Xuelin IHIFI 770 Review
This is my first review ever here on head-fi. And I am pleased to have the IHIFI 770 Digital Audio Player as the subject of my first review. But before that, a little about myself. I am not exactly an audiophile as I don’t have the funds, equipment, means or knowhow to be what I consider to be an audiophile. Thus far the most expensive earphone purchase for me has been my Sennheiser IE8 which I purchased 5 years ago for 500 dollars. Although I have had more than a few similarly priced earphones and headphones follow since then, I have yet to find comfort in spending over 500 on any single equipment. Furthermore, I am not fluent in audio lingo. Words such as impedance and V-shape sound are terms I have yet to fully understand. So I don’t consider myself as an audiophile (just yet). I do however consider myself as a hobbyist and enthusiast.
The review will first focus on the 770, but include a comparison with other players in my stable.
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let’s get down to brass tacks. The IHIFI 770.
Design and Form
SCORE: 9/10
I feel like it was just yesterday when I entered into the DAP foray with my first ever proper DAP purchase – an iPod Classic 6th Generation. To me the iPod Classic was the very best DAP available at the time with its huge 160 GB capacity and advertised 25 hour battery life. All other DAPs felt insignificant; especially in weight and size. This is especially true with the Xuelin 770. In fact I can’t think of any other DAP of this caliber that comes packing any less in weight or displacement. But don’t take the word “insignificant” here to mean anything other than dimensions (more on that later).
At first glance, the 770 is a tidy little device touting clean lines and a simplistic minimalist form. It’s classy and not overdone. No frills, nothing over the top, just perfect. The 770’s small size and form should be instantly familiar to smartphone owners. It’s quite a party trick, as the 770 belongs to a class of enthusiast DAPs that include some pretty big (no pun intended) players; the Fiio X5 in particular comes to mind. It’s quite light too, coming in at just 106 grams. 48 grams lighter than the iPod Video and 57 grams lighter than the iBasso DX90. The player is so impressive in terms of weight and size that it manages to be smaller and lighter than my Samsung Galaxy S.
Although small, light, and aesthetically well designed. It doesn’t have the most comfortable shape: yes, it is shaped like an iPhone 4, but it does feel edgy in the hand. And although slim and light, the device is too wide to pull off the edgy design without some discomfort when held. So I’m knocking a point off for grip comfort. But overall, I'm very impressed.
Build Quality
SCORE: 6/10
The build quality is impressive. But we have been seeing a lot of good quality stuff come out of China lately. For example, Fiio and iBasso both make impressive devices that are built like tanks. I think that fantastic build quality is expected from any company worth its salt. But there are a few things I want to mention first. When I first received delivery of my 770, it was a slightly defective unit. There were minor cosmetic blemishes on the unit, particularly in the glass where dust had set beneath the display. It was promptly exchanged for the unit which now sit on my desk. I could just chalk it off to bad luck; after all, this ought to be an impression based on a pristine unit. But the simple fact is that I had to exchange my 770 because it was poorly made. Also, there is a certain feel that certain brands exude. It’s a bit hard to explain but former Sony device owners and the more recent Fiio DAP owners should know what I am talking about. There is a certain heft and a weighted feel to Sony and Fiio devices that somehow ooze quality. The 770 feels more delicate somehow. It feels more like a Toyota. Sure it’s great. But not panzer great.
***I am knocking points off in build quality due to issues with the LED screen and subsequent warranty experience. The screen developed a minor defect wherein there are now dark stripes on the side of the screen due to poor lighting. The lighting is uneven, causing streaks of dark spots (unlit portion) to appear. I have sent it in for warranty but was given a refurbished unit that has the exact same issue on the left side of the screen whereas the unit I owned had the fault on the right side. Just the worst luck. Also, the physical condition of the refurb unit isn't quite as good as the unit I previously owned. Had I known I'd be presented with the same defective unit I wouldn't have bothered. It's a minor fault and I have decided not to pursue the issue any further. I'll just open it up once the warranty runs out and try to fix the issue myself. Until then, I'll just have to deal with it.
I don't know if the IHIFI 800 (the 770's bigger brother) is any better in build quality, but I hope they've addressed the poor QC for the 800s.
User Interface
SCORE: 6/10
This is where Xuelin drops the ball like so many others. I don’t exactly have the most extensive experience with DAPs, but I do know what a good UI should feel like. Coming from the iPod Video and Cowon players, it became quite obvious that Xuelin had other priorities with the 770 and that UI was not high on the list. For one, it’s quite buggy. So far I’ve not had any serious issues, but have encountered a few glitches in the software. One glitch I’ve encountered is the formation of multiple repetitive options showing up under Music. Where you would expect to see just around 5 options starting off with Play Last Song to Hold Memory, I saw the menu continue below in repetition. When this happens the menu does not respond to the Play (enter) key (sometimes) and exiting and reentering the menu is required to fix it. It’s a very minor issue, but it’s a glitch nonetheless. Another problem is that the 770 is quite picky about codecs. It encounters FLAC files that play just fine on the PC but doesn’t on the player. Recoding the affected tracks may not fix the issue if the converter is not “compatible” with the 770. Recoding with a different software to the exact same format and settings can fix the problem however. Other glitches that I have encountered include one where the file played fine before but suddenly become a white/pink noise mess (on the defective unit, but cannot be certain this is an isolated incident so take it with a grain of salt). But where the 770 fails most is in the area of user friendliness and intuition. Some parts have been quite well executed, for example the use of the Power button as a play/pause key and an enter key for the menu outside the Now Playing page. But there are more glaring issues with the device than there are merits. As far as I can tell, here are the things I find wrong with it.
