic, more versatile, more neutral, more detailed sound, with a wider soundstage, larger overall presentation, and with better treble extension, better treble energy, and also a better bass presentation, which can be both tight, and clean, with the switch turned off, and thick and heavy, with the switch turned on.

In all fairness, XD10 is easier to recommend in general, unless you are looking for a smoother sound, with less treble, and if you'd prefer a leaner, less detailed sound, but with a deeper soundstage, situation in which DH1000 would be your top choice. Otherwise, if you're looking for a wider soundstage, many physical switches, two gain modes, a bass boost that can make the sound thicker and more satisfying, and a more neutral DAC/AMP, XD10 should be your top choice.



Pairing

xDuoo XD10 is fairly easy to pair with a large number of IEMs and Headphones. It has a very good power rating, being able to rattle HIFIMAN Sundara quite well, but it also has zero hiss that I can hear with sensitive IEMs, so it makes up for quite a lovely experience regardless what you're driving with it. Also, it is easy to pair with most sources, it is recognized by default by my computer, no drivers needed, and it is also recognized on all my Android devices. To add to the experience, with Mi Max 3, you can receive phone calls while XD10 is connected to the smartphone, you just need to keep the stack to your mouth to talk. Given the small size of XD10, this is considerably more conveninent than plugging it out and holding the stack to your ear.







xDuoo XD10 + Campfire Atlas - Campfire Atlas is one of those IEMs you may be wondering about, and whether they require a really expensive and high-end source to sound good, or if you could power them from a more budget-friendly DAC/AMP, and still get excellent results. Pairing them with XD10 should answer those questions, and from the start, this is a IEM that doesn't require XD10's bass boost to be engaged, as they have quite the potency in the lower registers. There is a very very faint trace of hiss with Atlas plugged into XD10, but it couldn't bother me less, it is at -50 dB or so. Now, about the sound, Atlas is generally favored by neutral, colder, and brighter sources, than it is favored by warmer or smoother sources. XD10 together with Atlas is absolutely amazing. Of course, Atlas is doing most of the heavy lifting, but the pairing is so wide, so clear, and so crisp, with such a natural speed for all its sound, it is really complicated for me not to start and sing together with the song while having this pairing plugged in. Songs that rely on heavy basslines, Dubstep and Electro, like Delta Heavy or Deadmau5, are simply just too good to listen to with this pairing.

xDuoo XD10 + FLC 8N - FLC 8N and their modular and changing nature indicate that you most probably won't require using the bass boost function, but it can still be fun with them, especially if you use more thin and treble-y filters, together with XD10's bass boost, to give FLC8N a warmer and more lush sound. The overall pairing works very well, I can't really hear any hissing, especially no hissing while listening to music, XD10 is able to give FLC8N a detailed and clear sound, with a large width to their soundstage, but also with a pretty great instrument separation. XD10 is also able to make them go really loud without distorting, and it can give them a really good sense of dynamics.

xDuoo XD10 + Crosszone CZ-1 - I was initially testing this pairing out of humor, since CZ-1 is extremely hard to drive, and requires a really powerful source to shine, but I am shocked myself to say XD10 does a great job with them. I need to keep it at volume 100, and the bass boost engaged to on, to get the best results with CZ-1, but this is amazing, it gives a new meaning to what those headphones can pull. From their smooth and lean nature, XD10 has a unique authority, and makes them sound tighter, more congested, warmer and deeper, shows that they can really go low in bass, and impresses with their overall presentation, this kind of CZ-1 being really wide, but explosive, vivid, clear, clean. It is amazing for such a budget-friendly device to be able to take full control of an expensive flagship, and also give them life, without a trace of distortion, even stoner metal and electro-dubstep sounding as deep and impressive with CZ-1, which is supposed to be a more gentle and leaner headphone, so you can totally call me impressed by the pairing. I had a hard time finding many sources to pair CZ-1 with, but I could say that this is one of the best budget-friendly sources you could desire for them.



Value and Conclusion

It looks like XD10 was much much better than I first expected it to be, and with all the bells and whistles it has to offer, I hope I helped clear your mind about it with my review. Just to make sure, the value and conclusion value part of this review, also serves as a little recap, and a much shorter version of the entire review.



