Disclaimer: The Xduoo X10T was sent to us free of charge by Linsoul.com in exchange for this review and a link to their website. This isn’t the first time we work together with Linsoul (see KZ ZS10 review). The pictures in this article are from Xduoo and they’re not ours.
Xduoo
You may not have heard about the Chinese Xduoo but they have really nice and affordable personal audio gear. This actually is only the first time we’re featuring Xduoo on Headfonia.com and that’s way overdue!
Xduoo’s main website can be found here: http://www.xduoo.com/xduoo/En/Index.asp . It’s available in both English and Chinese and even though it’s very basic, everything you need to know is there.
Xduoo doesn’t only make products for their own brand, but they ODM for many well-know audio brands. They specialize in headphone amps, all kinds of DACs and music players. Today we’ll be looking at the Xduoo X10T, a digital transport.
Xduoo X10T
Don’t mistake the Xduoo X10T with the Xduoo X10, the latter being a portable music player. The X10T is a digital transport only and it can’t convert a digital signal to an analogue one. Xduoo calls it a:
“Professional Digital Turntable player”
The X10T uses a Wolfson WM8805 digital audio receiver chip. The WM8805 chip generates high quality SDPDIF output through the coaxial jack. It is a high-performance consumer mode S/PDIF transceiver with support for eight received channels and one transmitted channel. A crystal derived, or externally provided high quality master clock is used to allow low jitter recovery of S/PDIF supplied master clocks. It also has advanced phase-locked loop with jitter attenuation inside the chip, clock cycle jitter less than 50ps RMS.
The X10T’s output signal only has 0,00087% distortion(!) and the output amplitude are as follows:
AES = 3,25Vp-P
Coaxial 1 = 0,8Vp-p
Coaxial 2 = 0,5Vp-p
So again: this is not a DAC and it only puts out a digital signal to your favourite external DAC, hence the “turntable player” name. You will have to hook it up to a portable unit such as the Chord Mojo/Hugo, RHA DACAMP L1 or the JDSLabs C5D, etc. You can of course hook it up to your desktop DAC as well using one of the outputs of the X10T.
The CPU chip used inside the X10T is the Jun Zheng JZ4760B. You can find out all about the X10T right here: http://www.xduoo.com/xduoo/En/ProductView.Asp?ID=24.
The X10T has three digital outputs: A coaxial output (ground isolation), an optical output which also is the 2nd Coaxial output and an AES balanced coaxial output for the pro market.
The Xduoo X10T comes with two Micro SD slots (official support up to 2 x 128GB) and it doesn’t have any internal memory.
Lay-out & Build Quality
The Xduoo X10t has a full aluminum body and it’s a fairly small and light unit measuring only 105,5 x 45 x 14mm and weighing merely 100g. Of course if you stack it with say the Mojo, that doubles up the weight
On the front of the unit you have the 2 inch HD screen. That’s fairly small but as this isn’t a player, this doesn’t really need a touch screen. I never found the screen too small during the test period either. Below the screen you have the navigation buttons: Home, up, play/pauze, down, select.
On the bottom of the unit you from left to right have the AES output, the Coax 1 output and the Optical/coax2 output. On the right side of the unit you have the closed double MicroSD slots and the reset button. The left side of the unit only has the “lock” switch, which disables the navigation completely. On top of the unit you have the Micro USB-slot for the charging and the power button.
The build quality is fairly good. The transport has no sharp edges and it feels robust. I’m confident it can take a beating in your bag on your way to work. The only downside here is that the X10T doesn’t come with a case, so you always have to be somewhat careful. I do suggest ordering the leather case as an extra for only $15USD.
Accessories & Price
The Xduoo X10T goes for about $215 and €190 on Aliexpress, Penon and Gearbest, and that makes it very affordable. Of course you for the same money can buy DAPs such as the Cayin N3, Hiby R3, Hidizs AP80, etc, etc, etc.
Accessory-wise you get two elastic bands to stack the X10T to your portable DAC, a coaxial cable, an optical cable and a USB charging cable. I didn’t expect to get the digital signal cables, so I was very please to see these in the box, together with the X10T. A user manual and warranty card can also be found in the box, together with a couple of screen protectors and 5 rubber mini stick-on feet in case you want to stack the X10T to your portable DAC and prevent it from scratching/moving around.
In all honesty, the optical and coaxial cable that come supplied are really good. They’re about 10 to 15cm, are perfectly built, use a good cable and quality plugs. This does deserve an extra mention in this article as they’re just really good. And free-ish.
The article continues on the Second page, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.
Jobbing
Thank you Lieven for this review. Having had my FiiO X5 strapped to a Vorzüge amp Duo for that extra little improvement in SQ, mostly using IEM. I’m used to carry the extra weight and I don’t mind as it outperforms many DAP only setups.