Features
SCORE: 8/10
The 770 is a unique player in that it has not one, but two headphone jacks. It’s not for sharing tunes with your best mate however: no, they’re different sounding headphone outs that are hardware tuned to best match the headphones that you are using. I have not seen any other device pull this off. It’s refreshing and one of the reasons why I decided to go for the 770 and not the Fiio X3 or DX50 (and price being the other factor). But other DAPs of this class do offer a plethora of functions such as USB DAC, optical input, and aux out to name a few. The Xuelin is unashamedly a pure and functional music player. And it makes no apologies for being what it is. I am quite honestly fine with what the 770 brings to the table, no matter how little. To me a DAP is a functional device; one that is meant to bring me joy when on the go. I don’t necessarily expect them to be Swiss Army knives. Plus the 770’s weight and profile would probably be altered with the addition of such functions. So despite the many omissions, I prefer the 770 as it is. But a USB DAC function to work with the wonderful onboard Wolfson WM8740SEDS would have been a welcome addition.
That's all the ports and buttons you will get with the 770.
Sound Quality and Comparison Test
At its MSRP of 175.00 USD, competitors include the venerable FIIO X3, and iBasso DX50. All three players use the same Digital-Analog Converter chip: Wolfson WM8740(SEDS). Where the three differs then is in implementation and things like OP-AMPS and LPF. None of which I know a thing about. I don’t own any of the aforementioned players but do own the WM8740 equipped Fiio E17 Alpen and the WM8758BG bequeathed iPod Video 5.5G 80GB (not rockboxed, using FIIO L11 LOD out and Shure volume attenuator).
All listening sessions were held with the EQUALIZER function disabled. I prefer a flat EQ on all devices. A device that does not sound good on a FLAT neutral EQ is not a good device in my book. Why? Cause I have no idea how to work the damned witchcraft-of-a-thing.
The 770 headphone out used were A for all songs with vocals and B for all without.
The scores are based on my humble standards. This comparison or test is in no way done professionally; either in capacity or form. So keep that in mind when reading.
Songs used:
Josh Groban – My Confession
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Diana Krall – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Sissel, Brian May – What Are We Made Of? (Adventures of Pinocchio (1996) Motion Picture Soundtrack)
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Sarah Brightman – Dust in the Wind
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Vanessa-Mae – Bolero for Violin & Orchestra
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Headphone used:
Fidue A83 Triple Driver Hybrid IEM w/ JVC Spiral Dots Medium
Low Frequencies: 10/10
In the first song, My Confession by Josh Groban, the first thing I've notice in the track other than the vocal is the presence of deep bass that extends quite low. The Xuelin was able to deliver, keeping the bass nice and tight but low hitting at the same time. To me there are some similarities between the Fiio E17 Alpen and the 770. Both are slightly warm, but the 770 is in truth far more neutral than the Fiio. As a matter of fact, the Fiio E17 is quite warm. Okay, wrong. Not quite. A LOT. While the sound of the E17 can be described as full and warm, its a highly modified and colored sound. The two deliver on the bass, with the Fiio E17 having the upper hand in terms of bass quantity and depth, but not control. The 770's bass is more controlled and tighter. When bass impact and power is required, the 770 doesn't disappoint. The quality of the bass is just better on the 770: tighter, cleaner and more neutral. Compared to the iPod, it's really not much of a comparison at all. Chalk it off to the use of no external amplification if you will, but the iPod was the least driven and underpowered of all the DAPs tested. Why no external amplification you ask? Because none of the others have one either. To attach an external amplifier that is capable of perhaps mitigating any of the iPod Video's shortcomings would cost at least 80 USD and above: a serious advantage in amplifier that isn't factored into the original purchase price. Using the Fiio's L11 LOD out with a Shure volume attentuator cable, the iPod struggled to power the modestly power-hungry Fidue A83. The Fidue's are hybrid IEMs, and not full-sized headphones. Despite the obvious difference in the power draw of headphones and earphones, the iPod struggled all the same. The problem here isn't with the volume. I found that the iPod was close to 70-80% power and the listening volume was adequate. The problem was the power and impact of the low and high frequencies. Both ends of the sound spectrum was significantly weaker than those in the 770 or the E17. The lows just didn't have the same impact or power. Bass extension was more abrupt; and less satisfying. The only other DAP capable of matching the 770 for bass was the DX90. Now mind that my view on bass is (of course) subjective here; I like my bass tight and neutral. And the DX90 did not disappoint: hitting every bass note with controlled precision while keeping it relatively airy. But the DX90's bass is perhaps a tad too clean and a bit too tight. I would have liked to have the bass boom. Just a bit.
