Comparison
The first competitor that comes to mind – and which I have in my collection – is the $119 USD EarMen Eagle.
Like the Link 2, the Eagle also only features a single 3.5mm output. While the Eagle doesn’t have any buttons, it secretly can render MQA even though this isn’t advertised. Build quality-wise both of these dongles are great. The Link 2 is a bit bigger but the Eagle is more slippery with the glass panels on both sides.
Sound-wise the Eagle sounds fuller and it has bigger body. The depth and layering instantly improve when switching to the Eagle. Basically the Eagle has a warmer and smoother presentation with a softer timbre. Both units are musical in their own way however. If neutrality, speed and control are your thing, the Link 2 is the one for you. If a smoother, warmer and fuller sound – with better depth, layering and dynamics – is your thing, the EarMen will be your to-go-to dongle. It’s a bit like comparing neutral solid state sound to warm lush tube sound. Only here the latter brings better depth, layering and note decay. Sound stage and extension wise, I would place both of these on the same level.
Next up for comparison is the $99 USD AudioQuest DragonFly Black V1.5. This unit also has a 3.5mm output only but it (after a fw update) – like the Eagle – can render MQA.
The DragonFly Black is fuller sounding and especially the bass is rather big (and not as tight) compared to the xDuoo Link 2. This is how I wished the bass boost on the Link 2 sounded though. The mids are soft, smooth and lush and very full. Vocals are softer and blend in more. The treble section on the Black is much lighter and it isn’t as prolific as in the Link 2, a characteristic I really like.
Technically the black isn’t as refined as the Link 2, especially in regards to the clarity, cleanness and precision. The Link 2 sound more energetic, where the black sounds slower and very easygoing. The Link 2 is also more quiet where the black shows more noise with sensitive gear.
All of these three units have a very different tuning, with the Eagle sitting in the middle between them.
The DragonFly Red is selling for $199 USD and the Cobalt for $299 and if you’re looking at $100 USD USB-DAC/AMPs, I doubt you’re ready to spend double or triple your budget. So I prefer not to compare the Link 2 to these. The Red, and the Cobalt even more, score higher when it comes to technicalities and the layering, depth, decay and extension are much better there. Same goes for the EarMen Sparrow, but then especially with the 2.5mm balanced output.
Conclusion
If all of this was too long for you to read, we’ll give you the summary right here.
The good:
+ It has a clear, neutral, yet musical and highly energetic tuning
+ Excellent design
+ More than enough power
+ Buttons you can use to control your phone (volume up/down + play/pauze + Google Assistant)
+ Accessories (cables/convertors)
The Bad:
– It can’t do MQA (competition can at this price)
– Lower level of technicalities
– The extension, decay is limited
If you’re looking for a simple, yet effective, neutrally good sounding and budget friendly portable solution in the form and size of a USB-dongle, the xDuoo Link 2 deserves to be on your shortlist. On top of that, the number of accessories you get for $99 USD is simply incredible.
Jobbing
I think it would have been worth mentioning that, unlike the Link 2, the Lotoo Paw dongle as the listed as competitive products offer 4.4mm output at a few bucks more.