Now, being in the market for a new rig this X10T seems to tick most of the boxes for me and offers the opportunity to select an amp/dac that covers my needs.
Picking up on the market of portable devices I have found that many DAPs have been released. Digital transport devices is what I’m looking for but I can’t seem to find any other (recent) types other than the X10T. Are there any competitors to the X10T or any to be expected in the foreseeable future?
Lieven
It’s a very good question. I am sure they exist but I couldn’t name any just like that.
If you do go for the X10T, take into account the restriction for swiping, navigating to specific songs/folders. It’s really a downside of the device.
Jobbing
Thanks for the quick reply. I’m a person who prefers to listening to albums on my card/drive and being immersed in the music rather than switching from one track to another. UI to me is not as important than a clean audio signal. Besides the X10T the only device to be used as a transport would be the FiiO M7 (better UI) but that one does not offer the outputs like the X10T. WiFi would be convenient though to access my network files/Foobar2000 mobile/HD library.
Before pulling the trigger on the X10T I’d like to rule out any other device in this league – if there is one at all -. I’m looking forward to replacing my rig so if you or any other reader can confirm that X10T is one of a kind than that would make the decision making process very easy. Still, I can hardly get my head around that the X10T is the only recent digital transport….. Open to suggestions
Lieven
The Logitech squeezebox-touch ? 😀
Jobbing
Ehhr…thanks but no thanks!
I get your point though, for (semi-) portable it’s X10T (+….) or an all-in-one DAP.
Your earlier review of the FiiO M7 (http://www.headfonia.com/review-fiio-m7/), especially the sketch of a new to be announced (M?)player had me believe there’s hope for a new transport. I guess that turned out to be the new M9, a whole different kind of device (like an X3 series successor). Bummer!
Then I guess the X10T is the way for me to go ???? . Thanks again Lieven!
Tibor
Hi, great, many thanks.
Could you compare it to any other transport used with those mentioned dacs?
How much of an improvement will I get in desktop? What do you use in front of your V850 please?
I realized that a well made transport and clock is so crucial to get musical performance, but I can’t afford Mutec clock, so maybe this could be good 🙂
Thank you
Tibor
Hello hello can you hear me, I am screaming out your name! Hello hello Lieven! 😀
Lieven
Usually my laptop is the transport for my v850. The X10t makes the sound livelier and less digital if that makes any sense.
I will be trying out the new bridge from Project Audio soon (EISA winner). I look forward to comparing it to the X10t but for now there isn’t much to compare it to. And sorry, I missed this comment.
Tibor
Nice! I am looking forward for your comparisons.
I’ve been using Allo USBridge and Casea Aquila for a while now and I am very pleased so far.
But I want something transportable and don’t want to downgrade much, or not at all.
And this and upcoming Mojo2, if there is any, could be very very nice.
Cheers 🙂
Jobbing
Checked various (online) stored, no availability in the EU?
Lieven
Haven’t checked really, got mine for Asia as well
Booker
With all the portable DAC/amps out there, I’m surprised this hasn’t been done sooner. Looking for a good transport can be quite an effort. Just last year I ended up buying an old DX90 solely for use as a transport to feed a Mojo.
Having said that, I’m not sure this model quite hits the mark – as pointed out in the review having rubber bands covering things like the screen etc makes their use as transports problematic.
I feel like if a product is designed as a dedicated transport, it needs to have stacking in mind from day 1 of design, with suitable spaces around the body for rubber/silicone bands or a case which allows stacking without bands across the front of the device (which is probably preferable). Also I think 8 hrs playback is too little for a dedicated transport.
Another must from me would be seamless gapless playback.
So this is an interesting product but personally I’ll keep watching this space to see if something better comes along.
Jobbing
@Booker:
As the X10T is what I’m looking for SQ wise I hate to admit that your comments and critique are valid. No gapless playback?! I can live with a UI that doesn’t allow for easy track search but once an album is playing I surely expect it to have gapless playback…..
Lieven
I just tried gapless and it unfortunately doesn’t do that
Booker
I didn’t know if the X10T had gapless or not, that was meant to say it was a must-have on my personal wish list. But thanks for the update Lieven, sad that it doesn’t have gapless 🙁 I do like the idea of a pure transport device to pair well with a Mojo/xDSD type device – especially if a Mojo 2 eventuates 🙂
jobbing
Thank you for trying and confirmation on the missing gapless playback. I was so excited about a transport only product entering the market here but like @booker I will be looking out for the X10T V2.0 with better stacking option (like FiiO frame+rubber bands), improved UI and gapless playback.
@Xduoo: Please don’t give up on this concept!!!!!
Albert C
I’m thinking of getting one for my mojo after reading your review, I know very little about coaxial cable, but is there a right angle one? the way I put the stack in my pocket will bend a straight cable.
should I just get a pouch on my belt?
