XO – A New Era?

Introduction

Hidizs has been known to produce great DAC/amplifier all along with their renowned S9PRO and DH80s with their amazing, powerful sound that amazes me till this day even though they are released quite a while back, cementing themself as a great innovative producers of a great portable players. I have personally owned and reviewed the S9PRO and I am still amazed by the driving capabilities and the usefulness of this tiny dongle. Hidizs recently have introduced a new dongle with a more mainstream design flare aptly named the XO. They are a Sabre based dongle that boast the same driving power of the S9PRO with some improvements and with RGB lighting added, they do seek some attention. Hidizs has kindly included me in the tour of the XO and I happily joined the review train as I am eager to hear the XO. A big thanks to Carson Tong and Bella for this opportunity. How will the XO perform today in this ever tightly contested arena of dongles? We shall find out.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Hidizs XO ;

• Dimensions: (L×W×H) 55*24.5*9.35mm
• Net weight: 11g
• DAC SoC: 2* ESS SABRE ES9219C
• Crystal oscillator: External independent crystal oscillator
• THD+N: PO (3.5mm): 0.0015%/BAL (2.5mm):0.0005%
• SNR: PO (3.5mm): 118dB/BAL (2.5mm): 119dB
• Crosstalk: PO (3.5mm): 76dB/BAL (2.5mm): 118dB
• PCM: Support up to 32bit/384kHz
• DSD: Native DSD64/128/256
• MQA:16X
• Input option: 1* Type-C
• Output option: Single-ended (SE) 3.5mm, Balanced 2.5mm
• Output power: 78mW+78mW@32Ohm, 3.5mm (SE), 195mW+195mW@32Ohm 2.5mm (BAL)
• Supported systems: Android, Windows, Mac OS, iPad OS, iOS (Lightning cable + OTG sold separately)

Retail Price & Where to Get

The Hidizs XO can be purchased at;

Packaging & Accessories The XO is packed in a small square black hard paper box that has an inner plastic case styled unboxing that is minimalistic and cool in some way. They are accessorised with the basics like a short USB C to C cable, a USB A to C adapter, some paperworks, some ‘Hi-Res’ stickers and the XO dongle itself. For the price, the packaging is okay but I do feel a simple case will complete the package.

Design

The XO is quite elegantly built with a futuristic design that has a gamer-esque style with the RGB lighting on the sides and the X O buttons with backlights on the front where the ‘O’ button is for the filters selection and the X is for the RGB lighting mode selection. They are made from aluminium with a brushed black colour and have a small size imprint that has a solid built quality.

On the bottom is a standard USB type C for sound input while on the top we will have a 3.5mm single ended output and a 2.5mm balanced output which is getting rarer as the 4.4mm plugs are more robust then the thin 2.5mm ones. The sides we have the RGB light vents that look cool as an extra trick but serves no improvement or usage in real audiophile means. A volume rocker is not implemented so users must change the volume via source and honestly, the volume increments are quite problematic for me as they jump from 60% to 70% or 80% is way too large where it is either too soft or too loud for most of my gears.

The X buttons are for controlling the RGB lights pattern and they can be turned off to prevent more battery drain while the backlit O buttons are responsible for changing the filters settings and also apparently an indicator for file formats and sampling rate such as below;

Red – PCM 352.8/384kHz

Pink – MQA

Blue – PCM 176.4/192kHz

Green – PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz

Yellow – DSD 64/128/256 While the ‘O’ button is pressed changing the filters, the light that indicates is green by default, blue for reducing high frequencies and red for increasing the higher frequencies. The changes are minimal but they are audible. There is no gain control on the XO which is another downside especially for this era where most of them have gain settings.

The XO is a Sabre based dongle that houses 2 pieces of ES9819C boasting a whopping 78mW+78mW at 32 ohms (3.5mm) and 195mW+195mW at 32 ohms (2.5mm) which is really powerful given their size and similar to their classic S9PRO dongle.

