XDUoo XD05PRO

Dec 7, 2024 at 7:35 PM Post #3,227 of 3,405
I have one of the Trulis cases, which is nicely-made and not too expensive:

https://penonaudio.com/Xduoo-XD-05Pro-Protective-Case.html

I've seen some Vishnu cases for XD05 Pro on Facebook, but haven't enquired about them. I suspect they'll be terrifyingly expensive, looking at the workmanship. If you want something really solid, the Peli 1060 is almost the perfect size for an XD05 Pro, but it's stupidly bulky so I'm not sure that would be very useful.

https://www.peli.com/gb/en/product/cases/micro/1060/

I'm sure there are folks here with better ideas though.
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 12:03 PM Post #3,230 of 3,405
Last week my HFM Goldenwave Serenade arrived and yesterday I tried it's pre-amp function feeding the XD05 Pro via it's balanced input, and Jesus Christ almighty!!, it has been the best pairing I've hear yet by far, it was the most visceral and impactful I have heard my HEKse yet, slamming hard and deep and it was really surprising how much gain this portable amp can handle without either clipping or distorting. Truly impressive pairing.

I was pushing both the XD05 Pro and the serenade hard and it maintain composure all the way through.
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 12:34 PM Post #3,231 of 3,405
Last week my HFM Goldenwave Serenade arrived and yesterday I tried it's pre-amp function feeding the XD05 Pro via it's balanced input, and Jesus Christ almighty!!, it has been the best pairing I've hear yet by far, it was the most visceral and impactful I have heard my HEKse yet, slamming hard and deep and it was really surprising how much gain this portable amp can handle without either clipping or distorting. Truly impressive pairing.

I was pushing both the XD05 Pro and the serenade hard and it maintain composure all the way through.
Ok... I have to ask...
You're taking a digital input into the Serenade, and then outputting via the XLR balanced into your XD05.
The Serenade has its own DAC and then you're passing it into the XD05's DAC?
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 12:45 PM Post #3,233 of 3,405
Last week my HFM Goldenwave Serenade arrived and yesterday I tried it's pre-amp function feeding the XD05 Pro via it's balanced input, and Jesus Christ almighty!!, it has been the best pairing I've hear yet by far, it was the most visceral and impactful I have heard my HEKse yet, slamming hard and deep and it was really surprising how much gain this portable amp can handle without either clipping or distorting. Truly impressive pairing.

I was pushing both the XD05 Pro and the serenade hard and it maintain composure all the way through.
This is my primary use case for XD05 Pro, i.e. I don't use the DAC module of XD05 Pro very often but always fit in analog audio from my DAPs - so far, I have used DX260 and Hiby RS2, each has its own advantages ... but with both sources, the overall sound quality is definitely "next level" comparing with built-in DAC modules.
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 12:49 PM Post #3,234 of 3,405
This is my primary use case for XD05 Pro, i.e. I don't use the DAC module of XD05 Pro very often but always fit in analog audio from my DAPs - so far, I have used DX260 and Hiby RS2, each has its own advantages ... but with both sources, the overall sound quality is definitely "next level" comparing with built-in DAC modules.
I also use a little external R2R dac amplified through the XD05 Pro and I am very satisfied, even if the tonal result changes a lot depending on the opamps you mount. Lately I have re-evaluated the Sparkos SS2590, which are the most detailed ever and compensate well for the slightly more delicate timbre of the R2R (compared to the ESS and RHOM modules)
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 12:59 PM Post #3,235 of 3,405
I alternate them with the L.K.S Audio Pure Class A, which have the best soundstage of all (extension and three-dimensional identification of the instruments), but with a slightly darker and less fatiguing character.

Highly recommended and at a third of the price of the SS2590 :relaxed:
https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002717436756.html
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 1:14 PM Post #3,236 of 3,405
The SS2590 is a bit clearer and more sparkling, and if you want maximum detail you can go there, but mainly these are differences of taste, because the L.K.S Audio also has an excellent level of detail (second only to the SS2590), but more delicate and less intrusive.
In general I am understanding that you never get the best of everything, but you can only look for the best compromise: usually the accentuated detail also brings a feeling of a more in-your-face and therefore less deep stage; while a nice wide stage, which also develops height and layering in depth... you have to accept a less sparkling sound. It's up to us to find the right mix by pairing the various components (from the DAC to the headphones) to get closer to our best expectation and pleasure. :)
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 1:24 PM Post #3,238 of 3,405
1733941468293.png
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 5:24 PM Post #3,239 of 3,405
Ok... I have to ask...
You're taking a digital input into the Serenade, and then outputting via the XLR balanced into your XD05.
The Serenade has its own DAC and then you're passing it into the XD05's DAC?
Yes, exactly.

I bought a 2xlr female to 4.4mm cable to feed my desktop dacs into the XD05 Pro.

The serenade can either function in DAC mode which is a fixed line level output from either its balanced xlr or SE RCA outputs or pre-amp function which is a proper analog pre-amp with variable output which can go past the standard 4v-5v from a balanced output.

Honestly it sounded amazing almost maxing out the XD05 Pro at 90 in it's volume, in middle/blue gain mode and using the pre-amp from the serenade to control the volume properly. I was really careful becase even though the XD05 Pro is as powerful as many desktop amps, is still a portable or rather "transportable" device and I didn't want to damage it, but I was surprise that it handle it that well and the bass was just out of this world.
 
Dec 11, 2024 at 5:39 PM Post #3,240 of 3,405
So if I understand correctly, you were impressed by listening to the Himalaya Pro R2R DAC using the XD05 Pro as a power amplifier?
So you would be more satisfied with this outcome than listening to the Serenade alone through its internal amplification? Do I understand correctly?
Yes, I think the amp section in the XD05 Pro is a little bit better than the one in the serenade, but I think it's more a function of synergy here because if I just used the serenade as a DAC with a fixed line level output, it sounds really good but it's not particularly better than the integrated HP amp in the serenade, but if you use the pre-amp function of the serenade and play around with both gain level in the XD05 and volume, that combo becomes a goddamn beast.

I haven't tried just putting the XD05 Pro at max volume and basically that becoming a power amp and just controlling directly the volume with the Serenade, I left the XD05 at 90, which is almost at the top and I controlled the volume with the serenade, since the XD05 Pro is not mine, I don't want to risk damaging it in that way, one should always be careful when you do this kind of "gain staging", but it's something that I would recommend people play around as long as they're not stupid and do it gradually and in small incremental steps and listen carefully if they're any issues or problems.

I would recommend people start in the middle gain/blue mode for full sized headphones and low gain/green for IEM's of course, and the XD05 pro at half volume or bellow and then controlling the volume in your pre-amp without maxing it out and then proceed from there increasing the volume in the XD05 Pro gradually and in small steps and repeating the process until you find the right spot where it sounds best for you.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top