Starting with the package, XD10 comes packaged with most accessories you will require for using it, lacking just the silicone straps to strap it to your transport. Even so, it comes with OTG cables for Type-C, microUSB, and even with a larger OTG cable, which seems to be for Walkmans. The package has a truly unique design I can only comment xDuoo for.

The build quality of XD10 is also quite excellent, being a fully metallic device, and with me having the black version, being really happy with using it. The casual and forward design is also part of the fun with XD-10, and I simply enjoy seeing it on my table, bringing a bit of fun to my overall listening rig. It also has a little OLED display that will show its current state and current settings, but XD10 comes with a large number of buttons and mechanical switches, making it the wet dream for many, who kept asking for those switches over and over.



There is a number of 4 Filters, which all sound quite similar, there is a bass boost, there is a line-out, and a line-in, and XD10 also has a gain switch, which I just left on High, like I do with most devices featuring one. XD10 feels feature-rich in general, and I like having quick control over the settings of a device, so it is quite a great little device for me.

The sonic performance is quite excellent for its price point, and if you had this budget, this would be really easy to recommend, if you were looking for a neutral, transparent, clear, clean, crisp, and detailed DAC/AMP, with a wide soundstage. With the bass boost, you get a thicker, more lush, deeper and more powerful sound, without distortion, and even without it, XD10 has a lot of driving power, being able to give true life, even to hard-to-drive planars, like HIFIMAN Sundara.



Overall, XD10 really brings something new to the table, it is a budget-friendly DAC/AMP, which features both a line-in and a line-out, it has a very functional bass boost function, it has a nice little display, it has a cool overall design, with a casual approach, and it is very easy to recommend if you're looking for excellent value, so don't forget to check it out for a clear, clean, crisp sound, a wide soundstage, a lot of cool features, and if you want to have an excellent sound, without breaking the bank.



Audiophile-Heaven Link: https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2019/02/music-and-soul-xduoo-xd10-poke-review.html



Product Link

https://www.xtenik.com/product/xduoo-xd10-poke/



Playlist used for this review

While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.

Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares



I hope my review is helpful to you!


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XDUOO XD-10 POKE REVIEW:



SOUND: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9/10
DESIGN: 9/10
ACCESSORIES: 9/10
VALUE: 7.5/10

Yes, Xduoo take an important part of my audiophile life. There not one day I don’t use a Xduoo product. Some have always an army knife in their pocket, me it’s the Xduoo X3 that is always there even when I do surviving in the forest. Okay, perhaps I should buy an army knife too in ncase I encounter a bear, but who know if he’s not an audiophile and again if its not my Xduoo X3 that will save my life?

I have the Xduoo X20 and Xduoo XD-05 that I use everyday too. Xduoo X1 is for earbuds enjoyment. Xduoo XP-2 bluetooth receiver dac-amp is for transforming my LG G6 phone into a listenable device. And I have a hybrid tube amp too call the TA-10, this one I use it for more demanding headphones or earbuds.

Xduoo love AKM dac as they use the AK4490 in lot of their DAP and DAC-AMP. Personally, I think that you need great implementation to make shine this digital audio decoder that is overused right now and tend to constraint diversity of soundsignature on audio market. The AK4490 dac is used in Xduoo XD-05, Xduoo X3ii and X-10, Xduoo TA-10 and other dac-amp like the one i will review today call teh Xduoo XD-10 POKE.



‘’Music is the perfect expression of the soul’’ is the sentence full of philosophical wisdom that is write on the small POKE. Did this sentence is a promise for a very emotive musicality that the POKE will deliver? Again, with the ‘’velvet sounding’’ AKM dac, I’m not sure it is but one thing certain is that this portable DAC-AMP will transform your phone into a more soulfull and expressive musical device.

AT 250$, the POKE is priced at same price than the bigger (and less portable) Xduoo XD-05 wich I adore and use everyday. It sure have less features like non changeable Opamp or no coaxial output or 2 gain switch instead of 3 gain, but this is really minimal and for its size it’s near as powerfull as it’s bigger brother. Like the XD-05, POKE have amp gain and bass gain switch, aux input and output, sound filters and well, perhaps even the same amping output stated at 250mw+250mw @32ohm while the XD-05 is stated 500mw @32ohm. This and the fact battery life certainly make the POKE as the best choice for portable purpose and I think this is exactly the goal of this device, to solve the fact we can’t put the XD-05 in our pocket.

