DX320 Edition X



Disclosure: This is personal purchases from both the original and edition X and my views is not influenced by Ibasso, or affiliated to Ibasso by any meanings.

After the release of Dx320, Ibasso followed with a special edition that is Edition X. This was to commemorate the 10th years anniversary of Ibasso into the portable market. This run is limited to only 500 units globally!



What is so special about this edition ? The chassis is made out of Liquid Metal Alloy that is based on Titanium metal. The specific procedures to produce the alloy gives the metal a much higher tensile strength, more resistive to scratches, and also easier to cast into design. Therefore, the Edition X will carry the liquid curves with beautiful edges. Fortunately, it also come with a leather case that has a specific curves and edges to match with it.



Usually, special edition from Ibasso has upgraded internal parts for the amp module for limited editions, and Ibasso runs these often. This time around, the only thing special about the player is only the chassis. With edition X Everything remaining the same from the main DAC to the Amp module.



Does the new chassis effect sound quality ? Yes, some people can distinct the differences, and some people may not pay enough attentions to take notes. Technically speaking, every time a whole circuit has a significant resistances in comparison to the same circuits, there would be differences. Unlike the typical tolerances of 5-20% on components. Titanium as a metal only have 3.1% conductivity VS Aluminum which is upto 64% using copper as 100% references. Therefore, the chassis do introduce a significant impedance to the whole circuit in comparison to Aluminum. How much does it effect sound quality ? It depends on the listener, but without additional differences, the chassis would be more for appearances rather than listening differences. I personally don’t think it is significant enough to warrant a “have to” desire to seek for Edition X instead of the regular Dx320. Unless you really love the Dx320 performances, and that you would love to find a unique edition, then yes! The edition X is worth seeking out.



Is Edition X an improvement from the regular ? It is an improvement from the Metal being used, and the seamless integration of curves into the chassis. It is an improvement technically to the circuitry when “feedback networks” is taken into account. It may be an improvement to sound quality, or it may not. In my opinions, it is has an improvement in sound performances. The more advanced your module is, the more you will notice the differences.



Sporting Dual ROHM flagship DAC chips with discrete Class A output amplification right out of the box for sound performances. We know how seriously enthusiastic the machine is aiming toward. Removable amp modules allow for other amp modules, especially the single ended Korg tube amp13 to change up your taste buds.



Uniquely to Dx300/320 from Ibasso is the Dual Battery packs which is dedicatedly used per each Digital and analog amplifications. Due to this uniqueness, some people may feel odd seeing 2 different batteries % and charging or discharging un-evenly. It is all good because as a DAP, the player is more like a 2 systems smashed into one, a DAC with interfaces and touch screen together with a dedicated amplifier that has modular design and it own battery pack, then integrated together into one chassis and controlled by the UI as a whole



The SOC is Snap-Dragon 660 with plenty of 6Gb Ram and android 11 out of the box. The UI feels very snappy and modern. The sluggish interactions with your player such as the time of Dx200/220 and 220 Max is no longer a problem anymore. The speedy UI is pretty fluid that give the user a much better comfortable to even use the Chrome and browse around the internet, downloading .APK , installations…etc. It all feels comfortably fast. You can even watch movies, though not as HDR as if you were to use smartphones or IPad, but you get the audio quality . That was just a tease. Basically, for watching movies, I recommend you to get Ibasso DC-06. It is a wonderful dongles with Ibasso house sound, a bit warmer than typical references house sound. It has no battery to care for, and it can be plug and play. Using the Dx320 as an external DAC has a problem of syncing video and audio timing. There will be a lagging delay between video and audio.

Clocking in around 10-11 hours with charging that can be as fast as 2-1/2 hours. It is very impressive



Unlike the regular, the Edition X comes with additional Metal Card that has the series number, which is assigned to the player series number internally. This number goes from 001 to 500. It also comes with additional faceplates to match with your whole Silvery Titanium metal chassis. Amp11mk2S comes standard, with amp12 and amp13 faceplate. In order to swap out the faceplate, you only need to unscrews, pulling out the faceplate as the socket is inserted into the output slots. The Amp11 needs to have one to lift up the 3.5mm ribbon cables lock tab additionally, before pulling the pcb out.



Sound signatures: Dx320 sporting the ROHM chips, it is my favorite chips at the moment! Dynamic, natural and neutral. I loved ESS, but I always wanted a more blooming sub-bass textures, less glares and artificial high textures. The AKM has blooming bass textures and warmer signature overall but it lacks the sparkling up top. IMO, the ROHM is amazing. It is able to combine both ESS and AKM traits together while having an amazing reach for dynamic and the ability to deliver it.



In both of the portable players at the moment on the market that sport ROHM X2, Cayin N8ii and Dx320. I am able to confirm the unique ability to deliver the dynamic from this chip sets. The density, the stilled energy, the housing resonances, the energy burst of each notes and it variations for each instruments. You will not only be listening to the music, to the details, to the pitch and it accuracy anymore, but you will also be able to “feel” these energy. You will feel each slam of the drum to be a slightly different than the last when you pay attentions. It is pretty amazing. I have experimented with different systems, tweaking, modifying, but I can personally confirm to myself that I love ROHMs for this reason alone. While with N8ii, I couldn’t confirm the dynamic performances of where it is coming from, the amplification section ? Or the DAC ? With modular design, the 320 quickly have that confirmed to me. Following standard recommendations from ROHM engineerings specs, a great amplification stage, and you will be enjoying the unique dynamic delivery from ROHM.



Very different from Dx300, which using the same SOC combinations but with Cirrus DAC X4. Using the same modular designs and can be interchangeable between 300/320. The dynamic delivery from Dx300 is not as accurate, and or breathe taking as the Dx320, even when using Filter #4 on the Dx300 to get as close to the signature as the 320. The dynamic delivery will leave the 300 in the dust. It is that significant to me. If signature preferences is a factor, the Dx300 is warmer than the 320 which is more natural and neutral. It is not quite as neutral as the Dx200/220, because the delivery of the impacts, the emotions are more integrated to the signature as a whole. It is safe to say that Ibasso has Dx320 a worthy flagship on hand with Dx320, and the Edition X will bring up the luxurious feeling for it owner, whose has 1 out of 500 counts.



With DAC chips on the side, let’s talk about amplifications. If you have been skeptical about the old myth “all amplifiers sound the same, or should sound the same”, then you are technically is not only wrong, but you will also hear the differences between modules for yourself with the Dx320. Go ahead, swap out your stock module to the amp12 module. It will depend on how revealing and capable your headphones or earbuds are, but I am almost certain that you can hear the differences.



While the N8ii can be heating up quiet a bit, that even the charging circuitry will have to be controlled to stop charging, you will not have similar issues with Dx320. Once again, both do have Class A amplifications, there is no question about it. The OS is more modern than N8ii, and with Neutron Player to be able to OverSampling upto 768KHz flawlessly at the moment, without heating up or exhibiting heat issues. The Dx320 is the only player on the market currently to have this features of 16X OverSampling turned on at all time as desired.



If you are not a fan of AndroidOS, you can opt for MangoOS, which is a Linux based OS developed by Ibasso alone for playing music and reading files. This is not a striped down AndroidOS like other brands, but it is a standalone OS by itself. You can press the power button to turn off the player, you will then see an option to switch to MangoOS in there.



Soundstage, separations will depend on the module you are using. Out of the box, the 320 have a worthy performances in these accounts. You will be greeted with a natural and neutral signature together with a very vivid layerings, immersive staging. It has 1200mW@32 Ohms just right out of the box. It is very powerful. If this isn’t enough, and you want even more expansive, immersive staging, layering and cues of imagines ? You can opt for Amp12. The only set back is that the stock amp modules will have a more engaging feelings. It makes for personal preferences here, and you are given the options to choose what you would want. But Ibasso made sure to have a wonderful, and powerful performances right out of the box that you don’t have to swap out, unless you want to. Unlike other players, even if you want to, you have no options. Here you do!



An additional note to take is that the stock amp module has Ibasso special film foils capacitors for input stage buffer. This marks the Dx320 to be the only player on the market to be sporting polypropylene film foiled capacitors on the market as of now.



Ibasso can be purchased from a recommended authorized dealers from the main website, or you can buy direct by simply sending the inquiries to Paul. After sales services are great with Ibasso dealing directly with the distributors, or you can also directly contact Paul when assistant is required.



I have an interesting conversations with my close friend in the recent days that Ibasso players to have worn out battery too early or too fast. Over the years, the observed battery degradation is as much as 40% over the course of 18 months. Well, I think this is the problems for many portable that consumes high power to output high power. One of the stark contrast in comparison is the Walkman from Sony, I still have it running for 24 hours of continuous play time after 6 years owning it. But then of course, it doesn’t have the output power the Ibasso has, neither does it sport Dual DAC of Flagship tier such as ROHM either…..nor does it have Class A discrete. You will have to compromise. Yes, you will need new batteries more often, but you will have high output, flagship DAC, and amazing performances in a pocketable player. The only grime I have with Dx320 is the usage of glues and Glass Back. It will almost always break when remove for battery replacement. Why could Ibasso not opt for a Metal Back with screws for easy battery replacement ? Because sending the player from and to China as a typical consumer is such a Pain! Allow me to repeat it….it is such a Pain! Fortunately, Ibasso and customer relations is top tier, and Ibasso will always find a way to work with you regardless of circumstances, unlike some other brands whom will restrict your services once modified, or transfers of warranty…etc… But I still wish for an easier removal of the back for battery swapping



*How about* a slide and lock mechanism for the back plate, with battery plugs and play ? Common !!



After the lengthy reviews, looking back at the edition X with it silvery appearances do give off a satisfying feeling.



My conclusion, if you are on the quest for high-end players. Please do give Ibasso Dx320 a chance, you may love it as much as I do. There are 3 modules to choose from at the moment, and they are a lot differences from one to another, non is a wrong choice, and you are greeted out of the box with an affordable flagship with an amazing amp module.



PS: additionally, one of the other issues I do have with many brands on the current market is the ability to get parts. Yes, you keep moving on and buying new players, then all is good. However, what about those existed players ? Sending it back to China for a trip in servicing is not only a lengthy, risky issues, but also expensive. Just take battery as an example. To be able to easily buy them or order them, is to have an additional options to have it replaced or repaired by a friend, a smartphone techies, a radio technician …etc… as an alternative to shipping from and back to China.



There is a huge decline on the used market in comparison to 5 years ago. It is due to two main reasons:



A/ flagship players are superseded in a year and when counting from other brands, it seems like a new flagship is out every other month or so. People get purchase fatigue and overwhelmed by the supplies.



B/ to keep and savior your flagship player is not easy, the inability to swap out batteries, and cares/services that requires a trip back and from out of the country for the course of 2 months is a huge hassle.



Anyways, one main reason why I still enjoy Ibasso products is because they have great price, great and powerful performances, with the ability for endless evolutions from modular designs. This is definitely fun to have. I give everything a 5/5 including sound performances, the best customer service out there with Paul by direct email Paul@Ibasso.com and you can almost send inquiries about anything or have your player serviced regardless of how old, how many owners it have exchanged hands to, there is always a solution to be found. However, the final overall 4.5/5 score is due to the one feature that I keep asking for and have not seen yet. This is not an isolated issues from Ibasso specifically, but for every other brands out there including but not limited to Cayin, AK, Hiby, Shanling…etc. In order to keep the player viable for many years, the battery replacement is such a hassle.

Cayin has made their name known in the portable players market since the release of N8, which was the first portable DAP that ever utilized Korg tube, and that shook up the industry a bit. Back then, I was also excited about this release, but when I had the chance to try it out, My impressions were that the N8 was warm, and the Tube was limited at single ended only. Additionally, the design was not as appealing either. So back then by comparison, the players that grabbed me was NW-WM1Z, DX200Titanium, DMP-Z1.



Living in the technological advances age, and modern time, these products are advancing fast, and we have come to the points that many of the new players are being released after one another, and if you keep on buying each and every one by the releases, you would end up either bankrupting yourself, or starving your family, or both. Especially with the current Covid situations. It isn’t easy to target one and swipe your plastic.


But why did I mentioned about the fast advancements of these portable products ? Well, because everything nowadays are digitals, so this hobby is enjoying the similar pace as smartphones and PC industry, with many brands, and shiny new products. But do they really bring the differences ? In my honest opinion, they do bring advancements, but their advancements are not just DAC alone, more like together with amplifier, power supplies, and other practicalities such as UI and SOC or Operating system...etc.. But, portable are limited by the form factor and the battery packs as the power source, and that forced me to look into the power output, like many others, and then the amplification and their marketing slides. It really comes to the point that I am telling myself, DAC doesn’t matter much, it is all about the amplification stages and power supplies.



From here, I have chosen then C9 as an external amplifier, the M30 as a semi-transportable, the Dx220Max/Dx300Max. Were they good ? Yes! And with advanced amplifiers, power supplies, both the Maxes will deserve a spot in your collection, or to give it a try before you move on to other products. Because for a hobbyist, the journey is what making it worthwhile right ?




Having owned both of the Max and currently keeping the Dx220Max with other stuff, I really had no desires to buy new portable players. Especially when I also have the Shanling M30 that has the Dual Korg tubes, yet mounting on the sides as well, with Line out and being modular and so on....why do I look for a new portable ? I actually don’t. Because, after all the years of different players, desktop DAC, and other forms of digital such as DAT, listening to Vynil, and or conversion offline, also reading about digital music engineering’s and so on. I have came to the point that even Andy as a sale rep from Cayin and other brands would agree, that DAC don’t matter much, but rather it is the amplifiers. But, that was the past, which is before the release of the Cayin N8ii.



So, Why am I here holding the N8ii ? And previously was so excited for the N8ii ? Anxiously waiting the shipping notifications ? But more over, why do I write and compile this review ?



My N8ii was purchased from Musicteck, as a return customer I do have some loyalty discounts, and not obligated to write any reviews, and for the willingness to work with customers, I will always rate Andrew and Musicteck to be the top tier dealer from USA. Please read on, if you would like to find out more. If you think that my disclosures about my loyalty discount will bother you, then don’t bother.


The features that intrigued me was the fact that it is “Portable” and with “Balanced Korg tubes”. How did it fit ? That was my question that popped in my mind. Yes, that marketing slides and “leaks” about the ROHM newest DAC chips were not much of an exciting factor anyways. From being a tinkerer, I do know this chip back in the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, being a newly developed flagship DAC chips. Back then, the AKM/ESS were dominating in the industry. After all, they only carry different signatures, which can be tuned and tweaked or matched with the amplifier to get the final performances. Yet, once again, the amplifier means a lot more or so I thought. Not only that, when speaking of Sigma-Delta, there are a better ways to listen to digital music. That is to apply the sigma-delta conversion with a PC using program that do DSD conversion such as AUIconverter and HQplayerPro...etc... just like different DAC, each program has it own signatures, and you pick your poison. The technical advantage are that they are processed by the computer that play no sound and not on time sensitive to convert the song with less or the same duration Than that of the sound track duration. So less errors, and at the cost of storage. So, it only leaves room for the amplifier to be the most important factor in the chain anyways. Yes, with that presumption, the thought of ROHM chips escaped my mind as a Marketing point, which happened again, and again by using DAC chips as a sale points.



The more I look at the N8ii form factor, the Korg tubes peaking out the window, the more I am attracted. Such playful angular designs that is masculine, yet gently rounded edges, sophisticated, and not going to give you a nasty cut like Astel&Kern. Thick like a brick, but noticeably shorter than the Iphone Pro, and at 400 Gr or so, it is pocketable. However, is also the thinnest and most compact designs ever for sporting Dual Korg tubes inside. Also much Easier to hold in the palm due to the excellent balances in weight distributions. I realized that since the DMP Z1, a lot of makers is making DAP with Gold volume knob now. The N8ii gold knob and its beautiful textures is giving the overall design a nice appealing factor! It is just an attractive giant, that even if the sound performances offers nothing really exciting to me, then I will just appreciate it designs as eyes candy for a while, just as long as it has no sound performances “flaws”. Those “flaws” could be Distored Bass or sibilant trebles. Giving a quick email to Musicteck, I was fast to secure a unit even before the CanjamNYC happened and during the time that Musicteck had to be so busy preparing. Sitting at home and waiting for the N8ii, reading the excitements from Canjam, and the earlier impressions of the N8ii, a lot of it sounded like hypes and people getting too excited with a new girlfriend ..... uhm, new player. However, a couple friends whom I trusted and shared a lot with my preferences just reported that the N8ii has the tendency to be “sibilant”. I almost canceled my preorder, or I did, and yet was convinced that it would fit my preferences well. So, did I say the journey is what worth it ? So experiencing it myself would be a must! Definitely.

I am sitting here, writing this review, because the N8ii deserves to be known, and to be had.



Fore words and Notes: from the simply drop down menu, you have most of all the features easily accessible. Digital filters as an option, we only have 2 kind, slow or sharp roll off, and there are 3 others DSD filters low-mid-high. I do prefer sharp roll off and DSD-low. However, these 2 have very subtle effects. Sharp roll off will have more bites in the textures but less aggressiveness where as slow roll off is a little more gentle around the textures but more aggressive sparkles. Also the P mode will be even more picky and unforgiving than P+ mode (must scale different by gears used, I use ier-Z1R). Ultimately what I found is that loud volume with Low gain, SS, Class AB, P, Slow roll off is a very picky mode, it can easily overwhelm with trebles sharpness, glares, sibilants as in oppose of High gain, tubes, AB, P+, sharp roll off is better in the over all, and recommended. Another thing I also notice is that the N8ii is not only transparent, but also is hyper detailed, it is recommended for lower volume listeners rather than louder, and then once again, the level of details and being forgiving will scale and perform differently with different gears attached. This is the first time I hear my ier-Z1R to be unforgiving and hyper detailed but the HD800S performs beautifully (I take that multi drivers in ears may have problems if you listen loud). Burn-in is very important, you will have the excellent performances out of the box, and after 20 hours it will be aggressive, and this will carry on until 150 hours before it can settle back for a well burn in and we’ll performing as just out of the box. The N8ii Could also be unforgiving depends on different circumstances as I will try to cover it as much as I can



My early impression out of the box were mainly looking into those distorted bass and trebles sheens, sibilants. Quickly verified it with “wanna be starting something 24/96” and “Iron Maiden Senjutsu 24/96”. I am happy that it doesn’t have such traits. However, I was grabbed by the ability to express the Full mid spectrum, packed of details and vivid resolutions. If previously I thought Shanling M8, M30 were able to achieve a very full mid, then the N8ii is even better due to it transparency and dynamic expressions. I just sat there and listened for longer, and longer. I realized that the ROHM DAC chips are special. The sound signatures is a combinations of both of the most sought after, AKM and Sabres and even more. AKM has that analog textures, but overall is warmer and earlier roll off on upper highs, where as ESS is overall brighter with upper glares in trade off for clarity, which recently is improved with the newer generations of Pro series. This ROHM has AKM textures, but with better clarity and almost similar to ESS, but no glare, no ringing, and most importantly it has no specific sound signatures, it conveys the genres as is with a touch of analog liquidity and fluidity in Korg tubes mode together with beautiful bloom and decay, while being a bit faster, more neutral in Solid States. However, even with Solid states, I can not call the N8ii for being analytical. Testing solid states together with DSD files, my conclusion is that the amplifications and analog tuning were done exquisitely to achieve this level of neutrality, details, transparency, but still remaining musically smooth, a very nice balancing. As far as my experiences, all digital devices have it own sound signatures, but it isn’t the case with N8ii. The only word I can use is transparency, and even that can not express enough the performances of the N8ii.



Normally, when the devices have it own signatures, it is constrained toward a few specific genres that it would do wonderful in the while leaving out some others. The N8ii is able to render “Iron Maiden” musicality to JS Bach concertos natural timbres, and bringing both opposite genres to be enjoyable. This is sophisticated, very complex. It is like I am enjoying my LP collections, because only LP were previously able to allow me to enjoy all genres. I have long lost faith into any digital products that would be able to be so transparent and yet providing analog textures, even if any systems can be just a little closer to the LP system, then it would be my dream devices. For that quest, I sought out DAT, NOS DAC, R2R, building my own PC, tinkering with different ideas, yet I gave up, and arrived at that repeating conclusion “DAC doesn’t matter as much as amplifier”. Most of the time, giving digital systems a nice touches of warmth will bring forth that analog results, and with different touches to amplifications, one can give the system a nice touches to be different, enough to satisfy one’s preferences. Such is the case of the DMP Z1, a little warmth of AKM signatures, a very little touch of recessed mid, with exotic components, a more powerful amplifier the DMP Z1 achieved it status of being one of the most sophisticated digital player, unfortunately not portable enough.


Well, here, I am stunned at the ability to be so analog, so vivid, pristine details, great clarity and pitch black background, with no emphasizes into the textures, or sound signatures, and yet the Dynamic prowess is also jaw droppings. I have never heard the punchiness and feeling it as I am now with the N8ii. The transparency in order to represent the instruments unique acoustic housing resonances (not only the Decay, but the resonances and reverberations of the instruments housing from within), and the uniqueness of each instruments are here presenting like an LP playing, vividly, that one can not be confused between each instruments, and with closed eyes, simply listening into it, be able to follow each instruments, without having to focus. The Dynamic, the energy intensity, I am able to feel it, dare saying it that I feel it even better than the original LP of Thriller vs FLAC. I have never thought that it would be possible. I was always told that Digital has higher dynamic range, lower floor noises. But for the level of dynamic delivery, I have yet to witness anything that is closer to an LP, let alone having to surpass it ? I looked up the ROHM data sheets, and it is an current output design. The other chips recently with this design natively were AK4499EQ, which I had the pleasures of owning, it was also very dynamic and with powerful output, the Dx300Max Ti, but I didn’t stay with it long enough. After all, I don’t think I prefer AKM by much ? But with ROHM and N8ii, I crave for it. The next step is to observes the ROHM chips and the Low Pass Filters by Cayin alone from the True Line Out feature!