The XO does have some power draw from your smartphone similar to the S9PRO and FiiO’s KA3 and they do run warm after some usage but not hot.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The tone of the XO has a neutral tone with a hint of warmth and a slight bass lift that has a good clean sound without any typical Sabre glare present. They are an overall smooth sounding unit that has a wide dynamic sound along with a good imaging and texture for their price range. They might not be great in their transparency but they perform well in their resolution providing a vivid and organic sound that isn’t a typical Sabre sound.

Soundstage

The soundstage that XO is average at best but acceptable in their price range as they do possess some width and height in their presentation so music will not sound boxy. They do lean towards an intimate soundstage that might suit some vocal based music and give them a more immersive experience. Headroom size is a medium room and they have some air in their presentation.

 Separation and Timbre

Separation in the XO is superb as they do provide a clean left right without any crosstalks present without any muddiness enabling them to handle fast tracks without any problems. Their timbre is an organic and natural type presentation with a smooth overall sound without any major emphasis on the frequencies. There is some minor coloration but so that it doesn’t affect their accurate, organic nature.

Drivability

The XO does provide a maximum 175 mv@ 32 ohms with a maximum of 4 vrms which is amazing for the size they are powerful and is on the level of the Hidizs S9PRO. It is more than enough for most of my earphones and capable of driving efficient portable headphones but insufficient for big headphones such as my HD800s. They are very forgiving in the types of files played, whether it is streaming, PCM, DSD or poorly mastered tracks, they sound almost the same but that has the downsides as well as they hardly show flaws for a clinical listening.

The Bass (Low)

The bass on the XO is dynamic with slightly boosted bass with a mid bass lift that will provide a deep bass response. They have good details and clarity with a great texturing along with a good extension. The bass that the XO provides has a good thumpy, energetic and they are suitable for EDM and jazz, also, they do have a good amount of resolution without incurring any bass bleed into the other frequencies. Sub-bass extension is superb with a deep, rumbly and clean sub-bass presence that sounds quite enjoyable. Air in the bass presentation is mediocre but still present with a spacious bass that sounds natural and accurate.

The Mids

The midrange that the XO brings is a balanced neutral and warm midrange that has some thickness to them with an intimate midrange that is quite musical. They have an adequate amount of details and clarity with great macro detail retrieval but an average but good micro details. Resolution and transparency is superb as they are able to give music a clear and vivid sound reproduction. Some mild coloration is present here to counter the typical thin sound of the Sabre DAC making them clean and clear with some added lush sound. Vocal performance is expressive on male or female vocals as they provide a good intimacy but they do lack some space to give a breathy timbre tone here. Their midrange is actually quite versatile as they are well balanced with great technicalities.

The Highs

High range of the XO is a flat type of high  that has a good amount but still possesses a smooth, inoffensive response. They have a great amount of details and clarity along with. They have great air and extension in their high range giving music a livelier feel. Sparkle is mediocre and they do lack a crisp presentation. It is not a muted high range so to speak, but a more relaxing type of high range that has great details that is more suitable for a more relaxed signature that will suit treble sensitive users as they do not incur shout, peaks or hiss in any way. The treble intensity is in the middle that provides high range presence without making them sounds too lethargic. Overall, their high range is a smooth operator that gives a laid-back vibe that has a decent amount of details suiting brighter sounding gears.

 Comparisons

VS Hidizs S9PRO

The legendary dongle from Hidizs and they are renowned for their powerful output with a neutral flat sound that is clinical in their performance. They are equipped with a ES9038q2m chipset from Sabre and priced quite similarly. The XO has a way better build and better design but with the same power drain and they have similar driving power strength.

The High range on the S9PRO has better clarity and details while the XO has a smoother, inoffensive approach. Extension and air is better on the XO. Accuracy on the S9PRO is better and they have a livelier take on their presentation.

Midrange on the XO is thicker and lusher with better resolution while the S9PRO is clearer and more detailed overall. The XO midrange is lusher and warmer than the S9PRO. The S9PRO is more accurate while the XO is more organic sounding.