Yes, this DAC-AMP look like a very promising portable power house, let’s see in this review if it worth to invest in this All-in-one little marvel.

You can buy the POKE from the very trustworthy store Xtenik

Disclaimer: I wanna thank Xtenik Audio for sending me this review sample in exchange of my honnest review. With this store, I can keep my full independance of mind, wich is the way I want to write review.




INFO & SPECS:



Main Features:
● Uses AMK AK4490 8-core processing chip to support native DSD, DXD, and PCM signals, supporting mainstream audio formats

● Full-featured portable decoding amp machine, sound quality to HIFI fidelity

● 0.91 inch OLED screen display, all aluminum alloy colorful shell, high-end texture

● Standard USB audio cable, compatible with Sony ZX series, A series walkman player

● Standard USB interface, compatible with Windows, Mac OS system, support iOS, Android mobile device, also supports HiFi player, CD player link



DAC

AKM AK4490

Output power

250mW + 250mW @ 32ohm

SNR

112dB @ 1kHz (Line out)

Supported sampling rate

32bit 384kHz

Frequency response

20Hz - 20kHz (+/- 0.5dB)

Gain

0dB / +6dB

Distortion

0.0025% @ 1kHz (Headphone amp)

Signal to noise ratio

112dB @ 1KHz (LINE OUT)

Inputs

USB-A
3.5mm Headphone Jack

Output

3.5mm Headphone Jack

Charging time

≤ 3 hours (fast charge 1A) ≤6 hours (slow charging 500MA)

Autonomy

SPDIF : >= 8h
Line input : >= 20h

Dimensions

101mm x 55mm x 16mm

Weight

130g



ACCESSORIES, CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN:



UNBOXING is one of the more unique in Xduoo family and I think it target a younger crownd because of the darn cool graphic presentation. This make you smile, wich is a good start for opening a product (Oh Yean!). You open the box like a book and the manual too act like a book as its glued into the box, so, you turn the page untile you finally discover the beautifull POKE Dac-Amp. Under the POKE their a very generous amount of accessories to be sure you will not lack any cable type to connect the device on any type of phone, laptop or DAP. As well, their a silicone sticker to hold the POKE on your device.



CONSTRUCTION as always with any Xduoo products is flawless and well built. Everything is metal, including all butons and the 2 audio port. To me, it look like a miniaturized Xduoo XD-05, wich for once is really thinked for proper portability. Every switch and butons feel sturdy and do the reassuring click we expect from quality product. All in all, the POKE feel sturdy and carefully built.



DESIGN is simple and intuitive, you will not struggle using this product as its plug and play and every control is at both side so you can control it blindly in your pocket. At one side their volume control and Filter butons, the right side have 4 switch, one for power on-off, one for USB or AUX input, one for bass gain and one for low-high gain. The little screen show you all info, including filet mode you choose, input mode, volume, gain, battery rate and files quality. To note that like the Xduoo XD-05 it isn’t the brightest screen wich can be problematic under bright sun, but to me its not big issue as you just have to make shadow with your hand to see info properly.



FEATURES


USB DAC as said is plug and play with any phone or laptop, it work with Android, mac, IOS, but for Window 10 you will surely need to install Xmos driver as I do. It take 1 minute to do and work perfectly after installation.

Back AUX port is either for using the POKE as an AMP or pure DAC mode with line out. Again, its plug and play after you select the mode you want.

BASS GAIN work really good, and offer same lower mid bass gain than Xduoo XD-05 wich I like a lot as it do not make distort my iem or earbuds like some other gain we can had wich cheaper device. This give extra roundness and punch, but I only use it when needed as it add some warmth to (its logical). This is not boomy basshead bass gain, it is well controled and calibrated.

GAIN is quite powerfull with its 6db output, this make the POKE one of the most powerfull single ended DAC-AMP I use. For its size, its really a powerhouse and would drive properly most headphones, earbuds and iem under 300ohm. Unlike bad hig gain that can had distortion or grainyness to the sound, i found this one quite clear and smooth sounding.

