xDuoo TA-22 adds tubes to the DAC - Is that good?

xDuoo TA-22 is a DAC and Head-amp that goes for $489. Read my written reviews with scores at iiwireviews.com/
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00:00 About TA-22
05:35 Sound
11:13 vs SMSL M500 MKII
16:21 Final toughts
Follow me on Instagram for behind the scene stuff: / iiwireviews
Test system:
Pi2Design Mercury streamer: bit.ly/3PLha14
Acoustic Invader AMP and PREAMP: acousticinvader.com/
Spirit Wind and KEF LS50 speakers: amzn.to/2ztRg0s
#hifi #audiophile #dac #stereo

[@cabronesse386]

I'm glad that in 2022 your channel has grown nicely as it deserved and getting recognition from hi-fi community, see you in 2023 man! Kudos! to you!

[@daveinbelgrave4247]

Hey Man. Love your explanation on tube amps. Have had 1 or 2 in my time. as a 60 year old . love all music over all genres. cheers Dave

[@mikaelsjogren6315]

Thanks for all good reviews this year!

[@jamesk990]

Thanks for all the great reviews this year and look forward to more in 2023.

[@bleucosmo]

Outstanding revue......as always. Thank you.

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

Another excellent review. It is not an easy device to review but you dit it very well. And this comparation with M500k2 was so relevant since they are both so good and in the same category of price. Your information is of great value to help to choose one of them.

[@Canadian_Eh_I]

Appreciate your reviews, you do an excellent job of describing sound -- no easy feat !

[@g-mail4743]

wow thats a big unit, nice review

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Thanks for sharing this information. I am considering either purchasing this unit or the Monoprice Liquid Platinum unit.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS SRBOLJUB, and have a great day 🤗💚💚💚

[@stuartstark]

The "radio tuner" edit made me laugh. Happy New Year!

[@sloboat55]

Happy New Year, cool runnings

[@iiWiReviews]

Thanks and Happy New year to you too! 🎉

[@bongofury3176]

I have MT604, TA-20 and TA-22 and when you swap the awful stock tubes they get twice as good. NOS GE 6189 or Genalex reissue Gold Lion 12AU7 make them amazing. Xduoo really should include some proper tubes as it makes such a difference. I love these hybrid Xduoo amps. I prefer them to all my other amps (Tor Roger, SP200, A90 etc). Also their customer service has been second to none for me. Shout out to Wei at Xduoo. They truly care about their customers.

[@leonasj9633]

what better ta-22 vs ta-30 ?

[@bongofury3176]

@@leonasj9633 have not heard ta-30 but ta-22 definitely beats ta-20 and all my other amps. DAC does not rival my Chord DAC but is very good (and same DAC as TA-30). Amp is absolutely excellent with quality tubes. Recommended. Happy listening from Derbyshire's snowy Peak District

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

Nice information 👍

[@danieleturrin5625]

​@@bongofury3176 Do you also have the balanced out that sounds as loud or even less than the single ended? It's the second unit i roll but the balanced connection seems like a scam. 3W on the balanced out? I don't think so, if it's not more loud than the 1.5W single ended

[@bongofury3176]

I have only used single ended once as my set ups are all balanced. it sounded the same as balanced when i tried it. the amp is fantastic with the right tubes@@danieleturrin5625

[@BillyKueekSG]

I have 2 XDuoo and loving both of them. The TA-26 tube amp and the XA-10 DAC amp with AKM and I like the sound. Sold my Topping D90SE despite it measuring well, I kept the A90 though.

[@leonasj9633]

why not bought TA-30?

[@BillyKueekSG]

@@leonasj9633 I wanted a pure Tube Amp so I can use different DACs with it for variety. Another reason is the TA-26 is almost exactly like the DarkVoice 336 but with better parts and consistent sound. Also, I had the Topping D90SE and didn’t like their implementation of the ESS chip sound.

[@beyond_of_me]

It's interesting to see your review on AUNE Flamingo

[@roberta.6579]

I enjoy listening to you more than Zeos

[@wojciechbocionek6021]

@iiWi Reviews Will you have a chance to test Triangle Comete and compare them to KEF LS50 after already having reviewed BR03? I heard they might even outperform them. All the best in New Year!

[@Axiosz]

¡Nice video! Very helpfully.

[@srdjanstevanovic3543]

Out of topic, but SMSL recently released Sanskrit 10th mk III with new AKM chip and some inprevenmets in other sections of its construction, so it would be nice if you can review it in some foreseeable time...

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

Excellent review, as always. Wow, I did not realize that some audio companies are lying to us about the balanced input/outputs. Wished I had a list of those companies. From Texas, Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@Yiannis2112]

You'll just have to check the output level of each device that interests you, on its manual or list of tech characteristics. RCA output level should be half of that for XLR.

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

@@Yiannis2112 Thank you for that info!

[@Yiannis2112]

@@Shaken_AND_Stirred No worries, mate! Also read the comments below about this topic, cause the whole thing is a bit more complicated than that. Whether we have to do with inputs, outputs and noise rejection at the source or amplifier, I mean. You can take it from there.

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

@@Yiannis2112 Thank you, Yiannis! Happy New Year, from Texas!

[@Yiannis2112]

@@Shaken_AND_Stirred Happy new year, from Thessaloniki, Greece! Best wishes for health, prosperity, great audio gear, cheaper prices and quality new music!