Mid Frequencies: 9/10
To flex the 770's mid frequency muscle I decided to audition Diana Krall Dedication to Nat King Cole album's A Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The 770's presentation is extremely satisfying here. The sound is slightly warm, but lush with bass twang not just audible - but felt. But enough of bass, this is about the mids! And the pluck of guitar strings can be heard and felt to a similar extent. Then the piano started to play, and at first I was a bit skeptical, as it sounded more subtle and didn't strike me as being particularly good: that is until the piano solo at 3:20. As some of you may know, Krall is known not just for her sultry voice, but her proficiency at piano as well. There is however another reason why I chose Diana: the quality of her recordings. There are many albums out there, but only about 20% of them will be mastered properly. It's quite surprising because its the poorly mastered recordings that belong to some of the biggest names in the business. But not here. Krall is a treat to the ears,if not for her voice then for the quality of her recordings. Each piano stroke and impact of the keys can be heard and the effect is mesmerizing; the closest thing to being right there in front of her listening to her perform. The Fiio should have been excellent here, but in my opinion, colored the music to an extent that the (mental) image of the room was significantly altered. The brightness was gone, and replaced by a dimly lit lounge wherein padded walls and candle lit tables were the norm. It's not so bad as some of us enjoy jazz music presented with some warmth and darkness, but here the Fiio house-sound didn't really shine. While the quality of the music, starting with the bass and the mids are not far behind or different from the 770; it's the presentation that lets it down. In the end the 770 made use of more of the spectrum. It sounds more dynamic and real, painting a world that was not just filled with just basses but maracas and cymbals too. The iPod again failed to impress here . It isn't that the sound is bad; it's just not as lively. However, the mids of the iPod is where the device tries the hardest, and it does a decent job. Krall's voice came off as smooth as ever, but lacked the detail or the texture of either the Fiio or the E17. The iBasso's mids is more expansive, but detailed and textured. It's every bit as good (and more) as the E17's or the 770s, but less congested. Remember though that the iBasso is a 449.95 MSRP DAP with dual ESS Sabre 9018K2M DACs with good amplification so exceeding in this comparison is to be expected.
Highs 8/10
The 770 is starting to look like a pretty strong performer at this point. And its rendition of high frequencies come through strong. However, owing to the slightly more warm nature of the DAC, the highs did not extend quite as much as the DX90's. While the 770's (somewhat) neutral tendencies allowed it to perform admirably across the entire spectrum, I did want to see a bit more dedication to the highs than was apparent. I found the bass to be just right, with just enough quantity and control. But the highs somehow felt less compelling. The cymbals did not sound as crisp or complex as I would have liked, but one thing I did note is that where the 770 fails in detail it makes up for in dynamics. In Bolero for Violin and Orchestra it became clear just how apt and capable the 770 is in terms of its ability to reproduce complex transitional tones. The violin in the hands of Vanessa-Mae can absolutely sing, but with a voice that some DAPs or DACs depending on bias may not accurately portray. At the start of the bow to the end of the stroke, the sound transitions from a low deep end and sometimes terminates in a piercingly high end of the range. The 770 never missed a moment, producing both low notes then transitioning to the highs nice and smoothly or quickly and sharply on demand. But the same could not be said of the E17. Being too warm to adequately produce the higher tones of the violin it sounded warm and low for the entire duration of the track, ending at the high-mids at its peak. The E17 therefore is not a reference listening device. It does a good job of producing music that can be described perhaps as fun or enjoyable. But it is far too mainstream and warm for reference listening. The iPod continuing its trend of lacking power in both highs and lows didn't quite manage here either. The DX90 is the most neutral sounding DAP in this comparison, dishing out extremely controlled lows and bass while extending far into the high end of the frequency. To put simply, I was in love when I first bought it and I still love it to this day. The highs not only project far, the fade is controlled with uncanny perfection. Where the 770 lacks, the DX90 delivers: creating detailed and extremely clean highs without sounding too bright or shrill.
Sound-stage: 7/10
So this is where the 770 failed to impress (as much). While I believe that this would not bother other users, I have a preference for airy and expansive sound. I find volume and dimension to be crucial in portraying realism, but at the end of the day it must be said that this will be extremely subjective since some people consider width or the sound-stage to be artificial and is in fact coloring the sound. The 770 is an extremely intimate player. With its fantastic detail and imaging, it's hard to picture yourself in the audience. No. You are there on stage, right in front of the performer instead. Playing What Are We Made Of performed by Brian May and Sissel from the Adventures of Pinocchio (the 1996 motion picture), the recording is an excellent way to gauge sound-stage with its wide operatic sound and instrument placement. No matter the earphones or headphones, any that is capable of projecting dimension will paint a fairly wide musical picture here. But even in this particular track, the 770 remained unrelenting, giving me the music right there on stage. The Fiio E17 is significantly wider. It's like sitting in the middle of the theater, and the instruments can be pictured far on both sides. But not so with the 770. If the instruments are in the sides, then they are right next to you. The iPod Video does a decent job here, although slightly lacking. It's still slightly congested, although less so than the 770. It definitely has more dimension than the 770, but less than the E17. The E17 sounds wide, and quite a lot so. Instruments can be placed on stage and the sound is nice and airy. The iBasso is quite well known for its neutral sound that is wide and expansive. As a result, the sound is definitely wide: on par with the E17 but with greater detail and clarity. For me the 770 doesn't deliver adequately wide sound to score highly here. But some out there will appreciate the intimate sound of the 770. If anything I would describe the experience as being similar to being the artist's microphone for the day.