BATTERY LIFE is quite great and way better than bigger Xduoo XD-05 wich I find it to be an issue with its average 4H lifespan. With the POKE we really get around 6-8H when used as DAC-AMP, as I use it mostly with high gain, I get about 7H wich is very impressive. Used as an AMP it can go up to 15H easily.

AMP is clean but add warmth to overall sound of audio source. It have a tube amp feel to it, wich I found with most Xduoo amp with the exception of….TA-10 wich I found more clear with blacker noise floor (!).

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:


If you like how the Xduoo XD-05 sound with its stock Opamp, you will be in comfortable territory with the POKE wich use same AK4490 dac chip and have an overall very similar sound, perhaps a little flatter and more organic sounding and even more detailed in upper range.

To be honnest, i’m not the biggest fan of AK4490eq decoder so i was worry when I plug this into my laptop, but this expecation anxiety go off at the very first seconds I heard how transparent, organic, well balanced and beautifully detailed sound the POKE. The earphones I plug into this little marvel was (and still is) the Final Audio B3, wich is a sharp sounding dual balanced armature high end iem. The pairing was perfect, level of clarity help to extract as much details as the POKE can give in an effortless and natural way. Playing COLIBRIA from Nicola Cruz ‘’Prender el Alma’’ album was a sumptuous audio contentment where liquid sound take its full meaning.

IMAGING is one of the talent of the POKE, instrument separation have an holographic feel to it in a panoramic way with addition of transparent layers instead of sharp clarity.

BASS isn’t pumped up, wich is quite a wise choice due to the fact you can pump it up with bass gain. It’s a well defined and flat sounding lower end without any emphasis on low or mid bass, its transparent and quite fast, smooth with good body but not particular pushing in texture rendering, here its all about good separation and natural weight.

MIDS range feel a little fowarded due to excellent clarity and separation, its slightly intimate in the sens vocal keep their centered spot. We aren’t in super lush and thick terrioty here, more in transparent accuracy that help for layers of sound to have a natural flow. Its smooth, tonaly right, but without a push in timbre to make instrument sound closer to you. Still, mid range have plenty of details but not throw to you in incisive way, its innoffensive and lack a little weight and attack in body but this make it for a laid back sound presentation.

TREBLE is liquid and harmless, it have a little extra presence in upper high that add brilliance to metallitc instrument or percussions but do not add extra sparkle or decay. Far from being analytical or cold sounding, the POKE let the details flow gently to the cost of loosing some accuracy and grip. Percussions sound sometime far away in the background, especially in 8-10khz frequencies range. This type of treble make it for a versatile listening that will make harsher recording sound more musical.

TIMBRE is on the thin side, wich come with the transparence it have too, you will not have the textures of instrument put fowards neither a vocal that sound particularly full in presence.

ATTACK-DECAY is perhaps the only real drawback of the POKE, its very soft and lack punch to make it for a more energic and lively presentation, opting instead for a flat and smooth sound approach.




PAIRING :



With FINAL AUDIO B3 :

Being a dual balanced armature with a rather impressive level of clarity, this pairing do god with smooth sound of the POKE and help to extrack more details, dynamic and impact. As well, the high gain permit to drive the B3 properly. Unlike with sharper sounding DAP like the Ibasso DX90, the B3 became a little darker in presentation and less precise in higher range, what the POKE do is helping the mid range to sound mroe natural and vocal to sound wider and less grainy.


With KZ ZS10PRO :
ZS10 are pretty intense earphones with foward thumping bass and W soundsignature but rather rough timbre. With the POKE, this pairing is utterly delicious, the bass became tamed a bit wich is a plus due to overly agressive mid bass attack, as well, the vocal timbre became more natural and enjoyable. Strangely tough, imaging became less lively due to softer overall attack, anyhow, this benifit percussions that can be splashy with a brighter audio source. Treble being softed, ZS10 PRO feel less detailed but overall more balanced and natural sounding.

With MEZE 99 NEO :

Something that make NEO falling from my subjective perfection is how the bass is too emphased and rumbly in lower mid bass, well, hourray, the POKE solve that and now my head do not shake when big beat begin, as well, it help vocal to have more presence. This little details is really a game changer making this pairing extremely addictive. Sure, there drawback too, as it do not help rather warm treble to extract more details and offer better accuracy. Imaging in another hand is improved with more transparence in layering. All in all, it might be my favorite pairing to date with the easy to drive NEO.