I turned on my TU-8900 built and customized for my own preferences, the Western Electric 300B, happily laying on the couch waiting for it to warm up the typical 30 minutes with Korg tubes and N8ii. When everything is set up. I quickly compared the DSD512 of “wanna be starting something”, and it 24/96, the original LP, and the reprinted LP.

The DSD512 by AUIConverter did wonderfully well, I was not able to tell the differences between the 3 options of DSD filters featured by the N8ii, but I picked “high” just for the fun of it. The overall presentation is with large soundstage, somewhat analytical and digital aka thinner timbres and too fast decays that is losing it tonality realism (please take notes that the analytical here is a result of the DSD conversions and not the N8ii sound signatures). The 24/96 is with fuller mid, harder slam in each notes and timbres, the realism and analog like feelings is right there, next to the original LP but it does slam harder that I can feel each flicking, tapping. Especially the track “the lady of my life”, the guitars intensity and the drum tap can clearly be picked up. This is the result of the ROHM and Cayin LPF implementations

What is a better way to render back the emotions and intentions than showing the pace and intensity ? Not only the N8ii was able to show case the intensity, the paces, but also the macro and micro dynamic, the detailed textures, but also able to render back the instruments housing resonances, acoustic bass, guitars and grand pianos have never sounded so realistic, especially when using Korg Tubes, where as Solid states will offer a nice and neutral signatures in comparison to the tubes.


I enjoy a variety of genres, with Metal being the genres that I enjoy the least, but somehow with the N8ii, I am able to understand the portray of the music being conveyed. Beside that, I can observe each E.guitarist, the resonances, and other instruments such as keyboards, drums, cymbals....etc. Now, most of the genres is with Vocals. The one thing that I also enjoy with the N8ii a lot is Vocal. Highly textures, with excellent throat energy, and highly detailed textures. But here is where it is a little tricky, in bad recording, Especially with Low and Mid gain (this is true for Line out as well), the vocal may be sibilants and harsh with those “S, Z, T, X”, but with an excellent recordings, the N8ii will greatly reward the vocal like no other players I have had previously. I can easily pick out the air controls, the lips/tongue movements. Needless to say, with this level of pristinely detailed clarity, the N8ii has the tendency to be hot and unforgiving. When the player is physically cold to the touch, it can even easily be harsh when turned on and hit play. It takes about 25-30 minutes to fully shows all of it potentials, or when the player is physically warmed to the touch, then it is the best time to listen to the N8ii. It isn’t that it needs 25-30 minutes to sound good, it just gets distinctively better after 25-30 minutes warmed up. If it was good, it became better, and if it was awesome then it would become....double awesome !



In my opinion, the N8ii has a fully detailed mid, while being very well controlled, and still packed of full and thick density energy even the kinetic energy would show. Mentioning the M8/M30 earlier in references, Shanling M8/30 have this full mid and thick density, but on the N8ii the energy is more and the mid is fuller, more vivid, more energetic with both of them to be more forgiving than the N8ii on bad recordings. In the while the N8ii does not have that induced Warmth, which I would say that it is AKM house sound. Noticeably Vocal is Pristine clear, But at the same time is also very well balanced.



Continuing into upper mid and high, the upper mid of the N8ii is very vivid with excellent resolutions, the clarity is top notch across the whole bandwidth, which is able to represent a huge soundstage with great holographic and precise imaging, each instruments clearly show itself in a fixed position by itself , the spaces that it is staying within, and the air around it, together with the house resonances of itself. Soundstage will scale exactly the way it should be, by the output power and the paired gears. Using the HD800S, I can easily confirm this holography and staging is a little less than Dx220Max, while using true line out from both, the N8ii clearly has a more accurate staging/imaging/textures/dynamic. So it is safe to say that the N8ii limitations is output power. But is it noticeably so ? IMO, there is no other portable that can drive HD800S with such beautiful tubes performances, so in this front, the N8ii is leading and pioneering.



The precision of N8ii detail retrievals is also one of it specialty. In not so well recordings, the N8ii can have hot-and harsh upper mid, or even sizzling high. But could I fault the N8ii for it being hot-harsh-sizzling ? Absolutely not, the N8ii while helping to bring joy and new life into my collections, even some recordings that I thought was not so good (in preferences of genres) are now all coming out alive, and realistic, while some of it will have hot and harsh upper mid or highs. If any devices that is able to depicts which albums in my collections were absolutely bad from the recordings, then the N8ii will be the most unforgiving one, which greatly reward good recording and heavily punishing the bad one. Especially if you often listening to a louder volume. It also helped me to understand that with some touches of colorations here and there by the analog amplification tuning, with the DAC, and specific aims, the bad recordings could be enjoyable as shown with other devices, but that is in no way to call such devices to be neutral or transparent, for example the DMP Z1, Shanling M8 and M30 are all tuned this way. Don’t take me wrong, Sony and Shanling has amazing tuning ability, with great products. But the N8ii is very different, beside the terms of being Neutral and Transparent, I think they can’t even completely explain the performances of the N8ii either. I would like to call it for being the most Honest digital player that I have owned by far. It could be the ROHM or Cayin, or both, but in my experiences with different pieces of equipments, the N8ii has no additional colorations, the typical digital like feelings from most of Sigma Delta, which is the result of Aliasing, dithering order, and modulations, which emphasizes a certain bandwidths and makes up the different sound signatures of different DAC chips by far.


For example, Cirrus chip is overly warm in mid bass, lower mid, and lower trebles, rolled off earlier in upper extensions, and the Mid is also fuller than both Sabres and AKM. The AKM usually lacks at lower mid and thicker upper mid, the Sabres is lacking it throughout, and with Sabres focusing on clarity, quicker decay which doesn’t show enough of the acoustic housing resonances of an instruments as well, together with being brighter and hence also known for that famous glares. The ROHM inside the N8ii somehow doesn’t show that it has any ringing issues, or aliasing issues at all. If I could just award it to be the best Sigma Delta chip, then I would. I am just no sure if it was Cayin developments and engineering, the implementations or it is the chips. I will be able to tell better when I get to hear more of this ROHM chips. One thing is for sure, that the N8ii is the best digital player/source (line out) in both tonal balances and Dynamic prowess, I have heard that is so honest and transparent, and I have heard most of digital topology from sigma delta, to NOS of resistor ladder or R2R, or offline modulating and converting. Such as a result, I am now able to enjoy Metal genres even more than I ever did, together with all of the other genres. Soon, I will have to start collecting more Metal. The tonal balances shows the level of realism even more with Korg tubes. When paying attentions to tonal balances, there will be a different between solid state and Korg tube, with solid states being cleaner and more decisive where as the tubes will be with better density, bloom and tubey. Korg tubes is super clean, with great dynamic, even more tubes like than C9, better punchiness and clarity than Shanling M30, while being cleaner than both. It is worth mentioning that I love soundstage and holography, but with the tonal balances of the N8ii, even though it doesn’t have as much driving power as I would like to extract the soundstage depth and width of the full-size HD800s in comparison to the desktop amplifier, or slightly less than the Cayin C9/220-300Max, I still enjoy the N8ii greatly with hd800S. Though, it has an excellent matching in synergies and driving ability to drive Sony IER-Z1R to be amazing. There are only 3 players that i came across to be able to make IER Z1R to sing up, and the DMP Z1 isn’t one of them because warmth and warmth can be cumulative, rather it is the Cayin C9, N8II -Dx300Max

The Bass performances. I will call it for being Authenticly realistic, which I am sure will satisfy a lot of people. I am not a bass head, and I wouldn’t call the N8ii anything of being Bassy or bloomy or warm or emphasizing for any part of it. The Bass on the N8ii is simply Stunningly Amazing, even more so when using Korg Tubes and Class AB. The Bass is the one distinction between Solid States and Tubes on the N8ii, but regardless, the Bass is just amazing with deep, powerful, articulated, punching with authority, yet beautifully blooming with Korg tubes. The drum, or Bass housing resonances is driving me insane, it even shows the acoustic room resonances on top of that, together with the spaces and the reverberations clearly for example Pomplamoose recordings. The combinations of deep bass, impactful, controls, dense, together with the acoustic resonances are just a bliss to listen to all genres. Because they all suddenly feel Real! Solid states tuning has a tad less bloom, fluidity, also a tad better in clarity, but both SS/Tubes are all superbly tuned. Class A is also less blooming or impactful as Class AB. But that is probably based on your gears and what you pair it with. I prefer class AB most of the time. Not only that, but the P+ features will only be enabled with AB.



Trebles is highly addictive with great density, airiness, and excellent extensions. One thing I do notice is that by using Cayin/HIBY Apps, the mids and trebles do retrieve even more details and forward mid than Neutron player, this will even further pushing the N8ii to be not so forgiving on bad recordings. Neutron players do have the mid a little more recessed in comparison, and the trebles is a little more attenuated. If you do have problems due to the recordings and gears paired with N8ii, I highly recommend Neutron player. Also another note is that with Line Out features, the Low and Mid gain, somehow do have a different signatures than High gain. I can observe similarly as between Playback apps.



The N8ii is packed full of features such as Power to Power + mode, which raises the amplifier voltage rails a bit further, with 3 Gain level L-M-H, Dual class amplifications of A/AB, True Line out by both balanced/single ended with gain level only accessible in the sound setting menu (not the drop down menu gains, and also do notice that korg tubes are not features in line out mode). Then finally, the Korg tube balanced phones output only. The ability to render the imaging, with detailed textures, superbly clean background, be able to capture the intensity and paces, while being musical with Korg tubes or highly detailed and more neutral with solid state, but mostly the tonal balances like none that I have heard from previous digital systems from desktop to portable alike. It is safe to say that the N8ii is the best Digital Portable Audio Player that I have had the pleasure of owning by far at this very moment. If the only down side is the weak rated output for your needs to drive full size headphones ? With it level of LO performances, you will just find more love for the N8ii with a great desktop amplifier. Even if you down vote the N8ii for it rated output as said, I am afraid that you wouldn’t be able to satisfy even with external Portable amplifiers at all...and in the case that you are, then the output power from the N8ii and Korg tubes alone will surely be satisfying. My final words to Cayin is that “thank you Cayin! I love what you have achieved with N8ii, and in this fierce market with competitions in all aspects, you have proven that you are very innovative, enthusiastic, and reasonable. You have my gratitude and respect”



More Korg tubes impressions: Between the N8ii and the M30, the M30 Korg tubes with AM1 modules is obviously inferior in clarity, details retrieval and layerings, which also hibder the soundstage on the M30 to be a lot more narrow Vs it SS, which the N8ii doesn’t have to face it. With the release of the new more powerful AM2, it has improved a lot more in Korg tubes, larger staging with better resolving ability and better dynamic, but the warmth in the overall tonal balances and inner resolutions is still inferior to the N8ii. Overall, the N8ii has an amazing level of clarity, crisp and pristine details with better soundstages and transparency overall, together with the realism from the amazing acoustic housing resonances by the new ROHM together with the odd harmonics and superbly clean background by Cayin implementations. IMO, the N8ii is the best portable player with Korg implementations yet. Please do not be mislead when people say the N8ii isn’t Tubey enough….it isn’t Tubey enough when you are used with the lower level of tubes design, but it is amazingly Tubey as comparable to other summit fi tubes amplifiers. The N8ii Korg tubes is what my desktop amp and Western Electric 300B Sounds like.



Conclusions: I don’t say this often, but if you considering and weighing options, do put the N8ii on the top of your list. It is a marvelous piece of modern technologies, compact, beautiful and with a performances that will melt a lot of hearts.


Attentions to every details:
The analog circuitry of the N8II is downright the most attentive design and tuning from Cayin. I am saying this not without proof and experiences. From my own DIY of building Amplifier, modifying DAP, and other stuff, I am very confident to tell you so. But that is not the point, the point here is that the Tuning is so exquisite that from even the volume controls, the ability to playback with full details, timbres, dynamic even at the lowest volume, the subtle yet discernible differences from Tubes/SS. Most of all is that Timbres Balances that I kept saying, full, transparent, musical, well balanced and pristine.

Perhaps they are the results of Cayin wonderful engineering’s on DAC implementations, and the tuning experiences coming from their decades long of building tubes amplifiers. Cayin knows and realize so much that “feedback and Non feedback” are 2 very different topology, and even going as far as to realize that Desktop users are loving Non Feedback systems, where as Portable players audiophiles typically love the Feedback system.

Cayin doesnt just stop there, and while many careless folks could be saying that “all great amplifiers and correctly engineered should sound the same”....Cayin fully realizes that not only “feedback” is playing a role Vs “Non feedback”, but also realize that the differences between the approach of “feedback factors” between tubes VS Solid States are very different, and that too much feedback for SS will not sound analog and liquid enough where as with Tubes, and too little feedbacks will result in Sluggish and muddy transients….well… because engineering is about what works best, and in trade off for what ? So, Cayin made sure that they tuned their very best to both of the circuitry. That whether one is choosing to use SS or Tubes, they will always get the best of performances from each design. However, in doing so, compromises have to happen, and so Cayin had to choose to rather enforce this quality and it performances for the output then trading off the Tubes timbres line out. Perhaps, if one love having tubes line out, there is N8 OG and Shanling M30.

However, with this implementations and carefully implementing the designs with performances in mind, and mostly the attentions toward dual Korg tubes, the result is obvious for anyone using IEMS, and or with experiences and keen ears. IMO, the tubes implementations on the N8ii is more tube like than the C9, and also is of a much better quality. Did I say that it sounds like a proper high end 300B system ? Speaking of which, Cayin has great 300B amplifiers as well. Pictured is my DIY 300B amplifier with all the upgrades that I can . So please, when someone is telling you that N8ii doesn’t sound like a real tubes, please inquire them a little further and ask them what is their most preferred kind of tubes signatures ? Because even among them tubes, different tubes will have different signatures. I do love 300B a lot, and hence I am totally in for N8ii Dual tubes. Together with the transparent, detailed, pristine tonal balances, and liquidity, musicality, the N8ii wins my heart.

Heats generations: yes, with all of that being cramped, again, I can not stretch enough that the N8ii will heat up. However, for such a wonderful player, it has all the rights to do so. You can easily enjoy it at the least of 2 hours before it gets too hot when you have it out in the open. While sitting at your desk, May want to consider having it out in the open. I don’t recommend charging and playing simultaneously. Just listen to it for 5-6 hours if you want to, and then quick charge it for about a couples hours before you go at it again. When staying inside your pocket, I recommend that you run it with SS, P mode, and Class AB. Also, slip in that protective case, so that it at least has some air running through from the bottom of the case.
S

Practicality: given that it comes out of the box with Android 9.0 and Google store installed, you don’t need to do anything extra beside downloading your own favorite streaming or music apps. Boot loader is also unlocked for further tinkering if you are into it.

Korg tubes will not turn on unless plugs are detected.

Battery will stop charging when the chassis is warm to the touch, and it happens easily when using the provided leather case. Also, IPad or Apple 30W+ chargers will provide quick charge to the player, or QC 3.0 compatible charger.

Each time Tubes are used, the player generate extra heating, and will be warmed up easily. It isn’t recommended to have it inside the case and plugged in the charger during Tubes operations. I recommend to have it out of the case, and put on a well ventilated areas during tubes operations.

For burn in or continuously listening with charger plugged in, please use Hgain/SS/P+/AB for best results. Even so, don’t have it inside the case or the pocket either as it will heat up easily as well. To operate it as cool as you can, run it with Lgain/SS/P/AB (your mileages May vary, I don’t find L gain and P mode to be that enjoyable)



Charging and heating scenarios :

The N8ii has a very well thought and lay out for heat dissipations. The Dual ROHM chips are a very powerful and demanding DAC chips, and there are dual Korg tubes. Cayin carved out a block of Solid Alumiun as a chassis, and carefully designed so that the 2 DAC chips will be laying against the Chassis as the main cooling mechanism or heat sink for itself. Everything that made up the N8ii are a heat monster. Let’s just look at Snapdragon 660, discrete amplifiers and ROHM Current output DAC chips. This was why even with a hefty 10,000mAh battery, the player is rated at only 10 hours playback by balanced output, during Class AB, P and solid state conditions. It is also the coolest operational conditions in which you can safely pocket the N8ii to go on a bike trips or walking inside your sport wears just fine. It will warm up a bit, but just as long as it is exposed to cool air with adequate air flows, the N8ii is very cool to the touch, certainly is a lot cooler than SP2K and M8.


The problems may arise when you are having these 3 conditions: Inside the stock case, Tubes mode and charging!



Due to the Chassis being so efficient at dissipating the generated heat, the player will heat up quiet a bit, with all of the powerful components within a small chassis as mentioned. Anything that can restrict this dissipation factors, will hinder the operations of the N8ii, even if the body only feel warm about 41C, the internal components are generating higher than 45C which triggers the protection mechanism (you absolutely don’t want to see fire from a 10,000mAh pack). A lot of users and including me, did encounter the non charging, and slow charging, draining off the battery, heat accumulated issues. Because as I mentioned, staying inside the case, you are essentially trapping up the heat and restricting airflow, dissipation factors. You can do this easily by taking it out of the case and laying a top of a cool granite counter top other cool surfaces. Even just by taking it out of the case and setting it on top of the case will help. But if you want to have it done properly, a cool aluminum block like this will do a wonderful job


You can charge + play back at the same time, despite the heavy operational conditions of tubes/classAB/P+ and H-gain. If you properly dissipating the generated heat away from the N8ii!!! Essentially and mainly the Back of the player. Just lay it a top of a heat sink or a cool surface, with QC 3.0 charger and you will be safe to continuously playing+charging all day long

Recommended charger is Apple 30W+ and or Anker QC 3.0 with 30W+ Sometimes your stock Cayin usb cables may not charge rapidly. You will need to swap cables around. Quick charge will have LED to rapidly throbbing VS normal charging which is slower.

Having your pies and eating it too


with Android 9.0 at the time of it releases, and with a new firmware updated right away. Cayin is not lagging behind to support it flagship on firmware and working out the bugs and the ugliness. Needless to remind you that no newly released products is perfect from the get Go, it is just a matter of how timely do the makers support it. Also by be android, we can fully enjoying the “root” and further customize our experiences, such as JamesDSP....Viper!...etc... you know it!


Additional features : External DAC, or Digital transport.

You can use the N8ii as an external DAC with the option to and or not to Charge while in use. Please make sure to turn off the USB (not to charge feature) after use, because you can forgot it, which would lead to “non charging issues”. It took me a couple time to factory reset before I realized it

under this mode, you will need the Host, or the devices that is sending digital music signals toward your devices to be OTG (with the dongle or whatever), and then Data port on the N8II. In case you are using IPad Pro, or any other devices that has USB-C, you will need USB type C-OTG connected on that device, and another USB Type C data connected to your N8ii. This cables is directional

If you want to use N8ii as a Host, aka Digital out devices into External DAC. You will need USB Type C-OTG connected to N8ii, and then Type B connected to desktop DAC. The Type C-OTG is not commonly used. In case you need high quality cables, you will have no choice but to go for USB Micro OTG and use an adapter into type C.

Even among the USB-Host or as Digital transport, the N8ii holds it ground as my most favorite one. It has the greatest bass depth and extensions with great reverberations, and textures fidelity.



Finally, hearing is believing, the above impressions and review are from my own experiences and preferences from different references perspectives. It may not float your boat, but one thing I am sure of is that as an enthusiast, you will not regret giving it a listen and hear it for yourself

Lacks of customer supports: unlike Sony, FiiO, Ibasso, Cayin doesn’t really welcome the inquiry to request for spare parts. Furthermore, Cayin has a very strong statement that any modifications to the unit hardware/firmware wise will void warranty and all supports. This is completely different than a statement of “we will still provide supports as long as it is within our scope of services”. Therefore “not selling spare parts” + refuse all supports when modified even when it is within the scope of services and from the customers expenses, both of these reasons proved that Cayin only cares about selling products, and not really into customer supports afterwards, where as the other companies do. If you can accept it, then the N8ii is an amazing player, but if you can not, then look elsewhere, just like I did

Disclaimer: M8 player was not sent to me free of charge for this non biased review. It was a purchase out of curiosity. This review was conducted with HD800S, HD800S anniversary, IER Z1R, MDR EX1000. My personal preferences and experiences is my own. Therefore, I recommend everyone to give this player a try before making any decision, and only use my review as a rough guides.

Link to instructions for installation of Google play services. There is also a link in the detail of my shorter impression video at the bottom of the page for people with the earliest firmware
Introductions: With a name as “Shanling”, a China originated company, which may be or not familiar to the consumers. What triggered my interests in their current flagship M8 is due to the reason that they are using the latest AKM desktop IC chips, the AK4499EQ. The last player that I encountered using the same chips were A&K SP2000. Needless to say that I wasn’t too crazy over it. However, I still crave for some AKM goodness.

The first intriguing curiosity is that Shanling has a new Chassis design that allow the DAC chips to seat directly on the Chassis metal, the CPU chips also seat on it. This is the middle Metal layer within the Chassis that shield and isolate the incoming Interferences including the touch screen.