Summary
The bass performance is fantastic; it's strong, deep and extend quite nicely. It's definitely tight enough to be considered controlled and driven well enough to sound deep and powerful. The mid is quite lush. Vocals come out smoothly and nicely, rendering both male and female vocals with wonderful tone and pitch. The high is also impressive. Triangles sound sharp and extend with the fade being well controlled. The sound can be described as warm, but I think that it's actually quite neutral. The sound isn't very wide however, and there is a lack of dimension in the sound. Everything sounds extremely close to you, and the details reinforce that notion. I know that EQ can make the sound wider. But this is a test to see how wide the sound is without the aid of EQ, as is the case with all devices tested here. The F17 Alpen is wider, and definitely presents an airier and more spacious sound. The sound however is highly colored, with a stronger emphasis on bass and warmth; typical of the Fiio house-sound. It's a bit of a let down however as it's not a very natural (or neutral) sounding device as evidenced by Vanessa-Mae's Bolero track. However, it makes no apologies in terms of power, and when high frequencies are needed, the extension isn't bad either. Just don't expect the same kind of shimmer and sparkle in the high frequencies. The iPod, let down by the lack of a proper internal amplifier constantly struggled to reach deep into the lows or high onto the top end of the sound spectrum. It however does have nice and fluid mids, lacking a little bit in detail and texture but overall pleasant and easy to listen to. As a matter of fact, I found that the iPod often provided an easy listening experience wherein the slightly stifled highs and lows made the sound less fatiguing over longer sessions. For non-critical listening, the iPod is not a bad choice at all. The iBasso DX90 is the most expensive DAP by far in this comparison. In fact, it's not even in the same class and is therefore quite unfair to include in this comparison. The DX is definitely the most neutral and balanced of the all the players, but in my opinion is something of a control freak in the way it produces sound. The highs and mids are all extremely well done: accurate and executed with finesse. But the bass sounded too controlled with most bass notes being (too) tight and less extended (unless absolutely called for). I would have liked to have something of the 770's bass here. It's not necessarily that the 770's bass is flat out better; it just sounds more enjoyable in my opinion.
Conclusion
If there is one thing to take away from all this, it's that none of the players or DACs tested here are perfect. The iPod is plain and simply a non-critical listening device well suited to easy listening while the Fiio E17 is too colored. The iBasso in my opinion is the closest thing to perfection, but it's sort of like a Lexus. Yes, it's astoundingly good at what it sets off to accomplish but the overall presentation feels perhaps a bit bland (again, without EQ). The IHIFI 770 is the proverbial Goldilock's soup; just right in almost every account but one: the sound-stage that it lacks which to me is the pepper – as I like my soup spiced up just a little bit. But for an MSRP of 175.00 USD and a street price of pretty much 130.00 USD, the Xuelin 770 is difficult not to recommend. It possesses all of the essentials and none of the cumbersome swiss-army-knife bulk of most players in this price range. Yes, sure, if you absolutely need the optical input, the DAC function or the AUX-Out then this player is not for you. But if what you want is an extremely portable DAP with excellent sound quality and value then this player is near impossible to beat. As a matter of fact I would place the overall sound quality as being nearly 85% of the DX90. Sure, we do enter the point of diminishing value with the DX90, but that 15% (perhaps even 10%) comes at too high a cost. Is the DX90 better than the 770? That depends. The DX90 is more of a reference grade DAP that is best enjoyed at home. If you demand the added detail and neutral sound there is no substitute. Price be damned. But if what you want is a fantastic player that can pretty much jam with the rest of the kids on the block, then the 770 will do that and then some.
The 770 exist in a place between the DX90 and the Fiio X5 (at least going by what has been said of the DX90 and the X5). Although I've never heard the X5, the sound that most have described is that compared to the DX90, the sound is narrower, warmer, with less treble and more bass.
But thankfully the sound isn't too warm and the 770, price and all considered, is just about the most perfect device I have come across. It's a good device, period.
P.S.: The UI still sucks though.
This is my first review ever here on head-fi. And I am pleased to have the IHIFI 770 Digital Audio Player as the subject of my first review. But before that, a little about myself. I am not exactly an audiophile as I don’t have the funds, equipment, means or knowhow to be what I consider to be an audiophile. Thus far the most expensive earphone purchase for me has been my Sennheiser IE8 which I purchased 5 years ago for 500 dollars. Although I have had more than a few similarly priced earphones and headphones follow since then, I have yet to find comfort in spending over 500 on any single equipment. Furthermore, I am not fluent in audio lingo. Words such as impedance and V-shape sound are terms I have yet to fully understand. So I don’t consider myself as an audiophile (just yet). I do however consider myself as a hobbyist and enthusiast.