Bass on the XO has more presence and has a bigger mid bass lift and they sound fuller bass versus the flatter bass of the S9PRO. Sub-bass amount on the XO is better but the S9PRO does have the accuracy here. Details and clarity in the bass region on the S9PRO has the edge but might be lacking some bite like on the XO.

Soundstage on the S9PRO is slightly wider and taller.

VS FiiO KA3

The FiiO KA3 is now a mid entry level dongle from FiiO and has been replaced by the KA5 and they are also equipped with a ES9038q2m Sabre chipset. Both are priced the same but the XO has a cooler design. The KA3 does drain more power but they are more powerful by a slight margin.

Highs on the KA3 is stronger and sharper but it’s a little harsh at times while the XO has a smoother overall sound. Details and clarity on the KA3 is slightly better with a more extended response. They are both in the amount of air produced.

Midrange on the KA3 is more forward with a brighter sound to them and the XO has a thicker, lusher midrange. Clarity on the KA3 is better but the XO has better resolution. Vocals on the KA3 shine better with greater brilliance while the XO has a slightly intimate feel to them.

Bass response on the XO has a looser impact and slightly stronger especially on the mid-bass and sub-bass region. Details and clarity is slightly better on the KA3. The bass on the KA3 sounds slightly faster and sharper with a crisper sound.

Soundstage is similar in their width and height along KA3 possessing more air and headroom.

Synergy

Hidizs MS3

The MS3 is sent together with this XO and the MS3 is a slightly newer model. Equipped with a single dynamic driver and dual balanced armature, they are a Harman based set that sounds clean and clear with a great technical sound.

High range on the MS3 has better extension to them while the details here remain mostly the same. The MS3 sounded a tad smoother here with a slight increase in their resolution.

Midrange has a more forward signature and an added space to them making the midrange sound wider. Details are a tad bit better but clarity seems to be the same. Resolution is more vivid with an organic feel to them.

Bass has become slightly more energetic with better presence while adding up a degree of resolution and clarity. Sub-bass becomes more present and they possess a better rumble.

Soundstage is wider with a slight airiness added into their presentation but height remains the same.

Overall, a great synergy with the MS3 complementing their lack of sub-bass presence with a thicker sound.

Who Is It For?

The XO is a product for those who want a different style of design than the norm with the RGB lighting and a solidly designed portable dongle with an improvement in their sound quality. They are indeed a Sacre based chipset but they surely don’t have the Sabre glare and are suitable for treble sensitive users. For users who are looking to drive power hungry gears might give this XO a try as they have great driving power like the S9PRO, capable of driving some full sized headphones but only for those with lower impedance. They are suitable for gaming and movies for their immersive, accurate sound placements but not really suited for critical listening as they are not tuned for a clinical sound.

Final words

The XO from Hidizs is a unique take on dongles as they are designed with a different style and they are fun to say the least. They are very well built with a unique sound signature veering away from the usual Sabre sound but still possess some of the technical aspects. They do have the signature powerful sound from Hidizs but the XO do have some caveats like the erratic increments of the volume and the lack gain switches, a phased out 2.5mm balanced, a lack of gain switch and they are facing a handful of competitors in this price range. All being said, the XO is still a good product nonetheless as they deliver decent sound improvements, driving capabilities, full format decoding and they are just a cool product to have with their RGB lighting. Great job Hidizs.

I would rate this product a solid 3 and half stars over 5.

Pros;

• Highly resolving, musical sound
• Solid build with unique RGB lighting design
• Sleek and small
• Good bass quality
• Intimate, lush midrange
• Warm, smooth and inoffensive high range
• Organic timbre
• Powerful sound
• Quiet background
• Decent soundstage
• Full format support

Cons;

• Micro detailing is average
• Lacks brilliance
• Might not suit warmer gears
• Not clinical enough
• Tough price bracket
• No audio improvement RGB lighting
• Power drain quite evident
• Runs warm
• Phased out 2.5mm output
• Erratic volume increments
• No gain switches