This Headphone Amplifier Does it all! 

The background music makes you sound like a supervillain

As someone who owns this it’s an amazing product. Tube rolling is definitely the way to go. My focal clears and aryas sound amazing with this.

Thanks for mentioning Eva Cassidy! I first read about her in a RU-vid comment in 2021 and now I own five of her albums. If I had to choose one album to take to a desert island and hear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be Nightbird (as shown in your video), but I'd recommend getting at least Simply Eva and Time After Time as well.

Random appreciation comment: the opening speaking shot was nicely done.

It also apodizes! Hehe - I had to look that up. From wikipedia: "Apodization in digital audio - An apodizing filter can be used in digital audio processing instead of the more common brick-wall filters, in order to avoid the pre-ringing that the latter introduces." Still don't know what it is, but I'm sure it's awesome.

I like your suggested coloursheme much better than the real one

Those shots and editing are truly something else, what are the music used in the background, i really enjoyed it.

As usual, the video looks great. And the B-roll is pure eye candy

I just got this Xduoo dac/amp yesterday. I have the TA-30 and have it tubed up with a Sophia Rectifier and 2 12au7 Shuguang Black Treasures. I came ready for the arrival of the DAC. I’ve owned two more 12au7 Shuguang Black Treasures just in case my tubes wear out. I also set up an anti-vibration platform and even have high-end silver core cables ready for set-up. Also bought my favorite sounding oil-filled cables only sold on eBay. Even added an upgraded antenna for BlueTooth. Yes, I’m ready for this DAC. This will be the first external DAC I’ve owned. I love how much the sound has improved. Made it sound thick, full and sort of airy. After only one day, I hear low distortion of sound which I expect to go away after burn-in. I tried linking my TA22 and TA30 with the oil filled RCA inter-connect. I’ve noticed that I can’t use my oil filled RCA inter-connect. I use an all silver power distributor box that has a record of forcing me to use Bluetooth only. This has happened with my television set to my Nakamichi Soundwafe which is connected to a Furutech distributor box and mostly silver cables. I love the sound already and look forward to the sound this dac/amp will produce. I expect to hear more smoothness and airiness as this unit burns in.

This product built in with Wiim pro streaming capabilities and I wouldn't waste a second of buying it. Never stop dreaming. Great vid, btw. Anyone knows the 'song' at the end of the video?

Wasn't really looking for another unit, since I am very pleased with what I have. But considering everything it has going for it, I am very tempted. I have the Xduoo MT-602 paired with a matched pair of Voskhod 6zh1p-ev as a speaker preamp. I absolutely adore the Voskhod tubes for sound reproduction.

I was introduced to Eva Cassidy through this, and WHOA she’s incredible Josh! Thanks for the recommendation. Also, love the color scheme you suggested ❤. I hope a patch or something is pushed so we can change the OLED colors (or even turn it off entirely for night sessions).

the guards and the volume knob should be the same color as the logo... that way it would be more Pop

Josh, the APOS link you provide shows the single ended headphone as "Parameters of 6.5mm Headphone: Output Power: 1500mW (32Ω)". The xDuoo product page also stated the same thing. So, 1.5W for SE and 3.0W for Balanced headphone outputs. As others are confirming....another awesome production video and a great review.

I just bought the FiiO K9 ESS and now I find myself almost wanting to buy this at the same time!

if you are hating on the orange and the red together, you sir havent been around xDuuo long enough. Thats kind of their thing. Stuff that lights up is orange with them. their knobs are red.

Good review but I feel all its features haven't been covered. The dac, the inputs on the back on functions in the screen menu etc, and if this responds well to tube rolling ? Zeos from z reviews was one of the first to lather praise on this but he praises almost everything. I treat this as another review of possibly more future positive ones before considering it. Thanks.

How does this dac/amp works for low impedance high sensitivity Plannars? for example the Arya Organic which is 16 ohms, this amp doesn't list what current provides at this low impedance

Just ordered the MT-604 before seeing this review. I hope I won't regret my decision. Thank you so much for this great review.

This review directly contributed to me now owning on of these, Goes amazing with the latest LCDX

as im new to the whole audio scene. my setup is a zen dac air/zen can. Though my headphones are not super high end (senn hd599 and monoprice retro).

looks like a nice pakage!

