DAC Chip: Conexant (Synaptics) CX21988
PCM 24bit – 96kHz, SNR: Undisclosed, Power: Undisclosed, USB Type-C Male, 3.5mm SE (Microphone: YES), Metal Chassis & OFC Cable
Listening Equipment: Etymotic ER4SR, Kinera Idun Golden, Tripowin Olina, FOSTEX T40RP MK3, Shure KSE1500 & Beyerdynamic DT880 600 Ohm
LISTENING EQUIPMENT USED IMPARTED HUGE INFLUENCE TO SOUND IMPRESSIONS & RATING
FOREWORD
This is another variant of ZOOAUX 2nd Gen CX21988 (current version of Amazon’s ZOOAUX) and KINSOUND which uses the very same Conexant CX21988 from the same factory in China. I verified this with TTGK App and Windows Control Panel. Both showed exactly the same details one to one.
💚PROS
- Reference grade, crisp balanced neutral flat timbre, mildly euphonic
- Vibrant and coherent dynamics, full bodied with smooth presentation
- Exceedingly well nuanced Micro and Macro details, very transparent
- Balanced Mids with detailed textures and definition, naturally toned Male/Female vocals
- Sparkly Treble with crisp smooth decays, great extensions
- Smooth impactful Mid-Bass, tight, fast with crisp decays
- Sub-Bass with tingling seismic response, natural decays.
- Crisp and vivid guitars, piano, percussions (chimes, bells) and drums and taps
- Amazing holographic spatial imaging with sharp precise placement/layers
- Amazing speed and dexterity on complex passages and transients
- Super clean background, zero floor noises
- Super clean layers and well-defined separation lines
- Drives Magnetic Planars and BA at 80/100 volume, great fidelity
- Excellent synergy with many type of IEMs/HPs
- Forgiving on Lo-Fi and lower quality sources
- Low battery drain on the host
- Does not heat up easily
💔CONS
- Limited to 24bit/48kHz Max resolution
- Driving power for great fidelity maxed out below 100Ω and with no less than 90db sensitivity.
- A bit dry sounding compared to the top 3 performers
- No volume adjuster
VERDICT
After spending almost a week listening to this unit, without a doubt it is exactly identical sounding to ZOOAUX 2nd GEN and KINSOUND Dongles. And they should sound the same because internally they are identical to each other. Not a surprise at all since it is a lot easier for different brands now to obtain OEM CX DACs and package them differently. What must be acknowledged, just like ZOOAUX Gen 2 and KINSOUND, AuxLink HIFI Pro offers great sound in a very affordable package. That alone makes it a worthy purchase for casual usage and listening.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ($8.00)
Best Pairing: Flexible for anything less demanding under 100Ω
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Andy.EF AudioVault 