The second curiosity is that for a few years back, I tried the smaller Shanling player which I couldn’t remember the name as I didn’t look into Shanling for a while and they seem heavily investing into portable audio market now. I remembered their special bass lines, and so I straight shot into the M8, which makes the most senses to me

The last time something triggered me to started moving my toes, feeling like dancing to the music. Especially the classical genres and older recordings. It only happened with LP, Reels, and my old Aiwa deck. Then on top of that, the DMP Z1. For the rest of equipments I have been through, mostly they are about details, separations, and soundstage. Yet the M8 has the ability to express the instruments, the timbres similar to the other analog devices that I have been through and still have (DMP Z1 remains king of the hill and also not portable). It is warm in both physically and sound signatures performances, but it has an exquisite blend of timbres density, intensity, details, fluidity and warmth. The only thing I would complain about is the width of stage. The soundstage in X&Y axis is more of an oval scape than a spherical once (high and turbo gains). The Depth in Z axis is excellent. Imagines is excellent with the focused density intensity in a unique way, again, very analog like. How so ? Well, usually in analog systems, each instruments imagines has a very focused energy, density and you can observe the rhythms and it intensity. Then the coherence of it flows. I guess in digital player, people like to address it in a way as fluidity. Yet, not all fluidity is the same. Reel 2 Reel, then LP, then Cassette, rarely anything in digital devices to have it....except DAT tapes. Once I lower my expectations then sure, I could understand the other reviewers to mention about fluidity. Most of the time, however, they are in pretty short segments, like Low spectrum or mid spectrum or high only. From here on, people preferences will dictate which one is a better choice. The M8 has this kind of uniqueness Fluidity, and the only Cons that it has in the timbres balances is the warmth and the emphasized Bass. It is very well controlled and isn’t anything bloated or bleeding, but it is just plenty. If you like to give the M8 a spin, I rather recommend pairing it first with brighter gears, neutral, references gears, and take it on from there. IME, the M8 is beautiful and exquisite with HD800S, EX1000, but is a little too warmth and bassy with IER-Z1R. It also depends on the genres as well. I feel the M8 to be an excellent piece of machine for classical and organic collections where as my Max is better in Electrical and modern Pop. It is not to say that M8 is picky on synergies and matching, but it just depends on your own tastes.


Now this focused and expressive signature can be observed in a way that would allow me to rediscover my favorite albums like never before. Despite a long trip into this digital world and even wondering around Into LP, DAT as other mediums. I have yet been satisfied by these wonderful and focused energy and timbres. Yet, both LP and DAT would do, but from all other DAPs and DAC that I have been through, regardless of how much modifications, improvements by cables, PC built....etc...I have yet to observed it this way, at least not this much obvious and enjoyable.


The energies are so vivid, it provides goose bumps all over me, and that I would be so lost in this immersive vividness of the musical experiences that are provided. That all of these recordings are like “Live”, like “new” experiences.

So, I have a friend who asked me that do I see my desires to improve the signature any further ? Well...May be more width of stages, better sparkling and brightness up into high spectrums ? But for now, it is wonderful with my classical collections and is too lovely to touch.



Yet, despite the innovative removable sockets. I am fully adopted into 4.4mm Pentaconn world. Therefore that will be my first modifications.



Sound signatures: it has Bass!! Yes!! The quality kind of bass! Slamming, speedy, powerful with textures, then ripple and bloom away with delicacy!! Thick and meaty body!! Sparkling highs with great extensions. It sits right at the tip of the comfortable level, where you will not be carried into teeth grinding sibilants, but you are never felt it being short either. It is warm and tube like thoroughly. It reminds me of good Aiwa players back a while ago



Recommended synergies: anything with “high accuracy and precision” can be enjoyable regardless of it overall signatures. With IER-Z1R, a warmer and also bass focused buds, the combination do it wonderfully for people who love brain rattling bass but still crave for extra details, sparkles here and there. With the more References and Neutral buds such as EX1000 and HD800S, the combinations become vividly detailed with plenty of slams, details, trebles sparkles, details and extensions. However, if you are into neutral and references preferences, make sure you start out your first audition with neutral/references gears.



Bass performances: I said most of it in the sound signature above. That is how wonderful it is. Most importantly is that all smaller segment of the bass are well balanced. Then what is the warmth signature I mentioned ? “The Pitch”!! Deep bass is very unique, it bloom and ripple with accuracy, especially when paired with high quality Silver Litz cables.



Mid performances: Both end of lower and upper mid spectrums are slightly elevated, with the Middle to be a little recessed. This can be observed when the player is brand new and is out of the box. It would take at least 400 hours to become enjoyable. The slightly elevated lower mid and upper mid result in a very full mid spectrum signatures. It helps the flow, the coherence, the liquidity and together with it warmth and smooth tuning , the M8 is toes tapping fun and enjoyable.



The thick and energetic tonal body with vivid inner resolutions come together as Dynamic intensity. This is something that I enjoyed a while ago from many systems by tapes, LP, Even CD. However, I didn’t quiet feel it with the recent and modern devices. The intensity that varies and portrait the “Pace” of forces being applied on the instruments. Honest to say that most of the modern devices sound very “general”, like all guitars are almost the same. I would need to focus and pay attentions to tell them being 2 separate guitars. The M8 with it exquisite tuning, I do not have to sweat myself in order to tell 2 of them apart. This specialty makes the M8 a wonderful devices for Classic and organic genres, or anything that has organic instruments, even Swift would be so good. For all EDM genres, it may sound a little boring in comparison which may be caused by the warmth ?



Trebles performances: Vivid with great resolutions , thick density is carried through up all this way. Even though there is a hint of warmth signature, it isn’t lack of details and sparkles, especially metallic sparkles. The intensity dense and unique timbres of each instruments can also be observed by different set of horns, cymbals...etc.



Soundstage performances: This is where it gets interesting. The M8 has great Depth in all instances, but the width would varies depends on gains. For low gain, the XYZ are all equal and spherical, where as in High gain the width is reduced a little and Turbo is where the whole sphere would become rather an Oval presentations. Imagines and ambient airs are vivid , accurate and plenty, especially the air around each instruments.



Operation System: It comes with Open Android, but does not have Google play store or service installed. I would need a patch that is available in the short impression video. After that you can install anything you want from play store. Tidal MQA is not working at the moment but offline files would be 8X unfolded by using Shanling App. Shanling has confirmed to continue to improve Tidal and other apps compatibility in future Firmwares



Wireless operations: I am not too big in streaming or using wireless connections, but briefly testing it out, the signals are very strong. Even hardware wise, the player has 2 wireless antenna within. One in the front and one in the back. It gets warmer, even hot if playing high resolutions files with screen on and wireless on together.



Heat dissipation: the player gets warm, and that depends on the files being played, the gains. I don’t recommend the player being inside the pocket, unless you have to. The reason is that the M8 has the chassis as the main Heatsink for 3 main chips: AK4499EQ 2X and CPU. The more it haul away, the warmer it gets. You may even think that it is so much warmer than other players. But it is actually is a good thing. Because the chips are dissipating the heat as it should. I have yet to see any other Portable Players to have a direct heatsink design like the M8 until present.



Line out performances: This features can be accessed easily by drop down scroll. The player has plug detections and you will have a pop up to advise you to unplug before enabling the feature. So it protect your ears and gears from accidentally switches. It is still exquisite as much as the player itself. There is no significant differences between line out and phones out. There is still bugs to squash as sometimes the switches between sockets and PO/LO could be very low in volumes until reboot, unplug/plug.



Battery performances: I have no problem running it all day on red book 8 hours and still having 15% left or so. I tried turning off many androids background apps as possible, including Wifi. Especially for Tidal used, I would assume that you would like to take advantage of the offline features together with Shanling app MQA at the moment



Background blackness: the player has a very Dark back ground. It is a given since all DAC and CPU chips are shielded by the chassis middle frame, the Low Pass Filter board is shielded by stainless steel metal plate, the line amp and the output buffers are independently shielded by it own steel plate. The Wireless module and it processors are on the opposite side of digital processing board and is also shielded independently. Then finally, even the battery is shielded by it own steel plate . Yes, it has a more silent background than the Max.



Drivability: I have no problem driving my HD800S with it, even though Ny Modified Max can drive it better but the M8 is no slouch. Surprisingly for a small player (smaller than Max). I have not observed any noticeable hisses from my limited buds and headphones



Conclusion: Is it worth it ? Yes, defintely worth it to give a try, remember to start out with neutral gears for your first sessions. It fully deserve flagship status, and with the speed of Shanling development as of late, I gotta say that I am crunching my teeth’s but at the same time excited for whatever shanling may come out next!

I have 5 rating due to the uniqueness of timbres for independent piece of instruments. Please remember that the game is never ending
If you would like a patch to google play at the moment, you can find it here in the video description

Dx220Max



With the name, we can all easily figured out by now that the player is based upon Dx220 platform and Maxed out in design. Giving it time for burning in about 200 hours or so together with the experiences in Dx220, and modifying the player itself, I could almost tell exactly how the player behaves and what great the community that support it can be. Please bare with me on my journey and impressions along the way



Sound impression: the Max coming out of the box is oozing out oceans of details, extensions, Fidelity, separations, soundstage like nothing else out of the box when new. This moment, it makes me realize that the player is worth more than the asking price, since it sounds much better than both of the most expensive players I have recently purchased and gone by, the Sony WM1Z and A&K SP2000 Black Onyx.



Analyzing: to further understand the player without tempering with it, I quickly compared it to my very well used DX220EX (it is modified with EX applications) and Amp8EX (the well known official limited module). I found that the separations, imagines, articulations of bass, details and extensions of highs are all there but better presenting. Most specially is mainly the soundstage and imagines. This is surprising! Since the EX applications on the main 220 player already brought in so much soundstage , details and layering. Then the Amp8EX helps bringing out the timbres balances that is so good out of the Dx220 player. The only thing that may be slightly behind is the timbres balances on the MAX. At this point, I realized so much that the MAX was tuned to have the Ibasso house sound. The typical references, neutral and aimed toward stereos imagines, sound-stages with the sound signature that is almost A&K style but with a touch more timbres density. It quickly reminded me the Dx220 and it very own stock Amp1 MKII, but with improvements!!! These improvements are the dynamic, the slams, the density and power delivery from the Amp8 stocks !! But with better bass coherence and balanced similar to Amp1 MKII!! Analyzing no further, I am pretty sure that whoever has been in loved with the Dx220 and Amp8EX or Amp8, they would be over the moon excited when listening to MAX.



Next up was some quick comparison to WM1Z, and the verdict was that the wm1Z has a more organic ambient as it may be a little warmer and with denser tonal body, but it is lacking behind in almost everything else, including soundstage width/depth/vertical. The imagines and separations are all much better presenting on the MAX. Then a comparison on the notes and memories, the SP2K has possibly similar or close soundstage presentations to the Max, but the timbres balances and it density is more into being thinner and more hollow than Max with the focused upon the textures fidelity instead of inner fidelity. Then when talking about texture fidelity, the MAX is about as good as the SP2K if not smoother and more vivid.



Practicality and functionality: It sound performances is great and right out of the box it already prove to be Twice of it asking price when quickly compared to the WM1Z and AK SP2000 Black Onyx, and both of these players are from the very revered companies on the portable and headphones audiophile list. Then, how about the functionality ? Just like the 220, Max comes with dual Operating systems, and that has Ibasso Dedicated OS, the MangoOS, with the main OS being the open AndroidOS 8.1.0. The AndroidOS is completely open and come with APKPure, File Managements, the 2 main apps that would be enough for anyone to browse around local files and have an APK store to shop for free apps. Most noticeable is the legit google-playstore that can be found and installed from this APK Pure. Just like any other players, if you have the experiences using Ibasso, then it should be very similar, or else, you may need sometimes to adjust.



So, how about the functionality ? Max comes with only 1 button, the power button, and no other buttons. This is to turn it on, wake the screen up, and or putting the screen to sleep. All other buttons have to be touch screen controlled. It also comes with a golden volume knob, and this is because the MAX have the ability to control the output volumes with 2 accessible ways, the Knob, and or the OS volume that is called “DAC Volume”



It also comes with 2 batteries bars......right! It is jaw dropping, and so at this moment, I recommend you to download this User Manual from Ibasso and read it through a little bit. But long story short, that is because Max is like a 2 units in 1 chassis and 1 Operation Systems. Now, we are back to the volume! Then that means the Volume knob is simply analog Amplifier volume, and the DAC volume is the Digital attenuations of the converter chips, the desktop class ES9028Pro dual. It also comes with 2 means to charge the player, the DAC section and the Amp section. You have to charge both of it, because if the DAC batteries runs out, the player shutdown, and if amp batteries runs out, the player will play no music.



You may then ask, if so what is the best volume to be used with the MAX from the DAC side ? Well, luckily for us, Ibasso is just as enthusiastic as we are, and clearly stated in the manual that they recommend 130-150 setting. I found that the performances of this one is also firmware related. So, it is best to stick with what sounded the best to your ears



The next question that may pop up is the gain feature, what is the best gain functionality ? Well, it is there so that we can pair and match up with the gears we want, and so it should be unique users related scenarios. I would advise anyone to ask up in the forum if they have doubt about their gears and the gain performances as someone else may have a better hint sign for similar combination, or you can put it simpler, if you do not hear the differences, then it wouldn’t matter ! Anyways, for my own usage and HD800S, I found that Max is best performing with Low gain. The differences is observable enough to tell right away that soundstage in all axis and tonal balances are better with low gain, where the mid and high gain respectively narrowing the soundstage in all axis together with vocal stepping more forward. I may as well say it out loud for what it is “your preferences matters”. So, then again, please go with what you love the most



The final question would be how good is the Max for daily usages and carrying around ? Well, the answer is a little of a mix bag with the favor toward the pocket carrying. How ? That is because Max can easily be slipped into your pockets, but it would appear very chunky and funny. It would also weight the weight of a brick of around 700Gr, so it may swing into your sensitive places if you attempt to run or jogging with it in the pocket. But it has no problem staying inside a jean pocket and casually waking around the blocks. The only bad thing is that you will have to pull it out to control the FF, RW, Play/Pause as it is screen operation only. The ideal way is to have it hang around your shoulder with a shoulder strap and a good looking case ? The next solution also requires pulling it out to navigate, and that is to put it inside a sling bag or backpack. Anyhow, it is very possible to be your daily portable player that can be with you wherever you go with whatever you do.



Last and not least, has the Max battery been improved given it chunky build and more batteries inside VS Dx220 ? Definitely! It can now go upto 8-10 hours continuously depends on the track quality, and if you run out of juices, both units can be quick charged and Fast charged....etc....whatever quick charge adapter you have right there would be able to juice it up very quickly.



Modder point of view: From my own experiences of tuning and playing with dx220. It is fair to say that I am pretty familiar with the way the platform behave. The Max impressed me so much that I quickly concluded that it is easily the best player right out of the box when compared to other players at Twice the pricing. But this wasn’t enough, because Max has 5 batteries and 2 different volumes, and so that call for a battle VS my DMP-Z1. Now, don’t laugh yet, and or don’t drop your jaws yet!! The DMP-Z1 is Of course 4.5X the price of MAX. Or you can buy Max for yourself, your siblings and possibly friends instead of DMP-Z1. But how does it measure up ?



Well, to keep a long story short again, the DMP-Z1 is superior in many departments, but is it so much as day and night apart that you would toss Max to the trash bin and happily grab the DMP and call it a day if you have both units at your expenses ? The answer is “not exactly!” The Max is more of a pocketable and portable unit, in comparison to a desktop and backpack domain unit DMP-Z1. Together with the performances that easily Rival the other high end players, it is fool proof that Max is the player that can easily satisfy your desire to bring performances/quality music that is not so far behind the DMP-Z1 to drive your headphones (in my case, the 800s) and be enjoying music with it. A compliment ? For sure.



So, what exactly is a little behind the DMP Z1 ? The repeatedly soundstage, separations, layering, imagines....what else ? Well....it is sad to break it out to the light , but in my opinions and experiences, pitch accuracy and timbres balances/accuracy are the aspects that summit ends and top of the whatever mountains or expenses should be able to squeeze out. It should no longer be contained in 3 spectrums of low, mid, high or detail retrieval or just the repeatable mentioned above. So, after carefully analyzing the 2 units, it is safe to say that Max is a little boring as the timbres appears to be more hollow than DMP Z1, and that tips the scales of realism in pitch accuracy and timbre balances from it own performances. But could it be improved ? From my own experiences through all of the amp modules, the dx200/200Ti/220, the answer is yes! But what exactly going on inside to decide which is the best way to go ?



Hardware analyzing: well, the Max isn’t an easy to deal with design, and so to open it up is pretty tough job. But it couldn’t stop anyone who is curious enough and believe that they can further upgrade the unit. After all, if it isn’t possible, then slab it back and leave it as is .



The overall build: Max is exactly as the name implied, Dx220 main unit, and Maxed out at the Amplification design, power distributions and power management with maxed out features. That is why it come with true line out balanced or single ended both from 4.4mm line out socket, the balanced phone out 4.4mm and the single ended out 3.5mm.



The closer look to Main board Dx220. This is the stock unit of the main board that can be found in your Dx220 without any upgrades or modifications (this opens up the window to apply EX modification packages toward it). Is it safe to say that your Dx220 is still pretty safe and sound in the threat of Max ? For sure !! So what exactly is the improvements that quickly show case itself to be outperforming the current top of the line players out of the boxes ? The Amp unit and the power distributions



The AmpMax: The amp unit is based on the discrete Amp8 super class A with many upgrades, the Panasonic HD, Nichicon Fine Gold, and Toshin Kogyo electrolytic capacitors that can be found in Amp8, the AVX tantalum capacitors are now upgraded around the analog signal paths, and the capacitors around the buffers for the main phones out are also upgraded into PML film capacitors with Nichicon fine gold. This AmpMax also come with additional circuitry to accommodate the line out as well. Attached to it is the daughter boards that charges and distributes power toward itself from the 4 dedicated batteries packs that takes care of positive rail and negative rail dedicatedly and separately



That explained all the improved performances from the max as a device.



So, is it possible to bring Max toward and gravitate it toward a better performances that could easily be sitting on the top of the hill ? To bring the realism, the excitement and musicality out of it ? The Short answer is definitely! Just so long as you love tinkering around, and a DIY enthusiast. You can also check out my DIY article and figure out what you would love to have done to your MAX and cater it toward your own experiences and preferences. I call this modification as an MaxEX, and with this modification, the MAXEX can now truly be a perfect compliment toward the DMP-Z1 in both the practicality and sound performances (mind you, the gap is still there, but only a little narrower between them both. However, the max can now be said to be sitting on one of those top of the hill where pitch accuracy and timbres balances are more realistic and vivid). In the end, with MaxEX, I was able to improve the timbre balances, and giving it a little more musicality (tube like timbres).



What good is hardware modifications without firmware modifications too ? You can also find that Lurker firmware are an easy, and free modified solution for it as well, and if you want to pay in for another firmware modification, you can always check out Fidelizer



My conclusion on the MAX ? It is a fool proof for anyone who love full-size headphones. Given the MSRP, it can be 2X the values and some more. Then further more, it has the possibilities with modified firmware and hardware to further enhance your own journey along the way. Max is a good buy and good investment. Then back to my own question, would I toss Max aside and keep only DMP Z1 ? Nope, with all of this, I would kindly want to have both, please!



Disclaimer: My own experiences, and preferences are different than your. Please take my impressions as a fun and entertaining point of view that may be helpful to you at some points. The best way to judge a device is by listening to it yourself. Whatever you decide, please remember to enjoy your music. Also, the Max is 999 units limited worldwide.




PS: Max also have an improved and upgraded WiFi antennas, and it locations as well. The receptions are improved over the regular Dx220

Sony DMP-Z1





Practicality:
DMP-Z1 is practical in some limited ways. For example, you would think about traveling with it, but it won’t be worth it unless you are on a very long trip. So, to carry it around, it may only be a more viable way to carry it from office to home and so on. I carry it from home to work, and it can last the whole working day without charging up. It can fully unfold MQA if that is what you are seeking for, and if so, the combination of MQA+LDAC+DSEE-HX will do it. However, in my experiences, I rather listen to High-quality Streaming DAP, the Dx208EX does have a better performances directly instead of using it as A LDAC source


It can take in AC-power directly, so the battery will not be tapped unless needed. I did build a dedicated linear-regulated power supply just for it to plug in directly to a wall outlet just like any desktop system should be. You can use any linear psu if you so prefer

it comes with a compact Wall AC charger, USB Type C, and no Walkman Port. The only digital port is USB type-C

It has External USB feature and only wireless feature is Bluetooth DAC, NFC if you are a fan of it.

The shiny finishes while being very nice and fancy to look at. It is easily scratched up. Especially the Golden volume knob which can be hairline scratches if wiped with clean dry cloth too much!

It is also a finger-print catching beast. Playing with it for 30 seconds and you can see your finger prints all over it like a crime scene being investigated


Having purchased it is just the beginning. The burn in period is so long! So very long! It took a lot of changes from 1-200 hours and about, but started to be enjoyable beyond 200 hours and upto 700 hours it is still changing but not as observable, and only have stopped changing at the mark of around 900-1000 hours. It is also another reason why it took me so long to even think so much about it to compose a review.


