Through my hands for many years, not one hundred audio devices have passed, but none has been delayed for so long and did not serve faithfully as Audinst HUD-MX2. A powerful amplifier and a good DAC are combined in it with a compact size and a pleasant price. The weight of the inputs and outputs complements the image of the universal device. Of course, I was interested in the news that , about which I will tell today.
Despite the preservation of the external similarity with the previous modification, inside DX1 almost everything has changed. To be on the trend, Audinst changed the DAC to the ESS Saber 9018K2M, combined with a USB chip from XMOS, which allowed them to provide support for DSD64 / 128 and resolutions up to 384 kHz / 32 bit (works with DXD playback). Recycled and amplification unit, now it employs MUSE8920 and TPA6120A2, which allows the device to develop an enviable 1.5 watts for such small sizes.
Not stingy and the rest of the elements, the device scheme uses high-quality master generators with temperature compensation, the power is filtered using an LDO-regulator. There is protection from power surges when connecting USB and power adapter, as well as protection of headphones and line output from possible emissions when turning on the device and switching outputs. When powered by USB, DX1 is able to "go to sleep", going into low power mode when the source computer is turned off.
As a pleasant bonus, support for all modern smartphones and tablets is provided (iOS traditionally requires an adapter from Apple).
Of course, the upgrade of the insides could not go unnoticed for the price, so the "newbie" costs more than the MX2, it is asked for about 400 dollars, so the DX1 is not an upgrade of the previous model, but the new flagship standing higher in the lineup. But it is necessary to recognize that for these 400 dollars the device gives a lot.
Specifications
- DAC: ESS Saber 9018K2M
- OU: MUSES8920 and TPA6120A2
- Dynamic range: 127 dB
- Total harmonic distortion + noise: -120 dB
- Maximum output voltage: ± 10 Vpp @ 600Ω
- Maximum output power: 1.5W @ 32Ω
- Output Impedance: 2Ω
- Inputs: optical, USB
- Outputs: optical, 3.5 mm TRS, 6.3 mm TRS, line output 2 × RCA
- Power: USB 5 V or external power supply 12V ~ 15V
- Dimensions: 104 mm × 120 mm × 34 mm
- Weight: 300 g
Packing and delivery kit
The box is externally similar to the previous model, a neat glossy cardboard with good density, the DAC itself is carefully laid inside. According to the tradition of Audinst, it is packed in a cellophane bag with a seal-seal, under it, separated by a cardboard partition, hide accessories. In the kit to the device you will receive:
- USB cable
- Power Supply
- Adapter for European outlets
- 4 cool self-adhesive feet
- Hexagon socket for unscrewing screws
In general, everything you need to use the device, there is.
Design and management
On the one hand, the appearance of the DX1 is similar to its predecessor. On the other - it is very noticeably refreshed, changing the color. Instead of the standard silver-black, very beautiful black and white colors are now used. White color is chosen a pleasant shade, which is commonly called "melted milk," it is supplemented by silvery controls and legs. The black version is compensated by golden inserts. Both colors look stylish and unusual, but I like my white more.
All controls are located exclusively on two sides.
The front panel has two headphone outputs, one 6.3 mm, the second 3.5, very convenient when you do not need to look for an adapter, and in addition, if necessary, you can connect two pairs of headphones to the device. There is also an output selector switch (headphone and line), a mode switch (USB, optics and off), a three-color LED indicator (on, there is a signal and an error) and a volume control. For the WG, a qualitative potentiometer is used, so that its stroke is smooth, there is no noise during rotation.
All other interface connectors are located behind it: a pair of RCA line out jacks, a USB input, an optical input and an output (yes, you can use this Audinst as a converter if you wish) and an external power supply connector. By the way, the latter can and should not be connected. Like its predecessor, the DX1 can be powered from USB, the power supply is useful in case of very tight headphones with high impedance or if your computer very badly filters the power through USB and this leads to audible noise.
By the way, if you use 600-ohm headphones, you will need to unleash the DX1 and remove a pair of jumpers inside (in the manual everything is described), this will increase the output voltage to the maximum.
Sound
The following equipment was used to listen to the Audinst HUD-DX1:
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source
- Audirvana Plus as a player
- Headphones ZMF Omni, Oppo PM-3, Dunu Titan 1, Dunu DN-2000J, Lear LHF-AE1d and others
- Entries in lossless format
Audinst did a good job of sound, the DX 1 is good for both gauging and hearing. If the MX2 had the light weight that is characteristic of DACs on PCM, then the DX1 is a neutral and unbiased feed. In combination with a fair amount of power, this gives a universal and convenient device for any application.
The bass is fast, collected and very biting. It has a good depth and excellent working out of bodily images. LFs are well controlled and do not creep on the mid-range. Because of the high speed of the bass, it sometimes seems that it is not enough, but in fact there is simply no habitual buzz, which is usually perceived as bass. So after getting used to the supply of the device lack of bass, I did not feel.
The middle frequencies are a bit chilly and detailed. This slightly cold shade of their filing impresses women's voices and tenors, but male vocalists with a low voice lose a little in expressiveness. In the rest, there are no claims to SC and it can not be. A good resolution allows you to easily transfer trivia and nuances of music, build an imaginary scene much wider and deeper than the average, and also to share tools well, preserving their character.
There are practically no problems at the HF. The company managed to avoid the sharpness inherent in low-quality DAC implementations from ESS, so the HF, despite the fact that they are fed very straightforward and without trying to smooth out, do not cut the rumor (maybe, except with the lightest headphones) and add a lightness and airiness sound, making it balanced and complete.
Compatibility
The huge power reserve allows the HUD DX1 to cope with almost all headphones, including most isodynamic models. On the reverse side of this scale are IEM, with which the DX1 can also be used, except for the most sensitive models that will gain volume too fast. The noise is surprisingly small, even in low-impedance headphones. Choosing headphones for this combine it is necessary to select them to your liking, because of the neutrality of the source, the headphones will determine the sound of the path.
Naturally, this harvester is genre-universal and has no expressed preferences. To the quality of records, the device is very critical, somewhere on the 8th by 10-point scale.
As usual, a few tracks for an example.
Arena - The Bishop of Lufford. The song that is tough enough for the band, obviously changed from neo-prog to pro-metal, which, in general, does not negate its virtuosity and beauty. A very dense recording, saturated with complex passages of all the members of the collective, is a very difficult task for the source, but the Audinst HUD-DX1 does an excellent job of this test.
Eric Serra - Huacracocha. Wonderful soundtrack of a great film, perfectly conveying the atmosphere of the tape. The skillful combination of instruments allowed the composer to create a live and very polyphonic melody, clearly creating a mood. The track is filled with quiet prisms, with the transfer of which this combine perfectly copes.
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects - Z1-Reticuli. It is difficult to imagine a heavier source for the test track. An entangled melody with an abundance of overdriven guitar sound, performed at a sufficiently high speed, raises the bar of the requirement for a DAC and amplifier very high. Audinst HUD-DX1 copes with this test, of course, not as good as expensive big harvesters, but more than worthy.
conclusions
I've been waiting for such a device for a long time: powerful, neutral in sound, compact and capable of working simply from USB. Such a companion on trips, a combine that can be put in a backpack and taken with you to any place. Audinst HUD DX1 just perfectly fits in this concept, without problems swinging almost any headphones and without taking up much space. Additional bonuses are adequate price, an abundance of interfaces and excellent appearance.
The article is based on materials .
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