FX-Audio DAC-X6 Headphone amp Mini HiFi 2.0 Digital Audio Decoder DAC Input USB/Coaxial/Optical Output RCA/Headphone Amplifier 24Bit/96KHz DC12V (Black)

Alright - so right off, allow me to say that I gave it 5 stars due to two factors - the price (which is only $69.95 as of this writing - a pittance really) and the audio performance that punches a bit above its weight. To set up this review, I am reviewing this DAC mostly as a result of listening to various self-powered active speakers around my desktop PC. I am not a headphone user (as of yet). The speakers I am using are the Edifier S3000 Pro's, the Edifier R2000DB's, the Edifier R1850DB's, the Edifier S350DB's, and the JBL 1 Series 104's. I also have 5 to 6 other DAC units that I switch back and forth thanks to the likes of the most excellent manual (lossless) GoHiFiAudio S1 RCA audio switcher (sold here on Amazon). Cables used were: 1) USB cables were the Audioquest Pearls, Kabel Direct cables, and Amazon basics cables. 2) RCA cables were the World's Best Cables and the Blue Jeans Cables LC-1's. In addition, just recently I added the unbelievably superb iFi Purifier 3.0 USB conditioner which really cleans up and reclocks your dirty USB lines. Since I spend a good 6 - 8 hours daily working, communicating, and photo processing in Photoshop (yes, in addition to being an audiophile, I'm a photographer also). While there, I listen to a variety of music centered around classical, big band, jazz, Latin jazz, and other larger orchestral styles. And I'm quite serious about the quality of the music to be sure. Now enter the FX-Audio X6. So why in the heck would I buy such a budget unit if I'm an audiophile? Quite simple, and that involves cost vs performance ratio measurements. I wanted to see how low you can go price-wise and still get relatively superb sound. I also purchased another DAC unit which I've come to enjoy and that is the similarly price ($69.99) SABAJ D3. So between the two, some interesting comments can be made. Sound-wise, the FX Audio X6 has an expansive sound quality to it, with more of a laid back sound stage, yet at the same time handling dynamics quite skillfully and providing that sense of "immediacy" that transports you to the live performance. The SABAJ unit has a more up front sound and although it also has a good depth profile, the FX Audio's depth goes further back from front to rear. Additionally, the imaging (instrumental separation) is quite good in both units and I cannot fault either unit. I must say however, that periodically - depending on recording - the imaging on the FX-Audio can be a bit strange (but only rarely). In one recording that I was listening to - Schubert's Trout Quintet - there was a passage where the violin on the left of the stage sounded as if it was recorded in a separate booth all by itself and sounded quite unnatural (when compared to the rest of the musicians playing the piece). I had wrongly assumed it was just the recording, but when I played the same piece through both my Schiit Modi 3 and the SABAJ D3 DAC's, all sounded well and the instrumental placement was where it was supposed to be. Bass reproduction was exemplary with tight bass - not bloated at all. Bass transients were tight, although presented a bit further back on the soundstage. Again, the other DAC units I use had a more up-front sound quality to them. The only other DAC that I currently have that has a more laid back signature (similar to the FX-Audio X6) is the Soundavo HP-DAC1. Mids and highs are exceptional and the full crescendo of a symphony orchestra is presented with both weight and clarity, whereas some other DAC's I've tried in the past got a bit muddy when that occurred. And things sounded even better once I added the awesome iFi Purifier 3.0 USB conditioner into the mix - remarkably so. Now, I can't go any further without stating that any good audio gear benefits by a warm-up/break-in period. The sound I'm hearing now (having owned the FX Audio for over a month now) sounds much better (warmer) than it did when I first turned it on. So whatever you do, don't make any judgements until your unit has been warmed up for several days to a week. I keep my DAC's on all of the time and that can make a world of difference. It has been my experience that most budget DAC's tend to sound a bit bright or harsh, if you will, upon first turning them on. So just give it some time. There are so many DAC's out there now - I'd say almost a 100 or so and many are budget DAC's. What ever you do, don't assume that budget equates to below standard, as that is most certainly not the case. There are some excellent units out there for well below $100 - those being the likes of the FX AUDIO X6, the SABAJ D3, and a half dozen others. It's uncanny really. Also please note that many budget DAC's sound very, very familiar. It is only as time goes on and the units become properly broken in that small differences begin to arise. And such was the case with the FX AUDIO and the SABAJ units. Other than the depth scenario, they pretty well sound very similar. Typically once I acquire and evaluate different DAC units, I wind up selling those were just so-so, or less than stellar, but I must say that both the FX AUDIO X6 and the SABAJ D3 are worthy "keepers," and they will be staying in my system. In fact, as I write this personal review, I am listening to my Edifier S3000Pro active speakers fueled by the FX AUDIO X6 - to Beethoven's Piano Concerto 5 - and the sound is absolutely sublime. I feel as though I'm there in the symphony hall. And isn't that one of the best compliments you can pay to a unit? As is usually the case, YMMV and I can only discuss experiences I have with my system.