First thing first, the DMP-Z1 is warmth, but in a way that is very enjoyable, and even if you are a fan of neutrality, you would still find that it is so enjoyable when you paired it with the most neutral pieces of equipment you can find. Not only that you could pair it with Headphones, but IEMS, and also External Amplifier toward your stereos system.


The dynamic and the resolution is almost absolute when even if you listen to the lowest volume that is barely bearable during a very silent midnight sessions, and together with excellent textures and extensions as if you were to turn it so loud and slam your ears out, the performances remain unchanged. It is a solid proof of such excellent dynamic range, and low noise floor. In fact, I think it is the most quiet piece of equipment I have heard until the moment. Even when plugged into a Power Outlet and enable AC preferred mode, I was unable to observe any invasive or noticeable noises. Even Bluetooth and WiFi modes. But don’t hear what I gotta say about WiFi and Bluetooth as I am not a fan of it, and it was more like a quick observation to witness what It features could extend up to


The DMP-Z1 with it simplest build that only come with 4.4mm headphone out and 3.5mm without line out, each of these ports as I said would have no problems acting as preamplifier out. USB type C for file transfer, acting as External DAC, dual MicroSD slots, and 19.5V PSU input which can also take up Dedicated Linear Regulated Power Supply to it, and with the ability to flip on AC mode, you can listen to it nonstop from the external PSU without battery to interfere.

Sound signature:
The imagines is so very vivid, with every thing just popped out of the portrait with such inner resolutions for every pieces of equipments, every pitch (starting to ending), every note, the housing resonances of each instruments or the reverberations of the room ambient. The sharp yet defined and liquid textures of each play. You can no longer be confused between each pieces of the whole pictures, each of the same categories instruments, the cues of positioning, the projected images are so clear and vivid while being so smooth, fluid, and very well connected as a whole...again, except that warmth. But when were the last time I could listen to something like this ? With such vividity, inner resolutions, fluidity and very analog like ? Well...never for any Digital pieces. So! Of course loving it.

soundstage:
since the Z7 and the NW-Zx2, I have always loved the soundstage of these Sony equipments. Yet, it needs neither gigantic in width nor depth nor expansive enough to be so special. What so special about Sony soundstage to my Opinion is that “spherical and holographical” presentations. The Zx2 were good, the WM1Z were similar but with better width and much taller Y axis. Now, the DMP-Z1, the spherical goes evenly Holographic. It is Spherical in all 3 axis, X-Y-Z...well the Y may not be as huge of the spherical as X and Z but all 3 are especially blended nicely to give out a very special spherical and holographical presentation. I, myself, feel like being enveloped and trapped within these 3 fields with guilty pleasures.

Bass: plenty of energy, slam, authoritative, speed, tightly controlled but yet still soft enough like a Firm Jelly, taking shape with defined resolution and defined density but neither too dry nor bloomy. It goes deep, and deeper, with excellent rumbles and extensions. The Drop and the ripples are so well defined. If makes me feel like the dances , textures and shapes of each bass textures are with infinite possibilities. It can changes slightly with others DSP, but this is in general observation

Vocal: Vocal are fluid, the emotions and textures of female and male vocal may changes with different digital filters. You can read on below to find out further. But there is no short coming from vocal to really point out the negatives about it

Treble: with finesses, Metallic resonances and sparkling are never missing. The airiness and extensions are so vivid and realistic without any hint of harshness even with Metal and Rock genres. It can be said to neither be overly smooth nor sharp, but just right, and of which I would call it being very accurately portraying the Metal instruments sizes and kind being played. It can still change it characteristics somewhat with the other DSP options but that is in general observations

Oh, again, that Dynamic, silences and strong dynamic are overwhelming. I could listen to the sound during 1:00 AM with so little volume, but still hearing every details and textures! Crazy! Definitely

There are so much features and DSP that comes with the DMP-Z1


1/ DSD Remastering

2/ Direct Mode

3/ DAC Filtering modes with 6 options from AKM

4/ Native DSD upto 256x

5/ DSD low bit conversion filtering 2x modes

6/ Vynil Engine with 4x options

7/ Tone controls for Bass/Mid/Treble

8/ DSEE-HX

9/ Dynamic Normalizer


It would take forever to play around and analyze each sound. Each of it is so very well implemented, except Dynamic normalizer, which is never my cup of tea, and when you are done playing with one, you would be moving onto another and never would have felt bored


To get into these tweaking, go to setting, Sound setting.


DSD Remastering: my favorite hands down


This mode, you will have to turn on Direct Mode to bypass all Digital processing or filtering by the AK4497EQ itself. Under this mode, your Proprietary Sony DSP interface will be the one that process and apply Sony very unique and proprietary modulations and algorithms. I was not able to confirm but I think it does upto 64x Oversampling into DSD64x. This feature together with DSD Filtering set at Slow-Roll off, and it is already my favorite feature, which I was stuck with for a very very long time. The emotions, the precision of the inner resolutions for excellent timbres realism, the weighty dynamic, the depth of soundstage, the vertical soundstage that is so tall and vivid! In this mode, the sound signature is kind of like a Hybrid of everything The silences of Digital music with speed, and the fluidity of the analog music. To put in perspective, DSD-Remastering is the best I have heard from any software or devices on this DMP. It analog like sound isn’t as fluid and smooth as using AK4497EQ chips, but it is less warmth while presenting the connectivity, and the emotions very well.


Direct Mode: When in this mode, the DMP-Z1 is acting like a NOS or Non Over Sampling devices. It does conversion without Digital filtering. In fact, I observed 2 different instances that when ticked on Direct-Mode, which is needed to Enable DSD-Remastering, the DAC Filterings options from AK4497EQ is likely not applied as I heard no observable changes when I switch filter options on battery mode. When on LPSU mode the changes into alternatives signatures are more observable as below.


DAC Filters Options: Normally, Digital filters and it alternated sound characteristics are very hard to observe, but if the DAC-Chip and the Amp sections are all implemented well enough. It would be easier to spot out the differences. The DMP-Z1 is one example of that.

Unlike the Other Settings, this setting is in “Basic setting——Output setting——DAC filtering section” and not “sound setting”, which can be a little confused. There are 6 options together. Also as mentioned previously, these filters with different sound characteristics are easier to observe once the Direct Mode is turned off. I observed the following.


1/ Sharp: Vocal is with stronger inner resolutions, more focused. Bass is tighter , faster and faster while trebles is rolled off faster. The Metallic resonances and sparkles is more gentle but yet still vivid. The whole performances is presented with a more clear and transparent signature with somewhat gentle on string attacks with focused vocalist. Vibratos from singers is presented but will not connect as much as the #2. The most unique about this filter is that the surrounding spherical soundstage is so presenting that you may have to look over your shoulders to make sure someone isn’t there.


2/ Slow: Vocal is presented with a thinner line in inner resolutions, yet focused but is more breathy in textures and less focused than #1. The kind of vivid textures and not short of breathes! The Vibratos skills of any skillful singers would be clearly presented. This is the best filters for Vocal addicts In my opinions. There are goose bumps with every lines! Therefore, I think it is best with Jazz, Ballads....whatever else that is Vocal Focused. Beside this, the Extensions of both Bass and trebles extend more than #1 especially the Metallic Resonances with different characteristics for each instruments can clearly be observed. A Metallic resonances from brass instruments for Cymbal splashes are different than the metallic resonances of hi hat. Strings from guitar resonances are different than Bass, Violin...etc....each resonances are well rendered, vivid, and super defined. The connections and flows are excellent, the fluidity is straight out addictive In my Opinion. Soundstage is still just as expansive and excellent as #1. Most noticeably is the density of energy for low spectrum. Very thick and Dense!


3/ Short Delay Sharp: This is presenting with Breathy Vocal like #2 but with a more defined treble details, sharper attacks with excellent Metallic resonances while Bass is faster and tighter than #2, but is more similar to #1. In fact, I think this is the combination of Great vocal and trebles definitions from #2 and quick, clean bass attacks together with the transparency from #1. However, for Vocal addicts and genres that are more vocal focused. I would love to go with #2. But that is just me


4/ Short Delay Slow: The Bass and it extensions, guitar housing resonances are similar to #2. However, Vocal is Stronger in textures and more definitive with less breathy characteristics just like #1. String attacks and metallic resonances on metal and brass instruments are not as sparkling just like #1. I do think this mode is the combination of Bass and Low from #2 with vocal and treble extensions from #1


5/ Super Slow: The resonances of Bass and Guitar woody housing is very pronounced and focused. The extensions are very Dense and at great Viscosity. It is like Creamy and dense. Vocal is breathy and vibratos is at play still but Female Vocals are more addictive than Male Vocal as Male vocals is warmer in character than Female vocals. The trade off is the attacks from String instruments are less satisfying than the other filters, and while the attacks, extensions and resonances of Metallic instruments are less sparkling and extending. I would say if you want to get specific here. It is excellent for Orchestra, or any Albums that is Female vocal and String instruments


6/ Low Dispersion Short Delay: Yes, this Transparency and clarity with excellent Metallic resonances and timbres. The extensions that Extend to infinity! The best and addictive for anyone who love Metallic resonances and it sparkling. Cymbal crashes and hi hat are giving goose bumps with each ting and strokes! Bass and string instruments have shorter extensions that render guitars housing and woody drum housing less satisfying but still realistic but faster in presentation. It is still realistic but with less fluidity and connections which yield for great clarity and transparency for that Metallic tingling. Vocal and mid have a little step back, not by much but observable. This effect created a more immersive and Grande soundstage with great depth in trade off for the vividity of surrounded spherical staging. You don’t have to look over your shoulders to make sure someone isn’t there like #1 and #2. I would rate this being the best for Modern POP, Soft Rock, EDM, and or anything with metallic instruments.


For my own enjoyment. I would rate that I love “DSD remastering” as the #1 on the listed feature. Then when it comes down to Direct Mode Off, I would tick on DSEE-HX and Enjoy the AKM Velvet filters of #1, #2 and #6 according to what I listed above. Especially #2 for anything with organic instruments and Vocal, then #6 for whatever the rest of my genres including Modern Pop.


Therefore, DSD remastering as Mentioned, it is especially a Programmed algorithms from Sony modulation with Sony proprietary filters using Sony very own Digital Signal Processing and Digital interface chip set. The ability of AKM AK4497EQ to allow external filters and bypass mode (mind you, a reason why Sony decided to go with AK4497EQ) and the ability to process low bit conversions. As mentioned earlier, this is my favorite Feature together with DSD filtering Slow-Roll Off is my favorite feature. I do not think organic instruments, Vocals, and it realism can get any better than this. The Analog fluidity, tempo, and smoothness with ocean of details and metallic resonances. It is no doubt in my mind the greatest way to enjoy my DMP-Z1.


So, when compared DSD256, which is a future proof for whenever Studios and engineers feel that they are ready to release the albums that is Engineering correct under DSD256 format. At the moment, DSD256 can be enjoyed with a built PC and a program that can process Sigma Delta on the fly or Offline processing with my favorite Program being HQPlayer and HQplayer4Pro.


How do they compare from one another ? Offline conversion, on the fly, and DSD remastering of Sony very own features ? Let’s put it in a short conclusion. I rather store PCM and use DSD remastering from Sony. There are subtle extensions and energies that can only be extracted and observed with Sony DSD remastering engine. It makes for a more Realistic and connected listening experiences. When compared to the great HQPlayerPro DSD256 which is clearly better in transparency, clarity, imagines and details....but lacking a little of those realisms and connections. I don’t know exactly what that is, but that is my 2 cents. I do, however, still prefer to enjoy DSD256/512 by HQplayer4Pro on other DAPs, like my Ibasso DX228EX.


DSD low bit Processing and filter options: These are not effected when you are using Direct Mode Off and DAC features. Only effective when listening to Native DSD or DSD remastering with Direct Mode on


1/ Slow Roll-Off: That Density in within the Timbres which is very dense and Focused at the core of each timbres and quickly disperses but with Excellent edges textures. It creates the best of Vocal emotions, textures, breathes, vibratos, the realism and connections of it fluidity for the pictures as a whole. The clarity, extensions and metallic sparkles is excellent and vivid but with the Edges Textures less defined than the #2. However, this is my favorites DSD filter Mode of the 2


2/ Sharp Roll-Off: Vocal loses it density with everything else. The Core of it density is less dense than #1 but with sharper and more defined Edges of Textures. I guess, this is excellent for anyone who love Sharp edges, faster attacks and defined signature.


Vynil Engine: This is under Sound setting, and As Mentioned, The effects is more observable with Direct Mode Off. There are 4x Types to enjoy. Yes, without DSD remastering, I constantly have DSEE HX on. Previously I never adored DSEE HX on any of Sony Walkman, even WM1Z, but with the DMP, it is a world of differences


When turned on, the most noticeable is the Density of timbres energy. It becomes slightly thicker, and then the shape of this very density will change according to the type you just selected. The sound characteristics also will change and it will be hand in hand with your DAC filterings as well. All of my observations is focused on #2 from DAC filtering options “Slow”. Changes in timbres density also carry onto the edges textures of everything, hence it will slightly alter the picture as a whole, not much, but slightly and yet still enjoyable.


1/ Standard: the Density is focused to be strongest in the Core of the Timbres. Addictive Percussion and it slams!


2/ Arm Resonances: Metallic resonances are boosted up a bit to make it pop out even more with the effects of #2 to add up. If you love Emotional Vocals, metallic sparkles and Analog liquidity. There is nothing better than this combination, #2 Slow, and #2 Vynil


3/ Turn Table Resonances: The density of Timbres is a little thinner, not by much but yield a better clarity and transparency for the whole picture, especially with the Metallic resonances and sparkling to be further pop out in comparison to #2. However, in my opinion, it trade off is that the rest of Guitar and string plays just lose it realism and authenticity, which is also less connected as a whole picture. The most unflavored and down voted from my preferences


4/ Surface Noise: this is exactly what it is as the name implied. With Brass instruments textures being sharpened up, and Other metallic instruments being faster, with some grains in it edges textures which create a very authentic and realistic distortions of these very texture and nothing else. String instruments will also show it very own distortions in these textures which is also different than Saxophone or Metallic Drums. This is excellent for classic Rock, soft rock, and other genres that have many of those enjoyable moment. This is also one of my favorite for classical rock and EDM. Please notice that these distortions are different than the distortions from DSP processing “Errors” which create a very random and uncomfortable grains, harsh texture, or distortions at these places. I have never heard of something like this but enjoyable and realistic. If you call others devices grains and harshness to be an overcome or corrections for Errors, then here with the DMP, it is a very artful techniques to reproduce the authenticity and realism of Metallic instruments.


Please notice that these effects will literally changes upon your selection of Digital Filters. Please play around with them and find your very own unique preferences.


Tone Control: Bass, Mid, Trebles


What can I say ? You can turn on EQ, or tap onto setting again and pick Tone control for 3 spectrums. My apologize that I am not and never had been a fan of digital EQ....well I was when I was a kid. But that was just because I was never satisfied with cheap stuff, and so I had to tweak around without knowing what I was doing. With all that said, please allow me to By pass this feature.


DSEE-HX: This feature allow every field from MP3 and to even CD quality to be upscaled into High-resolution sound. Basically, even with some 24/96, I still can observe it effects.


So what changes ? Why Do I like this one so much in comparison to other Sony pieces ? The effects is more pronounced, The textures get a little more vivid, not by much but is observable. The separations is also improve by a little. However, the most noticeable changes is that it is no longer sounding like it is Artificial anymore. The best DSEE-HX from all Sony pieces that I had gone through, and for all that said, it is a Must when DSD Remastering is Off.


Dynamic Normalizer: This feature allow the listener to enjoy all different albums and recording at different level of loudness and volume to be always the same at output level. I never liked this feature anywhere, and I also prefer to touch and turn my Golden Knob. So, please also allow me to exit here.


Conclusion: The DMP-Z1 is first and foremost, an Instrument in it litterateur, an artist that can polish, paints and portrait your very own Digital sources under different impressions but at the fluidity and vividity that is very addictive and haunting. It haunts me so much personally that just giving it a test ride, would induce obsession of owning it, and it has to happen.....even if I have to eat Ramen for years! It is also the first device to be created and generate it own market for Transportable or Carriable as Sony engineerings has categorized it over and over in definition in many interviews. Therefore, allow me to call the DMP-Z1 to be the Carriable Player. The uses of Electrolytic Capacitors that is Surface mounting, the Glass epoxy PCB with the lay out and each Copper traces to be carefully thought out and spacing from one another to allow cooling and avoid interferences. The DMP-Z1 barely got warmed up after hours of enjoyment, regardless of what you throw at it, be it as DSD256 or charging and playing together.

The dedication from each engineers to eliminate interferences, electrical noises, and white noises that can introduce errors and trigger error-corrections from DSP algorithms and or DAC-IC, this is carefully thought through from each silicon being used, each Capacitors as a result of many powerful and customized PML caps all around, F-resistors to retain the original signals and it amplitudes as much as possible, and even Solder that is Gold infused to assure the best conductivity that is dedicated toward analog sound performances. The RK501, the Kimber cables internally 16 cores from the Analog board into Headphone out.

You may also don’t think so but the TPA Headphone Amplification IC is also well measured, thought out, and even listened and justified to be here as the best possible application for such a Carriable devices that bring Digital music performances the way I myself have never heard, to be able to listen to it anywhere, any room of the house, Traveling, vacations with it, or whatever! The experiences is endless, together with so many possible sound characteristics, signatures Features, and my inner beast is finally satisfied and lay low, closing it eyes, stopped it craving for better sound quality, the characteristics that it had always been seeking for, detailed, polished textures, defined, yet continuous, with excellent flow that connect the whole experiences as a portrait of a picture, the emotions of each density within the timbres, the realism of organic instruments.

Sleep, my little inner beast, I know this DMP-Z1 is and will always be the best piece of equipment in Digital Music world in my toy collections, because for once, you agreed to lay down and close your eyes without craving for anything more. The combination of HD800s + DMP Z1 and whatever cables that meet your flavor is truly one of the many end games to be considered.


Additionally the best feature about DMP-Z1: it can run off from external Linear regulated power supply which is totally directly and does not use the battery as a source of power at all.

I did build a Sigma 11 for the DMP-Z1 and turn off “battery preferred mode”. This will enable the running directly from external source. The reason why I chose Sigma 11 is due to it being discrete design throughout with superbly low noises. Given that the PSU was built with all the “audiophile grades” components. The performances is hugely improved. We are talking about an obvious jump in performances. The differences is observable right away with my HD800S.

Sound improvements: there are a couple things first, under this mode. My favorite ways to enjoy the DMP-Z1 is actually “direct mode” with all DSP turned off, including DSEE-HX or DSD remastering.

The bass slam has much more authority, powerful blooms and ripples but very tightly controlled, the airiness, the textures details , transparency, and other resolutions are improved, including soundstage. The performances and it quality will be affected by the choice of your very own PSU. I do not hear much improvement with HD-Plex 400W linear PSU. Therefore, by using an external Regulated Linear Power Supply and this mode, you can affect the DMP-Z1 performances with how your PSU was built.

So, please choose your LPSU carefully as it will elevate your music experiences into another plane at your choices. I would say that this transforms the DMP-Z1 from a Carriable device into a High-end Miniaturized Desktop all in one System


This review is only published as a layout to what DMP-Z1 can bring, we all have different personal preferences, experiences. Therefore, please give the DMP-Z1 a listen, while I am head over heels with this instrument, you may not be.

Ibasso DX160


So, for the year of 2019, Ibasso has been very busy to keep up with the enthusiasts forever demanding for higher quality music player, and at an affordable pricing. Ibasso while keeping themselves busy, still have not forgot about all of their line up and previously released products, such as Dx100, Dx150, Dx200....etc


As everyone have known, I sometimes review to share my thoughts about a product, and so here, I have had a pleasure to have a DX160 review unit sent to me. I am not affiliated to Ibasso, and having a review unit just simply means that I am going to share my honest impression to everybody. In no way a review unit would influence my views of it performances and impressions over it.


The DX160 was not clarified as a successor to Dx120, but I think it must be a sibling or side-step as the next up in-line would be Dx150 with Amp modules design, where as DX160 remains to be a complete unit. Also, the DX120 is pure Mango-OS where as DX160 is Android. Aside from all of the disclosed and advertised specifications, I do not have insider information regarding what other components being used, such as OP-amps or DSP-IC....etc....the one thing do caught my attentions still, would be the dual (2X) implementations of CS43198. This is the top tier chip from Cirrus itself and is with Master-Hifi technology which is the revered technology for CSS-DAC IC as a brand. Then it has 6.4 Vrms output at 4.4mm balanced, with an impressive 130Db Dynamic range ? Which is much higher than the DX220 and the Amp8 itself which is 125Db!


So, here is something that everyone would stare into.


Amp8 is listed at 125Db Dynamic range vs 130Db Dynamic range on DX160

Amp8 is listed at THD of 0.00023% and crosstalk is -113db VS DX160 at 0.00022% and crosstalk is -125Db



Yes, I would have to agreed that the specifications above do put the DX160 over the DX220 and Amp8 configurations. So, let put that into perspective, DX228 is a $1,200 device, and with that you will get a top tier player from Ibasso with module design and Discrete Amp 8 module which utilize discrete transistors array for amplification purposes. The DX220 also comes with Mango-OS, and I am not sure how important the OS is to anyone else, but to my own personal experiences, the OS itself is as vital as other components, which also including the implementations, the choices of DAC-IC, and the DSP-IC. Now, in contrast, the DX160 is an $399 player with more impressive specs, compacts, and runs on Android alone without Mango-OS.