COMPARAISONS :



WITH RADSONE ES100 (100$) :

For the price, let’s be clear, ES100 is unbeatable in term of overall value, but the POKE do not say its last word here because even if he do not have a balanced output or Bluetooth dac-amp features, it can be use as standalone amp and its more powerfull than the ES100. Construction of the POKE is from another league too, and physical switch for high gain is more practical than having to use the Radsone app for gain.

In term of sound, even if both score a dac from same AK company, the dual AK4375a offer a more dynamic and energic sound than the smoother sounding POKE. BASS of ES100 have more detailed timbre and faster attack but less roundness to it, especially in sub section. MIDS is more fowards with ES100 but lack naturalness of the POKE, wich make it more realist and wider sounding but to the cost of having a less accurate instrument separation. TREBLE is more emphased with the ES100, but again, less refined in its presentation than smoother sounding POKE.


WITH XDUOO XD-05 (200$) :

The Xduoo XD-05 score the very same dac than POKE but have a changeable Opamp architecture and 3 gain switch. Wich make him more powerfull too. For this comparaison I use stock Opamp.

Both construction is irreprochable, but I think the overall lifespan will be higher with the XD-05 due to the fact we can change the battery (DIY way) once it stop to work. The volume control is a whell wich I prefer. But in term of portability the XD-05 is just good to throw in you bag for stationary use, while the POKE can be easily use on the go.

SOUND is pretty similar in term of soft tonality but have notable diference in weight and attack from the XD-05, this benifit for a more spacious imaging where the POKE feel intimate in comparaison. BASS is more emphased with XD-05 too and feel more coloured than flater POKE presentation. MID range is slightly more recessed with XD-05, making the POKE very interesting for lover of vocal and mid centric presentation. TREBLE is more emphased with XD-05 and crave more micro details making it particularly fun to listen compared to flatter and smoother POKE.


CONCLUSION :

Xduoo rarely disappoint me when it come to quality of product they make. The POKE is no exception with its excellent construction, good battery life, diverse features and connectivity possibility, as well as overall good and transparent enjoyable sound.

Sure, the price isn’t the most competitive at 250$, especially if you only care about the sound, nowadays we can find cheaper alternative with both single and balanced output and longer battery life and that even in Xduoo family. Nonetheless, the quality of craftmanship of the Poke and plenty of accessories it include can justify higher price tag, to some extend, as I think 150-200$ would be a more rational price for what we get. But who am I to decide how a product should be priced?

If you search for a device that is as good as stand alone amp than OTG or USB DAC-AMP, offer plenty of features rarely found in sub-200$ DAC-AMP like high gain, bass boost and sound filters, I think the the Xduoo POKE can worth a try. Especially if you can test it to know if its sound flavor benifit the headphones and iems you have.

xDuoo XD10 Poke;
Small but Powerful


About xDuoo:

xDuoo is a Chinese company located in ShenZhen, China and is specialized in production of Headphone Amplifiers, Hi-Fi DAC’s for PC, Desktop and Portable use and Portable Audio Players (DAP’s).

Official Webpage: http://www.xduoo.com/xduoo/En/

Disclaimer:

First of all, a big thanks to xDuoo for providing me a sample of the xDuoo XD10 Poke for review purposes. I am not affiliated with xDuoo or any third person beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.

Price:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke has an official MSRP of $249.90 USD.


What is the xDuoo XD10 Poke?:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is a Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) with a built in amplifier that supports Hi-Res music files with sampling rates up to 32bit - 384kHz and is compatible with multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac, Android or IOS etc.


Package and Accessories:

The xDuuo XD10 Poke comes in a very creative and sweet looking cardboard box, which looks like a colorful Book. The instructions and information’s about the Poke are printed on pages which can be found in this book like books.









