I own the device and I honestly have very little complaints. The sound is as good as I expected and I actually like the aesthetics and small screen. Yeah, a balanced 4.4mm would be nice but Im doing just fine driving my HE400i's. I just needed a simple desktop device and it does the trick. I do most of my serious listening with my tube gear and floorstanders anyways.
You make good and valid points about the power adapter & screen issues. It rightly so would be a concern for most people (I like you have many adapters) but the display not being centred properly would absolutely annoy the hell out of me. Once you've noticed it then you'll keep looking at it. The omission of a balanced connection is a strange one. I agree that it's not going to win any beauty contests aesthetically but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. FX Audio also have a DS07 (ES9068AS chip) but I'm not enamoured with the appearance of that either. I still have an FX Audio Dac X6 in use in a bedroom and it's ok. I don't know what it is about the toggle switches but I like them. I do however much prefer using my iFi Zen/Can v1 stack overall sometimes partnered with XDuoo MT-602 (not stock tubes).
Aye the man running this channel is definitely honest about stuff. Honest and harsh though a wee bit. Also I have personally found the channel to show misinformation in one random case, which is a small price to pay for the honesty. Good Chanel to be subscribed to. The only one that doesn’t seem to be under the influence of the rest of the online community in any way.
Zeos loves this wee thing, supposedly great. Amazing how wildly different opinions can be. Ever considered doing a full gear tour or room tour video? Looks like there’s loads of cool stuff laying around in the background.
He loves anything, especially when it’s free. A list of things he’s actually been critical of is much shorter, possibly no more than a few lines. I have thought about a room tour, but I honestly don’t know what people would benefit out of that. I really don’t want to show my stuff for the sake of saying “look at what I have”-which is how I feel whenever I’ve seen other UA-camrs do it.
@@NoThemeReviews that is a good point, could see how a room tour could come across to a viewer who isn’t familiar with the channel as that, but because we know you through the channel, I am just interested to see it because I like looking at stuff like that. Getting layout and storage ideas, inspiration, just in a fun way. I know you wouldn’t be bragging but I also understand why you would worry it might be perceived that way to uninitiated folks.
From your reviews: Have you noticed any difference in sound on ESS and AKM chips in either presentation or sound technichal differences? Was curious about it having a ESS myself
I did over 10 years ago. Back then ESS I thought had a fairly harsh, grainy sound which was deeply unpleasant. These days, no. There’s no difference. You can find spec sheet and measurements for every modern Dac through the manufacturer. Nothing in the data suggests they’re using DSP-which actually would be a good idea-and nothing in the data suggests anything other than flat sound.
Aye but it’s more about ‘if anything it is going to be better’ which is a welcomed thing. Would rather ‘know’ it’s doing something better even where not audible. Ye know. Just incase.
@@NoThemeReviews I know. But that's why the manufacturers decide on multiple DACs so that it's specs can look nice on paper in hopes of selling more units.
There’s little point in having dual dacs. A balanced output that utilizes a single dac structure isn’t actually “balanced.” I think FX Audio simply wanted to fool people into thinking this is a higher quality product because it has dual dacs-and that’s the only reason I can see why they even bothered to implement that. It doesn’t matter in the end, but it just shows how little thought went into making this product.
@@NoThemeReviews I do agree with that sentiment Engineering vise though there is both good and not so good reason to use dual DAC to feed into both Single ended and Balanced amplification the newer DAP and Dongles that use 4 DAC chips or more is using them as a summing mean which is one way to use multiple DAC chips , its also possible to just utilize individually DAC chips for a single channel and those analog signal can either be feeded into Balanced ( dual mono block ) type amplification or feed into Single ended amplification , this is where I see many of the DAC / AMP mfr not doing theirs to provide , not everyone wanted to go balanced and sometimes its just about impossible due to the gear on hand , would like to see how this trend would eveolve
I own the device and I honestly have very little complaints. The sound is as good as I expected and I actually like the aesthetics and small screen. Yeah, a balanced 4.4mm would be nice but Im doing just fine driving my HE400i's. I just needed a simple desktop device and it does the trick. I do most of my serious listening with my tube gear and floorstanders anyways.
Audiophile nonsense is exactly right. There's too much of it. Thanks for the great reviews.