Now, do notice that IBasso is similar to other Android based DAP, that they do not have google playstore out of the box, you will have to work around with APK files, or thank you to Ibasso, and you have APK-Pure installed and ready to be your Hacked through app market. Also, Native DSD256 !!!


DX160 also have 4 color of red, blue, silver, black for your choices. The price is sitting competitively toward IPod Touch 256 Gb for $399. The differences is huge though as the DX160 support MicroSD but internal Rom is only 32Gb. I would think it could make a big gift for anyone on this year holiday if they are thinking of IPod touch.


The most noticeable different here when compared to dx220 is that the digital filters on dx160 will prove to be a much easier observation between each of them. This is another extreme case of differences between DAC-IC, and there will only be 4 filters. My favorite is the Filter #3 as it prove to have more bass textures, the blooms, the articulations, the separations between instruments, the layering, and the expansive soundstage with vocal sit just right. Where as #2, the Bass is more speedy, tighter, less bloom, with vocal a little too forward with the extensions being a little harsh. It does seem to me that the #1 is the #2+ and #4 is #3+. So the real differences that can easily observe is 2 and 3




Design: the DX160 is very compact, and out of the box will come with a clear TPU case. The screen is full-surface, coated and with high resolution display. It is very similar to DX220 display on sizes and resolutions, so I guess 1080 resolution. Sitting side by side to DX220, the 160 is thinner by a bit, and smaller by a small bit. It also weight almost a slight bit less....unless you are picking it by single digit % similar to how you are judging the sound impressions, otherwise I would think they both are similar with a thinner form and different output, headphones ports arrangement. The 3.5mm now will have SPDIF as digital out and lineout as much as single ended phone out, with all that available at a flip of a finger by dropping down menu from the top.


It will come with usb A to UsB C cables, screen protector as well, but no charger. It is compatible upto Quick charge 3.0 or so. So, make sure you are using quick charge charger to have better charge time.


Out of the box and the taunted output, could it drive full sizes headphones ? I quickly grabbed my 4.4mm HD800S and Aiva, and it can drive these 2 just fine. It isn’t as powerful as the DX220 and Amp8 In driving Aiva, a planar headphones


The sound signatures: the DX160 is tuned toward a more musical and entertainment sound signature with a very focused into the inner resolution density and energy. It does not lack the quantity of sub bass, mid bass, or any specific spectrums at any given specific segments. However, the one thing that it does lack is the ability to render the room ambient and reverberate. Also on the same scale of perspective, the DX160 also can not render the depth and airiness between instruments layering as well as the DX220 and Amp8 But not too far behind, and for this point alone, it is enough to say $399 is hardly believable. DX160 is neither a warm nor bright signature but can also hardly be said to be neutral or natural as I would say that it slightly tilt the scale toward warmer side. That is why I would say that it is musical and entertaining. It is also a more vocal focused, forwarded kind of signatures. I would recommend anything with a little lay-back in the mid to pair with it. I found the IER-Z1R and M9 a perfect pairing for it.



Specifically the bass is pretty plenty in quantity, the articulations and the different segments of bass from sub-bass, mid-bass, and upper bass are all presenting with a more focused toward the timbres inner resolutions. This focuses will be carried on from low into upper mid spectrum of the whole player itself. It does not dive as deep as DX220 and Amp 8, and the extensions of the bass isn’t as satisfying as DX228. The DX228 have a very High quality bass that not only accurate, layered, articulated but also a very precise ripples of it extensions and energy.


The mids spectrums on the DX160 is more forward, and together with that focus as mentioned above, the DX160 has a unique presentation of artist Vocals. It is forward, focused, with great extensions and breathy. The rendering of a forward, focused vocal and wider soundstage but a slightly lack in depth when compared to the DX228. The DX160 perhaps set itself a part clearly from the bigger brother DX228. Even with very detailed vocal and mids, the dx160 ability will stop here as the Skillful Vibratos from artists and singers in Jazz and Ballads ...etc.., it will not be fully exposed with the continuity, fluidity that the dx220 may bring.


Please notice that I use DX228 as a mark of comparison as I love Amp8 and it carries an almost similar signature to DX160 as both carry on with the musicality but DX228 is more of an accurate presentation as mentioned above where as DX160 is into rendering and revealing as much as possible without the aims toward the accuracy of little details on room ambient and imagines cues.


However, the DX160 does not sound like any $399 device at all. For instant, when compared to NW-ZX2, an android based Walkman from Sony, the DX160 has a lot more power, a much more modernized Android, a powerful processor, and everything is so smooth, snappy on the UI. The timbres density, the very blacked out background is all presented to me as an upper tier device when compared to this player that I have around here. Even-though I am not into Mid-tier DAP as I used to anymore, the experiences that I have accumulated over the year would put the DX160 instantly into the category of the least 2X of it price or $799 and up for example. Also, I can not say that it can be competitive to higher-end devices such as DX220, just because it stops at fully exposing the finesse of the music textures on each instruments, vocal, room ambience.....But it definitely punches above it MSRP, It simply is because the soundstage, the details, the energy, the vocal, the power to drive headphones, the snappy UI....etc....as a package, the DX160 is very cheap for it price. In fact, I don’t really understand how Ibasso could pull this off ?


The trebles on the DX160 is totally different than the Dx228, and similar to the bass, the trebles does not reach as high or extend much with the timbres rather thick and vivid where as Dx220 with Amp1 MKII or Amp8 both have a better reach and extensions, together with the metallic sparkling. Though, here is the tricky parts. The Dx228 can reach that much in both end of the spectrums. It exposes the limitations of the Dx220 and Amp8 in stock form with “grainy trebles” for any very picky ears, and revealing gears such as Hd800S , which lead me into EX modifications. The DX160, however, does not reach as well, but it also masks the graininess on both end of spectrums very well, which yield a very pleasurable experiences in trebles and bass presentations. For this trick alone, I totally understand why people would put the DX160 on the same tier and side by side to the Dx228. To my own opinions, I think Ibasso has implied too much limitations onto the Dx228 executions of a top-tier products. The EX modifications is totally a proof of this, and this makes me very excited for the Dx220 MAX!


So, what about the battery on both ? They have similar battery playtime and charge with quick charge. I use IPad 29W and Anker quick charge, they work flawlessly on both.


Finally, what is the verdict ? The DX160 sounds too good for its price, and practically is very capable with quick charge, DSD256 ....etc...and especially for anyone who is a fan of Cirrus IC itself, you would found yourself being fascinated by the DX160. Under different perspectives, it can be said to be very close to Dx228 in performances as it would depend on many different factors such as what you are pairing with and what you desires for from a player. However, under my very specific perspectives That judges toward the finesses, the accuracy of timbres, room ambient, imagines, soundstage rendering...etc..just to name a few....the DX160 is really what Ibasso Named it out to be, a high quality digital player. The DX220 and Amp8 does execute those criteria better to my own opinions.


Therefore, what do I say here ? If I have to make a purchase, with a very limited budget, I would be totally satisfied with DX160 performances right next to Dx228, and at 1/4 the pricing VS the performances between both, the decision is easy. But if Sound quality is all that I am chasing for, with the ability to swap out modules, I would rather grab a Dx228 and then also apply EX modifications toward it. Better yet, I would wait for DX220 MAX! But again, if portability form is a huge determination remark, then DX228EX is ways too hard to beat. The DX160 would make an excellent choice for a holiday present which is affordable, and yet performances can be said to be punching above it prices.


Lastly, a kind reminder is that my experiences, and observations as much as preferences and genres are different than you and others. So, please, find a way to try out the dx160 before you make your final decision.

It has since been a long time to have once encountered with something that is new release with price-performances that can hit so many spots, and for it extremely price-performances ratio, I can only have it rated 5 stars. You can find unboxing video from my YouTube here



Short sound impressions here



Build quality impressions here



Musicteck is an authorized dealer in the USA

Here is a written review for Aiva. Please remember that each of us have different experiences and preferences. Always try out the gears and trust your own ears

The gears I used: Dx200Titanium EX Modified, Amp8 EX Modified, MiniDynalo DIY, LKS004 upgraded OCXO, custom-Built PC with Linear Supply and OCXO. Balanced cables and upgraded cables all around.

The Aiva is reviewed with completely Stock cables and accessories, which comes with 6N OCC 4 cores cables and 4.4mm style, with adaptors to 3.5mm and 1/4”

The pretty name that is such as beautiful as the build quality, the Aiva, a product that comes from SendyAudio, a company that is so new that I wouldn’t be aware of it if I was not at Canjam NYC. Following is my review impression regarding the Aiva headphones. I was offered this free Sample from Musictek for my honest impressions since I expressed my interests regarding the Aiva at Canjam. I am not affiliated to SendyAudio or Musicteck, and once again, what you are reading is just my honest observation from my own experiences. Even though the free sample was provided, but it will not influence my point of view. Special thanks to Andrew and Musicteck.


The pros: soundstage width, details, and emphasize on treble frequency but without being offensive with sibilants. However, the trebles fidelity and emphasis has no room to flex, you either like it or you don’t.

The cons: the drivers and the ear pads inner spaces is a little too shallow, the sizes are small. I have a small ears and it barely fit over the ears. The Depth of the sound stage could be improved

Sound signature: Aiva has a neutral sound signature that is closer to Hd800 with good clarity and transparency. There is a small dip in the mid spectrum that is compromising the vocal and some mid instruments extensions and emotions in trade off for clarity and airiness. There is a little emphasis after this Dip, and toward the lower treble spectrum, which is enjoyable if you like this sound signature and details. The Aiva appreciate to be paired with warmer DAP or source. Cayin N8 did wonderful when I tried the combination


Bass: a very fast bass respond with good sub bass details but slightly lacks the extensions of much higher end headphones such as Stax Sr-009 and SR-009S. However, the mid bass punches together with the neutral signature. The Aiva appears to be very dynamic and speakers like. The low spectrum is with natural decay and clean off resonances. It makes the HD800S while having a lower bass and extensions, to appear with resonances, when listen closely and analytically enough. This is where I would call the Aiva of being closer to the regular 800 in signature. It is also understandable since the 800S has a helmholtz insert. These are neither good nor bad, but rather more personal preferences. I am just speaking out loud the differences here.


Timbres: while the HD800/S series has many things done right, and always praised for it soundstage, the timbres never appears to be fully balanced and realistic enough in my opinion. The Aiva also has this compromises as mentioned above, a small dip at mid spectrum and small emphasis toward trebles. This is a compromises on timbres and musicality for clarity and transparency. The 800S May have a more musicality than the 800, while the Aiva is even cleaner than both. However, without the offensive sibilants, good sound stage, dynamic, I feel that Aiva will be much appreciated from anyone who love neutral signature with clarity, details, and soundstage.



Sound stage: Aiva has a pretty wide soundstage, but with a different presentations from Hd800/S. I would say that it is as wide as the Sennheiser, but not as deep. While some people may find the 800 and S to have unnatural soundstage, the Aiva offer a more natural soundstage that is just as wide, holographical and spherical. Yet, the Depth of stage isn’t going to go as Far and Deep as higher end such as HD800/S or my top of the tier KG-T2 and SR-009S/009. But I am definitely very impressed by the airiness, transparency, clarity, details, and soundstage width of this headphones.


Trebles: with great details and good extensions. But due to a little emphasis at lower trebles, it may overwhelm other details within the high spectrum. This is where the Hd800/S would fare better in my preferences. Aiva doesn’t lack details in trebles in comparison, but rather different.


The Aiva is a little strange in matching up with amplifiers. It is relatively easy to get loud just out of an iPad Pro or DAP, but I found that there are 2 things that Aiva can do better when matched with a more powerful amplifier. The soundstage expansiveness, and the treble details, extensions can both be taken up further with a real desktop amplifier. I can enjoy Aiva out of DX200 as a DAP, and even Cayin N8. But to further enhance the experiences, the Mini-Dynalo can make the Aiva really sing



Finally, let put all the comparison aside, and talk about price/performances ratio. The Aiva is a killer for it ! To be able to resemble more closely to Hd800 in it strength of soundstage and clarity at just $599 ? The build quality of solid wood housing, zero squeaks, and merely 450gr. The Aiva is a winner to me. Even when compare to Ibasso SR-1 , Sony Z7, Fostex TH-X00, at similar price point, all needed some personal tweaks. Out of the box, the Aiva would show it strength without tinkering around, the solid build and beautiful appearance is also a winner here. I have not tried to investigate into tweaking the earpads as there is no need to do so from my observations. Sound performances is all subjective, but if you or anyone who love soundstage, the Aiva is clearly a better choice, while if you love bass fidelity and timbres then SR1 (with PT1 pads) has compromised the soundstage for just that and would be more preferable. I would totally recommend the Aiva for any beginner to enjoy high-end performances, only if you love clarity, details, soundstage. I would not recommend if you love bass extensions, musicality, and is treble sensitive.

Aiva comes with a carrying leather case, a cables pouch that contains stock OCC cables terminated to 4.4mm and a short adapter of 4.4 female into 3.5mm male to be using with single ended source, and a 1/4 adapter. One special plus about this leather case is that it can stand on it own, and I can use it as a headphones stand for picture and short time period. Just how cool is that ?

Would need about 200 hours burn-in to have improvements on bass and trebles extensions

Thanks to Musicteck , an authorized dealer of Lotoo in the US, I am able to spend sometime with the Gold-Touch. I requested the Gold-Touch because it peaked my interest in many of the technologies which is dedicated toward Sound quality. The 2 main reasons are


1/ DSP, Digital Signal Processing. Instead of using the typical FPGA or Xmos chips to handle this process, Lotoo opted for another chip that is Black Fin 706. Yes, the DSP is just as important as a DAC, or it could even be more important. I am sure the majority of people overlooked this. While Lotoo does not marketing this implementation and design the way it should, Lotto shows that they care about sound quality and how it gets processed.

2/ Upsampling and Oversampling by another chip on the fly, the AKM4137EQ. It is very interesting that as my understanding, this chip can also act as another DSP chip, but Lotoo has a reason to separate DSP chip and Upsampling-Oversampling processing chip. I think it makes sense to have each dedicated chip into a specific task. According to Lotoo description, any PCM can be Upsampled into 768KHz, and any DSD goes to Reprocessing into DSD256. If I am not mistaken, by doing this, Lotto is fully in control of software algorithm which can fully utilizes the Hardware IC chips to the most efficient way. So when Upsampled or reprocessing of either PCM or DSD, the software will heavily be affecting the sound performances. If Chord has M-Scaler to Scale up any PCM into 768KHz, then Gold Touch XRC is already doing it within itself. However, the programs and coding would be the decisive factor here


3/ GT Is advertised to be capable of DSD512. So far, there is only 2 devices in portable form that can do DSD512 natively. The DX200 and the LPGT


4/ Build quality from pictures advertised, it seems to be using top of the line Oxi-Capacitors from AVX

Freshly out of the box, the GT reminds me the form factor of WM1Z with the appearance of WM1A. Instead of using MicroSD, it uses full-size SD. It is fairly light in hand. Quick look at the connectors, headphones 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended. Both of these outputs can be used as Line-Out


Instead of using 2x AK4497EQ, Lotoo opted for 1 single chip. Does it matter ? Yes, and no. Theoretically speaking, anything higher than 125Db Dynamic range, we are into high-resolutions, and high quality of sound reproductions. The rest of it is how the hardware is internally connected, communicated, quality of the supportive components being used, and most of all, the playback software and the whole OS.






Practicality: GT has External USB-DAC and Bluetooth DAC/Amp features, both allows great flexibility to wire or wirelessly connection to other devices while using the GT as your portable DAC/Amp


At this moment, the wireless connection to go onto the internet is only useful for checking OTA updates, no browser or apps. The GT from out of the box and the interfaces were very straight forward, simple, and easy to grab hold of. I can totally see that GT was catered from within the Operation System to the Connections and it interfaces are all dedicated toward user friendly and music performances only. This motive is very similar to Sony and their latest Walkman. Only exception is that Walkman WM lines don’t even have WiFi.


USB-DAC features: right now, the USB-DAC feature is only enabled by using the stock cables that comes with it. Using Windows 10 OS, the GT automatically prompted Windows to install driver, and however, does not allow DSD playback in this mode by using HQ-Player.


However, Upsampling on the fly upto 705.6Khz is possible in this mode. That means even in XRC, the full-blown feature of upscaling your PCM into 768KHz is as advertised. By using HQPlayer, you can custom the Filter, noise-shaping, dithering to your heart contents. Volume-wheel is disabled, and only software from the PC is enabled.


Disclaimer: I only use full-size headphones, and it is HD800S. My point of view and impressions according to my preferences is my own. You may find it helpful, or totally useless. However, If you are honestly looking to spend $3,000 something for a DAP, and looking for reviews or impressions to get an idea, I would urge you to take my impressions with a grain of salt. The best is to listen to the Gold Touch with your favorite collections and favorite gears (headphones or in ears), and decide for yourself. If you are inside the US, you may contact Musicteck for a Demo on tour unit, which I am using for this review. This unit is not purchased or given to me. I am simply interested in the device, and willing to share what Impression I may find


PCM without EQ: please bare in mind that I won’t be making any impressions regarding the EQ. If you like to EQ, I can only say that P-EQ is very well known for it performances.



Sound signature: it is your typical AKM sound signature, and it isn’t much altered. Thick density with smooth and weighty treble. Engaging with a little touch of warmth very similar to WM1Z, but with better soundstage. Very focused and analog like. I would say that it is very musical, engaging, and fun to listen to with a unique signature or characters of it own.


Power delivery: very powerful, high gain can gain a lot more than low gain, and with high-gain, balanced 4.4mm, HD800s can seamlessly be driven at 60 volumes


Layering and separations are great, though, I thought it could be better ?


Sub-bass: plenty of it with a good dosage of rumbles


Bass overall is dense with a slight touch of your AKM signature, good blooms, extensions and speed, while being very well balanced from low-mid-upper bass throughout


Mid carries a touch of warmth with great and acceptable layering separation overall, the GT is very musical , soothing and engaging to listen to. Trying to listening to GT until this section, I just want to relax, close my eyes, and let it sing me to sleep.


Lower trebles is very well presenting with great body density and resolution. Mid treble also have this weighty feeling while the upper treble is a tad more neutral in comparison to the rest with great extensions. I think Lotoo is trying to keep the musicality, engaging, fun, but not losing any details and or too boring. It is actually very forgiven as sibilants in bad records are kept to a minimum to still be enjoyable but noticeable enough to tell you that there is sibilants caused by the tracks


Soundstage: very spherical and holographic. The sound signature is a tad closer to the WM1Z than I would think, while the soundstage is actually better in width, depth, not quiet as tall in the vertical plane. It is probably the illusion created by the expansion of width and depth in comparison.


Clarity and transparency: once again, AKM style with focuses upon timbres density and analog like musicality


There is something different with the GT than the Wm1Z that I can not quite find the right way to describe, perhaps it is the warmth but evenly and artfully turned closer to natural sounding on the wm1Z while the LPGT is also similarly warmth but more kind of like a unique signature of it own. I don’t know why when I think about this and the “mega bass line of Walkman in the past come to mind”.


XRC: Upsampling any PCM with AKM-IC into 768KHz


While connecting to PC with Windows OS and the stock cables, the GT will automatically provide driver to the PC. It will allow to do XRC on the GT itself, or you can use HQPlayer-Wasapi-GT and up-scale anything into 75.6Khz. This feature is as advertised.


It charges and play simultaneously, so it would not run out of battery.


Sound signature: using XRC here, the sound is now more neutral without too much emphasizing into the bass blooms and resonances as the Standard playback. It got cleaned up nicely and is more balanced to the rest of other spectrums with better decay and speed. Vocal is also cleaned up nicely, but trebles could be a touch more detailed with better energy and extensions. The better treble could be achieved with (Sinc-M filter, none dithering, 705.6 KHz) from within the HQPlayer itself. The unique characters of LPGT still remains but somewhat tamed


What does this mean ? It means that simply Lotoo has it own and very Unique signature and strong character with it own Standard Player


For now, the most enjoyable sound performances for me comes from the HQPlayer with GT as an external DAC that can upscale upto 705.6Khz. The feature inside itself, XRC can do something similar, but it will need time to perfection.


DSD-Native as a platform


Using GT connecting to PC can only be used with upscaling PCM, and there is no feature available for DSD at all.


However, a loaded DSD256 onto the SD-card can play flawlessly. Using DSD256 the “unique signature” that I mentioned above became more Apparent. This flavor presented itself plenty with Standard player, and somewhat on XRC upscaling, then disappear with DSD256


Perhaps if this is Lotoo house sound signature, then I am sure it will not disappoint anyone who adore it, a touch of warmth, Very musical with great density and long decay with great blooms


While advertising the player being able to handle DSD512, the GT can not actually playback DSD512 being loaded into the SD card or USB-DAC. Maybe in the future, this feature will be enabled with firmware. However, for a portable device, many companies rather choose to be safe than sorry as DSD512 consumes a lot of processing power and battery


I also have another DAP here that can do wonderfully with DSD512 internally loaded or acting as external USB-DAC, the DX200. However, the DX200 can not play PCM 705.6Khz the way the GT does. If you want PCM upscaler, go with GT, and if you want DSD512, the Dx200 is the answer.


In comparison to DX200Titanium and Amp1Titanium balanced out. The Dx200 actually has better soundstage with width, depth, vertical and Holo graphical presentation. The airiness and separation is also a bit better. The GT does get closer to the DX200Ti when ticked on the XRC. Both is playing DSD256 about similar with GT a touch more analog sounding.