This box is including the following items:

• 1 x xDuoo XD10 Poke
• 1 x Micro USB to USB OTG cable
• 1 x USB Type-C to USB OTG cable
• 1 x Sony USB Audio to USB OTG cable
• 1 x 3.5mm to 3.5mm AUX cable
• 1 x Micro USB to USB charging cable
• 1 x USB to USB extension cable
• 1 x X-SK1 Magic Sticker

The xDuoo XD10 Poke comes with a rich accessory page, which include many cables inclusive a Sony USB Audio to OTG cable (no Apple CCK cable included) and a sticker called “Magic Sticker” to bundle your player, for example a Sony Walkman etc. to your xDuoo XD10 Poke with no burden, which are in my opinion a very nice addition.









Design and Build Quality:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is a nicely build device with a relative small dimension of 101mm * 55mm * 16mm. The housing is made of an aluminum alloy shell that is anodized and fine sand blasted surface texture, which is promoted by xDuoo as looking great with a Sony Walkman in their advertisings. The device is available in one color, which is green and may new color options will come in the future and a gold, red or grey color options could be great.

On the top of the device is the Motto of the Poke in white color printed, which is “music is the perfect expression of the soul” and on the top end is the Poke logo.



On the front of the device is a 3.5mm Headphone out and a single color (blue digits) 0.91-inch OLED screen, which we are familiar from earlier xDuoo devices like the xDuoo X2 player.



The screen is visible under normal light conditions, but has average visibility under direct the direct sunlight. This screen shows information’s like the battery bar, sample rate, filter type, gain, source type (USB or AUX) and volume.



On the back of the device is a 3.5mm AUX input/ output jack, a full sized USB input port which I am familiar form iFi devices like the iDSD Nano or Micro etc. and the Micro USB charging port.



On the left side of the Poke are the power switch, usb/aux switch to switch between amplifier mode and usb DAC mode, the bass switch and a one-step gain switch.



On the right surface of the device are the volume up and down button and the filter button to switch between 4 filter options.



On the Back is the Poke Logo and some device option like serial number and certificates.



The device has an overall good build quality without any noticeable burr’s and remains.


Technical Specifications:

• DAC : AKM4490EQ
• AMP : OPA1622 LPF
• XMOS Chip : XS1-U8A-64 with 8 Core processing
• Volume Regulator : TI PGA2311
• Output power : 250mW + 250mW @ 32ohm
• Frequency response : 20Hz ~ 20kHz (± 0.5dB)
• Signal to noise ratio : 112dB @ 1KHz (LINE OUT)
• Gain : 0dB / + 6dB
• Harmonic distortion : 0.0025% @ 1KHz (Headphone AMP)
• Charging time : ≤ 3 hours (fast charge 1A) ≤6 hours (slow charging 500MA)
• Battery Life : Digital connection: ≥ 8 hours - Line input: ≥20 hours
• Size : 101mm * 55mm * 16mm
• Weight : about 130g

Hardware:

The AK4490 DAC Chip:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is utilizing a AK4490EQ DAC Chip of the company Akai Kasei Microdevices Corporation. The AK4490EQ is a new generation of premium 32-bit DAC, with 2-channels of AKM’s VELVET SOUND architecture that has been widely adopted by high-end audio companies like Astell&Kern, iBasoo, Fiio etc. This AKM4490EQ inside the xDuoo XD Poke supports native DSD, DXD and PCM signals, with sampling rates up to 32Bit / 384KHz for covering all mainstream audio formats.

Amplifier & Driving Power:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is utilizing a OPA1662 (dual) series of bipolar-input operational amplifier, which achieves a low 3.3 nV/√Hz noise density with an ultralow distortion of 0.00006% at 1 kHz.

The OPA1662 op amps offer rail-to-rail output swing to within 600 mV with 2-kΩ load, which increases headroom and maximizes dynamic range. These devices also have a high output drive capability of ±30 mA.

The supported impedance of the xDuoo XD10 Poke is between 8 – 300 ohm with a rated output power of 250mW + 250mW @ 32ohm, which was able to drive most demanding In-Ear Monitors (final E5000), Earbuds (300ohm Samsara) and even power hungry headphones like the Sony SA3000 without difficulty.



XMOS 8-core chip:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is using the XMOS new 8-core processing chip with the model number XS1-U8A-64, which works in an asynchronous transfer mode and support WASAPI, ASIO, KS kernel flow modes.



