xDuoo X2 - small lossless player with microSD and OLED!

[svyr]

But you're very rough with your gear, take a look here what you did last year.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/704417/t-peos-h-300-3-way-hybrid-impressions-and-appreciation-thread/570#post_10977978

It is to be expected.

not really feeling up to humour requiring knowledge of context and h300 having a glue problem.

 

[H20Fidelity]

not really feeling up to humour requiring knowledge of context and h300 having a glue problem.

 
Not time for joking says svyr. Point taken Sir. 

 

[getclikinagas]

   
I still think the best pairings for me are:
 
T-Peos H-300
Shure SRH440
Shure SRH840
Havi B3 PRO 1
 
(no order on that folks)
 
I want to try with DN-1000 and DN-2000 which I have coming this week and SE535.
 
And I agree with the button presses, in some ways X2 buttons remind me of those used on Hisound units. After a year or so, they will become soft and lose their spring, this happened on one of my Studio V units. They don't actually fail just lose their vibrance.
 
What are you pairing with X2?

Nothing demanding...That is the sad bit.
 
RE400
Ostry KC06
Vsonic VSD1S
Signature Acoustics O16
LG Quadbeat 2
RE 272 (just started testing)
 
The above don't even challenge my clip, so I wasn't expecting any magic with the X2. My impressions are rough right now (review to follow later), but for now I will put the X2 ahead of the Clip in terms of separation and stage. And sometimes detail (with my limited gear) 
I guess demanding portable gear will eke a more discernible difference.
 
 
The UI and functionality needs a lot of work, even compared to a Vanilla clip.
 
Good to know the buttons may become softer. It kinda bums me out when clicks don't register, despite requiring a hard and very audible press.

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Nothing demanding...That is the sad bit.
 
RE400
Ostry KC06
Vsonic VSD1S
Signature Acoustics O16
LG Quadbeat 2
RE 272 (just started testing)
 
The above don't even challenge my clip, so I wasn't expecting any magic with the X2. My impressions are rough right now (review to follow later), but for now I will put the X2 ahead of the Clip in terms of separation and stage. And sometimes detail (with my limited gear) 
I guess demanding portable gear will eke a more discernible difference.
 
 
The UI and functionality needs a lot of work, even compared to a Vanilla clip.
 
Good to know the buttons may become softer. It kinda bums me out when clicks don't register, despite requiring a hard and very audible press.

 
Have you owned or demod any of these little Chinese novelty players before? Colorfly C3 for example? This is basically what you get and far from a Sansa experience in UI or usability. Basically, they provide the bare essentials, play music (hopefully without much error) and offer the bare minium in features. So, X2 in that regard is not bad. 

 When you compare to players like HM-601, C3, IHIFI 760, Studio V you're in the same UI playing field and to some extent X2 is more user-friendly. One needs to completely forget about achieving anything near the level of an Apple device or even that of a Cowon for example.
 
Take the HM-601 for example - it will not play your tracks in order unless every track is numbered 01,02,03 manually using a renaming program. Colorfly C3 has folder titles which scroll backwards at random depending how it feels. Studio V clicks and makes beeping noises whenever you scroll through the folders.
 
X2 doesn't do any of that. 

 

 

[goodvibes]

   
Have you owned or demod any of these little Chinese novelty players before? Colorfly C3 for example? This is basically what you get and far from a Sansa experience in UI or usability. Basically, they provide the bare essentials, play music (hopefully without much error) and offer the bare minium in features. So, X2 in that regard is not bad. 

 When you compare to players like HM-601, C3, IHIFI 760, Studio V you're in the same UI playing field and to some extent X2 is more user-friendly. One needs to completely forget about achieving anything near the level of an Apple device or even that of a Cowon for example.
 
Take the HM-601 for example - it will not play your tracks in order unless every track is numbered 01,02,03 manually using a renaming program. Colorfly C3 has folder titles which scroll backwards at random depending how it feels. Studio V clicks and makes beeping noises whenever you scroll through the folders.
 
X2 doesn't do any of that. 

 

Disable the button sound.

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Disable the button sound.

 
Different, I'm talking about little clicks and slight stutters in the music when folder browsing from the resource menu (while music is playing)
 
As for the other sorting system, artist, album, (whatever they were) lets not even go there...lag...And you know I love the Hisound units
 
What I'm saying is, many of us (like yourself) have come to accept? These little nooks and crannies, but I imagine some, even coming from a Sansa unit would go a little crazy with these players. It seems some people are more than welcome to deal with it whilst others just want to throw these players at a wall.
 