Lieven
No I’m sure there are angled coaxial cables. 🙂
Booker
I see there’s a mk II version on the Xduoo website: http://www.xduoo.com/xduoo/En/ProductView.Asp?ID=33
Can’t find it listed for sale anywhere, maybe it’s only just out, no idea of price.
Lieven
That must be really new! Thanks for the link.
BabootTheApe
The (II) improves on the original by leaps and bounds, but it still misses an important ingredient: streaming.
When they offer either Google Play or sideloading, I’ll pony up the dinaros. Till then, I’m sticking with my HiBy R6.
Jobbing
@Lieven
It’s on sale here
https://m.tomtop.com/p-v5446.html
When using the special coupon the discounted price would be €175,79
https://actiecodeplek.nl/coupon/actiecode-tomtop-com-13-korting-voor-xduoo-x10t-ii-lossless-audio-hifi-muziekspeler-digitale-speler/
Not sure if this is a legit shop + code though.
It would be great to have Xduoo send the Mark II for review purposes. No mentioning of gapless playback either. I for one am extremely interested in an excellent transport/player – without the bells and whistles, just off line HD files – to couple with an external DAC/amp.
Lieven
The MK2 is on its way 😉
Jobbing
Great!
I need a new portable DAC/amp to pair with it. Apart from sonical signature, preferably balanced output, coaxial input, physical volume knob, (user)replaceable batteries, about the same size aa the Uduoo would be nice.
Haven’t seen what comes with it out of the box? Did you? Besides cables I hope a stacking kit will be (made)available similar to the FiiO option (not just rubber bands) and a cover of some sort.
Can you share with us which new portable DAC/amps to be expected in 2019? – Ray Samuels, AR, Chord, RHA, etc. –
On my home rig I use AES/Ebu. Not aware of any portable DAC/Amp sporting that feature – if any available on the market at all.
Could use some directions here.
Your help is much appreciated!
Lieven
Tbh, I don’t know of any upcoming DAC/AMPs for 2019…
I’ll let you know what’s in the box when it arrives
Lieven
It just arrived. It comes with:
Leather case
USB C Charging cable
USB C to USB C IC
USB C to USB Micro IC
Optical IC
Coaxial IC
Mini xlr to 3 pin XLR (awesome)
Jobbing
SAY WHAT!?!
Well, that’s great – not even having received a order/shipping confirmation – glad you’ve got your unit.
Good to know what’s in the box, eager to read your first impressions and comparison to the MK1 – please let it have a gapless playback feature –
Lieven
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrfsyKDADmX/
Jobbing
@Lieven:
Nevermind, I could not resist at that price, it’s already been bought and paid for ????
Filippo De Donato
guys make a review on xduoo t10 ii.
I want to match it with the mojo.
Lieven
It’s on its way
Jobbing
You got a shipping confirmation already? You used the shortcut right?
Lieven
From the distributor, yes.
Jobbing
The MK1 isn’t that long around, did the distributor mention to you why MK2 has been launched that quickly?
Nice pics btw…
Taz
Lieven, how is the MK2 performing in your initial tests? It looks good but only has one SD card slot now. Many thanks!
Lieven
To be honest, it’s still in the box. Holidays, sorry 🙂
Lacas
Hi Lieven, when do you expect to release the review of the mk2? is it as good or better soundwise than the original? i would use it with a Mojo. thx Lacas
Lieven
Hi, it was published quite a while ago already 😉
Marco
Can you give comparison between Ultima SP1000 as transport and X10T II to Hugo 2 ???
Thanks…
Filippo De Donato
have you got to test xduoo x10t mk2? first impressions
Jobbing
Lieven, you meant Christmas holidays rights not Chinese New Year? ????
@Marco +1
My experience with the X10T II have been extremely positive thus far. A matching xDuoo DAC/amp is currently under development.
Filippo De Donato
but the soundaware m1 esther, how do you compare it to xduoo x10t mkii?
Alexander
Hi Lieven,
Is it correct that any source as a transport will give the same quality as X10T, provided that it outputs bit perfect signal? Is problem with other sources in that they don’t provide bit perfect and, thus, we achieve worse quality?
Thank you in advance!
YogibearAl
Looking at the Mark II – When will the review for that be out? This sounds like a good idea for my desktop system since the new X10Tii supports USB out as well. This means it can connect to cars USB input or my desktop SMSL SU-8, or any other USB supported DAC. Very versatile. The version reviewed above, is mostly for home connectivity. Ali-Express anniversary sale coming up soon and this will be hovering at just over $200. Would be a great deal if it fits my needs.
MC
Hi Lieven, Do you think Fiio FH7 or Lark Studio LDX is better combo for Xduoo XT10ii + Mojo?
Lieven
In that case it’s more about the synergy with the Mojo, and as such I would recommend the warmest and smoothes of these two to perform best with the more analytical/digital Mojo.