Dual crystal oscillator noise filter:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is using two ultra-low phase noise crystal as the clock source, respectively working under 44.1K and 48K and its multiple sampling states, switched by the system, to ensure that the local clock without interference with each other, can be run independently. In fact, the XD10 Poke work very silent without any remarkable background noise.



Battery Life:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke has a 3.7V/2200mAh capacity lithium polymer battery under the hood, that should last according to xDuoo specs for ≥ 8 hours over the digital out and for ≥16 hours over the analog out.

My test results showing that the battery is able to last around 15 Hours (volume set to 80 at low gain) over the analog out and around 7 hours (volume set to 80 at low gain) over the digital out, which is pretty ok for a device at this size and driving power.



Equipment’s used for this review:

• DAC’s : xDuoo XD10 Poke, Hidizs DH1000
• Digital Sources : Ipad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, Dell 5510 PC
• IEM’s : FLC Technology FLC8N, Campfire Audio Polaris, Final Audio E5000, TFZ Queen
• Earbuds : K’S Samsara 300Ohm, Penon BS1 Official, Astrotec Lyra Collection
• Headphones : Sony SA3000, Audio-Technica ATH50M

Albums & tracks used for this review:

• London Grammar – Interlud (Live) (Flac 24bit/44kHz)
• Laura Pergolizzi – Lost On You “Live at Harvard and Stone” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Sonya Yoncheva in “Verdi: Il Trovatore - Tacea la notte placida (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Minor Empire – Bulbulum Altin Kafeste (Spotify)
• Casey Abrams – Robot Lover (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Steve Srauss – Mr. Bones (Flac 16bit/44kHz)
• Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – The River (DSF) – Binaural Recording
• Future Heroes – Another World (Tidal Hi-fi)
• Lorde – Team (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Tom Player – Resonace Theory “Album” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
• Opeth – Damnation (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Metallica – Sad bu True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)

Sound Analysis:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is a DAC/AMP with a sound signature that is flat or better say close to neutral.

The Bass:

Bass Depth:

The depth performance of the XD10 Poke in the bass area is pretty good, while it has some difficulties to go deep enough in the sub-bass region, when you don’t activate the bass key, which also quite normal for a DAC/AMP with this size and in this price category. But when I activated the bass key, the performance of the bass extension, especially in the sub-bass region is much better than before. The bass key is very functional and successful, if you listen to genres like EDM, POP etc.

The performance of the sub-bass depth and quantity should be good enough for many users.

Bass Speed:

The performance of the bass speed is an important criterion, which affects the overall resolution. The sped of the bass is important for track with fast passages and for the detail rendering.

The Poke has enough speed form artificial instruments to contrabass or percussion instruments like drums.

Instruments like cross drums are fast, strong and paced. It is quite easy and enjoyable to follow the tom’s, snare drums.

Bass quantity and force:

The bass quantity can vary from earphone to earphone, but the overall quantity and force could be descripted as one touch more than neutral that should satisfy most users. Those who want more bas can activate the bass key. I believe that with the activation of the bass key, people who descript himself as bass-head will be will be satisfied with their bass-head classified In-Ear monitors.

The bass character of the Poke is more like a hard hitting punch than an exploding or boomy bass type.

Bass Control and tightness:

The Poke has usually good a god bass attack, control, dynamics and tightness, which sounds pretty controlled, even in fast passages. It is also able to control your earphones (In-Ear Monitors, Headphones etc.) very well, which means that the Poke has a relative good authority over your gear, which is an ability that is expected from any DAC, AMP or DAC/AMP.

If we give a brief summary:

The XD10 Poke has excepted the lack of sub-bass depth, a pretty controlled and detailed bass presentation with good attack and force, which shows slightly (one touch) more bass quantity than neutral.



The Midrange:

The Poke has a large midrange area with a close to neutral presentation, which is flat, balanced and transparent, without to be thin or too tick.

Vocals:

The Poke has a transparent, full bodied and balanced in its presentation. Female and Male vocals sounding clear, liquid, and transparent to my ears. The vocal presentation of the XD10 Poke is not rough, muddy or veiled, which I really like.

Male vocals are slightly bodied, deep and rich, which is also not too soft or harsh in its presentation. There is no remarkable sibilance and shows a pretty natural male vocal presentation.

The ups and downs and the upper midrange presentation of female vocals is smooth and on a good level.

