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expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Dec 7, 2021
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Dec 7, 2021

iFi AUDIO xCAN Portable Balanced Bluetooth Headphones Amplifier

+ Free Shipping

$170

$299

43% off
Adorama
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Deal Details
Adorama has iFi AUDIO xCAN Portable Balanced Bluetooth Headphones Amplifier on sale for $169.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Powerful dual-mono headphone amplifier that can unleash the full dynamic range of hard to drive 600 ohm over ear phones while still driving many sensitive 32 ohm IEM with a silent background. Delivers 1000mW of power per channel Balanced and also a specially designed 'S-Balanced' circuit for Balanced (TRRS) 2.5mm and Single-Ended with (TRS) 3.5mm connectors Both offer exceptional low crosstalk and low distortion
  • 'Cut the cord' and upgrade your existing wired headphones by using the built-in wireless Bluetooth input, which uses the aptX and AAC codecs with a dedicated DAC chip, for streaming music from your portable or home device to the xCAN receiver with 16 bit 44kHz CD quality sound. Compatible with your DAP ( digital audio player ), Android or Apple smartphone or tablet, laptop, smart TV or even Alexa and similar smart speakers
  • Start listening right away and all day with a 2220mAh battery that can supply 12-18 hours of playback. Accessories include a USB C charging cable, a mini to mini connector, and a 2.5mm balanced interconnect so you can connect to most any audio system component or converter right out the box
  • 3D Holographic + and XBass II offer advanced analogue signal processing circuits that provide a more accurate and enjoyable sound by correcting low end bass and/or mid range frequencies and widening the soundstage to bring the music 'out of your head' creating a more a engaging sound. Puts the performer on stage in your home to add that extra natural quality to the mid range

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • At the time of this posting, Our research indicates that this is $129.01 lower (43.1% savings) than the next best available prices from reputable merchants with prices starting from $299.
  • About this product:
    • 1 Year Limited Warranty.
  • About this store:
    • Details of Adorama's return policy here.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Adorama has iFi AUDIO xCAN Portable Balanced Bluetooth Headphones Amplifier on sale for $169.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Powerful dual-mono headphone amplifier that can unleash the full dynamic range of hard to drive 600 ohm over ear phones while still driving many sensitive 32 ohm IEM with a silent background. Delivers 1000mW of power per channel Balanced and also a specially designed 'S-Balanced' circuit for Balanced (TRRS) 2.5mm and Single-Ended with (TRS) 3.5mm connectors Both offer exceptional low crosstalk and low distortion
  • 'Cut the cord' and upgrade your existing wired headphones by using the built-in wireless Bluetooth input, which uses the aptX and AAC codecs with a dedicated DAC chip, for streaming music from your portable or home device to the xCAN receiver with 16 bit 44kHz CD quality sound. Compatible with your DAP ( digital audio player ), Android or Apple smartphone or tablet, laptop, smart TV or even Alexa and similar smart speakers
  • Start listening right away and all day with a 2220mAh battery that can supply 12-18 hours of playback. Accessories include a USB C charging cable, a mini to mini connector, and a 2.5mm balanced interconnect so you can connect to most any audio system component or converter right out the box
  • 3D Holographic + and XBass II offer advanced analogue signal processing circuits that provide a more accurate and enjoyable sound by correcting low end bass and/or mid range frequencies and widening the soundstage to bring the music 'out of your head' creating a more a engaging sound. Puts the performer on stage in your home to add that extra natural quality to the mid range

Editor's Notes

Written by SaltyOne | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • At the time of this posting, Our research indicates that this is $129.01 lower (43.1% savings) than the next best available prices from reputable merchants with prices starting from $299.
  • About this product:
    • 1 Year Limited Warranty.
  • About this store:
    • Details of Adorama's return policy here.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

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Top Comments

Dayzzz
681 Posts
96 Reputation
No other digital input except for Bluetooth kills it for me. This is also a discontinued model.
Yamanote_E235
88 Posts
30 Reputation
This seems overpriced when something like the Qudelix 5K exists ($109) and is actively being updated. For iPhone users, it provides a system-wide PEQ that is otherwise unavailable. The other upside is that the Qudelix app ties into AutoEQ for one touch settings from the AutoEQ project. I've been able to plug it into my iPhone 12 Pro Max and it is detected via USB connection. It's more than enough to power my Audeze LCD-2 Classics.
brucknerfan
2477 Posts
374 Reputation
This amp produces reasonably good sound but be aware of two things:

1) the LiPo battery pack inside these units begins to degrade in battery life within 2 years of usage.