Then there's the argument we accept this weak ass excuse for user interface, so the companies keep getting away with it.
 
From my experience X2 isn't the best in town with UI, there's definitely loose ends, but sure, XDuuo appear to have got it fairly stable

(besides some units failing completely)

 

[getclikinagas]

   
Have you owned or demod any of these little Chinese novelty players before? Colorfly C3 for example? This is basically what you get and far from a Sansa experience in UI or usability. Basically, they provide the bare essentials, play music (hopefully without much error) and offer the bare minium in features. So, X2 in that regard is not bad. 

 When you compare to players like HM-601, C3, IHIFI 760, Studio V you're in the same UI playing field and to some extent X2 is more user-friendly. One needs to completely forget about achieving anything near the level of an Apple device or even that of a Cowon for example.
 
Take the HM-601 for example - it will not play your tracks in order unless every track is numbered 01,02,03 manually using a renaming program. Colorfly C3 has folder titles which scroll backwards at random depending how it feels. Studio V clicks and makes beeping noises whenever you scroll through the folders.
 
X2 doesn't do any of that. 

 

Oh god. No, I haven't tried any of those.
 
It's just that...A DAP of this size is most likely to be used on the move. UI climbs a few priority rungs, in an outdoor setting. But being Head-Fiers, we are ready to compromise on "convenience of use" in exchange for a better sonic experience. The Sansa Clip showed us that this compromise need not be made WHEN paired with gear that isn't too demanding (which comprises a majority of the IEMs in production today)
 
But.... when demanding portable gear is in the loop, the X2 is a no brainer at the price, I presume? (regardless of UI/battery/etc). Also: More so because, as you mentioned, it doesn't have "as many" chinks as most of the Chinese novelty DAPs.

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Oh god. No, I haven't tried any of those.
 
It's just that...A DAP of this size is most likely to be used on the move. UI climbs a few priority rungs, in an outdoor setting. But being Head-Fiers, we are ready to compromise on "convenience of use" in exchange for a better sonic experience. The Sansa Clip showed us that this compromise need not be made WHEN paired with gear that isn't too demanding (which comprises a majority of the IEMs in production today)
 
But.... when demanding portable gear is in the loop, the X2 is a no brainer at the price, I presume? (regardless of UI/battery/etc). Also: More so because, as you mentioned, it doesn't have "as many" chinks as most of the Chinese novelty DAPs.

 
That's exactly right, people will do anything when sound quality is at stake. I believe I've once used the term:
 
"I don't care if my music comes from a steaming dog turd you poke a stick at to change tracks, its about the sound"

Not sure how strongly I feel about that still today, but I did say it once.
 
I do have limitations though, Colorfly C3 for example is such a great unit, I really love it but another problem with these players is they're usually lacking any form of long term support. They get them up and running just enough and that's it, they're out the door onto the next thing. it isn't worth their time patching things up when the player will be outdated in just 6 months. And that really bugs me about the little C3, something so simple, something a simple patch could fix and it's just abandoned. So its good to see X2 "practically stable".

 

[getclikinagas]

   
That's exactly right, people will do anything when sound quality is at stake. I believe I've once used the term:
 
"I don't care if my music comes from a steaming dog turd you poke a stick at to change tracks, its about the sound"

Not sure how strongly I feel about that still today, but I did say it once.
 
I do have limitations though, Colorfly C3 for example is such a great unit, I really love it but another problem with these players is they're usually lacking any form of long term support. They get them up and running just enough and that's it, they're out the door onto the next thing. it isn't worth their time patching things up when the player will be outdated in just 6 months. And that really bugs me about the little C3, something so simple, something a simple patch could fix and it's just left for dead. So its good to see X3 "practically stable".

Like those crazy *cough*Alien*cough* owners. Am-I-right? 

---

 
It must be a herculean task designing a UI from scratch. Very difficult to get right, first time round, unless you beta test the *bugs* out of it.
Why not reverse engineer the UI from another product that works. Don't lift the visuals. Lift the menu tree, structure, menu button map, basic features.
Easier said than done though

---

 
UncleH20, do you notice much of a difference on your less demanding gear (~32ohm ~100db/1mW).
Or am I straining too hard?