You make good and valid points about the power adapter & screen issues. It rightly so would be a concern for most people (I like you have many adapters) but the display not being centred properly would absolutely annoy the hell out of me. Once you've noticed it then you'll keep looking at it. The omission of a balanced connection is a strange one. I agree that it's not going to win any beauty contests aesthetically but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. FX Audio also have a DS07 (ES9068AS chip) but I'm not enamoured with the appearance of that either.
I still have an FX Audio Dac X6 in use in a bedroom and it's ok. I don't know what it is about the toggle switches but I like them. I do however much prefer using my iFi Zen/Can v1 stack overall sometimes partnered with XDuoo MT-602 (not stock tubes).
That’s definitely true by the way about beauty. But it does feel a bit clinical and lab like though, but point taken. Agree about balanced output.
5:54 I would love a video where you show us what tools we need to conduct blind AB tests
How To Assemble Your Own DAC Testing Rig For $25
ua-cam.com/video/0EH3i9zyiBQ/v-deo.html
FX Audio has very serious totally unacceptable Quality Control issues. It is a Brand which deserves to be shut down by Public demand.
Some stuff ACTUALLY DOES SUCK. horrifying item here, KUDOS for honesty Thank You!
Aye the man running this channel is definitely honest about stuff. Honest and harsh though a wee bit. Also I have personally found the channel to show misinformation in one random case, which is a small price to pay for the honesty. Good Chanel to be subscribed to. The only one that doesn’t seem to be under the influence of the rest of the online community in any way.
Zeos loves this wee thing, supposedly great. Amazing how wildly different opinions can be. Ever considered doing a full gear tour or room tour video? Looks like there’s loads of cool stuff laying around in the background.
He loves anything, especially when it’s free. A list of things he’s actually been critical of is much shorter, possibly no more than a few lines. I have thought about a room tour, but I honestly don’t know what people would benefit out of that. I really don’t want to show my stuff for the sake of saying “look at what I have”-which is how I feel whenever I’ve seen other UA-camrs do it.
@@NoThemeReviews that is a good point, could see how a room tour could come across to a viewer who isn’t familiar with the channel as that, but because we know you through the channel, I am just interested to see it because I like looking at stuff like that. Getting layout and storage ideas, inspiration, just in a fun way. I know you wouldn’t be bragging but I also understand why you would worry it might be perceived that way to uninitiated folks.
@@NoThemeReviews and the other point is though Zeos is good though, going to stick up for the man here, because I have heard him complain A LOT.
From your reviews: Have you noticed any difference in sound on ESS and AKM chips in either presentation or sound technichal differences? Was curious about it having a ESS myself
I did over 10 years ago. Back then ESS I thought had a fairly harsh, grainy sound which was deeply unpleasant. These days, no. There’s no difference. You can find spec sheet and measurements for every modern Dac through the manufacturer. Nothing in the data suggests they’re using DSP-which actually would be a good idea-and nothing in the data suggests anything other than flat sound.
Doubling the DAC chips can help to make the specs look better, ie: lower THD etc.
THD is already far below audible levels with a single Dac.
Aye but it’s more about ‘if anything it is going to be better’ which is a welcomed thing. Would rather ‘know’ it’s doing something better even where not audible. Ye know. Just incase.
@@NoThemeReviews I know. But that's why the manufacturers decide on multiple DACs so that it's specs can look nice on paper in hopes of selling more units.
having dual DAC chip had no bearing on the AMP part which could be single ended or Balanced even if there's only 1 DAC chip
There’s little point in having dual dacs. A balanced output that utilizes a single dac structure isn’t actually “balanced.” I think FX Audio simply wanted to fool people into thinking this is a higher quality product because it has dual dacs-and that’s the only reason I can see why they even bothered to implement that. It doesn’t matter in the end, but it just shows how little thought went into making this product.
@@NoThemeReviews I do agree with that sentiment
Engineering vise though there is both good and not so good reason to use dual DAC to feed into both Single ended and Balanced amplification
the newer DAP and Dongles that use 4 DAC chips or more is using them as a summing mean which is one way to use multiple DAC chips , its also possible to just utilize individually DAC chips for a single channel and those analog signal can either be feeded into Balanced ( dual mono block ) type amplification or feed into Single ended amplification , this is where I see many of the DAC / AMP mfr not doing theirs to provide , not everyone wanted to go balanced and sometimes its just about impossible due to the gear on hand , would like to see how this trend would eveolve
Looks more like a $79 device.