James opinions the Luxsin X8, a brand new AI-driven desktop eight x CS43198 DAC and 4.8W-capable balanced headphone amplifier priced at $699.
Disclaimer: I obtained this pattern in trade for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. I want to thank Luxsin Audio for his or her assist.
You may click on right here to be taught extra concerning the Luxsin audio merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This put up follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
Luxsin X8 Evaluate
Abstract
The compact desktop Luxsin X8 DAC and headphone amplifier is a perfect selection for anybody craving an expansive inventory tuning, and curious concerning the customizable listening expertise, however hesitant to dig deeper into the complicated controls of PMEQ.
Execs
Interactive AI Tuning.
Vivid neutral-warmish tonal profile.
Pleasant app UI/UX.
Cons
AI engine restricted to adjusting FR.
Switching between user-created tonal profiles could be clumsy.
Auto impedance choose won’t yield the very best outcome.
I by no means imagined reviewing desktop audio gear with AI options. Not this quickly, a minimum of. But after the Luxsin X9, its cheaper sibling, the X8, now sits on my take a look at bench.
Out of nowhere, the X8 introduces an AI-EQ bot that lets customers form the sound just by typing textual content prompts, no technical experience required. It additionally delivers increased output energy and employs an array of eight CS43198 DACs for top decoding efficiency.
Priced at $699 and cheaper than the X9, Luxsin positions the X8 as a extra approachable, participating possibility for listeners craving musicality and beneficiant drive over medical accuracy, plus even larger management over the tonality.
With options that appear too good to be true, this evaluate will look at how the AI operate performs in follow, consider total sound high quality, take a look at pairings with numerous gear, and examine it head-to-head with the X9 and key opponents in its class, such because the D&A Alpha PRO.
Options
The Luxsin X8 makes use of eight Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, 4 per channel, in its totally balanced pathway, with decoding as much as DSD512 native and 32-bit/768kHz PCM.
Sheer output energy is increased on the X8 than the X9, measuring 4840 mW per channel into 16 Ω on the BAL output, with THD+N below 1%. SNR can be respectable at >123 dB.
The default output impedance is low at simply 1Ω, so it pairs simply with delicate designs just like the Meze Audio 105 SILVA with out sacrificing a lot in the way in which of dynamics.
The Luxsin X8 additionally options computerized impedance detection throughout all front-panel outputs. It robotically selects the optimum acquire setting to maximise amplification effectivity, headroom, and dynamics when plugging in gear.
Design
The X8 intently resembles the X9 in its design language, sharing a tilted 4″ touchscreen and warmth‑dissipating facet grills. Whereas it lacks a devoted entrance energy button, a rear swap allows you to totally disconnect it from mains energy.
Development is strong and professionally engineered. The daring, faceted entrance panel conveys rigidity, and the tilted show makes on‑desk or rack use easy. You may as well management the unit from a PC or through the cell app and distant it over the lounge.
Viewing from the highest, additionally, you will see the emblem neatly carved out for warmth dissipation. The steel housing is thick, and the casing design feels very stable, which helps suppress resonance.
I/O
Flipping to the rear panel, it consists of USB‑B and USB‑C ports for USB decoding as much as PCM 32‑bit/768 kHz and native DSD512. An HDMI port helps I²S on the identical charges.
Coaxial and optical inputs deal with as much as PCM 24‑bit/192 kHz, and Bluetooth 5.1 gives wi-fi playback with LDAC and AptX HD. You may toggle between all these in/output choices from the principle menu inside 3 clicks.
I admire Luxsin’s backwards compatibility in retaining USB‑B. You should use legacy improve cables with out counting on adapters, whereas the USB‑C port future‑proofs the unit for contemporary laptops, telephones (OTG) with supporting apps, and streamers.
Connectivity
Wi-fi
The Luxsin X8 makes use of the Qualcomm SXW5125 Bluetooth chipset, supporting LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, aptX LL, AAC, and SBC for various use instances.
Pairing with Home windows, Android, and iOS is fast, making streaming across the dwelling easy. With aptX LL, the amplifier can also work with low‑latency gaming.
Whereas Bluetooth is helpful, I would favor a USB connection or different digital-in over Bluetooth, as you’ll be able to clearly hear the output being far more refined and extra detailed on the X8.
Wired
The X8 helps UAC2, which suggests it may be plug-and-play on Home windows and macOS with out the necessity for a driver. You may as well obtain an ASIO driver from Luxsin’s website for extra steady excessive‑res playback.
In case your cell machine helps USB output, you’ll be able to join it to the X8 through the USB‑C port and revel in USB decoding, which gives superior high quality to wi-fi. For example, I used UAPP, and with none bother, it connects and performs immediately.
Controls
Along with the bodily knob and touchscreen, the X8 might be managed through an internet portal and cell apps for iOS and Android.
By way of the apps or internet interface, you should use AI‑EQ prompting and HP‑EQ, regulate system settings, select constructed‑in headphone profiles and DSPs, management quantity, and handle firmware. The UI/UX is well-designed and responsive.
AI-assisted PMEQ
The PMEQ is powered by an ARM processor and dual-core HiFi-5 DSP chips, delivering a user-friendly, responsive, and intuitive expertise. Use it by putting in the Luxsin app or configuring through the online portal on a PC.
Its AI enter interface allows you to enter prompts to information tuning, for instance: “Make the treble much less vivid with out affecting openness,” “Observe the HD 800S tuning route,” “Give vocals extra energy,” or “The low finish feels overly congested.”