The review will first focus on the 770, but include a comparison with other players in my stable.
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let’s get down to brass tacks. The IHIFI 770.
Design and Form
SCORE: 9/10
I feel like it was just yesterday when I entered into the DAP foray with my first ever proper DAP purchase – an iPod Classic 6th Generation. To me the iPod Classic was the very best DAP available at the time with its huge 160 GB capacity and advertised 25 hour battery life. All other DAPs felt insignificant; especially in weight and size. This is especially true with the Xuelin 770. In fact I can’t think of any other DAP of this caliber that comes packing any less in weight or displacement. But don’t take the word “insignificant” here to mean anything other than dimensions (more on that later).
At first glance, the 770 is a tidy little device touting clean lines and a simplistic minimalist form. It’s classy and not overdone. No frills, nothing over the top, just perfect. The 770’s small size and form should be instantly familiar to smartphone owners. It’s quite a party trick, as the 770 belongs to a class of enthusiast DAPs that include some pretty big (no pun intended) players; the Fiio X5 in particular comes to mind. It’s quite light too, coming in at just 106 grams. 48 grams lighter than the iPod Video and 57 grams lighter than the iBasso DX90. The player is so impressive in terms of weight and size that it manages to be smaller and lighter than my Samsung Galaxy S.
Although small, light, and aesthetically well designed. It doesn’t have the most comfortable shape: yes, it is shaped like an iPhone 4, but it does feel edgy in the hand. And although slim and light, the device is too wide to pull off the edgy design without some discomfort when held. So I’m knocking a point off for grip comfort. But overall, I'm very impressed.
Build Quality
SCORE: 6/10
The build quality is impressive. But we have been seeing a lot of good quality stuff come out of China lately. For example, Fiio and iBasso both make impressive devices that are built like tanks. I think that fantastic build quality is expected from any company worth its salt. But there are a few things I want to mention first. When I first received delivery of my 770, it was a slightly defective unit. There were minor cosmetic blemishes on the unit, particularly in the glass where dust had set beneath the display. It was promptly exchanged for the unit which now sit on my desk. I could just chalk it off to bad luck; after all, this ought to be an impression based on a pristine unit. But the simple fact is that I had to exchange my 770 because it was poorly made. Also, there is a certain feel that certain brands exude. It’s a bit hard to explain but former Sony device owners and the more recent Fiio DAP owners should know what I am talking about. There is a certain heft and a weighted feel to Sony and Fiio devices that somehow ooze quality. The 770 feels more delicate somehow. It feels more like a Toyota. Sure it’s great. But not panzer great.
***I am knocking points off in build quality due to issues with the LED screen and subsequent warranty experience. The screen developed a minor defect wherein there are now dark stripes on the side of the screen due to poor lighting. The lighting is uneven, causing streaks of dark spots (unlit portion) to appear. I have sent it in for warranty but was given a refurbished unit that has the exact same issue on the left side of the screen whereas the unit I owned had the fault on the right side. Just the worst luck. Also, the physical condition of the refurb unit isn't quite as good as the unit I previously owned. Had I known I'd be presented with the same defective unit I wouldn't have bothered. It's a minor fault and I have decided not to pursue the issue any further. I'll just open it up once the warranty runs out and try to fix the issue myself. Until then, I'll just have to deal with it.
I don't know if the IHIFI 800 (the 770's bigger brother) is any better in build quality, but I hope they've addressed the poor QC for the 800s.
User Interface
SCORE: 6/10
This is where Xuelin drops the ball like so many others. I don’t exactly have the most extensive experience with DAPs, but I do know what a good UI should feel like. Coming from the iPod Video and Cowon players, it became quite obvious that Xuelin had other priorities with the 770 and that UI was not high on the list. For one, it’s quite buggy. So far I’ve not had any serious issues, but have encountered a few glitches in the software. One glitch I’ve encountered is the formation of multiple repetitive options showing up under Music. Where you would expect to see just around 5 options starting off with Play Last Song to Hold Memory, I saw the menu continue below in repetition. When this happens the menu does not respond to the Play (enter) key (sometimes) and exiting and reentering the menu is required to fix it. It’s a very minor issue, but it’s a glitch nonetheless. Another problem is that the 770 is quite picky about codecs. It encounters FLAC files that play just fine on the PC but doesn’t on the player. Recoding the affected tracks may not fix the issue if the converter is not “compatible” with the 770. Recoding with a different software to the exact same format and settings can fix the problem however. Other glitches that I have encountered include one where the file played fine before but suddenly become a white/pink noise mess (on the defective unit, but cannot be certain this is an isolated incident so take it with a grain of salt). But where the 770 fails most is in the area of user friendliness and intuition. Some parts have been quite well executed, for example the use of the Power button as a play/pause key and an enter key for the menu outside the Now Playing page. But there are more glaring issues with the device than there are merits. As far as I can tell, here are the things I find wrong with it.