Conclusion: We all have our own preferences, music is just like art and foods. We don’t all like fish-sauces, or anchovy do we ?


So, in my opinion. The LPGT is wonderful for what it is trying to aim at. Very friendly interface, New features such as XRC, and is the first of many products to be seamlessly upscaling PCM into higher format upto 705.6 KHz by itself, or by PC via USB. Parametric EQ, over the air firmware upgrades, different choices of digital filters, the powerful output to drive full-size headphones. The unique House-Sound signature of LoToo...etc...My verdict is that the LPGT is a wonderful machine with carefully engineering and thought out to be a wonderful high-performances oriented device with a Unique signature and characters, the LPGT is certainly of it own, and if your preferences is leaning toward this uniqueness, you will not find another DAP on the current market similar

However, for my personal choices, I choose to stay with Dx200 as a platform just as much as when I let go of my WM1Z and still keeping it. Ultimately, for your own decision, I will then once again, urge you to personally listen to the LPGT before you can decide.

If you are into this hobby, and especially also seeking for Portability just like me, then you will find some helpful informations from my journey down this road and the experiences that I am about to share. I found my purchase of this little device has served it purpose very well and totally justifiable


It seems that everything is heading down the road where good sound quality will be associated with higher pricing. Will there be a gem somewhere that would be named "giant killer" ? It seems Fiio and Ibasso are both trying to do this with their release of recent flagship X7 and Dx200. I couldn't pocket change both players at the same time, so having to purchase the Dx200 first just due to the Dual DAC chips inside vs 1 single Chip ES9028Pro from X7. Does it really matter 1 or 2 ? I don't think so, but I feel better having 2 instead of 1. What have ticked the box for me ?


1/ affordable pricing $959.99


2/removable Amp-card. The possibilities are endless. Developing new modules frequently


3/android 6.0. Developing new firmwares frequently and Lurker custom firmware available


4/Dual Es9028Pro, desktop tier DAC


5/USB-DAC function


6/ Native DSD upto D512. You read it correctly, and in my opinion, if you have FLAC from CD, you can upconvert your files to D512 using XiVero. The idea is to have the files being processed and modulated at the utmost accuracy as the PC can spend unlimited amount of time to process, and does not process the synchronous signals on the fly (which heavily relying on clocking systems and other plethora of things, in contrast of more storage for D512, about 1.5gb per track)

With newest firmware and only in mango mode, the Dx200 can play Native DSD512 without stuttering and charging together, so you never run out of juice. What a winner the Dx200 is!

Arriving just 3 days after purchasing directly from the website by DHL. Out of the box and I realized that he is a man. The design language is straight forward, muscular and tank like, thick, yet with gentleness. He came with already applied screen protector and installed amp1 card, inside a fancy box with very nice accessories, especially USB type C cables that has cotton sleeve for flexibility and thick! A burn-in dongle, spdif to coax cable, a genuine leather casing protector.


Skipping all the fancy boxing itself, the Dx200 was fit in a very nice box for a very eyes catching attentions, and looking at it, the protective film printed "dual es9028Pro" in gold color that popped my eyes out to just having it permanently removed a moment later. Good idea to have it written at the boot up screen !


Now, into the design of the swappable amp modules. This design was patented by Ibasso and it was genius, the thick slab of metal chassis in front, which has the LCD screen on top, to act as a solid base for the amp module to lay on with the L-Brace locking mechanism that you need to slot in your amp card first, and then pushing it toward the player. This design allows 2 main superbly thoughts functions


1/ locking mechanism to allows a tank like attachment, and that once locked in, you can only slide it in or out. There is no way to swing it side to side or up and down. This guarantee precise sliding movement only


2/ precise sliding movement will provide a steady in and out only to prevent accidents where you slip and may damage the amp card or the receiver slot


3/ larger display screen in the front !


Once it is swapped in, and screwed lock, it is impossible to damage the amp card or the player intentionally.


On the top, there is Spdif and USB type-C sockets. This is awesome, because the USB-C is not moving in and out with the amp card, thus leaves more room for the amp module to stuff things, and digital transmissions are kept away from the analog amplifications.


The side buttons are nicely bulged out but is almost flushed with the protective bar to prevent pressing it accidentally, and the volume wheel is covered sitting inside the bar to prevent rolling and touching it accidentally. The angle of the semi-covered volume wheel is carefully thought that if you slightly sliding your finger on top of it, the wheel just will not budge. This wheel is designed better than Opus #2 and #3


The Operating system is Open android 6.0 without google play store. There is no root needed to be able to install custom firmware, and so you can install whatever fit your needs. Even if you want to roll back into previous firmware. You just need to make sure to use the batch tool provided by Ibasso to do a clean wiping for the installations.


We know that Android has limitless playback apps, and Dx200 comes with stock Mango app. Then pressing the power button to turn off, there is an option to switch into a more simple Mango-mode. It is still buggy and I prefer Android 6.0. I love installing the APK files using files explorer on dx200, and my favorite now is APK Pure app. This is similar to google play store but you get things for free. Beside this, you can install custom Lurker firmware, which will bring a lot more into play, especially google store to log-in with your account and download your already purchased apps


The player can last about 7-8 hours out of Most amp modules which is 6Vrms power output, and it can still be charged while using headphones Balanced out. The player gets warm, but not terribly warmth. It can get very very warm if you play D512, I recommend to remove the leather pouch so the player can cool properly.


Mango player app within Android. This app is Ibasso specialty, and some people may like it, some don't. In my personal opinion, the app at stock configuration has emphasized sub-bass, but it has excellent layering and separation with smooth and vivid resolutions edges. However, I found that by switching EQ on and not using any EQ bars, the Mango player has a more neutral sub-bass presentation and retaining all of everything else.


Mango app interfaces: navigating it was fairly simple, and this is my first time with it, and it took me less than a few minutes to figure which goes where. So it is fairly simple to use.


Practicality and applications:


SPDIF up the top or the main body to assure the purest signals transmission as a digital transport out. If you have been a fan of SPDIF over USB ? Sure will be a winner feature here. Dx200 comes with a short Interconnect of adequate quality for SPDIF to Coax, and it does Native DSD by DOP. I tried on my Sr009 system and I got DOP 64, just simply plug and play. Mango/stock app will just do it wonderfully for DSD


Would better cables work here ? Yes, you can make an upgraded cables using better wires. I use solid silver for my custom cables and it does a wonderful job. I can also charge it using the USB as well. Using DX200 as digital transport into my desktop DAC which uses dual Es9038Pro. (Lks-004). Though, unless you know what you are doing, to get the best out of Coax Cables, I recommend you be buying a good cables instead.


USB-DAC : There is a trick to this, you need to enable the feature first before plugging in anything, otherwise it may get messed up and wouldn't work. Once it works, you have the awesome performances from your computers or iPad.


EQ features: this feature can be enabled and used effectively while using the player with Spdif/coax out into your desktop DAC.


Digital filtering: There are 7 modes that is fully accessible within Mango app. However, if you are using 3rd party app such as Neutron...etc...you can access by setting>>>sound and notifications. Or in Ibasso App, just Swipe Left.



***My favorite*** is Apodizing, it offers the most soundstage in all axis for my observation with superb layering and separation and most authentic tonal body, and this carries on into Spdif/coax out.


Accessories: it comes with amp1 stock, short spdif/coax cable, nice and soft USB C cable.


Sound performances:


Sound signature: Naturally neutral timbres. Soundstage is expansive, immersive, clean and clear, Snappy with great resolutions and details, spacious and energetic. That is General signature, but with the ability to upgrade amp card is limitless, and so far there are 4 upgraded amp cards, and more will be coming soon. Better yet, they are all just as affordable as the player itself. I have came across most modules and I have found different signatures from each of them. It depends on your personal gears (headphones/iems) to justify aiming for which ever module. Yet, there are slight differences, but it will not be a deal breaker or that you should sell your kidney to find some limited release modules as I am very sure that Ibasso will always aim to improves the performances with every module released, and the best yet, they are all interchangeable toward DX150, and it will not stop there. A fun fact is that most of these modules are specked at 122+ dB Signal to noise ratio, Amp4 is 124db.

In conclusion, the DX200 is yet another device to shake this industry for high quality portable audio. It has adequate power to drive full-size headphones and even HD800/S (depends on Amp modules, I favor Amp4S and 800s together). It amp modules has very low output impedance <0.65 ohms (generally found from different posts) and ofcourse it depends on amp modules. The upcoming Amp 7,8 with discrete components will be <0.35 ohms, which are excellent for sensitive iems.

The pricing is barely the price of a smartphones, technology packed to do everything you would want, external USB DAC , Digital transport via SPDIF or USB, Wifi, Native DSD upto D512 or 22.4MHz, Bluetooth....maybe I forgot something.

The DX200 not only offer a very high quality sound performances that can rarely be found from other DAP at this price range, and even if you find it, you won’t have the Swapable Amp modules which is a huge advantage. DX200 can also serve other purposes that you may or may not need. In the end of the day, I am most happy with the price, the modules, the Coax that DOP and D512 Native. I just run out of words to praise this little portable device.

Oh, and if you can not pocket this price range, you can also opt for the little brother DX150 as well.

Does it have the negative things ? Yes, slow charging for the speed of battery drainage, firmware can be a little complicated at first, too cheap for it performances in comparison to the present market direction, only 64Gb internally and 1 single SD slot. There are other minors annoying things here and there, but I can not complain from this price-performances ratio. Yet, you may also wonder how DX200 would perform against the Giant Sony WM1Z, it gets very close and can hold it Ground, ultimately if you know what you are looking for, the wm1Z is a superior player, but if you simply look from personal preferences point of view, these 2 are as equal as a performer as much as distinctive different sound signatures, and so the ultimate decisive factor would come down to “your wallet”.

Remember, enjoy your music, and satisfy your “curiosity”. Ultimately, no one can explain or details out about what a single person may or may not want, therefore I urge you to try the Dx200 out for yourself. You may leave with dx200 in your pocket or without it. But one thing for sure is that you will not be disappointed.

**Updated** As of today another member @tennessee discorvered that Dx200 can be used as external DAC that can take upto Native DSD512 by live streaming from a PC. I am configuring it with Jriver now, using windows 10-64 bits and downloaded windows driver from Ibasso website. It works just like a breeze, easy to setup, live upscale from PC by 16/44.1 into DSD512 and it sounds so wonderful. It runs hot, recommended to take out of leather case and put on a cold surface !

This is beyond crazy for a portable player. I noticed Ibasso did not include the features into the website, so here I put up with a picture too




I love Dx200 performances and practicality so much that I upgraded into Dx200Ti (titanium limited release) right away! I am pairing it into my Stax KG-T2 and SR009/S. The performances are crazy for DSD512 Native Playback. I did use the best theoretical (offline conversion DSD 512) and also trying live feed upscale from a PC.

It is only a little behind in soundstage compares to Desktop DAC (20% or so). However, In compromising larger and more expansive soundstage, I observe better details of upper mid and lower treble. Dx200Ti when used as a dedicated DSD512 source is not shy away from Desktop system. It is outright Insane! When using Amp1Ti that comes with the Dx200Ti, I observed narrower soundstage but better trebles and details resolutions from upper mid and lower trebles, leaner bass with sub-bass being very tight and linear, where as with Amp8 there are more bass and sub-bass bloom with authority, more expansive soundstage but also a little less of upper mid and lower trebles. The level of Triangle performances and it resonances being played back under this vividity is crazy for a portable player !

The Titanium is a limited edition that Ibasso released for hardcore enthusiasts with only 66 units world wide, and anyone could buy it but it went out of stock in 10 minutes !! However, the Dx200 is not to be underestimated. This level of performances and practicality has officially put the Dx200 to be the best portable player on the market at the moment !!!

The Titanium main signature is an improvement upon the regular Dx200 into : Soundstage, layering, separation, airiness, and treble fidelity. Most specially and notable is Treble resolution and it airiness. It can be observed both from using PCM that makes uses of the internal DAC decoding or Native DSD512. Totally worth every pennies from my own point of view. This is a confirmation that when Ibasso is allowed to put the best of their enthusiastic heart into a special product (limited edition), they really do make it special !

For Live DSD512 conversion, I recommend a dedicated PC Built with Linear power supply and good processing power. Also, Foobar for the best performances (not Jriver). For best result, use offline conversion DSD512 (not many desktop can perform great Live DSD512 conversions)

Disclaimer


Before you read my impressions, please beware that every system is different. My experiences will also be different


My system is consisted of KG-T2 Electro static amplifier with all internal silver wires and external silver wires, XF2 Quad tubes and SQ E88CC from Phillips. Stax SR-009 headphones and the source is WM1Z with Docking cradles with internal Silver wiring, usb silver cables, UPOCC power cables for amplifier and Silver Power cables for R2R-7.


I am writing this impression to share with people who may be interested in buying the R2R7 and not sure what they may get. Before we go on to the sound impressions. I will have to impress first on customer services as the company is direct sale and out of China. This is very important


Customer service:


Kingwa as the owner and designer of the brand, he typically respond within 1 day and normally 2 days max. Otherwise, he may have just missed your email by junk folder or some short.


My unit was not understood by me at first, and thought that I may have problems with it. Kingwa was in full support to allow shipping back for replacement if problems found. Otherwise he could refund according to the policy. So, you have a peace of mind. Again, this is strictly my experiences as the first AudioGD owner of the product R2R7.


Technologies, and firmwares


If you are researching into the r2r7, you already well known what it is. There is no need to go circling around as I am not fully knowledgeable about it. The only thing I know for sure is that the R2R7 has plethora of different options to play around with DSP. It is also very very Raw! For all the DSP jumpers and setting, you can visit


Main site

What is so impressive is that it has so many FPGA chips (7X-FPGA) inside, and it is so Dope to think about. It recall my experience about 300 “this is madness!”. But no, “this is AudiogGD”! What prompt me to make purchase is 3x Linear/regulated power supplies, digital processing, analog channels Left and Right. You may find more interesting in the designs itself.


Yet, you can find all the information about flashing different firmware that needs a USB Blaster. Which you could find here. If you are in the US, and is Amazon Prime member. You can search on with the keyword “FPGA USB Blaster” on any friendly site, if Taobao is a problem


Usb FPGA Blaster from Amazon prime

Then you will need to follow the guide


Firmware flash guide

This is a little bit annoying as you will have to register for an account with Intel, and fill out a form to download their software.


The most important step is to plug in the usb blaster and install it driver first. Let windows automatically find your driver in the folder that you installed the Quartus software. Do not navigate to specific driver folder as it won’t work.


Make sure to always turn off before connect/disconnect anything even JUMPERS


You can email Kingwa for the firmwares. I was told by (FredA) member on headfi that DSP firmwares will need Altera software and Digital boards will need Xillints software as it is running with Xillints. Though, I didn’t need Xillints, but I just want to include this in the impression.


Build quality


Well, to each of his own. I like the r2r7 for a solid, chunky, heavy built. Yet, simple, and elegant. It is so Raw physically that even switching/changing DSP, you will need to turn off, open top and insert jumpers. The logic is to be less invasive to the processing of the sound and it quality. Everything else that can conveniently help you out here will invade into the territory. The rest of how it is built, and why is it so well design, and what is the ground behind it, you can find it on the website


Sound quality: from my experiences below is a venture with USB sources. I briefly tried Coax/SPDIF and it would be the input I recommend out of the box.


I had periods going with this DAC, both negative and positive.



Positive period:



This happens when I realized that I was previously hearing “quantization errors” which was caused by the errors during the digital signals process and transmissions. I know my Wm1Z and it Cradle system is adequate, so it must be something else. Then different usb cables brought different impacts in the “hissing” quantity. It prompted me to look further, and to discovered that the Amanero Board with isolator have “Brass-Pins connections” for signals and every other signals lines. Could this be the reason that was tainting my usb source ? So I put myself onto it, and it did vastly improve (no more hissing). Going back and forth between different modes and setting now.


6Moons setting is now a bliss to listen to IPS0, IPS1, ATT0, ATT1. The signature reminds me of Old classic Aiwa players


The bass is big, Analog, and less control on some tracks, or it could be big, tight, speedy and full of controls on some other tracks. My lks004 bass fidelity was awesome (bass doesn’t sound mono tone anymore), and I used it for a reference points to find the flaws on the r2r7 out of the box as I only use USB inputs. But now, in comparison, the LKS-004 bass is very controlled, full of dynamic, but is lacking that “body”. The variations of tonal body variations. Yet, the fidelity is good, bass don’t feel boring as every beats has it own fidelity, but r2r7 is also telling me the level of tonal body control which lks004 does not. Especially that sub bass rumbling body and it rippling energy


Vocals is unbelievably beautiful, very emotional, vivid, strong, vibrato are at the very top fidelity. The same artist/singer in different tracks can have her skillful vibrato to be so expressive that I can tell the speed and her control skills behind it, and then the energy behind her voice on each “word” and “bridge”, it is totally top-tier high-end performances.


Treble spectrum is beyond showing the level of resolutions, extensions, and finer details. But it has been transcended into the next level with vivid energy, even a handshake hi-hat can be observed with different rhythim, speed, energy. Cymbals crashes also express the same feeling of accuracy, details, and full body. Yet, the “full body” I am trying to explain is far from what we would call “artificial”, and artificial in a sense is a boosted “warmth or brightness” on different frequency to mimic and try to achieve this “full body”. This “full body” is neither warmth nor bright, but it is “just right” and so I call it Organic. Especially the vividity and resolutions of wind chimes . The energy applied throughout the sound signature is Analog like “sound signatures”. Funnily enough, when I called out my lks004 for being a little warm before, that is really this specific feeling, certain instruments are being boosted in “warmth and body density” to mimic the Organic and vividity of what the R2R7 is doing at this very moment that I am annoying.


Lets’ talk About “wind instruments” I never dig deep into this specific instruments before. Yet, it has many different type, but the one type that is always so hard to “reproduce” accurately is Asian Bamboo Flutes. These type of flutes are so very hard to reproduce due to it sound signature which dwell in middle-mid into upper-high frequency, but with it body-energy dwelling into the similar frequency but is a lower step down. If not reproduced carefully, the sounds can become overly “saturated” or “under emphasized”. I can not find different “terminology” to put it in. In reality, Bamboo flutes when heard organically is very emotional, and very relaxing, kind of instrument that can “soothes the soul” off and away from it “stressful fatigue”. So, on my lks 004 and other DAC I have came accross, majority of them would be boosting the upper high frequency which became “bright” and then even boosted it energy body to become thicker, so it was no longer accurate anymore. The signature is now 2 steps above the body energy impression. Anyways, I don’t know how to try and explain it more clearly, but this had always been a reason that I never specifically aimed into this type of instruments.


So, R2R7, how does it do ? Very accurate rendering of this type of instrument, and is also the first time I can tell “flute bamboo is so Realistic!” It also has vivid Vibratos ! Yet, the oversaturated feeling will come when I use other OS modes, even in 2X-OS, it has piercing energy and also some glares. The glares and sizzling energy will just be increased in level according to 0x-OS, 2X-OS, 4x-OS, 8X-OS. The 6Moons setting is the 0X-OS with digital filtering Applied.


The soundstage is very deep, wide, opened and yet natural. It gets about the same width as lks004 but deeper and less saturated on the edges resolutions of a specific play, notes, hits. The other OS can sharpen these edges lines, but it doesn’t do it as well as LKS004 which is native OverSampling with the prowess of ESS9038Pro 2X. The soundstage can get pretty crazily Accurate in spartial dimensions in comparison to lks004 in recorded live performances albums


The layering are all very excellent, and the separation of each instruments together with each own fidelity, body, and presentations are top tier. There is not any single “fuzzy or veiled” moment, the observations on each instruments upon focusing myself to try and follow it is now complete. I am no longer confused as to where it comes from, when it started playing, and it body signature during the play can not be confused, and when it is ended.


The edges resolutions now has “absolutely 0 hints” of glare, or glassy, or sizzling, but is rather vivid, smooth, and clear. Again, I would use the term “hardened Maltose syrup” in textures.


Floor noises, is now “un-observable”


Reverberate, room echoes, acoustic reflections are all so very vivid, and accurate. It is the most accurate I have heard from digital equipments....well, never even observed it this way before. On orchestra tracks, I can clearly follow an instrument, and it reverberate from this acoustic reflections without being confused. Talk about “accuracy”


I tried another “input”, and it was SPDIF. Yet, the SPDIF is also very good coming from a Digital Player (Ibasso DX200), which can output DSD, and Kingwa confirmed that the R2R7 also do DSD from this input. I had so much problem with the USB modules, and the main reason was coming from this input that drove me crazy. However, the SPDIF is ountouched and untampered with, and it was nothing but short of “good and acceptable performances”, enough that even if I was to mainly use SPDIF, I wouldn’t want to tinker with it.


So a kindly reminder is that if you adore the sound of “silver materials”, you can request from Kingwa when you order ? Or if you adore “OCC materials” the DAC comes with it, specially on SPDIF, and I heavily recommend using this input, unless you have no choice, the other inputs seems “somewhat flawed” in my opinion. From what i have experienced so far, I do not like those Ribbon cables, and Brass pin modules, which put up a struggle with me.


Also, very important if Dithering and PLLEN help out somewhat, it means your source is tainted somehow. Otherwise, 6Moons is the most accurate and absolute best of what this DAC can do.