[@petermitro3426]

Happy New Year! How does it compare in terms of sound to the MT 604?

[@sean_heisler]

Thanks for the review! I don’t think you mentioned what kind of tubes they are? It doesn’t even say what they are on the linked seller websites!

[@wooddragon576]

Another great review, I have an MT-604 which is also a balanced hybrid tube amp but at about half the price, Is the TA-22 or the TA-20+ a worthwhile upgrade to the mt-604?

[@ottomolina624]

Great review!!! thank you kindly, How would they be for focal clear mg's? take care.

[@brianliu522]

Thanks for the wonderful review. Will it be a good match for HD800S for classical music ( concertos, symphonies)? Thank you.

[@frederf69]

Regarding fake balanced devices; can I refer you to ASR's review of the Topping A30. Amir reckons it doesn't matter asfaras noise is concerned, but I think we all know that balanced gives more power; mind you, more power can equal more noise. I prefer balanced; better separation, I think.

[@HungryEatNow]

Fun looking thing...

[@johnvitell4408]

15:14 I wish sometimes comparisons were made in slightly different price points. This could be a buying option for someone to consider. EG how does it compare to Hifiman 400 se?

[@Amadis37]

Hey! Are you gonna review the new Xduoo TA-20 plus?

[@jsands9885]

Can you review the SMSL H300? I am playing with and it sounds amazing.

[@GFunkEra1992]

could you try to use the Ta-22 as an amp and use the SMSL M500 Mk2 as dac ?? would be intereseting to know if it is a good combo.

[@hakan7346]

It seems to me the Xduoo integrated the dac to balance its tubes and its a headphone amp unlike the SMSL which is a DAC that has a headphone output.

[@piotrpix]

How does the TA-30 compare to the TA-26?

[@bradley2572]

do you need to go balanced in to get balanced out? Can you accomplish balanced in with a 3.5mm to 4.4mm converter cable?

[@roni801129]

can you do a review of Volumio Rivo?

[@miles6795]

Can you compare this badboy vs Earmen Angel or Xduoo XD05plus2 for me is it worth upgrade? I never use tube before

[@niklasnagot6646]

But can you tell me a good warm fuzzy dac/amp with same sound quality and price?

[@leonasj9633]

this tube amp sounds like transisitor?

[@danieleturrin5625]

Does someone here have the balanced out that sounds as loud or even less than the single ended? It's the second unit i roll but the balanced connection seems like a scam.

[@ktcochran35620]

Thank you very much for explaining the situation with fake balance inputs. That's a huge red flag, and it immediately makes me reconsider what units to review. Look further into this, we need a list!

[@leonasj9633]

how ta-22 compare vs ta-30 ? im like listen Tidal MQA.

[@tubefreeeasy]

I’d like to know how they would pair together.

[@charleskatz2606]

Too bad it does not have balanced outputs to use as a pre-amp

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

Witch you prefer betwen Xduoo T22 versus Aune BU2 with cable ?

[@iiWiReviews]

I prefer T22 if space is not a problem.

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

@@iiWiReviews Thankyou for the answer.

[@frederf69]

Zeos kind of did a review of this a week or 2 ago. Any mention of the fat man this time? 😉😉

[@LeBeautiful]

Just needed a balanced out....mannn.

[@jackson8jackson]

for preamp reasons? Does it have to be a preamp also?

[@tubefreeeasy]

I just use Bluetooth settings for both my TA22 and TA30. It sounds optimized over using RCA(s). In fact, my system is well cabled with all pure silver cables. My TA22 won’t even allow me to use RCA cables. It forces me to use Bluetooth. I connected a silver RCA cable and there’s no signal that’s audible. Honestly, I think it sounds great with Bluetooth. Tip: Always plug-in your cellphone when listening to music. There is a gain in sound quality.

[@brandonlim5709]

No balanced out tho sadly

[@jackson8jackson]

you mean so it can be a preamp?

[@shipsahoy1793]

It’s a lot of work just being sure about the differences between 2 solid state DACs, never mind the never ending battle of finding the best tubes lol

[@CovertOperative]

Electronic music is not defined or synonymous with authoritative dynamics, deep rumbling bass, etc. This Serbian clearly does not know much about music. One of the greatest and most influential Electronic mudic tracks - Strings Of Life - Transmat Records (1988) was recorded without a bassline!

[@iiWiReviews]

Maybe one day you can find it in yourself to forgive my fail to represent bassless electronic music the way it deserves. Until then, this unworthy Serbian bows to your musical history prowess deeply.

[@CovertOperative]

It's fine. With the exception of Darko Audio, every hifi review channel has a pre misconception of electronic music by assuming it is EDM. EDM was a labelling first coined by C.R.E.A.M nightclub in Liverpool to usher in a new derivative of dance music created on laptops/pc's without analogue hardware. It is, basically, garbage for a new younger generation who prefer linear, sequenced, abrasive 4/4 uptempo dance music. EDM should not be mistaken for Techno, House, Acid House, Garage, Downtempo, Ambient/Experimental, Trip Hop, Drum & Bass/Jungle/Hardcore/Rave.

[@charleskatz2606]

I am hoping you might get to the Soncoz SGD1 like you did QXA1(?) anyway you choose great stuff and can't get everything.When I can I will toss in a few dollars to that end