Design and Build Quality
Casing
Head to head, the xDuoo XD-05 BAL looks exactly like the XD05-Plus, which looks like the first XD-05 too.
The case is made of thick, anodized aluminum, with a long main body and two plates tightly screwed front and back. On each side, you now have a dark-tinted plastic plate, hiding the Bluetooth antenna. Even if the plastic insert on the right side only serves an aesthetical purpose, it all comes together once you hold the device.
The rounded edges make the amp keener to the eyes compared to the previous generations, and the glossy plate softens what used to be a very boxy amp. It leans even more into iFi’s territory, even if the XD-05 BAL remains much geekier with all those knobs and its OLED screen.
The footprint is bigger than its direct competitor, and xDuoo didn’t try to minimize, nor alleviate, its DAC/AMP. Measuring 130mm long, 75mm wide, and 23mm thick, it shares the exact same dimensions as before, just heavier.
Not by much – only 10g – but that little difference is there, and can be felt once you have both devices in hand. That said, it still feels like a battery tank, more than an amplifier. But, thanks to that, xDuoo continues to offer one of the most complete arrays of inputs/outputs of the market.
Layout
Same OLED screen, same ALPS potentiometer, same three switches up front, as always with xDuoo, the XD-05 BAL I/O is very comprehensive.
Tailored to support every type of portable/desktop sources, the DAC offers a lot of digital and analog inputs.
The back panel comes with :
- 2x USB-C port, allowing you to connect an iOS/Android/Windows/OSX device with a pass-through connection, whilst charging through the other
- 1x optical/coaxial jack port, to plug your sources that do not support USB. A CD Player for example, or an old DAP for example. Remember this is a mini-Toslink connector, so you may need an adapter.
- 1x aux in/out, a classic now, giving you the opportunity to use the XD-05 either as a pure DAC, or a pure headphone amp, your call
- 1x AES mini-XLR port, not a port you’ll usually get with a DAC, but this one allows you to connect a professional digital source with an XLR->mini-XLR adapter, or directly into another mini-XLR source like the X10T-II
- 1x knob to choose your power supply mode, battery or USB
As usual, if USB OTG has become the norm to connect your smartphone to an external DAC, you better have to double-check the compatibility if you own an Android device. Apple users won’t have to bother, just use xDuoo USB-C to Lightning cable adapter, or get a ddHiFi TC28i to use the USB-C cable of your choice.
On the other side, we have :
- 1x Oled screen, which displays stream information in real-time (source, sampling rates, the mode in use). A very nice screen, surprisingly crisp and sharp even though you’d never need it, apart to check the battery life.
- 3x toggle, one to turn on the device (On or Off), one for the bass-boost and one for gain settings (low/high)
- 1x volume wheel, finely detailed with smooth rotation
- 1x 6.35mm output jack, unbalanced
- 1x 4.4mm pentaconn output jack, balanced
Last but not least, the xDuoo XD-05 BAL also gets buttons on the side. Compared to the prior version, the buttons moved again and enjoy a whole new design, one
- 1x filter, giving you various filters settings when you use the internal DAC
- 1x input, so you can switch between USB/Coax/Opt/Bluetooth/Line/AES
- 1x bluetooth, to turn one bluetooth pairing
An impressive array of inputs/outputs, that should suit every use and need.
Let’s move on and check the bundle.
Bundle
Inside the box
The xDuoo XD-05 BAL bundle is even better than the XD-05 Plus’, which was already impressive.
Inside the box you have :
- 1x USB-C to USB-C cable, to connect your computer (+ an USB-C to USB-A adapter)
- 1x micro-USB to USB-C short cable, for those who are still stuck in 2010
- 1x USB-C to USB-C short cable, to connect your smartphone/DAP
- 1x USB-C to Lightning short cable, to connect your iPhone
- 1x mini-XLR to mini-XLR cable, to connect an AES source
- 1x 6,35mm to 3.5mm jack adapter
- a set of tools to unscrew the front side and access the internal circuitry
- two dual op-amps if you want to do op-amp roll-over
- A set of silicon bands + rubber feets
A very good point for this DAC, as you won’t need to order an adapter anymore, even if you’re an iPhone user. One of the best bundles out there.
The article continues on Page Three, after the click here
Bekzod Usmankhodjaev
Nothing is being mentioned about its Bluetooth capabilities. It is the only feature BAL model has over the Plus model. Quite lazy never mention anything about it.
Israel Silverman
You mention using a FIIO M15 as one of the sources in testing the unit. Is this unit of sufficient quality for that to even make sense? The M15 has very high quality sound, and lots of built-in amplification. So I wonder if this unit will serve a purpose?
MhtLion
Great review! I think I will order one based on your review.
Vlad
From your review on PLUS:
“Ah yeah, one last thing: if boost mode is supposed to adapt the output impedance, I couldn’t hear any difference between on, and off position.”
Is it the same in BAL?
Kenneth Smith
5 hours to reach 100% battery is a deal breaker 🪫👎🏽
Steven Sylvester
xDuoo XD-05 Plus?
Please can I ask,is the above still at the top of the tree?or has it been overtaken by other AMP/DACS?? I enjoyed your review very much,Many Thanks
Lieven
IT’s still good but it’s also 2 years old, so there’s plenty of excellent new gear on the market
M
Such as? Would very much appreciate. Thanks.