WTD low cost but decent DAC

[brian2957]

Well , I must say that mines sounds excellent too , particularly with the Reflektor valve Jerry gave me

[struth]

Well , I must sat that mines sounds excellent too , particularly with the Reflektor valve Jerry gave me

pleased with mine and wont be changing it either

[User211]

IMHO the XS is way better than a Young. I had Jerry's in my system and it produced a pretty spatially flat soundstage and was overly clinical.

Firebottle does have a different board revision to mine and I assume Jerry's.

I don't think I am going to be able to resist buying the 05B, best price is on AliExpress.

It isn't as much fun as my Lampizator Big 7, and valve rolling isn't as easy and nor does it produce such diversified results. But with a WE 396A in it I think it is unbelievable for the money.

EDIT: the caveats are it is rubbish in preamp mode, and the distortion you hear when you jack the preamp volume up becomes extremely heavy. It sounds poor in this mode even at lower volume settings.

Also, it isn't entirely clean. I hear distortion, particularly in the bass, which just isn't there with other DACs. Only on some material, though. It sounds similar in nature to the distortion that creeps in when you run in preamp mode and jack the volume up slowly. But again that mode just sounds shite anyway.

Still with a lot of material it does sound really good - for the money.

[jandl100]

So. Is it really good for the money, or unbelievable for the money?
Make your mind up!

[User211]

So. Is it really good for the money, or unbelievable for the money?
Make your mind up!

It is almost unbelievable. I think the output stage is driven into a mild clipping state even in standard DAC mode that is only apparent on some music.

If the 05B kills that problem and sounds as good generally, I think that would be the bargain of the century even at double the price. Or 5 times the price. Or more.

I am with you Jerry I think it is fabulous in many senses but flawed. Everything is flawed, though, anyway.

Just sayin'. I am not sure if this distortion would be so obvious on cone speakers. I might try it in my second system, but somehow I am skeptical I will hear it on the M&Ds.

Anyway, at least one other person has encountered this issue. It ain't just me.

[jandl100]

I don't hear a bass issue on my MBLs, but then I'm not into megabass music in the way that you are.

[Bigman80]

IMHO the XS is way better than a Young. I had Jerry's in my system and it produced a pretty spatially flat soundstage and was overly clinical.

Firebottle does have a different board revision to mine and I assume Jerry's.

I don't think I am going to be able to resist buying the 05B, best price is on AliExpress.

It isn't as much fun as my Lampizator Big 7, and valve rolling isn't as easy and nor does it produce such diversified results. But with a WE 396A in it I think it is unbelievable for the money.

EDIT: the caveats are it is rubbish in preamp mode, and the distortion you hear when you jack the preamp volume up becomes extremely heavy. It sounds poor in this mode even at lower volume settings.

Also, it isn't entirely clean. I hear distortion, particularly in the bass, which just isn't there with other DACs. Only on some material, though. It sounds similar in nature to the distortion that creeps in when you run in preamp mode and jack the volume up slowly. But again that mode just sounds shite anyway.

Still with a lot of material it does sound really good - for the money.

After reading your post, I decided to have a lend of a XS and see how it compares to the M2TECH Young in my system.

Truth is it doesn't. The M2TECH gives a much wider and deeper soundstage. It has better timbral reproduction from strings and overall has a much richer tone.

The XS (although ridiculously good value) hasn't got the ability to not sound like a digital component which is where the M2TECH really does well. The XS sounds thin and grainy. I will concede that resolution is astounding for the price and there is plenty of definition but it just sounds thinner and fatiguing.

Results will vary between ears and houses but here, the XS is back in the box and will be on its way back to the owner shortly. The M2TECH is staying put.

On Tube out (modified) it's better in terms of fatigue and richness but the soundstage isn't improving. It's just not as good as the M2TECH to my ears. I can see why it's doing so well in terms of sales, the VFM is outrageous!

[Idlewithnodrive]

I also have the XS01A. It replaced my Micromega MyDac, but not by much and the MyDac did some things better. Yes, it's probably the best DAC for the money, although I've not heard them all, by a long stretch, but it's certainly not a "giant killer", imo.

[jandl100]

Hmm. Perplexing!

I guess we will probably never know whether we are hearing the same things and have different opinions about it or whether there are substantially different sounding versions of the XS 01A and we really are hearing different things!

Justin and I do have broadly similar tastes - we have heard different incarnations of each others systems several times over the past few years and I think there has always been enjoyment and enthusiasm for the other's system.
As to whether I would like Oli's, Alan's or Mike's systems, I have no idea, never having heard them!

[jandl100]

.... I wonder, have the XS 01A dissenters all been using the stock valves?
Significant improvements are to be had by subbing the valve of your choice.
Justin likes the WE equivalent (I have yet to try the one he loaned me) and Brian and I like Reflektor.