The AI proposes a tweak, shows a comparability with the unique curve, and allows you to settle for it, refine it with one other immediate, or manually regulate.
You may scale changes for subtler or stronger results. As soon as confirmed, the curve saves as a profile and applies immediately. You may as well swap between present and former curves in 2 clicks.
One other means to make use of the AI is to determine flaws and create corrective curves, e.g., prompting “What points does the HD 800S have, and assist me design a repair?”, then refining the magnitude and form till happy.
Layman’s phrases work nice, and it gives suggestions to right points with no need technical experience.
Like all chatbot, outcomes depend upon immediate high quality and readability of intent. Nonetheless, it’s wonderful for studying tuning, EQ design, and equalization.
It explains every instructed change and its possible sonic influence, constructing your understanding of how changes and frequency intensities form sound.
Whereas there may be some limitation, it alters timbre solely by reshaping the frequency curve; for X8’s positioning, that is completely nice.
Regardless of this, it could be pretty for Luxsin to think about including extra DSP results, like tweaking overtones, including overdrive, or enhancing spatial separation, to make the machine much more highly effective.
HP-EQ Customized Profiles
The Luxsin X8, just like the X9, ships with 2,500+ rising headphone profiles and selectable goal curves with {hardware} EQ.
You may search by mannequin and save a shortlist of regularly used headphones for immediate profile switching.
Past the fundamentals, the UI allows you to select a number of goal curves and configure crossfeed, filters, and different DSP settings, on-screen or from different units, and toggle or mix them to match results.
This intuitive, highly effective configuration panel is among the many greatest on headphone amplifiers, providing actual flexibility with simple operation.
Packaging & Equipment
The Luxsin X8 ships in a sturdy cardboard outer field with an inside foam‑padded field. Contained in the unit is protected by a storage bag, and the package deal features a energy wire, a USB‑B cable, and a 6.35 mm-to-3.5 mm adapter.
Sound Impressions
I ran within the X8 for a few week and paired it with a spread of headphones to check versatility, together with the MOONDROP COSMO, Meze Audio’s 105 SILVA, the Sennheiser HD 800S, the HIFIMAN Isvarna, and the Ananda Nano.
The impressions under are primarily based on numerous pairings and primarily on USB decoding linked to my PC.
Abstract
The expertise with the X8 is genuinely enjoyable and seems like a tuning strategy that might have been unimaginable a yr in the past. To be trustworthy, I don’t count on this to occur this quick and be sensible.
The AI tuning course of is speedy, and typically, it doesn’t mess up the whole curve to sound bloated or veiled in any respect.
For many who don’t need to spend time fidgeting with EQs, repair recognized points within the tuning, and concentrate on listening, this acts as a very usable AI EQ assistant. It is usually extra versatile than many on pairing because it takes little or no time to enhance a match.
Regardless of the elevated energy, the X8 stays simple to pair with delicate headphones and delivers dynamic, well-controlled bass with out dropping layering.
Its increased output additionally fits excessive impedance headphones, whereas the marginally extra mid-centric tuning balances properly with the vitality within the treble.
Timbre
The inventory tuning on the X8 is clear with a contact of heat and enough extension at each ends.
I hear a gentle M form with punchy bass that isn’t overly deep, barely elevated vocals for intimacy and heat, and clear treble that by no means goes over the brink to sound too scorching. The soundstage is prolonged and fairly well-layered.
Vocals can appear barely laid again or flat with some increased impedance masses or very delicate designs, however the tonality improves noticeably after equalizing.
After making use of constructed‑in goal curves or AI EQ, transients tighten, and the bass assault slims right down to sound extra exact and deeper.
In a single instance, I requested the AI assistant to “tame the ultimate A8000”. Earlier than EQ, it’s a vivid IEM that may strategy the sibilance threshold whereas providing quite a lot of air and extremely articulated treble with a crisp, quick response.
By asking the AI to cut back the sibilance zone and soften cymbal sharpness, the height will get rounded, and the A8000 positive aspects a sweeter, much less aggressive treble character.
One other take a look at concerned utilizing AI EQ on the HD 800S to impart traits of the HD 800, which is extra open and prolonged, however generally much less forgiving.
My course of was easy: ask the AI to focus on key tuning variations, then request it to use HD 800 traits to the HD 800S. The outcome was a extra open presentation with a swifter, clearer treble.
Total, I discover the output costly and fairly vivid in tuning. Dynamics may very well be stronger, and the bass can kick a bit extra solidly and deeply.
However that’s precisely what the HP-EQ or AI-EQ options do to assist, and to make it even higher by fixing recognized tuning points and shifting the sound signature towards a extra participating, balanced presentation typically.
Staging & Dynamics
The bottom tuning doesn’t overemphasize both finish of the spectrum. The X8 nonetheless sounds properly prolonged within the treble and barely full within the bass earlier than any equalization.
That is nice as a result of choosing goal curves or making use of AI EQ rapidly improves dynamics, tightens bass influence, provides bass layering, and smooths the treble.
The eight DACs give the X8 sufficient energy to protect enough layering even with orchestras, extra on the horizontal airplane than in lateral depth when masses get demanding.
But the DSP maintains a particular picture for every component even when a number of frequency bands are adjusted by greater than 6 dB.
Customers may also manually swap tonal profiles or use AI EQ to elevate the treble for extra air, or enhance the bass for larger rumble.
Inside a 3 to six dB enhance, there stays adequate readability and management for the picture to remain cohesive, offering helpful headroom to form the signature except the paired gear may be very veiled.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
