Product Comparison: iFi xCAN vs iFi xDSD

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iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier

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iFi xDSD Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier

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General Specifications

Brand

iFi

Model

xCAN

xDSD

Origin

China

About the Product

If you are looking to improve the sound quality of your music from a highly rated portable device and your wired headphones while maintaining portability this is the amplifier for you. The xCAN is a next generation portable and pocket size hi res headphone amp introduced into the x series.

The xDSD is a top rated, award winning, ultra portable, lightweight Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) and amplifier. It is designed to be used with headphones and mobile digital sources such as smartphones, Digital Audio Players, as well as stationary devices or audio systems like computers, TVs, and game consoles.

Key Specs

Built-in DAC

ESS Sabre

Burr Brown DSD1793

Type

Portable

Sample Resolution/Rate

16-bit / 48kHz

24-bit / 192kHz

Signal/Noise Ratio

120 dB

107.2 dB

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

What customers say about "Key Specs"

iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier

The sound is iFi's magical touch, with a pretty neutral-ish approach, an organic midrange, clear and punchy bass.
Excellent clear sound quality with bass booster functions to suit any music content.
Almost shaking in sound, twenty one pilots Levitate works through the drum/bass reverb sound well.
Nice booming bass and holographic quality sound. With the ability to quickly tailor the sound (faster than changing EQ settings).
When all “effects” are disabled, the xCAN brings nothing to the sound.

iFi xDSD Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier

Purchased the xDSD recently and I really like the sound. Surely recommend!
I must tell you that I am addicted to the sound of this unit. It produces ear candy. The clarity, smoothness, and detail of sound coming through the xDSD is really something to behold.
Wonderful sound, great design, superb technology. At the price, this is an amazing value.
Superb sound on wired and wireless. Sounds better than the ifi nano idsd black by having more micro and macro details.
As a portable sound-boosting solution, the iFi xDSD makes a lot of sense.

Size & Weight

Color

Silver

Height

0.75 in.

Width

3.74 in.

Depth

2.63 in.

2.61 in.

Weight

4.48 oz.

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier

The xCAN is a battery operated headphone amplifier, diminutive in size. Recommend!
The metal/plastic shell doesn't feel cheap although I was surprised by the small size.
It’s solid, yet lightweight, and as mentioned before, it has a wavy exterior that actually makes it easier to hold.
The sound is clean and easy with some of the best dynamics I’ve heard from such a small device.
Diminutive size and less-than ideal volume-pot make desktop use slightly difficult.

iFi xDSD Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier

Superb mobile DAC with MQA support. Device is very light and tiny.
With this little machine, the track quality differences become very clear, and just like in any good system.
For size and weight considerations the xDSD is the best choice.
Subjectively, the xDSD appears about half the size and a third the weight of the Micro BL with similar options.
The xDSD is about the size and weight of a deck of 52 playing cards. Nice design. Overall, highly recommend!

Features

Enclosure Material

Aluminium

Max. Frequency Response

200 kHz

20 kHz

Min. Frequency Response

2 Hz

20 Hz

Controls

Power / Volume, Settings, XBass II Modes

Volume Control, Mode Selection, Settings, Digital Filter

OS Compatibility

Apple OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Apple iOS, Android

Apple OS, Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, Linux, Android

Wireless Connection

Bluetooth

Interfaces

Balanced Out, USB Type-C, Single-Ended Headphone Input/Output, Balanced In

Coaxial / Optical, USB

Extras

LED Indicators, Portable Design

LED Indicators, Hi-Res True Native playback, Master Quality Authenticated audio, S-Balanced technology, Cyberdrive, aptX, Advanced Audio Coding, Battery life is up to 10 hours

Min. Frequency Response
Max. Frequency Response

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

iFi xCAN

iFi xDSD

What customers say about "Features"

iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier

I used the xCan considerably more in wired mode than in bluetooth mode, because the sound quality is considerably better with metal music.
Unless you need to go bluetooth, going wired will sound better.
I was amazed to find that the xCAN sounds virtually as good in Bluetooth mode as it does when fed signal via cables!
The transparent-sounding quality of the sound. There are virtually no compromises while listening on-the-go via Aptx Bluetooth with the xCAN.
They implemented the Apt-X so well. It really sounds that good.

iFi xDSD Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier

The xDSD can play via USB or Bluetooth. The great news: the Bluetooth sounds fantastic.
Charging and powering requires a mini USB cable which I can find in my wire collection. Plug and play heaven. Really Sweet!
Best of all is the MQA support, which provides the best reproduced sound I’ve ever heard.
Apple users beware, bluetooth connection does not work so well with certain Apple devices.
The USB input jack is a male! As in, the plug, not the socket. That is the weirdest choice I’ve ever seen in an external DAC.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications