Dspeaker Anti-Mode X4
The Anti-Mode X4 brings exceptionally controlled bass, neutral tonal balance and vivid, three-dimensional focus to complex hi-fi systems. hifitest.de found its calibration able to tame boom and restore balance, while LowBeats praised its detail-preserving correction, musical precision and extensive multi-subwoofer flexibility. A beautifully built, deeply capable digital control centre.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
94/100
Value for Money
92/100
Pros
Automatic room correction effectively removes bass and lower-midrange boom while producing a more balanced presentation.
Room-correction processing preserves fine detail and dynamics, with neutral tone, crisp transients and outstanding bass control.
Exceptional system flexibility, including extensive analogue/digital connectivity, configurable crossover and bass management, parametric EQ and profile storage.
Premium metal-heavy construction and high-quality accessories inspire confidence.
Cons
Analogue inputs surrender a very slight degree of microdynamic expression compared with digital sources.
Imaging is vivid and tangible but stage depth is somewhat foreshortened, rather than distant or deeply layered.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviewers find the Anti-Mode X4 exceptionally capable both as a preamp/DAC and as a room-correction processor. Its presentation is described as neutral, precise, musical and highly controlled, with only a small spatial-depth caveat and a very slight loss of microdynamics through analogue inputs.
Transparency Resolution
94/100
LowBeats reports that the room-correction filters cost neither noticeable fine detail nor dynamics, while describing crystal-clear transients and an uncoloured presentation. Hifitest similarly calls its performance as a preamp/DAC extremely high level, particularly after it removes small room-induced peaks and dips.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
Hifitest heard a previously slightly boomy lower midrange become exemplary neutral after calibration. LowBeats also found a neutral balance with satisfying lower-midrange body, no coloration, and a presentation that remained notably musical.
Dynamics
92/100
LowBeats found that room correction did not impose a noticeable dynamic penalty and praised the unit's crisp transient behaviour and exceptionally controlled bass. It did note the faintest reduction in microdynamics through the analogue inputs compared with digital sources, though it considered the difference extremely small.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
LowBeats praises precise, three-dimensional imaging and describes images as almost sculpturally tangible and vividly present. The trade-off is a more forward spatial perspective: stage depth was somewhat short, making it less ideal for listeners who favour a distant, deeply recessed soundstage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
Both Hifitest and LowBeats praise the construction, with the latter saying DSPeaker has raised the bar for build quality in this price class. LowBeats specifically notes that all parts exposed to mechanical stress are made from metal.
Features Connectivity
94/100
The X4 combines extensive RCA, balanced XLR, optical, coaxial and USB connectivity with balanced and unbalanced primary and auxiliary outputs, a headphone output, remote control, and measurement microphone. Its room correction, configurable crossover and bass management, parametric EQ, profile storage, and multi-subwoofer capability make it unusually comprehensive for a preamplifier/DAC.
Value for Money
92/100
At €3,950, the Anti-Mode X4 is positioned as a premium processor-preamplifier, but Hifitest rates its price/performance as very good. The extensive connectivity, sophisticated correction facilities, and high reported preamp/DAC performance support that favourable assessment against similarly ambitious system-control products.