How much do you tube roll? I have the TA-20 and the TA-26. I remember a TA-20 review from another popular RU-vidr who “couldn’t be bothered” to test the TA-20 with other tubes and wanted to review it “out if the box”. Fair enough… but not quite. The TA-20, the TA-26 (which I own so I know) and probably every other xDuoo tube amplifier are shipped with no-name Chinese tubes which serve only to deliver the units in working order. When i first started using my TA-20 i was aghast at the sound quality. I wasn’t into tube rolling yet so the unit stayed on my desk unused for quite some time. I eventually got a pair of $20 JJ Electronics ECC82/12au7’s. 20 bucks. That’s all it took. Totally different unit with better tubes and $20 for tubes is nothing. There are 12au7 NOS tubes that cost a grand. Same thing with the TA-26. I have since rolled “upward” so to say but you don’t need exotic tubes. You just need to not use the stock tubes. They are not för listening. They are only to deliver the amplifiers in working order. I have a preference to keep my amps and DACs separate but if i was looking for an economical, easy to use, minimal desk real estate amp/DAC, I would certainly consider one of xDuoo’s offerings like this TA-22 or the XA-10 for solid state if you prefer not to mess with tubes or don’t like the tube sound. If the price for these two units is still too high xDuoo offers lower-tier units. Once you hit the floor at about $100 or just there over, Schiit becomes very competitive, as do several other Chinese brands as well. But guys, seriously, if you get a Chinese tube amp in these price categories you have to purchase better tubes. Go on eBay, save yourselves a lot of money and get really good tubes that are pre-owned, not New Old Stock. All pre-owned means is that you can fetch some seriously good tubes at a fraction of the NOS price. You probably won’t burn them out but if you do, so what? Just have a second set available and get two different brands so that you can experiment with the sounds. Its fun. Enjoy!

Confirming what you said, this is also a DAC? I am very interested

Awesome product! Excelent production.

I wonder how this will compare to Burson Conductor 3 Performance (double the price tho). Looking to upgrade from my Magni/Modi stack. I use Arya's V2.

use the balanced connections on this amp!!! When I first got it I only had the 6.35mm cord and I wasn't very impressed with the sound. but man when I finally got to try the 4-pin xlr connector what a world of difference it makes!

I would love if some on the reviewers would showcase the best option to use the iPhone as the primary source for music together with a headphone amp. Many of the reviews assume you are sitting down in front of your desk where you maybe have a computer outputting to a DAC and then to a headphone amplifier.

Love the different colors myself.

Would you rather get this, or two cheaper amps that can give you more of the extremes depending on your mood (say DX3 Pro+ and a Little Dot Mk2)?

Thank you for the detailed review Joshua! Subbed! I gotta watch more of your content!

Hi Josh, Since both this and the Hifiman EF400 are at the same pricepoint. Which one would you choose based on sound alone?

This is the exact product i might go for when i get my hands on a ZMF VO besides my TH900ii. I only do some longer listening sessions stationary on my Desk through my PC so this will be the perfect piece of gear in case of connectivity and convenience :) The only thing that might give me some trouble is its size xd it's way larger than my Fostex HPa4BL.

Great video. How is the sound quality of the TA-22 compared to the Fiio K9 pro ESS?

Xduoo is a master of tube hybrid amplification.

I just got the Hifiman EF400. It’s been great so far but now I’m curious; would you say that this is a better option for headphones like the Arya SE and Meze 109’s?

Thanks for the great review. I was wondering if the TA22 would be an upgrade from my current stack of a THX789 with a Topping E30? I have always though the E30 was a week link in my setup. I primarily listen with Edition XS.

Thanks Joshua!

the quality of your videos are amazing! second video i watch and im liking it. subbed 👍

okay but give me an option without the fugly red gamer knob and im sold

Should I be concern that it's not a USB-C input and only a USB type B input?

Great review josh, you mentioned that this Amp doesn’t have that TUBE sound that’s echoey, with longer decay. What would you recommend a tube amp that does that ?

Pls make a review of the new SMSL DO400!! So indecisive between that one and this TA-22

Love the MT-602! Does it sound good with IEMs?

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

Bluetooth and WIFI are biggest interference for tubes, idk how this amp works with all that and tubes together. Probably tubes are just there for the show. I have Cayin HA-3A, anytime I put it near my router or plug into the same UPS as my PC, I hear crazy noises.

I can give you thumbs up for excellent voice without having a large and stupid studio microphone as most other youtubers use and I hate so much. Well done.

You made me discover this amazing amp / dac. How would this compare with the monolith 788 with Dirac ? ps: watched the whole video

Can you do a video on the updated Schiit modi/magni? I believe they're not usb C, & there's other updates that I can't remember but they're called Magni +/ Modi + & a bit more expensive. Plus there was the Schiit piety or something too

Thanks for this very imformative video.. I am new to the headphone amp so I hope you can answer this question. TC Electronic G-Major-2 is a guitar processor that has a bunch of outputs but none for headphones, will the headphone amp work and which one do you think I need to hear the full effects from the digital guitar processor? Thanks again and I hope you can help me out with this info. -Cheers🎸

I wonder if this would be a good match for aeon 2 noire, has someone tried that combo ?

Hello Joshua, super video thanks, ! Just a simple question : how do you could compare it against fiio’s amplifier ? Take care

On the fence between this, BA Playmate 2 and the topping a90d.

a hunting bow on the wall😅is there any gadget u dont own josh? i bet next room there is a complete 20k eurorack wall and a couple top notch grow led panels

hey are u planning to make a video on the new shiit power amps?