- No support for album art covers. Not a big deal, but it’s not here.
- No real support for tags. The player goes by file names not ID3 Tags.
- When you click on All Music only the music files in the 770’s internal memory seem to show.
- Navigation is heavily dependent on folder arrangement. It’s not a big deal. But it’s not ideal either.
- The Volume keys + and – used to unlock the player cannot be relied on to lock it.
- There is no way to manually lock the player yourself. The screen has to go blank on its own.
- Rewind button does not take you back to the start of the track. Goes to the previous track.
- AUTO OFF function will turn off your 770 regardless of whether or not it is playing music.
- Battery indicator kind of sucks. Not as stable or consistent. So it’s not anywhere nearly as precise as the one found on the DX90 or the iPods.
- Buttons don’t stay lit. They only light up when touched. Makes for navigating in the dark a bit like playing Marco Polo. Me no likey.
- Wish that the Play button would also work to pause the song. Doesn’t.
- No dedicated equalizer function. It’s like the iPods all over again. Only presets here.
Features
SCORE: 8/10
The 770 is a unique player in that it has not one, but two headphone jacks. It’s not for sharing tunes with your best mate however: no, they’re different sounding headphone outs that are hardware tuned to best match the headphones that you are using. I have not seen any other device pull this off. It’s refreshing and one of the reasons why I decided to go for the 770 and not the Fiio X3 or DX50 (and price being the other factor). But other DAPs of this class do offer a plethora of functions such as USB DAC, optical input, and aux out to name a few. The Xuelin is unashamedly a pure and functional music player. And it makes no apologies for being what it is. I am quite honestly fine with what the 770 brings to the table, no matter how little. To me a DAP is a functional device; one that is meant to bring me joy when on the go. I don’t necessarily expect them to be Swiss Army knives. Plus the 770’s weight and profile would probably be altered with the addition of such functions. So despite the many omissions, I prefer the 770 as it is. But a USB DAC function to work with the wonderful onboard Wolfson WM8740SEDS would have been a welcome addition.
That's all the ports and buttons you will get with the 770.
Sound Quality and Comparison Test
At its MSRP of 175.00 USD, competitors include the venerable FIIO X3, and iBasso DX50. All three players use the same Digital-Analog Converter chip: Wolfson WM8740(SEDS). Where the three differs then is in implementation and things like OP-AMPS and LPF. None of which I know a thing about. I don’t own any of the aforementioned players but do own the WM8740 equipped Fiio E17 Alpen and the WM8758BG bequeathed iPod Video 5.5G 80GB (not rockboxed, using FIIO L11 LOD out and Shure volume attenuator).
All listening sessions were held with the EQUALIZER function disabled. I prefer a flat EQ on all devices. A device that does not sound good on a FLAT neutral EQ is not a good device in my book. Why? Cause I have no idea how to work the damned witchcraft-of-a-thing.
The 770 headphone out used were A for all songs with vocals and B for all without.
The scores are based on my humble standards. This comparison or test is in no way done professionally; either in capacity or form. So keep that in mind when reading.
Songs used:
Josh Groban – My Confession
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Diana Krall – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Sissel, Brian May – What Are We Made Of? (Adventures of Pinocchio (1996) Motion Picture Soundtrack)
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Sarah Brightman – Dust in the Wind
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Vanessa-Mae – Bolero for Violin & Orchestra
FLAC Lossless, 16bit/44.1KHz for DX90, 770, and E17, ALAC 16bit/44.1KHz for iPod Video
Headphone used:
Fidue A83 Triple Driver Hybrid IEM w/ JVC Spiral Dots Medium
Low Frequencies: 10/10
In the first song, My Confession by Josh Groban, the first thing I've notice in the track other than the vocal is the presence of deep bass that extends quite low. The Xuelin was able to deliver, keeping the bass nice and tight but low hitting at the same time. To me there are some similarities between the Fiio E17 Alpen and the 770. Both are slightly warm, but the 770 is in truth far more neutral than the Fiio. As a matter of fact, the Fiio E17 is quite warm. Okay, wrong. Not quite. A LOT. While the sound of the E17 can be described as full and warm, its a highly modified and colored sound. The two deliver on the bass, with the Fiio E17 having the upper hand in terms of bass quantity and depth, but not control. The 770's bass is more controlled and tighter. When bass impact and power is required, the 770 doesn't disappoint. The quality of the bass is just better on the 770: tighter, cleaner and more neutral. Compared to the iPod, it's really not much of a comparison at all. Chalk it off to the use of no external amplification if you will, but the iPod was the least driven and underpowered of all the DAPs tested. Why no external amplification you ask? Because none of the others have one either. To attach an external amplifier that is capable of perhaps mitigating any of the iPod Video's shortcomings would cost at least 80 USD and above: a serious advantage in amplifier that isn't factored into the original purchase price. Using the Fiio's L11 LOD out with a Shure volume attentuator cable, the iPod struggled to power the modestly power-hungry Fidue A83. The Fidue's are hybrid IEMs, and not full-sized headphones. Despite the obvious difference in the power draw of headphones and earphones, the iPod struggled all the same. The problem here isn't with the volume. I found that the iPod was close to 70-80% power and the listening volume was adequate. The problem was the power and impact of the low and high frequencies. Both ends of the sound spectrum was significantly weaker than those in the 770 or the E17. The lows just didn't have the same impact or power. Bass extension was more abrupt; and less satisfying. The only other DAP capable of matching the 770 for bass was the DX90. Now mind that my view on bass is (of course) subjective here; I like my bass tight and neutral. And the DX90 did not disappoint: hitting every bass note with controlled precision while keeping it relatively airy. But the DX90's bass is perhaps a tad too clean and a bit too tight. I would have liked to have the bass boom. Just a bit.
