DAC Chip: Realtek ALC5686
PCM 32bit – 384kHz, DNR: -110db, Power: 1 Vrms, USB Type-C Male, 3.5mm SE (Microphone: YES), Metal Chassis & SPC Cable
Listening Equipment: Etymotic ER4SR, HZSOUND Heart Mirror, Moondrop Aria, FOSTEX T40RP MK3, VE Asura 2.0, Shure KSE1500. Source: USB 2.0 iPhone 7 (Deezer HiFi)
LISTENING EQUIPMENT USED IMPARTED HUGE INFLUENCE TO SOUND IMPRESSIONS & RATING
BACKGROUND
Avani is an Asian variant of Amazon’s Xumee/ZOOAUX ALC5686.
Up until now, #donglemadness have covered over 20 Amazon only exclusive Dongles. Unfortunately, many folks from Asian region will not be able to buy directly from Amazon due to logistics cost restrictions or Amazon simply won’t ship to them. Out of the 20 odd units, so far two of them have succeeded in attaining #donglemadness 4½ stars rating – namely ZOOAUX and Xumee. Both of which are priced below $10.
But the irony is, for Asian buyers, they will need to pay 3X the Dongle price just for shipping – if Amazon even ship to them at all. The founder of Venture Electronics, Wild Lee have approached me and suggested a solution to help our Asian consumer bases. We all know that these Amazon Dongles are all made in China literally. And VE is already based in the heart of that industry. Wild Lee have suggested that he will use his industry network to locate the manufacturers of these “popular dongles”. Once located and identified, Wild Lee also asked me to assist in confirming the identity of these nameless OEM Dongles to the ones sold in Amazon. I agreed to this proposal. It will benefit the Audio consumers in Asia region massively – especially for the budget-oriented segment. However, Venture Electronic will NOT re-brand these OEM as part of VE. VE will only have Odyssey HD as their one and only official Dongle – a unit that they have spent huge amount of R&D on their part. VE will only serve as a reseller to these Amazon Dongles for Asia region. I totally respect this decision on VE part, sticking to their principle and compete fairly with their own developed products.
A Dongle still need a name, on this aspect Wild Lee have suggested that I name those OEM Dongles so that they will not go on sale as “OEM Sample 741028C”, or something like that. When these Dongles are made available through VE Sales network, they will have their own unique names. Wild Lee has sent me 5 samples of the Dongles that are only available in Amazon. I have managed to identify two of them successfully – ZOOAUX (CX 24/96 Version) and Xumee (ALC5686). However due to the confusion with ZOOAUX, me and VE opted to skip ZOOAUX version altogether.
This left us with just Xumee for now. And I already have picked a name. The Asian version of Xumee will be known as “Avani”. Now available through VE online shop.
DISCLAIMER
- Wild Lee has stated that he will keep the price within budget segment
- I receive no monetary benefit for any of these Dongles sales
- This is a community service for those seeking budget friendly options
- These dongles ARE NOT Venture Electronic products
- VE may resell other highly desirable budget models as well
The original announcement for this can be found here: Chifi Audio Reviews FB
💚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
- Driving power for great fidelity maxed out below 100Ω and with no less than 90db sensitivity.
- A bit flatter sounding sometimes compared to the top 3 performers
- No volume adjuster
VERDICT
Avani. After extensive listening sessions with all of my regular equipment, I drew conclusion that Xumee/Avani shared the exact OEM Realtek ALC5686 DAC Chip internally as ZOOAUX 1st Gen, from the same factory, but finished and packaged under different brand for Amazon only release (Xumee and ZOOAUX). It makes perfect sense as they are in similar form factor despite different exterior cosmetics. There’s no sonic differences that I observed between the three. Automatically Avani ranks identical to ZOOAUX/Xumee. I have also verified this using TTGK Android app to inspect the hardware element and specifications, Xumee and Avani practically identical.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ ($5.00)
Best Pairing: Flexible for anything less demanding under 100Ω
Back to #donglemadness
Andy.EF AudioVault 
3 responses to “Avani”
Can it drive full potential of the letshouer s12 planar driver?
LikeLike
in my opinion yes, it can drive the s12 but not to the full potential. The 7hz 71 probably will be the better choice or iBasso DC03 Pro is literally banger for the bucks
LikeLike
Hey Andy, was curious about this one as I wanted to try the ALC5686 flavour, currently it’s warming up/ ‘burning’ to Lee Ritenour’s 6 String Theory and powering the ‘casual listening’ Senn HD 569 via S9 …but what is this I hear…?? Impressive soundstage. Shocked again. . And all of the above points in your review. Thanks again for making life fun yet cost effective!
LikeLiked by 1 person