2) the Li-Po battery packs inside these units use a proprietary connector that makes it difficult to self-service.

3) The manufacturer offers replacement batteries but under the following conditions: You must ship your Xcan to them at YOUR expense. You must pay them approximately $40 for the battery and return shipping. They will NOT mail you the replacement battery to do the swap yourself.

4) The balanced headphone jack on the Xcan is a cheap module that lacks an anchor into the PCB. This means that it will break off from just light careful usage. Many complaints about this on Head-Fi.

Read up on this product on the official discussion thread on Head-Fi and also read over the negative reviews on Amazon. There are frequent complaints about the balanced jack breaking inside the Xcan. This is because the solder joints eventually fail and there's no through-PCB anchor to keep the jack secure.

Also review the lab tests for other iFi products at AudioScienceReview.com

Most of them don't test very well. It sort of a mixed bag.

40 Comments

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Dec 7, 2021
855 Posts
Joined Jan 2006
Dec 7, 2021
daledemp
Dec 7, 2021
855 Posts
Man, that's a great deal at $100 off.
1
Dec 8, 2021
397 Posts
Joined Apr 2020
Dec 8, 2021
SplendidSoda171
Dec 8, 2021
397 Posts
Might as well buy a device with built in desired technology? Any thoughts to why this product is worth acquiring?
1
5
Dec 8, 2021
9,251 Posts
Joined Apr 2006
Dec 8, 2021
TheEdge
Dec 8, 2021
9,251 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank TheEdge

EDIT: I stand corrected... I have the xDSD. So some of the below might not apply. The xCAN has more power, longer battery life, different chipset, etc. So in otherwords, lots of differences. LOL.

https://ifi-audio.com/comparison-...d-to-head/

I have this. Great little amp. Fingerprint magnet, but otherwise it's great. I think I paid about $200 or $220 for this USED from Head-Fi classifieds a year or so ago.

I used to use an apple camera adapter cable to run from phone to my previous portable headphone amp. Got tired of all of the cables everywhere. Now I just bluetooth from my phone to the amp and then out to the amp. I even have a XLR 4-pin to balanced cable adapter.

This is also MQA capable -- IF you run it hardwired... so you can get MQA on the go (with an apple camera adapter)... or you can use it in a desktop setup if you want (essentially using this as a DAC and outputting to a beefier amp).

Last but not least, I sometimes have issues when I change from bluetooth mode to wired mode... and then try going back to bluetooth. It won't connect again. The solution is to totally unpair it... and then re-pair it. Not sure if they fixed that via a firmware update or not.
Last edited by TheEdge December 7, 2021 at 05:26 PM.
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Dec 8, 2021
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Dec 8, 2021
iconian
Dec 8, 2021
Original Poster
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Sr. Deal Editor
74,069 Posts
Quote from SplendidSoda171 :
Might as well buy a device with built in desired technology? Any thoughts to why this product is worth acquiring?

there is no built in desired technology in neither phones nor DAP's.. this offers much power than both can provide.
Dec 8, 2021
684 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Dec 8, 2021
d3a1z
Dec 8, 2021
684 Posts
Good deal for a killer Bluetooth portable amp. I used to have the ifi Micro and regretted getting rid of it. Excited to get a new iFi.
Dec 8, 2021
145 Posts
Joined Apr 2017
Dec 8, 2021
bogus1
Dec 8, 2021
145 Posts
I believe that the xCAN has a balanced input as well as output. If your phones are lower impedance, maybe 32 ohms, you are likely to listen to your music all over again with the xCAN.

Keep in mind the DAC is only for the Bluetooth. Think of the xCAN as a headphone amp with an added option for steaming very good quality Bluetooth from your phone or computer: https://ifi-audio.com/products/xCAN/
Dec 8, 2021
1,072 Posts
Joined Sep 2017

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Dec 8, 2021
681 Posts
Joined Nov 2012
Dec 8, 2021
Dayzzz
Dec 8, 2021
681 Posts

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No other digital input except for Bluetooth kills it for me. This is also a discontinued model.
2
Dec 8, 2021
162 Posts
Joined Nov 2017
Dec 8, 2021
8d2s
Dec 8, 2021
162 Posts
Quote from SplendidSoda171 :
Might as well buy a device with built in desired technology? Any thoughts to why this product is worth acquiring?
Not this one. You want the DAC and Amp all in one device. XDSD, but bummer not o sale of course. This is for portable use. For desk use you are better off with separate devices. Unlike competitor they do replace the batteries, which makes Shute difference because all others become expensive paperweights(Creative)
Dec 8, 2021
88 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Dec 8, 2021
Yamanote_E235
Dec 8, 2021
88 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Yamanote_E235