I don’t know if improve upon this signature and performance is possible, but I will just put it here “ probably going to be very very hard “, and last but not least, for this price. It is excellent buy if not the Best Buy I have ever made. Simply compare this device to A&K digital player SP1000, this DAC is a much much better buy. I also do think the 26 bits from this DAC is fully capable of 140+ DB Dynamic range. Just like Kingwa mentioned, with the usage of FPGA all around the device, it can easily be affected by Firmware/Software. So far, there has been 2 versions: Accurate and Smooth. Every unit is shipped with 8X-OS and Smooth firmware.


The most important thing was my journey with R2R-7, and my discovery of Brass Pins connections from Amanero and USB modules of whatever using the same types. I went ahead and replaced it on the LKS004, and it did improve the sound signature too. Basically the very fines details which was portrayed further away and deep in the background is now more vivid, especially when LKS004 can saturate it further, it seems to give a more definitive sound to these plays. But when compare side to side. The only thing I can say is that both does very well for what it was designed to do. I previously thought the R2R7 would be superior, but no, not really. When both has the source corrected. They carry different sound signatures. It is so different that it only take seconds to tell which one is the preferred one.


R2r7 has smooth edges, and less grainy, little more fuzzy on the fine/nuances plays in the background (not over saturated), deeper, maybe slightly wider in soundstage vs 004. The overall signature is more analogy as the fluidity of each tonal body is “more full” and more “fluid”. Even the vocal and organic instruments Vibratos are more “continuous” and portrayed with more fluidity. It could be mistaken for being “warmth”, but it isn’t warmth. One of the most observable example is the different Pedal Bass Drum. The r2r7 would portray different type with different fidelity and body, where 004 has a more mono-tone approach.


Lks004 has sharper edges, more grainy but nor harsh, clearer definition on nuances/fine plays in the background (saturated). It has a bit more shallow depth, a little less width in soundstage compare to R2R7. The overall signature is faster, sharper, more airy. But it a setback at the Organic feeling. Carefully observing between the 2, the R2R7 can be said to be more Organic to my observations. The tonal body is more dynamic, more energetic but is faster. Vocal and instruments Vibratos are not as continuously flowing back to back as the R2R7 but rather more separated due to it speed. Yes, the 004 May seem to be more neutral due to it speed over all, but actually is more warmth in my observation as the mid-tone of many specific instruments tent to be boosted to try and tame the speed and mimicking the Organic timbres from R2R7.


For all that said. Both are great for the buy, each of them carry a unique sound signature which is equally enjoyable. The lks-004 doesn’t require attentions or modifications out of the box at all. I listened to it for a whole year without noticing the “flaws” on the Brass Pins. I even used it to hunt down the flaws on R2R-7.

My personal opinion is that for the price, the LKS-004 May pose a better buy, and less for tinkering with. But if you can request Kingwa to custom made your R2R7, or you use I2S/SPDIF/Coax, and you love the more Organic but vivid and fluidity of sweet presentations and more soundstage, the R2R7 will pose to be an excellent buy. R2R7 May pose to be the Best Buy for the price because you can find every technologically advances in it designs, and if you can handle a soldering iron. Therefore, to me, the R2R-7 is the Best Buy that I have made so far. Also, to me, the R2R-7 winning Blue-moon award is a totally deserved title. In this day and ages where DAC developments are faster than me driving to work, the components, the build, design, performance will be the points to base purchase decision on. Yet, like all thing that depreciate when purchase and used, but for such price and all the above, the losses won’t be as great as those 10-20k DAC

Do you love sub-bass ? Soundstage, fluidity, organic tone ? Or do you love speedy, snappy, airy, sharper nuances details ? How about R2R vs Sigma Delta ? I guess your answer would lead you to R2R7 or the 004

Owning the Utopia is such an honor to me. I remember that I couldn't believe what Focal was announcing a year ago about Utopia and the price point, yet $3999 can have me a beefy gaming computer, a set up for Virtual Reality game, a Home Surround system...etc...etc. It was very hard to fathom the idea of such a Headphones can be astronomically expensive. However, knowing Focal is like a Ferrari brand with years of experiences and reputation into the speaker and stereophile worlds, it would also be hard to think that Focal just want to step into the Headphones hobby to just rip off customer and or to ruin it reputation. Therefore, I kept on looking out for different point of views that is being reported in around the Internet, from people that auditioned it, and even friends and people who auditioned the ELear. Please be advised that this is my sole impressions and experiences with Utopia personally. I hope this can help you in your decision making


Finally, I decided to buy the Utopia and to hell with it, there are 3 main reasons why I wanted to buy it regardless of it price:


1/ Focal reputation is far exceeding their own products in audio quality on speakers. They know their stuff.

2/ Utopia craftsmanship is just beautiful and very exotic

3/ Utopia is reportedly being easy to drive from almost any sources, but it has the ability to retrieve unbelievable details. It will absolutely show the weakness from your sources and gears, and from the system that it is on.

The thing I seek for most from headphones is the ability to slam and jam while my family is asleep, music is a therapy to me that brings away the stress, the resistances, and whatever that was left with me during the day of work and being busy in life. I also would love to plug and play from many different things but with the performances that just don't make me say "Yuck!" In a short word, I want an easy to drive + high performance headphones. One of the symptoms that can tell you that your headphones is not being driven properly is the extinction of bass.


So, my Utopia finally arrived, and I was so eagerly waiting, also having such high expectation with doubts. The doubts that was brought about because I love bass, the authentic authority and realism from a drum play, could this references Utopia be lacking of it like others ? What about brightness ? Could it be bright also ?



Out of the box, I was greeted with a very sophisticated build, just as I expected, a Ferrari level of craftsmanship: Very rugged, thick leather band, Carbon fiber, Red accents on the vents, Stainless steel cover, Metal mesh housing. Everything has pros and cons rights ? And yes, Utopia was not designed in a way of any typical Headphones, the housing is not rotating, but it rather stays fixed, just extend it out, open it up and put it on. The housings can tilt in and out to help adjusting it fitting on my head. Because of this build, the Utopia will tend to pop, or crack, and can scare me, but once I get used to it and figured out why, I am pretty happy. Part of the reason is due to the oversized and overweighted the Voice-coil magnet is. Using the Flower patterned design just like their top of the line speakers is, it has 4 different pieces of thick, long, heavy, magnets put together to form the voice coil. Basically, stronger magnet on the voice coil is better performances on theory. Therefore, it is better to let the headphone housing stay fixed to contribute into the clamping forces and in sacrificial of the ability to let it rotating. Is it uncomfortable to wear ? Absolutely not, it is rather surprisingly comfortable due to the thick, plush headband and pads. Do I feel the weight ? Of course, and at first it may feel a bit there, but understanding what goes into the Utopia, and I quickly realized that Focal sacrificed this light weight for one of the most uniquely build voice coil, and is only one of it kind on the market at this moment. Super thick, weighty, deep excursion to help produce the unique sound performances. However, Focal doesn't forget about the comfort abilities, so we also have Carbon fibers. Yet, Carbon fibers has different forms, cost, quality, but when done right, it is very strong and lightweight, and is the chassis of many super cars. Could I say "awesome" ? Yes, the build quality is awesome, it is an art with every aspect and detailed thought throughout, the unique performances from the voice coil, the lightweight attribute and exotic of carbon fibers, the comfortability of leather and thick foam, the ruggedness of stainless steel. There is no short cut, and no overlooked details.

*cons* I could totally criticize the Utopia on it weight on the head and or the cracks and pops from opening it before putting it on. However, since I understood why it was designed this way, I could not criticize upon it. I could also criticize it on the pricing, but since everything out there is out to get a burning in my pocket, I think Utopia pricing is just right the way it is due to some very unique aspects of the Headphones performances, designs. But honestly, the price could be a bit easier to swallow.

So what is about the drivers and it physical ? The free-edge surround, it resembles the surround of speakers, and it helps the driver to move more freely without being un-evenly dispersed upon high frequency vibrations which creates distortions. That deep excursions, and most specially, the beryllium diaphragm. The diaphragm was made from pure Beryllium , the man made exotic metal that is poisonous during the processing, and or burning, but safe to use. But due to it potential hazards, Focal disclosed it in the manual book as well. So, what is so special about this alloy ? It is the lightest of all alloys, also very durable and rigid with the highest sonic velocity property, put it simply, Beryllium is the hardest metal that can be made super thin to be a driver diaphragm with the fastest speed to help achieving high-fidelity sound performances. Yes, when done right, it is much more expensive than Gold. Now, what makes the Utopia drivers even more unique and special ? The experiences from Focal, the years of developments, the researches and all the crazy things that common folks won't even know. Certainly the technology to produce Beryllium drivers here is uniquely Focal. Yes, other manufacturers may apply this same materials to their own design, but a sure thing is that they won't get the performances of the Utopia. Why ? The voice coil is Focal proprietary, the experiences from their engineers, and the knowledges. This is probably good enough about the build quality from Utopia.



Oh, just one second before I get into the sound performances. The stock cables while being very long in my Utopia. It is well thought and designed 1/4" plug. It has a proper braided body shielding with large gauge parallel wires inside 4x for balanced application. This is for the lowest inductive capacitance and for the best shielding. I had since converted my cables to Balanced to use it with my WM1Z


How about the sound ? Immediately, I realized that the Dynamic prowess is superb. It is punchy, tight, controlled, and super vivid. This Dynamic is the "inner fidelity" of a tonal body. It determines how powerful a Drum Slam is, a hand thwack....etc. Utopia shows it through and through. Does it lack bass ? Nope, it has plenty of bass. So then, is it a bassy Headphones ? Absolutely not. Utopia is very balanced and flat out neutral. Then how come it doesn't lack bass ? That is because the Dynamic prowess of the Utopia is just "pure awesome", when a drum is being slammed on, you can hear it strong energies within being unleashed, and this is exactly what the Utopia is telling. This bass is the kind of "true fidelity bass" and not the common kind of bass that use the boom, the bang, the resonances and muddiness to mimic.


Yet, the Utopia soundstage is so intimidating, it is closer up front for an opened back, mid spectrum and vocal can get closer, and this could be a good or bad thing depend on personal preferences, which makes it ideal for pairing with the gears that can achieve the biggest soundstage presentations that you can find. It has pin-point accuracy and presentation. I love soundstage, and this may be a bit closer, but it doesn't lack any depth or width at all, it also gives mid spectrum more details and layering. The only kind of soundstage that I just can not accept is the kind of un-even spherical shape. The Utopia is totally spherical and intimidating. It shows the potentials to achieve even better soundstage presentation from any superb amplifier that has huge soundstage. I witness that the Utopia soundstage scale up and away from WM1Z in comparison to TA-ZH1ES, and the TA-ZH1ES is not the top of the line yet of Dynamic Amp.

Transparency, Utopia is very transparent, it will tell every changes that you make on the system, amp, cables, USB cables....etc....more over, the transparency of the sound performances is very clear. Imagine crystal clear.


Speed ? Superb, the ability to retrieve details from complex plays in bass and treble without being distorted or sibilants while displaying the nuances details and extensions. The decays are spot on. The layering is simply outstanding and vivid. Very superb.


How about musicality ? Oh, yes, it is very musical and with a lot of excitements. It can slightly be altered depends on what you pair Utopia with but Utopia is never lacking in term of musicality and excitements.



Power requirement ? Now, this is another unique aspect about Utopia, I can plug it into IPad and have it slamming away...if I can tolerate the low dynamic range and bad Signal to noises ratio...sure....However, I can slam away with WM1Z, Opus 2, Opus 3 in Balanced connection. Yet, it shows the limit of soundstage, detail retrieval weakness of each players so clearly, but the performances is Jaw dropping. The Utopia is so easily driven to perform, and I can not stretch this enough. But not only this, it has the ability to scale up with your gears, the kind that if your gears has higher performances, the Utopia will take it and show it. Utopia will grow with your arsenal performances, period, and while you can also take it on the go to plug into your favorite portable player of your choices.


How about treble details and extensions ? Treble details is also superb, lower treble is very detailed with a small section of the upper extension of this lower treble being tuned down a bit to control the harshness and or sibilant attribute which is the only problem uniquely presented to Headphones due to how close it is sitting to the ears. I asked myself, how did Focal know exactly which tolerances and where is to tune it this way ? The answer is that Focal knows almost everything in existence about speakers and it performances, and it is true, Focal only sacrifice a very little bit of this sections while having the rest very detailed. If you have great gears and high-end system, your system will be very smooth and detailed. My favorite read was from a user in head-fi as quoted "chicken poop in but chicken soup out". Why do I agree ? Utopia will show the harshness of your bad recording, but the harshness and sibilant won't pierce your ears, it is only enough to let you know that it is "unacceptable", and while the rest of treble is just beautifully achieved and reproduced. This is an "art" which is a fruitful product of a company that understood and spent their time with dedications to produce with pride and proud.



To put it in a simpler term for imagination. This is like me moving away from the best of 1080 into the best of 4k HDR Television.


Now, why does it take me so long to get this detailed review up ? Well, while I am certainly confident in my ability to tell quality performances, I feel that on this level, I would need a more concrete comparison to confirm my findings, and so I went ahead and get myself Stax 009 with Kevin Gilmore amp (grounded grid) for the hell of it and confirm it to myself, and or others about this Utopia performances as well.


You may ask, then would you keep both Stax 009 and Utopia ? Hell yes, long and short, Utopia is the only dynamic headphones that can get closer to the realm of Electro Static performances, but uniquely being easily driven out of portable source. I can not have my Stax anywhere I want to, but there is always my Utopia, an art from The French Pride and Proud.


Thank you Focal teams and the engineers behind this Utopia. A very unique piece of gem for Headphones performances in the high-fidelity world.


PS: My current favorites Portable High-fidelity setup is now very simple, a WM1Z with balanced connection for Utopia.


If one have reached this level of performances from prices, and experiences, congratulation. Please, do not forget that at this level of fidelity and performances, the Headphones has the ability to achieve and reproduce details of another level, and so it "will definitely" tells you that there is something wrong in your chain. Harsh treble ? Lacking of soundstage ? Well, the fun of this hobby is to find out the best pairing and matching synergy for you whole system using your favorite headphones isn't it ? Please take the time and responsibilities to look upon your DAC, your Power source, USB cables, Interconnect...etc. I had the ability to pair Utopia with Gold-silver USB, Silver Powercord, silver-gold upgraded cables. The Utopia is described as what I have heard above, Crazy Dynamic, good bass, balances, transparent, detail retrieval with beautiful treble details and extensions and not harsh at all. The hardest thing to bring about from Utopia is the soundstage, and TA-ZH1ES is not the best of the best for it as just yet, but it is good enough.


The above picture is the moment that my decision to buy the Utopia was the best decision of my experiences from this Headphones fidelity hobby. Thank you for your time that you shared with me to get some idea of what Utopia may be. Finally, I would heavily recommend that you get to audition and try this "gem" out before making any purchases.

Opus #3

Disclaimer: I was chosen by the bit randomly to have received a free sample of the Opus 3 player in exchange for my honest review. The followings are what I found from testing and observing with my systems which include different adapters and cables. Opus 3 balanced into Sony MDR sa5000, balanced into Utopia, balanced line out into Stax KGHV GG and to Stax SR009.

Introduction:

The bit as a brand has been out to catch us enthusiast who appreciate good quality DAP with their development speed and customer supports. I have never seen any manufacturers to respond to email so quick like the bit. So, after the Opus 1, then Opus 1 Metal, Opus 2, now we have Opus #3. Beside using different DAC chips, there are some minor tweaks here and there between these 3 versions. But they carry on with Opus design and aims. To stay with enthusiasts who prefer DAC sound signatures, while tuning them to the absolute best that their design and engineers can afford to while competing fiercely against others.

With the release of opus #3 the Opus 2 is still remained as the flagship judging from the price to specifications stand point

It comes with a nicely packaged in a box with screen protection already applied, and there is a spare one on the side as well. My unit is an evaluation unit so the additional accessory of leather case was sent together on the side. Inside the retail box there was no leather case even though it can fit inside, so it is safe to say that at this moment, the bit has no intention to have it comes with the purchase.

Where to buy in the USA
https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/opus
Main website
http://www.thebit.co.kr/content/pubf.action?fn=product/product3

Practicality:

Running on custom android Os but with the ability to install 3rd party apps by APK files. The 3 actually comes with Spotify installed from the factory. Simply drop down the setting and go to streaming. The instruction booklet doesn't actually show how to install apk files. Once you are in Setting>>>streaming, press and hold any apps, then apps details>>>add. This add function will bring you directly to internal storage/download folder. Make sure to download all apk files into this. The Android custom Os has no google stores, so some apps may not work as intended. Install at your own risk. I was able to install YouTube the modified version that require no google store to use

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/youtube-app-google-play-services-t3194244

wifi will have option to let wifi sleep together with the device or wifi always on. I have it in all the time and the sleep mode seems to have been improved as it drains little battery and stay on for more than a week if I don't use it just fine.

The player doesn't have any extra sensors to rotate the video or so, unlike the Zx2 Walkman, but with a more dedicated hardware configurations together with more power to drive your headphones and can still stream contents ? That is a big Plus. The ability to play Bluetooth into my car unit is excellent

The ability to custom and install apk for 3rd party app is awesome !

Controls buttons are on the side similar to other players from opus. The volume potentiometer is actually laying sideways instead of upward like the 2. This allows the volume scroll to be barely exposed and that you can only reach it when you are meant to, so you won't be able to slide it accidentally when it is in the pocket. Even though you can lock the volume but I prefer unlocked and have the volume scroll designed this way.

DAC features: similar to the 1 and 2, the 3 will allow connection from Apple idevices with camera kit, or androids and laptop as an external DAC, a very useful feature!

It is very quiet if used as analog line out into your stereo or passive speakers. Even though it has nothing too special here, it is still a niche to be had.

Powerful enough to drive some full size headphones. It can run up to 8 hours out of Balanced 2.5mm depending on usages, and gets a bit warm but not terribly so.

Hardware specifications:

With the use of Burr-Brown PCM1792A and Xmos, the Opus 3 is well equipped to be taking challenge with anything in it price range, and it certainly will do a great job at it. It takes up to 24 bits and 192khz for sampling and format. Native DSD 64, and 114db SNR as disclosed by the manufacturer, the 3 definitely is aiming toward mid-tier players. So how does it perform ? As well all know that our perceptions is great, but relying one specifications alone would be a mistake.

Sound signature: It is on the warmer side of the sound signature while retaining the transparency and speed from lower mid onwards. Soundstage is very wide and impressive with width being larger than depth. Tonal body is great

Bass: blooming with a slight touch of warmth, your typical Burrbrown signature though a bit soft on sub-bass. It dives deep with nice mid bass body and punches with upper bass well defined. If you love Burrbrown DAC, you just can not ignore Opus 3 once you give it a listen. IMO, a little more controls would do even more wonderful, but that is just personal preferences

Mid: good transparency and separations with vocal a bit more forward. However trebles extensions can be a bit shouty, especially female vocal. It is not exactly the uncomfortable kind of shouts but it is there and presenting. It would depend heavily on personal preferences and genres. I feel like the 3 is being this way to try and balance out the blooming bass and to achieve it own sound signature. Upper mid and lower treble are great !

Treble: airy, detailed very fine with good extensions. Lower trebles is nicely defined with thick and dense body. It can get a bit shouty here and there


Conclusion with the understanding that Opus 3 is among mid-tier gears. It has great separations, fine and airy trebles with a touch of warmth and expansive soundstage, the 3 carries on with a very modern sound signature. It may be very appealing due to the unique blooming bass and good trebles in some places depend on your own preferences. The things that stand out the most in my opinion is the impressive soundstage width coming from this little player and the blooming but well articulated bass, and good lower trebles. If I would love improvements, I would love the trebles to be more sweet while retaining the definitions and extensions, better bass dynamic while retaining the warmth is great. If a top of the line is a must, remember Opus 2 is still TOTL from the bit current production lineup

**Updates**

The Bit has recently launched a few firmware updates, and this is exactly what makes me value the Bit as a company that stand behind it products on firmware and updates, unlike Sony and it Android flagship couple years back ZX2.

I can confirm that with firmware, there are possibly changes in the sound signatures, and it is awesome that Opus #3 is still retaining the signature of BB as the core values.

The most valuable things about the Opus #3 with the latest firmware is the ability to play USB digitally, and that I can use it as a digital transport into my DAC. This feature together with the ability to act as an external DAC when connected to your Other devices are excellent. Not to mention the long play time of 8-10 hours using Balanced out, and idling time of more than a week with short charging time. The practicality is up another level, at this pricing, Opus #3 has become a "must have" item for me when I am traveling on the airplane, to other states, or just camping out while having some good performances to my ears streaming movies or music.

The introduction

Sony has recently just started to get back at the game to create portable players, and so they too wants something to stand for their Summit of inventions, technologies. NW-WM1Z is the result of this, a flagship that has everything fancy about it, from materials to the technology.


The build

1Z was made with the chassis being the most exquisite materials, Oxygen free pure copper with gold plated. The ideas were brought to productions due to the engineers observations of great sonic quality out of this chassis, and together with many other premium components that Sony is not afraid to disclose. We can find the information about it almost everywhere on google search, such as Fine sound Resistors, FT Capacitors, Kimber wires...etc. The idea was to have a device that recreate music in the most musical way with smoothness and details that does not become harsh or offensive.

Blue-tooth and NFC is the only wireless technology that it has. As ATM the Bluetooth and NFC dan only be used to access remote control and or music playback only.

