Hidizs XO Dogle
Got Hidizs XO Dongle : Pros : - Neutral sound signature, with a bit of warmth. - Noise free - Expansive, airy soundstaging - The size is small easy to tucked into in ear monitor case - MQA format is supported - RGB panel if you like it - Filters button if it works Cons : - Filters have no effect to the sound - No 4.4 mm balaced port - No gain switch - No volume buttons 1. Unboxing: Firstly, I was quite surprised by the size of the box and the DAC of this XO. It's very small. But it could be a plus point. The contents are very simple: DAC, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A connector, instruction manuals, and the HiRes logo. 2. Body : a. The size is very small and thin. I like it because it can be tucked into my Tanchjim Oxygen's case box. Very practical, one small box contains both IEM and DAC, ready to slip into my pocket. b. It's a pity that the balanced port uses a 2.5mm size, which is now rarely used in other DACs. c. Perhaps this is the only DAC with a button to change sound filters. There are 2 filter options marked with blue and red lights. It's just a shame that I didn't notice any difference in sound when pressing the filters; perhaps my hearing is limited. If there really is a change, this would be a big plus point for the XO. d. RGB Panel : it only for visual purposes and matching with my keyboard hahaha, it would have been more interesting if the color were to be reflecting to the sound wave of the music being played, but it's not. 3. User Experience : a. The XO is quite stable during usage, rarely experiencing disconnections with the smartphone. b. The XO doesn't have a volume button. You can using the UAPP app that allows for volume step adjustment up to 100 steps. c. Battery Consumption: The XO provides a runtime of approximately 10 hours, which is quite sufficient for my needs. d. With the 3.5mm port, the XO can still drive my IEM : Oxygen and Nightingale effectively. e. This is my first DAC that supports MQA. I tried MQA on Tidal using the UAPP, and the indicator light on the XO turned purple, indicating successful MQA playback. This was a new experience for me. 4. Sound : I'm very pleased because this is the first time I've heard the sound quality of MQA. It's safe to say that it's almost on par with DSD in terms of sound quality. The advantage of MQA is that it can be obtained via streaming legally. I categorize the XO as a DAC that is quite neutral and detailed, with a slightly warm tone due to its deep bass response. The midrange vocals and instruments sound natural and clear, while the treble is crisp and dry. There's no background noise at all. The soundstage feels spacious, and instrument separation is excellent. 5. Conclusion: The Hidizs XO is the small DAC with tremendous capacity. It's highly reliable in terms of both sound and power. I highly recommend it, especially since currently on sale for $60.