Mid Frequencies: 9/10
To flex the 770's mid frequency muscle I decided to audition Diana Krall Dedication to Nat King Cole album's A Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The 770's presentation is extremely satisfying here. The sound is slightly warm, but lush with bass twang not just audible - but felt. But enough of bass, this is about the mids! And the pluck of guitar strings can be heard and felt to a similar extent. Then the piano started to play, and at first I was a bit skeptical, as it sounded more subtle and didn't strike me as being particularly good: that is until the piano solo at 3:20. As some of you may know, Krall is known not just for her sultry voice, but her proficiency at piano as well. There is however another reason why I chose Diana: the quality of her recordings. There are many albums out there, but only about 20% of them will be mastered properly. It's quite surprising because its the poorly mastered recordings that belong to some of the biggest names in the business. But not here. Krall is a treat to the ears,if not for her voice then for the quality of her recordings. Each piano stroke and impact of the keys can be heard and the effect is mesmerizing; the closest thing to being right there in front of her listening to her perform. The Fiio should have been excellent here, but in my opinion, colored the music to an extent that the (mental) image of the room was significantly altered. The brightness was gone, and replaced by a dimly lit lounge wherein padded walls and candle lit tables were the norm. It's not so bad as some of us enjoy jazz music presented with some warmth and darkness, but here the Fiio house-sound didn't really shine. While the quality of the music, starting with the bass and the mids are not far behind or different from the 770; it's the presentation that lets it down. In the end the 770 made use of more of the spectrum. It sounds more dynamic and real, painting a world that was not just filled with just basses but maracas and cymbals too. The iPod again failed to impress here . It isn't that the sound is bad; it's just not as lively. However, the mids of the iPod is where the device tries the hardest, and it does a decent job. Krall's voice came off as smooth as ever, but lacked the detail or the texture of either the Fiio or the E17. The iBasso's mids is more expansive, but detailed and textured. It's every bit as good (and more) as the E17's or the 770s, but less congested. Remember though that the iBasso is a 449.95 MSRP DAP with dual ESS Sabre 9018K2M DACs with good amplification so exceeding in this comparison is to be expected.
Highs 8/10
The 770 is starting to look like a pretty strong performer at this point. And its rendition of high frequencies come through strong. However, owing to the slightly more warm nature of the DAC, the highs did not extend quite as much as the DX90's. While the 770's (somewhat) neutral tendencies allowed it to perform admirably across the entire spectrum, I did want to see a bit more dedication to the highs than was apparent. I found the bass to be just right, with just enough quantity and control. But the highs somehow felt less compelling. The cymbals did not sound as crisp or complex as I would have liked, but one thing I did note is that where the 770 fails in detail it makes up for in dynamics. In Bolero for Violin and Orchestra it became clear just how apt and capable the 770 is in terms of its ability to reproduce complex transitional tones. The violin in the hands of Vanessa-Mae can absolutely sing, but with a voice that some DAPs or DACs depending on bias may not accurately portray. At the start of the bow to the end of the stroke, the sound transitions from a low deep end and sometimes terminates in a piercingly high end of the range. The 770 never missed a moment, producing both low notes then transitioning to the highs nice and smoothly or quickly and sharply on demand. But the same could not be said of the E17. Being too warm to adequately produce the higher tones of the violin it sounded warm and low for the entire duration of the track, ending at the high-mids at its peak. The E17 therefore is not a reference listening device. It does a good job of producing music that can be described perhaps as fun or enjoyable. But it is far too mainstream and warm for reference listening. The iPod continuing its trend of lacking power in both highs and lows didn't quite manage here either. The DX90 is the most neutral sounding DAP in this comparison, dishing out extremely controlled lows and bass while extending far into the high end of the frequency. To put simply, I was in love when I first bought it and I still love it to this day. The highs not only project far, the fade is controlled with uncanny perfection. Where the 770 lacks, the DX90 delivers: creating detailed and extremely clean highs without sounding too bright or shrill.
Sound-stage: 7/10
So this is where the 770 failed to impress (as much). While I believe that this would not bother other users, I have a preference for airy and expansive sound. I find volume and dimension to be crucial in portraying realism, but at the end of the day it must be said that this will be extremely subjective since some people consider width or the sound-stage to be artificial and is in fact coloring the sound. The 770 is an extremely intimate player. With its fantastic detail and imaging, it's hard to picture yourself in the audience. No. You are there on stage, right in front of the performer instead. Playing What Are We Made Of performed by Brian May and Sissel from the Adventures of Pinocchio (the 1996 motion picture), the recording is an excellent way to gauge sound-stage with its wide operatic sound and instrument placement. No matter the earphones or headphones, any that is capable of projecting dimension will paint a fairly wide musical picture here. But even in this particular track, the 770 remained unrelenting, giving me the music right there on stage. The Fiio E17 is significantly wider. It's like sitting in the middle of the theater, and the instruments can be pictured far on both sides. But not so with the 770. If the instruments are in the sides, then they are right next to you. The iPod Video does a decent job here, although slightly lacking. It's still slightly congested, although less so than the 770. It definitely has more dimension than the 770, but less than the E17. The E17 sounds wide, and quite a lot so. Instruments can be placed on stage and the sound is nice and airy. The iBasso is quite well known for its neutral sound that is wide and expansive. As a result, the sound is definitely wide: on par with the E17 but with greater detail and clarity. For me the 770 doesn't deliver adequately wide sound to score highly here. But some out there will appreciate the intimate sound of the 770. If anything I would describe the experience as being similar to being the artist's microphone for the day.
Summary
The bass performance is fantastic; it's strong, deep and extend quite nicely. It's definitely tight enough to be considered controlled and driven well enough to sound deep and powerful. The mid is quite lush. Vocals come out smoothly and nicely, rendering both male and female vocals with wonderful tone and pitch. The high is also impressive. Triangles sound sharp and extend with the fade being well controlled. The sound can be described as warm, but I think that it's actually quite neutral. The sound isn't very wide however, and there is a lack of dimension in the sound. Everything sounds extremely close to you, and the details reinforce that notion. I know that EQ can make the sound wider. But this is a test to see how wide the sound is without the aid of EQ, as is the case with all devices tested here. The F17 Alpen is wider, and definitely presents an airier and more spacious sound. The sound however is highly colored, with a stronger emphasis on bass and warmth; typical of the Fiio house-sound. It's a bit of a let down however as it's not a very natural (or neutral) sounding device as evidenced by Vanessa-Mae's Bolero track. However, it makes no apologies in terms of power, and when high frequencies are needed, the extension isn't bad either. Just don't expect the same kind of shimmer and sparkle in the high frequencies. The iPod, let down by the lack of a proper internal amplifier constantly struggled to reach deep into the lows or high onto the top end of the sound spectrum. It however does have nice and fluid mids, lacking a little bit in detail and texture but overall pleasant and easy to listen to. As a matter of fact, I found that the iPod often provided an easy listening experience wherein the slightly stifled highs and lows made the sound less fatiguing over longer sessions. For non-critical listening, the iPod is not a bad choice at all. The iBasso DX90 is the most expensive DAP by far in this comparison. In fact, it's not even in the same class and is therefore quite unfair to include in this comparison. The DX is definitely the most neutral and balanced of the all the players, but in my opinion is something of a control freak in the way it produces sound. The highs and mids are all extremely well done: accurate and executed with finesse. But the bass sounded too controlled with most bass notes being (too) tight and less extended (unless absolutely called for). I would have liked to have something of the 770's bass here. It's not necessarily that the 770's bass is flat out better; it just sounds more enjoyable in my opinion.
Conclusion
If there is one thing to take away from all this, it's that none of the players or DACs tested here are perfect. The iPod is plain and simply a non-critical listening device well suited to easy listening while the Fiio E17 is too colored. The iBasso in my opinion is the closest thing to perfection, but it's sort of like a Lexus. Yes, it's astoundingly good at what it sets off to accomplish but the overall presentation feels perhaps a bit bland (again, without EQ). The IHIFI 770 is the proverbial Goldilock's soup; just right in almost every account but one: the sound-stage that it lacks which to me is the pepper – as I like my soup spiced up just a little bit. But for an MSRP of 175.00 USD and a street price of pretty much 130.00 USD, the Xuelin 770 is difficult not to recommend. It possesses all of the essentials and none of the cumbersome swiss-army-knife bulk of most players in this price range. Yes, sure, if you absolutely need the optical input, the DAC function or the AUX-Out then this player is not for you. But if what you want is an extremely portable DAP with excellent sound quality and value then this player is near impossible to beat. As a matter of fact I would place the overall sound quality as being nearly 85% of the DX90. Sure, we do enter the point of diminishing value with the DX90, but that 15% (perhaps even 10%) comes at too high a cost. Is the DX90 better than the 770? That depends. The DX90 is more of a reference grade DAP that is best enjoyed at home. If you demand the added detail and neutral sound there is no substitute. Price be damned. But if what you want is a fantastic player that can pretty much jam with the rest of the kids on the block, then the 770 will do that and then some.
The 770 exist in a place between the DX90 and the Fiio X5 (at least going by what has been said of the DX90 and the X5). Although I've never heard the X5, the sound that most have described is that compared to the DX90, the sound is narrower, warmer, with less treble and more bass.
But thankfully the sound isn't too warm and the 770, price and all considered, is just about the most perfect device I have come across. It's a good device, period.
P.S.: The UI still sucks though.