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Specifications
- DSP Cores
- 1 x VS1205 (GUI & Firmware update USB) 6 x VS1205 (Audio Inputs, processing) 3 x High-Quality DAC (pre-selected), 3 x High-Quality ADC
- Firmware Highlights
- Anti-Mode 3.0 room calibration algorithm Automatic cross-over frequency optimization (US Pat. 9,955,261) Extensive tone controls and user-defined parametric equalizers Anti-Mode 3.0 Multi-Rate (FIR & IIR) House Curve, Linear-Phase Tilt, Parametric EQs Adjustable Infrasonic Adjustable cross-over
- Interfaces
- 2x stereo RCA, 1x stereo XLR input 3x optical and 3x coaxial inputs (up to stereo 192kHz with coaxial) USB Audio 2.0 input (192kHz PCM, DSD64 and DSD128 by DSD over PCM) Primary Output: stereo RCA, stereo XLR, Optical Toslink, and Coaxial S/PDIF Auxiliary Output: stereo RCA and stereo XLR Microphone input, Headphone output Control wheel with a button, IR Remote
- Analog specifications (typical)
- Primary XLR: Dynamic Range: 126 dB, Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.0008% Analog Input, XLR, SNR+THD: -104dB Frequency Response: 5...45000Hz (20...20000Hz ±0.1dB) Input Voltage max RCA: 2.5 / 4.4 / 6.2 Vrms, XLR: 2.6 / 5.2 / 12.4 Vrms Output Voltage max RCA: 3.2 / 6.4 Vrms, XLR: 6.4 / 14.0 Vrms Power consumption: 25W, stand-by: < 0.5W
- Mechanical
- Unit dimensions: 436mm x 70mm x 295mm Unit weight: 4.5kg Color options: Black or Silver front plate Remote controller, calibration microphone, and microphone stand included
Manufacturer's Description — Dspeaker
FEATURES
Versatile connectivity, connect up to 10 digital and analog audio sources
Supports up to 4 subwoofers (in "0.4" configuration)
Built-in headphone amplifier, including optional DSP auralization
Patented automatic THD optimizing digital crossover
Plug and play: no expertise required to calibrate and use
Speaker-room interaction is typically the most important performance-limiting factor of any high-end audio system. Every listening space introduces errors that can be in the magnitude of dozen decibels or even more. These errors are most pronounced at the bass and lower midrange regions, where the classic acoustic treatment loses its effectiveness.
DSPeaker Anti-Mode™ X4 combines an uncompromising selection of audio electronics with more than a decade of expertise in acoustics and signal processing. It was designed with one purpose in mind: to allow your loudspeakers to truly shine — in your home, in your unique acoustic environment.
The idea of the industry-leading automated Anti-Mode room calibration is simple: to make the loudspeakers and subwoofers work together with the room, instead of clashing against it. The benefits of the Anti-Mode correction include vastly improved clarity, tighter and deeper bass reproduction, the absence of unwanted "boominess", and a seamless integration of the main speakers and subwoofers.
The installation procedure is automated. Anyone can achieve superb results without any prior expertise or knowledge. After a brief calibration process Anti-Mode™ knows your listening space in great detail and designs custom filters tuned for your unique space. You may be very surprised to hear what your loudspeakers are truly capable of!
The Anti-Mode X4 covers a wide variety of use scenarios, ranging from the traditional "2.0" two-speaker configuration to more exotic installations featuring a number of subwoofers with multiple listening seat optimizations. The best cross-over frequency is automatically determined for speakers and subs.
In addition to the automatic correction, the user has full reign over extensive tone controls and custom filters. The preferred sound signature can be altered even in real-time, from the convenience of your listening seat. Different settings can be stored in memory for a quick recall at any time. Most functions can be accessed with the supplied full-aluminum remote or using the control wheel located at the front panel.
A modern, easy-to-use graphical user interface is provided. Room response graphs can be inspected in full detail without the need to resort to personal computers or other additional equipment. A built-in graphic design tool is included for all types of sound enhancements.
Three high-end stereo digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are driving the primary, auxiliary, and headphone outputs. Combined with output range control and picking the best converters using an IC tester, the XLR outputs reach 126 dB dynamic range and less than 0.0008% total harmonic distortion. Both primary and auxiliary outputs are active simultaneously for speakers and subs, available in both XLR and RCA. The signal of the primary output is also provided as optical and coaxial SPDIF.
The headphone output is available for night-time listening and when you don’t want to disturb your household or neighbors. Headphone mode features a proprietary auralization technique which can make many recordings sound more natural and reduce listening fatigue.
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Authorized dealers for Dspeaker Anti-Mode X4
- Audio Vision San Francisco — online and in-store — San Francisco, California, United States (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- AV Solutions - Italy — online and in-store — Aosta, Valle d'Aosta, Italy (website)
- AV-Connection — in-store — Sønderborg, Denmark (website)
- Distinctive Stereo — in-store — River Vale, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Fidelity Acker & Buck — in-store — Rellingen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (website)
- FUTURELAND — online and in-store — Gleizé, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (website)
- HIFIMESTA — online and in-store — Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland (website)
- Igloo Audio — online and in-store — Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Klang Galerie — online and in-store — Regensburg, Bayern, Germany (website)
and 6 more verified dealers