This seems overpriced when something like the Qudelix 5K exists ($109) and is actively being updated. For iPhone users, it provides a system-wide PEQ that is otherwise unavailable. The other upside is that the Qudelix app ties into AutoEQ for one touch settings from the AutoEQ project. I've been able to plug it into my iPhone 12 Pro Max and it is detected via USB connection. It's more than enough to power my Audeze LCD-2 Classics.
1
1
Dec 8, 2021
142 Posts
Joined Jul 2016
Dec 8, 2021
Triode
Dec 8, 2021
142 Posts

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For a portable bluetooth/usb hybrid dac and hp amp, the fiio btr5 is where it's at for $120. Sounds stupidly good with everything from cheapo kph30i's to Andromedas to Audio Technica es10s to Fostex thx00's - especially if your phone supports ldac. Not sure how the ifi is supposed to compete, at a much higher price, when it doesn't even have a usb input.

You need more power than the fiio puts out for high ohm hd800/650's or hungry orthos, but who is using a battery powered portable with cans like those anyways.
1
1
Dec 8, 2021
319 Posts
Joined Mar 2004
Dec 8, 2021
Sarfdawg
Dec 8, 2021
319 Posts
I have this device.

I use it when I'm sitting outside on the deck, on the couch, or by the lake. Yes, the portability is a huge factor.

I use it with my phone or computer and connect them via Bluetooth or a hardwire, and the sound quality is about as close to equal is it gets. I use it with my HiFiman 400i headphones and my Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 2 headphones. This device takes them to another level, and it has more than enough power.

Another poster above mentioned that it's difficult to get them to go from Bluetooth to hardwire, but then he corrected himself citing that he had another iFi product. This device has no such problem. It is a fingerprint magnet, but I don't really care about that. There are a lot of far more advanced audiophiles on this thread, and that's great. I'm a novice at best, and for me and my needs, this device is unbeatable, and at $199, it's a great deal. Highly recommend.
Dec 8, 2021
1,148 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
Dec 8, 2021
az060693
Dec 8, 2021
1,148 Posts
Quote from Triode :
For a portable bluetooth/usb hybrid dac and hp amp, the fiio btr5 is where it's at for $120. Sounds stupidly good with everything from cheapo kph30i's to Andromedas to Audio Technica es10s to Fostex thx00's - especially if your phone supports ldac. Not sure how the ifi is supposed to compete, at a much higher price, when it doesn't even have a usb input.

You need more power than the fiio puts out for high ohm hd800/650's or hungry orthos, but who is using a battery powered portable with cans like those anyways.
I like Fiio and the build quality definitely exceeds the qudelix, which has very annoying buttons, but the Qudelix app with the parametric EQ is much better imho.
Dec 8, 2021
136 Posts
Joined May 2017
Dec 8, 2021
cpgeek
Dec 8, 2021
136 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank cpgeek

Please note that this DOES NOT have USB input (I went looking on ifi's website). I personally think that this is a HUGE oversight (especially considering it has a really nice DAC (ess sabre) which can be easily driven with USB. Bluetooth can be super convenient, and I'm not a hater for those who enjoy that convenience, but the sound quality difference between Bluetooth and a proper USB raw audio input into the dac is night and day in my experience and thus, this product is very disappointing to me. YES, you *can* still use it as a portable amp *IF* use use an external DAC (imho so dumb given it's got a pretty nice dac inside of it that just can't be used with usb), but if you have a device with an acceptable dac already this might not be a bad portable way to get some extra clean power to your headphones (for example, the dac in my sony xperia 1 II phone is actually quite nice, but the output power is pretty terrible, this would be a great way to solve that problem)... but personally, I wouldn't buy it without a usb dac input function (but that's me, and my choice).

tl;dr: no usb dac input which is disappointing in an otherwise great looking product, buy what works for you.
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Dec 9, 2021
86 Posts
Joined Mar 2010
Dec 9, 2021
jester1030
Dec 9, 2021
86 Posts
I also own this device and it's great as an amp for larger audiophile headphones I 100% agree with the other poster who commented that. but that's all it's supposed to be, it only has the DAC in order to be a Bluetooth receiver and they don't want to give it a full DAC implementation so that it doesn't cannibalize the sales of the xDSD the very similar device so mentioned on this thread.

oh and it has bass boost and a soundstage/treble boost, both of which are very enjoyable IMO.
Last edited by jester1030 December 8, 2021 at 09:07 PM.

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