Hi @Joshua Valour, thanks for the video, perfect job as always, this time you even add cinematic very zoomed scene and i love it. Can i ask you, is this comparable with topping A90D? Is it worth try this amp if i want any tube with different sound experience agains A90D, thanks for answer. Have a nice day

How does it compare with Lyr+ in tube mode?

No joke @5:39, when he said the word s"yrupy" I was pouring syrup on my pancakes

Hi Josh.Ive noticed the Audioquest Nighthawks on your desk.Did you try them with this unit? I own Nighthawks myself and wonder if thats a good sounding combo.Thanks

Hey Josh ! Is it night & day difference between this and iFi Audio Pro iDSD Signature that you have there and tested before ? I wanted before to go with iFi but now i’m confused 😬

Looks awesome. And it mostly is a good combination to have a solid st pre amp and tube end stage. I am missing a LR balance button like the xpl phonitor had. How do you compare it vs the 5x more expensive xpl phonitor?

I prefer my Little Dot MK2 over my tube hybrids for headphones. I don't feel a need to upgrade it.. ever.

Background is dooe whatre you trying to say with the bow and bike ? Ahaha

It doesn't do digital out or hdmi in/out.

saw the red knob.... know what is the brand....

Will this amp work well with IEM's? Or is this amp best for headphones?

Great review!

Hail to the King of B-rolls!

They need something that’s in this price range with enough power that can drive the Susvara well and also sound good! I don’t wanna spend 2 our 3 thousand dollars to do so lol

all means - PEQ, subout, cutoff freqs, etc.

Josh, have you ever had a chance to get your hands on an older DAC called AudioEngine D1? would love to know your opinion, as i recently got the Edition XS's, and im curious if this DAC/AMP is enough to drive them to their 90/95% potential.

How would I go about connecting this device to an Apollo twin x?

this tube amp sounds like transisitor?

How does it sound with HD 650? Hmm... 🤔

So aside from all of the colorful commentary such as it’s chocolatey mid range lol just kidding, What is the Wi-Fi antenna for?, Does this have an app that you use with it so that you can access net work stored music? Or is it a streamer itself?

Is it same tube type on mt 604 sir?

As with all these products made in China with some good specs what about support after the sale. Absurd nobody actually covers this and the ultra fast depreciation.

What tube style amps would be on the shortlist for powering dt1990?

Can i use my tablet to stream music using usb c to usb b cable ???

I'm curious whether it works well with the original arya?

What is overlooked often, is these guys have a language problem: it's called "balanced in" not "balance in". They put "Aux" with any input, even the main input. They also put "Phone" instead of "Phones". I hope this gets corrected on their future products. Technically, these devices are nice and well designed. I contacted XDuoo and they are considering my observations / suggestions.

Is this DAC/ amp combo a good match for HD800S?

can i use my hyperx cloud alpha headset with this amp for gaming and multimedia, to get better sound ? i would get a 4,4mm adapter and rdy to go ?

Also I'd love for you to review the Sony NW-306 It's the updated version of the A106 which had the worst battery life of any device ive ever used, but it was amazing for the gym because it's a small device with great audio & physical buttons + Bluetooth & 3.5mm input, better than having a phone in the gym.

Very nice video, I'm tempted to pull the trigger on this product based on this review but I would MUCH prefer an dac/headphone amp/speaker amp combo, like an updated topping mx3. Anything like that coming down the pipe?

Is there a Version without a Dac built in?

Does it blend?

It has 1500mW on 6.5mm at 32 Ohms

Does it work as audio interface for XLR microphone with phantom power or this device is only for headphones and I need separate device for microphone?

GxAce would be proud of this one.

Hi Joshua! Does it play an Hifiman HE6SE and Arya?

This is may be a silly question but will I need a DAC if I’m running out of my Apollo twin? From my understanding the Apollo twin x is a DAC, therefore will I just need an amplifier running out of the 3/4 line outs of my Apollo twin x? Also, if I buy a DAC/amp and run it out of my Apollo twin x 3/4 line out, will that be an issue? Thank you for your help.

How does this compared with Fiio K9 Pro?

does it go well with sundara?

Anyone know if the amp part is the same as the TA-20?

Does it have PEQ and Crossfeed options like RME ADI 2?

Would this amp deliver a somewhat similar experience to Schiit Valhalla 2 when paired with Sennheiser 6xx? I know the last could open these headphones a bit more (just because it's a full tube amp) but want to know if the difference would be that big.

Would this amp be to powerful for Meze 109 Pros? I know that they don't need a lot of power, I'm still looking for a DAC amp to enhance the sound I'm getting out of them

Anyone know the distortion results on this device?

this or the k7