Female vocals at a soprano level, which have the ability to raise and lower their voices quite quickly, are presented by the Poke with no apparent blemish, which I can classify as a great skill at this price.

The performance of Sonya Yoncheva in “Verdi: Il Trovatore - Tacea la notte placida” is a good example for the vocal performance of the XD10 Poke.

The Poke could give the details and the neutral/bright tonality quite realistic.

Instruments:

The general tonality of instruments with the xDuoo XD10 Poke is neither thin or thick and could be described in the middle of both. The instruments have a pretty clean, slightly bodied and transparent structure.

I found the Poke except the slightly thinness with instruments like violin, drums, bass guitar or electric guitar and with some other instruments like viola and flutes relative successful. In short, the Poke DAC/AMP is a pretty successful device in terms of multiple instruments.

Upper Midrange:

The xDuoo XD10 - Poke has a usually controlled, non-harsh but also not too soft upper midrange with good transition to the treble range. One other plus point is the control with genres/tracks, which have fast passages with lots of instruments.

The ability to keep the upper midrange frequency zone in balance and at the same time not to make much compromise in terms of clarity, detail and control, makes the xDuoo Poke to a great performer in this price range.







The Treble:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke has a relative flat/balanced and clear treble range with moderate sharpness, and good extension, that doesn’t sounds veiled or to pronounced.

Sharpness:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke has an average and distinctive sharpness while listening to Crash Cymbal’s and to the final hits of cymbals. It is in perfect consistency in my opinion and also doesn’t hurt my ears.

Extension:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke has no roll-off or too early loss in the treble range. The cymbals do not stop too soon and the treble extension ends near the ear, which is a good feature, because too much extension could disturb the ears.

Both cymbals and violins showing good extension and sounding pretty controlled with the xDuuo XD10 Poke, which is a pretty good ability for a DAC/AMP with this price tag.


The Soundstage:

The xDuoo Poke has in horizontal direction a wide, spacious and airy soundstage arrangement for instruments that are staying side by side.

The xDuoo Poke shows the same performance for depth and can be descripted equal good in depth to its wideness.


Comparison:

xDuuo XD10 Poke vs Hidizs DH1000:

I want to compare this two DAC/AMP’s because they are similar priced and belong to the same portable category.

The bass of the Hidizs DH1000 has a linear character, while the xDuoo XD10 Poke has pronounced bass presentation. The Poke is superior in terms of quantity, depth and force, while both devices have the same control level.

The DH1000 is slightly faster and sounds also tighter in the bass department, but the Poke is superior to the DH1000 in terms of overall detail

Both devices have a pretty balanced, transparent and clean midrange presentation, while the DH1000 sounds slightly more neutral than the Poke. The Poke sound fuller and more bodied in midrange region.

The Poke is more successful with male vocals due the lower midrange depth, while the DH1000 performs slightly better with female vocals due the additional air and extra pronounced upper midrange. The DH1000 shares slightly more detail in the midrange area, while the performance of both devices is ways above their price tag.

Both devices have in terms of neutrality and technicality a pretty good treble performance. The treble range of the DH1000 is more neutral and thin compared to those of the Poke, which more volume and filled sounding. The DH1000 is superior to the Poke in terms of treble quantity and extension, while the Poke has the upper hand for control. The DH1000 shares slightly more detail in the treble range.

Bothe the Hidizs DH1000 and the xDuoo XD10 Poke have enough space for a good instrument separation and positioning, while the DH1000 has slightly wider soundstage. The xDuoo XD10 Poke on the other hand is superior in terms of soundstage depth.





Conclusion:

The xDuoo XD10 Poke is a DAC/AMP with a relative flat sound signature and a pretty neutral tonality, which should be the main attraction of any DAC or DAC/AMP on the market. It was able to run my power hungry In-Ear Monitors like the final E5000, the 300 Ohm rated K’S Samsara earbud and the Sony SA3000 without difficulty. All this cables that are include to the package and the creative packaging are a nice addition.



Pros and Cons:

• + Neutral and balanced presentation
• + Good detail level
• + Lots of accessories
• + Price to performance ratio
• + Beautiful and creative packaging

• - Outdated screen technology
• - Average screen visibility under direct sunlight