Barely a new brand introduced (cf. Luxsin news) than Zidoo, through its streaming subsidiary, presents three new products. All launched at the Munich High-End 2025, these devices complete the catalog with a Z10 DAC in a range equivalent to the DMP-A10 streamer (but on an AKM chip), a Play all-in-one released in two versions (one with a CD player) and a pure network transport T8.
PLAY & PLAY CD EDITION
As yet undisclosed on the website, the Play’s square case (depth and width) resembles the Marantz Model M1, but adds a 5.5-inch screen on the front. It boasts Class D amplification of 2 x 60 W at 8 ohms and 2 x 110 W at 4 ohms, as well as a DAC on an AKM AK4493 chip, as yet unused in the range. The CD Edition version adds a Hitachi-LG CD drive redesigned for the product, complementing the possibility of integrating the all-in-one Play with digital and analog inputs, including a high-level expectation for the MM/MC phono input.
Z10 DAC
Still wavering between Sabre and AKM chips for its streamers and DACs, the Chinese manufacturer presents a Dac superior to the Z8 that reverts to the second Japanese supplier, while the Z8 uses an ES9038 Pro and the Z6 an ES9068AS. Expected to convert the digital signal on one of the best AKMs in dual-mono (perhaps the 4499EX used for the Luxsin X9), the Z10 is also announced as purely symmetrical, with its power supply managed by triple bespoke toroidal transformers, to avoid any possible electrical interference (and with that electromagnetic noise) between the different circuits.
T8 NETWORK TRANSPORT
In a chassis resembling that of the DMP-A6, the T8 is a new DAC-free device, which takes in only the network stream for output to a converter via digital outputs. Of course, it boasts a high-precision clock (femto), HDMI-IIS, AES, coaxial, optical and USB outputs, and in addition to WiFi, Bluetooth and an RJ45 port, an SFP port for direct fiber connection (see our Lumin T3x article; VU#59).
We’ll tell you more in a few days, with photos to back them up!
12/05/2025