FX-Audio DAC-X6 Headphone amp... I bought an FX-Audio DAC in November, 2020, and it has been stellar. So you can imagine how upset I was when a couple weeks ago it just stopped working! Here’s the story: I needed a way to get Toslink audio into my system from my HDMI switch, while simultaneously having independent headphone out. This had pretty good reviews and the price was right, so I gave it a shot. As a bonus, it also has USB so I can connect it to my computer, separately if I wanted to. A couple of weeks ago it just stopped receiving the Toslink signal - while I was listening! This was bad. So I went on Amazon, looked in my history to quickly find another and what do you think I got… “this item is currently unavailable “. Disheartened, I started searching for suitable alternatives. One of the things I love about this one is the simple design and functionality. I got one from another highly rated brand, and wouldn’t you know? I could EITHER listen to my speakers, OR my headphones! You have to select what you want with a switch, and that killed everything else! AND, it took a long time 3-5 seconds!) to switch between inputs! Ridiculous. So I get back on Amazon and type FX-Audio in the search box and BAM! There it was! Huzzah! I returned the other one and immediately ordered the FX. It arrived and IT didn’t work either! Grr. Turns out, they sent me a returned or previously opened unit that was not 100%. I could tell because the wire tie for the power supply was not tied on the power supply and the USB cable was missing. I sent it back and they sent me a new one and it was plug and play, all the way. I am very happy with this unit. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get such simple satisfaction. I’m thinking maybe I should get another one if this one only lasts ~5 years. I’m not an audiophile and I’m not a tech nerd, tho some might argue that last point. I can’t speak to the numbers, but I never turned it off and it ran 24/7 for nearly five years without complaints. Simple design. Small footprint. Fires on all outputs. Fixed unbalanced line out (RCA). Variable headphone out. Simultaneously. I don’t ask for much. This delivers. (Until it doesn’t). Even if it does break again, I will still get another. Check it out.

I got this DAC headphone amp to drive my high impedance Sennheiser HD600 (300 ohms) and vintage HD414 (2000 ohms) headphones. These are audiophile phones and demand more from amps than typical device headphone jacks offer. I like this device. It's not too big, the most used controls are up front and clearly marked. There's a handy green signal LED that lights to let me know when my iMac is driving the headphone amp via USB. One issue I find a bit annoying is that the volume changes in overly large dB steps when I change it from the macOS level control. I don't know if this is a Mac/USB issue or if it's internal to the FX-Audio device. The volume changes smoothly in small dB increments from the front mounted volume knob.

This thing is excellent, robust, great sound quality and being able to leave the headphones plugged in all the time and still have it go to the speakers is a really nice touch. I just turn the speakers off when they aren't wanted. I love the look too, it matches my silver 70s amp stack nicely

I connected it to my old Luxman CD player and Linsoul XDUOO MT-602 6J1 Tube Transistor Headphone Amplifier and it worked great.

excellent

I purchased this DAC for it's coax digital support with the intention of assembling a TV sound bar equivalent. I have a couple of audio interfaces that are USB only which could not be used for a disk player. The sources are a desktop computer running Ubuntu 22.04 and a Sony 4K blu ray player. The FX-Audio provides inputs for both. The volume control on the front does not apply to the RCA out connectors on the back and that is clearly stated in the product discription. The unit sounds great for both streaming from the computer or watching disks on the Sony player. The unit's case is of brushed aluminium and the face plate is brushed aluminium about 1/2 cm thick. It has a solid quality feel when you pick it up. This is a first rate choice from the budget DAC category.