 

[Arvan]

I think the interface of the x2 is very good. Fast, simple to use. What more do you want? Buttons are stiff but since it does not have a key lock ( I think) I never pressed any buttons accidentally. However they are loud.

Compared to the clip the x2 have a much better button layout. And the recessed buttons on the clip makes it more fiddly to use if you ask me.

The biggest "flaw" is the chromed screen if you ask me.

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Like those crazy *cough*Alien*cough* owners. Am-I-right? 

---

 
It must be a herculean task designing a UI from scratch. Very difficult to get right, first time round, unless you beta test the *bugs* out of it.
Why not reverse engineer the UI from another product that works. Don't lift the visuals. Lift the menu tree, structure, menu button map, basic features.
Easier said than done though

---

 
UncleH20, do you notice much of a difference on your less demanding gear (~32ohm ~100db/1mW).
Or am I straining too hard?

 
For sure, Alien needs all tracks numbered 01,02,03 as well, makes a clicking sound between tracks like C3. 

 But when it puts out sound on par or above my DX90 at a fraction of the expense we deal with it. (all relates to my post above / what we're willing to accept in exchange for sound)
 
I think you've pretty much picked up the right idea. I can hear stronger instrument separation and wider soundstage with X2 over a Clip and the detail is about 10% 20% better, X2 also sounds a little cleaner overall to me a little more effortless and less congested. This is with mid-level hybrids and IEM like Brainwavs S5 (which I think is a very good IEM btw). But when moving up to a full-size headphone like SRH840 (even though low impedance) the Sansa unit could not drive 840 to a level my X2 can, notably the level of dynamics and driving authority. 
 
Long as we remember X2 is $55, then we can keep the expectations in line.  

  Rather than look at players like they're 'better', I like to use the term 'different'. 

 

[getclikinagas]

I think the interface of the x2 is very good. Fast, simple to use. What more do you want? Buttons are stiff but since it does not have a key lock ( I think) I never pressed any buttons accidentally. However they are loud.

Compared to the clip the x2 have a much better button layout. And the recessed buttons on the clip makes it more fiddly to use if you ask me.

The biggest "flaw" is the chromed screen if you ask me.

 
I do see your point @Arvan. I don't feel like the small niggles are deal breakers in any way. Just "nnngh". 
I will address the "what more do I want" in my review. And I promise to keep my expectations in line with the price. 

   
For sure, Alien needs all tracks numbered 01,02,03 as well, makes a clicking sound between tracks like C3. 

 But when it puts out sound on par or above my DX90 at a fraction of the expense we deal with it. (all relates to my post above / what we're willing to accept in exchange for sound)
 
I think you've pretty much picked up the right idea. I can hear stronger instrument separation and wider soundstage with X2 over a Clip and the detail is about 10% 20% better, X2 also sounds a little cleaner overall to me a little more effortless and less congested. This is with mid-level hybrids and IEM like Brainwavs S5 (which I think is a very good IEM btw). But when moving up to a full-size headphone like SRH840 (even though low impedance) the Sansa unit could not drive 840 to a level my X2 can, notably the level of dynamics and driving authority. 
 
Long as we remember X2 is $55, then we can keep the expectations in line.  

  Rather than look at players like they're 'better', I like to use the term 'different'. 

Thanks for the input.
 
I'm almost tempted to buy a demanding unit just to see what this aluminium powerhouse can do 

 

 

[Arvan]

 
I'm almost tempted to buy a demanding unit just to see what this aluminium powerhouse can do 

 

 
It is powerful! Drives everything i have without any issues..It´s somewhat wierd that something so small can drive full sized cans..

 

[ndburley]

I am still running the X2 and I know it has little set backs but I paid little for it and it kicks out so much power and quality for this price. It is a fun little player that you can respect, I am prepared to live with the "characteristics" of the player as once I got it playing what I want...it is wonderful

 

[Mcgeggy]

I finally received my X2 yesterday! Bought a 32 gb Sandisk Pixtor micro SD card and an $8 card reader. Just started re-ripping cd's into flac using foobar 2000 and loading onto sd card via reader. So far so good! I haven't encountered any glitches with the X2, but I've barely used it yet. It's smaller than I thought it would be. Trying to decide if I prefer listening to hard rock/metal using the Rock EQ setting, or no EQ but with louder volume. Still have to cycle through my iem collection to see what they sound like as compared to on my iPhone 4S.