Xduoo Poke II - EQ

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories Headphone Amps
1

I recently got the Xduoo Poke 2. The idea was to get something in between a Qudelix 5k and a iFi xCan/Gryphon. More power than the 5k but more EQ flexibility than the iFi’s. Why hardware EQ? I use these Bluetooth amps mostly in combination with the TV for YouTube concerts or some gaming but still want to adjust the sound a little, like adding a bass shelf to open backs.

The Poke 2 has three presets and custom EQ profile that allows to set bass and treble between -10 and +10dB. Unfortunately that doesn’t tell you in which frequencies ranges the boost will be applied. Just boosting the subbass, adding a little warmth or muddying everything up by going too far into the mids.

Did some simple measurements with a USB audio interface and REW. Did the same some weeks ago with an iFi xCan.

IMG_20220712_215458
IMG_20220712_2154581920×1080 139 KB

The presets:

Pop
Pop1286×663 142 KB

Movie
Movie1286×663 141 KB

Game
Game1286×663 142 KB

Presets
Presets1286×675 162 KB

The variable tone control in 3 steps.

Tone
Tone1286×675 147 KB

iFi xCan measurement

bass
bass1286×606 154 KB

presence
presence1286×606 154 KB

bass+presence
bass+presence1286×606 151 KB

all
all1286×675 170 KB

The 3d function

3d+bass
3d+bass1286×651 135 KB

3D
3D1286×651 161 KB

Wish the bass boost would come down earlier at like 200hz or 300hz. Think it extends a little too far.

With the presets I expected it would be something more specific. Like “Game” would only boost a specific area in the treble for footsteps or so instead of being just pre saved variations of the setable +y bass +x treble. Good thing is it remembers the EQ settings, tried the Shanling Up5 some time ago which forgot everything as soon as you changed the EQ profile or turned the device off.

  • Volume control is a little slow. You can hold the buttons for 2 seconds and the volume will change until release but too slow for my taste, about 2 or 3 steps (from 100) per second. A device this size should have volume knob

  • Bluetooth connection (Aptx HD) is not great. The external Bluetooth transmitter is on the TV lowboard 3-4 meter away without obstacles in between. Poke 2 lies on the couch and just hovering the hand over it to change the volume leads to some pops, cut outs or crinkle noise. Taking the device into the hand to do greater changes (like EQ) makes it worse. Same problems appears at 6m without covering the device. Reminds me of the IFi Go Blu. Never had this issue with the Ifi xCAN or qudelix 5k.

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