Holding the 1Z in my hand, feeling it weight (almost 1lb). Yes, it is weighty like a small brick, and so many people had been calling it the Sony Golden Brick. It actually feel very upscale and high-end to me, just because it doesn't have that smartphone like or toy like feather weight. It entire body is Deep gold color and with the Matted appearance, the gold color is much darker in person than in pictures. I actually appreciate it more in real life than looking at it in the pictures. I have no problem walking around the house with it and having Z1R or other headphones on. Unless I try to jog, or run with it, then it would prove to be problematic. It is definitely not recommended for workout and in the gym situation. Why would anyone want that though ? Navigating on the touch screen feel more secured with 2 hands because I do not want to drop this precious brick. However to operate with the button, it can be 1 handed. The wrist strap that comes in the box also help to securely holding it in your hand without accidentally dropping it. The casing on the WM1Z is very special, I have seen plugs that is so expensive just because it uses OFC copper as base materials and gold plated rather than the typical brass or steel base materials.

WM1Z comes with a genuine black leather case to cover the entire player. It flips open, and closes with magnetic onto the case itself, there is nothing magnetic about the player or the chassis itself. If closed, the case cover the WM port and the memory slot and can only be accessed by flipping it open. It is useful as you have these port kept out away from dirt, a bit of inconvenience when you have to open it up to charge because it take a bit of space, a little inconvenience

On the right, there is a Led at the power button indicate charging.

The sound quality

Out of the box and the 1Z sounds with deep and strong bass, vocal is ways too upfront and the soundstage is just narrow with a strange images and too warmth of trebles with almost unimpressive extensions and resolutions. Sony states to allow the burn-in time of 200 hours for maturity of FT Capacitors. So it really began to open up here and there as the burn-in takes place. Drastically so, I would like to notice you to not be disappointed by it out of the box performances. It is fun to listen to it as the burn-in process goes, it is very fun and a unique experience that can only come when you purchase a new unit. If you are not too fond of the process, used market is better to save some bucks as well. I experienced both a burn-in unit and an out of the box unit as well, and can totally confirm it. It took so long until I could not tell any further improvements from the player, so I lost track, but it is approximately around 500 hours mark is when the player no longer show changes.

*Notice* WM1Z best performances is from 4.4mm balanced as it can only do Native DSD up to 11.2 MHz by using this socket only, and on top of that, upgraded cables will be a great benefit to explore the WM1Z potential and performances. The WM1Z is also excellent with EQ and effect. My favorite effects so far is DSEE HX (string) and D.C. Phase linearizer type A - high

*Notice* I tried to stick around with stock Z1R 4.4mm cables and was fairly disappointed by the combination. The bass was lacking some degree of controls at places, this makes it appear to be much warmer than it actually is. Then the subtle details are suppressed so the soundstage is more narrow and projected closer to me in the mean while the vertical rendering was still having some heights, it is a rather strange field of rendering, kind of like spherical on horizontal plane and yet oval in the vertical and 3D plane. I can not tell how many time I looked at it and "yuck, a 3K brick ?" I had no choice, but was patiently waiting until I could upgrade my cables, the soundstage opened up, the suppressed microscopic details are vividly showing, soundstage becomes super-spherical. This Super-Spherical soundstage is observed throughout the whole signature line "trio" that I have, WM1Z, MDR-Z1R, TA-ZH1ES. Please, take this in serious manner, do not judge the WM-1Z performances from stock 4.4mm cables if you happen to have come from other upgraded system such as AK380+Amp+upgraded cables. This impressions were done through upgraded 4.4mm cables and my SA5000 and Z1R.



Sound signatures: it is a very organic sounding device with deep and weighty bass with very smooth and detailed lower trebles and trebles extensions, expressive in Analog signature, warmth, and vertical rendering. *at first I thought it was a bit warm before the burn-in, but in the end, this warmth is from the tonal body that is just very realistic.

Distortions: this is the best devices that I have heard with the lowest micro-distortions and digital errors, like almost not noticeable if you have never realized that it is there in the first place. Surprisingly, I observed this many times from other devices even with portable amplifier and other players as well. I have to deem the WM1Z to be extraordinary clean in micro-distortions alone.

Soundstage is very spherical in all dimensions with a very impressive height or vertical images of rendering. The overall warmth gives off a lush experiences and is excellent for people who loves trebles but can not stand the glares or is trebles sensitive. It is there with full body, details and extensions but only so smooth and of great density. Some upper trebles micro details and extensions may be suppressed if you use stock cables. I learn that the wires inside these devices are 22 Awg in size, so if you don't believe in cables, at least buy some cables for your headphones that matches with this size.

A very special thing about WM1Z is the ability to render the holo-spherical imagines. It is the combination of both the 2D spherical and the 3rd D Holo-graphical due to the rendering ability of vivid and clean vertical plane. It gives me the feeling of being suspended within this holo-graphical field of music while music are flying in all directions. The bass comes down and ripples away down there, the cymbal crash comes down and splashing away down there, the singer remains in the same frontal images...etc....very special.


Bass: very impactful, deep with strong dynamic, blooming sub bass and vivid density in each layering and separations. It is very textured, detailed, smooth, very analog feeling with longer decay and even the decay reverberate can be observed. It brings the emotions and expression into the bass itself as if it is telling the story of the track as when, why, how, where, what inspired the artist to write it. It feel like the composers, the people behind the studio is expressing the tracks to the best that they can. Simply put, the bass is Impactful, fun, Deep, enjoyable and very musical that can sing you to bed.

Mid: vocal is intimidating and more forward, very detailed with the flow and lush and linearity delivered. The singer seems to totally expressing the art in his voices and the lyrics itself. I would call the vocal to be A "very touching and expressive". String instruments is very expressive with beautiful body and timbres, micro energies delivery is excellent with long decay. It results in a very detailed layering with distinctive tones per each instruments even if there are multiple of the same type. It is very easy to follow each of the instrument that you would want to. There is always Souls and heats in the music, depends on the genres, and the WM1Z has the ability to express it very obviously in the mid spectrum.

Trebles: Great details and resolutions into the lower trebles and good extensions with thick and dense body and airy but very smooth extensions. If you are trebles sensitive folks, you have found a perfect devices where trebles is so detailed, so expressive, but just easier on the ears. Again, with that special dimension and air of the vertical feels. I can always observe this special heights rendering on the WM1Z from headphones or connecting to my home large stereo.


The WM1Z does no longer offer Analog line-out from the WM Port like the previous models. It was removed to better achieve sound quality, and as the result, the headphones ports are very quiet from both 3.5mm or 4.4mm Balanced. I tried using them as line-out into my large home system and it is excellent. It now only offer Digital out from WM port natively up to 5.8 MHz, and can be used with Zx2 Digital out Cradle that further improve the performances and charging it together. WMC-NWH10 is a dongles that can also improves and help to digital out to other devices as well, and the cradle is BCR-NWH10.


In the end, the WM1Z has great super-spherical soundstage, timbres that is emphasis toward analog, warmth and remind people of the great tubes setup. The WM1Z is totally going all out for that Meaty and expressions of main instruments especially strings and wind, while it does not lack any upper frequency details or extensions, some of it could be said to be a tad warmth and the feeling of missing or lacking details when you come from a more balanced and neutral devices or cheap cables.

How do I take this from here ? Yeah, it is priced for $3,200. But it is made of expensive materials and premium parts. It is so beautiful to listen to on Organic Ballads, and I literally meant anything with real instruments. It has the best build from the power supply circuitry to everything else that set it up to be the best Digital transport in my experiences. In my case, having to set up a personal listening set up with TA-ZH1ES, I can not turn away from the real performances that WM1Z can be as a digital transport. In comparison to my Zx2, the WM1Z clearly showed as a superior transport with better details and finesses with 256 Gb internal and potentially expanded to 516gb , native DSD out. Beside that, the beautiful warmth and analog appearances from it as a player which does excellent and expressive on instruments, organic instruments, vocals.

*Uniquely featured* to the WM1Z and WM1A is this D.C. Phase linearizer. I had been playing around with it for a while and out of all observations it came out that this is more like filters setting on my DAC which is using ES9038Pro. However, the sound performances and it improvements are more pronounced on WM1Z. Not using any adjustments on EQ setting, The "Type B Low" is excellent for more tube like fluidity in the bass while gaining more soundstage with nuances improvements across the board. In combination with DSEEHX "String" setting, the trebles and it extensions also have a better touch of details and the whole board has more separations. These 2 is currently my favorited setting out of my Utopia and balanced connection


Finally, if you love and prefer the analog, the smoothness, the meaty, the organic timbres ? If you ever get bothered by the micro-distortions here and there ? The WM1Z is unique in this category of performances with the meaty body and yet tight, the smoothness and that very clean plays.

The best Sony had released up until now is the TA-ZH1ES. It is a device that combine The goods of both worlds, the analog and it smoothness, the details, the bites, and extensions of solid states, the speed of both tubes speed in the bass and the SS airy speed in upper spectrum. You will need to check out my review on TA-ZH1ES. Being a piece and most expensive piece of equipment in the "signature" line up, the Wm1z offers some very unique aspects for a Portable player. I will say that the pricing is very "premium and luxury" but it is not only the pricing and luxurious that cost you, it is the unique attributes, the build, and the unique tonal timbres with the performances that such a Portable player can bring into your experiences On the Go, a very impressive Portable Player that can drive full size headphones.

Thank you Sony for still having so much heart and love for the music, the enthusiasms to make such a unique portable player as WM1Z from physical materials to unique performances.

Please follow this link for the Review of MDR-Z1R headphones

http://www.head-fi.org/products/sony-mdr-z1r/reviews/17806










Also, I bought my unit from an Authorized dealer in the US, ThesourceAV, Thank You!

 
 

MDR Z1R

Having to own the Sony Z7 before, while it has some flaws, I couldn't wait for another better version of it, the Top of the line from Sony.  Why ? Because it is musical and great to enjoy movies with from either the large home system or by an iPad

Fortunately, it only took about 2 years and some until Sony announced the MDR-Z1R.  It was told from several interviews around the net to be under development for 10 years (Magnesium Domes)

Z1R is so easy to drive and I meant you can almost get 70% of it performances out of many things which is well surpassing your typical common headphones.
 

*Notice* The Z1R has a unique thing about it, the Hall-like Atmospheres just because it is so closed off.  It sounds like a pair of speakers being arranged in a so confined Hall-way.  Would you like that ? I am not one to judge.  It sure did took me by surprise and together with the power sub-bass present with slamming bass, it almost was too much to take in.  But once I adapted into it, the slamming bass is very enjoyable as I could feel it.  The sub-bass is the result of the enclosed design, and in movies, the Z1R actually feel like I am in a theater.  Especially this hall like atmosphere only present strongly when they were intended as I observed it from movies.

Burn-in recommendation: I would say about 250 hours approximately

**Notice** Z1R does best with balanced cables and powerful amp with the signature that best compliment (neutrality and balances) it, and in my case I paired it well enough with Oppo HA-1 and best out of TA-ZH1ES.  The next best that I would say is where the Z1R noticeably do better in balanced out vs single ended.  When compared from Single ended 3.5mm to XLR 4, the Z1R vastly showed better soundstage, bass controls, bass details, better musical lush and flows and stage rendering in XLR 4 balanced, and where as the SE expressed Z1R being bass strong, alright soundstage in comparison and especially thicker and slower or more sticky bass respond.  Z1R was engineered for the Signature series from Sony with Walkman and Amp which are all compatible with the 4.4mm balanced.  We can be assured that Z1R was designed for balanced connection.
 

My first impression onto the Z1R was that soundstage, it is wide and deep with plenty of air, but still remain closed and isolation is more than Z7 and th900 (this had been asked for many times by many people) as these are not totally open like open headphones would be.  Secondly was the bass, it is very strong in it presents, but it is not in anyways too slow/fast, but very well controlled, clean with speed is right-on depend on the tracks (your source) and the ways it was composed. Thirdly was the mid spectrums and especially that vocal.  I have to say that I am especially very extremely impressed with the Vocal here.  Vocal is neither too bright, too warmth, too recessed, or offensively forward.  Vocal is just detailed, smooth, and clearly presenting with the fluidity over-all package of the Z1R voicing. Forthcoming was the trebles, it is lush, smooth, yet sprinkles as opposed of sparkles.  The over-all sounding is like a very expensive stereo set-up in a room....but with strong bass and warmer with denser trebles in comparison to SA5000.

So, before stepping in for this Z1R treatments, please do yourself a favor and find out if you would like to enjoy the music, understand the track you are listening to ? Or would you rather pick at the plays, trace the footprints of effects, observe the placements ? The answer would result in your preferences for Musicality or References
 
 

 
A question by me, what is the Z1R ? I would honestly answer, It is superbly musical and fun headphones with all the details and soundstage you would like to seek from high-end but with the bass slam and relaxed signatures.  The fortes are Sub bass, bass, vocal, upper mid and lower trebles.

The headphones that will leave a soft 2k hole in your pocket, and this makes the Z1R being listed in the high-end category.  My question would be that am I the kind who enjoy the music or rather analyzing the music ?  I know that I love musicality, and having experienced with Z7, I dived into Z1R.  It did not leave me disappointed, but rather very impressed.  I do not want to modify Z1R in anyways except maybe an upgraded external cables

Putting on the Z1R, closing my eyes, and deep listening into the music with so much air, yet silent and isolated, surrounding by this large spherical field of acoustic and instruments, the plays and it energies are floating around, but on top of that, the energies applied could be felt, and together with the fluidity, it leave my jaws drop on the floor as I felt the grimy feeling from the artist when she wrote the song about a girl with a broken heart, and the song is her story.  Then the way the track was composed, it makes me feel the emotions of the tracks and the artist feelings.  I have the feeling that Z1R was tuned for the Modern J-Pop genres, and as my main are Pop, ballad, instruments, I can not resist falling in love with Z1R.  Did I say it is extremely fun ? Yeah, especially with movies from my personal system and Netflix....hell even YouTube is fun with 4K and even with lower quality, TA-ZH1ES would do DSD remastering engine on them.

Back-ground noises : very clean, and almost none at all, but instead there is a lot of sub-bass and sub-harmonic air that can be felt.  Surprisingly, the distortions is also very minimized.  For something at 70 mm large, i am surprised.  It is much cleaner than Z7 (modified), and TH-900...even SA-5000 when it comes to distortion controls.  Perhaps it is the package in a whole that helped the Z1R to achieve something extraordinary (largest drivers, yet clean, closed with great isolation and yet huge and airy staging, great trebles and yet not offensively assaulting on the ears)

Soundstage: very wide, tall, and super-spherical ! Excellent 3 dimensional feeling even in watching movies.

Field of sound: immersive and surrounding

Sound signature: fluidity in the mid, smooth and lush trebles with sprinkles, bass strong but tight, fast and responsive for LCP or plastic type, warmth.  The ability to follow an instrument in it own energies and timbres is excellent and just awesome. Very Musical, fun, engaging.
 

 


Bass: Strong presence, and it would be the first thing to catch your attentions.  It is responsive, tight, Speedy with strong sub-bass that is just there with authorities.  In some tracks, especially modern pop or electric and dance, the sub bass is so powerful that it pulls a lot of attention and could even be understood as a slow bass.  However, it is not a slow bass at all, mid bass and bass over all is very responsive.  Compare to Z7 ? Z7 has slower bass, more boomy with bloated and emphasized mid bass, and even modified to control the booms, the Z7 still doesn't have the responsiveness or controlled mid bass level of Z1R.  Z7 has weaker sub-bass presence, and most likely canceled off by the resonances.  It also doesn't offer the authorities of rumbles and or realistic slams as much as Z1R.  The bass in Z1R is of typical Polymer materials (fluid, sticky, rumbling) however it is faster than Z7 still and is very well controlled.  Mid-bass is almost perfect without any slight hint of being bloated.

Especially, the sub-bass only strongly presenting when it is called for but in an authentic ways and not droning, and in some songs I never actually noticed that it had such a strong sub bass present, but in some tracks it is totally absent.  I questioned myself what is right, and what is wrong ? The way I had been enjoying with weaker sub-bass, or had the track been always like this from the studio ?  I would not know, but I enjoy it.

This is the first time I feel this, I feel the bass is carrying emotions, and expressions with each and every layer of it.  This expressions greatly depending on the track and the way it was composed.  The strongest evidence was that it impressed me on some sub-bass and bass presence as I never observed before in some track, and while in some tracks it just does not.
 
So, How does the bass get so "Perfected" without distortions and while being Closed off for that Isolations and avoiding sound leakages ? Though it could be much at time but still, This is yet another Magic from Sony
 

 


Mid:  Z1R has magical mid spectrum. The details into the lower mid, the fluidity of the spectrum as a hole, the so smooth, forward and yet non offensive vocal with every nano details in the vocals being called out, and still no harshness or sibilant.  It is just magical.  This is the most unique thing about Z1R in my opinion, giving the Z1R the musical attribute, details, and soul in the music.  Tonal body and timbres is not exactly realistic, but is accurately detailed and soulful. 

Trebles: Excellent lower trebles, fast, with plenty of air , density and extensions and in a non offensive way.  My SA5000 would be sparkling and Z1R will only sprinkle with it.  Trebles is sweet, detailed but relaxed, non offensive.  The density of the trebles together with the darker impressions do bring satisfaction to me as I can hear into trebles better.  The extensions are well presenting, and then even the decay and the resonates, the vibrations, the energies variations of the instruments can be observed well when used with WM1Z in balanced.

It has further advantages of being "closed-off", and so it can help isolate the outside noises and help me listen deeper and closer into the lower and upper trebles for it most subtlest details....I dare to say that these subtle details were mostly not observable by my other headphones such as TH900 due to the brightness and some spikes, or SA5000 due to the openeness and these short frequencies leaked out to the back and together with the ambience noises, it was very much ....not noticeable...until Z1R tells me that it is there (modern pops and Ballads has a lot of details and musicality in these regions)


Pairing and scaling:  Z1R is capable of so much Bass dynamics as it is most noticeably scaling, but overall it is very capable.  Soundstage, Dynamic, linearity, detail retrievals are all scaling and exposing the different sources weakness very well.  For instant, if I plug it into iPad, the bass becomes boomy and mushy, into my WM1Z and it slams with resolution and warmer density of tonality, into my Opus 2 and it is snappier, tighter, faster, into my Ta-zh1ES and soundstage became godly with the best Bass Dynamic from Z1R....those are only some examples.


Also, the cups housing is larger than Z7, and protruding outward quit a bit, so laying on the couch with it is a bit trickier than Z7.  I might fall as sleep with Z7, but Z1R keeps me awake because of the awareness that I may tilt my head to the side a bit and damage the housing or the hangers.....together with that scary pricing....lol.  None the less, lying around with it is possible, just a bit more tricky.  One thing to note is that these cup housing were designed to be breath-able.  The air is intake through it and exhausted to upper vent.  Therefore, avoid clogging it up with debris and stuff is totally recommended.  Sony doesn't even print the Logo on them for this reason.  The 3D wire-mesh were uniquely developed for this, and so cleaning up may be a bit tricky.  Inside is the Paper acoustic filter or the main chambers, so also avoid fluid and liquid contacts.  The box were provided to store the Z1R and keep it away from the humidity for the long run. 

So, in the end, the Z1R is actually can be used with many other portable gears you may have.  Now, if you need and or feel that such an expensive headphones deserve to be with something of it scale, something pricy and expensive ? Sure, Sony is releasing Portable Walkman, WM1A and or WM1Z.  Now, if you are curious about how the Z1R may do with top of the line and an all out desktop system ? Well, you are lucky, Sony is releasing TA-ZH1ES as well.  So you can stream movies on iPad, connected it to the amp, and listen to the Z1R if you feel the need for it.
 


What I like: the mid spectrum, vocal, lower trebles density and resolutions, warmer sound signature, airy, design, comfort ability, build quality, the flows and fluidity, the musicality, engaging, darker but very detailed and meaty trebles with great extensions that is not fatiguing.

What I dis-like: Strong sub-bass sometime could be overwhelming, storage box.  The stock cables could be of better quality for the price.  It would make more senses to have Kimber Kables in the box instead of Silver Plated....it is Sony flagship after all.

Conclusion: for the whole package of rugged build, quality of "made in Japan", and easily driven, so musical and engaging, the Z1R can totally be used for "entertaining" in general, and it does everything so well.  The Z1R is worthy of the cost as a headphones that can still bring quality music and entertainment to the consumer without needing a bulky amplifier to sound good.  The key word here is "portability and high quality audio", and I meant portability as not literally walking around with it, but I mean portability as that you can plug Z1R into anything, and enjoy high quality audio from it.  Therefore, if you are looking for : Bass strong, great soundstage, vocal, isolation and entertaining purposes, you are looking right at the very best from Sony, the Z1R. 
 
To be specific: To enthusiasts and audiophiles, generally the more Neutral the better, and given Z1R signature, I would guess that Full retail may be a bit hard.  However, to people who love Bass of high-end quality, the godly soundstage, non-fatigue, and ocean of details in trebles with Noise Isolations ? The Z1R is worth full retail and even some more.  Again, Isolation from being closed back and this quality bass is "Magical". Either way, there had been deals reported in. However, I chose to get full support and warranty within the USA, and purchased it from The Source AV

Again, it may be bass strong for personal preferences which greatly varied especially into higher-end and pricy gears.  If you love bass and warmth, this is the jackpot.  Even if you are not, as an enthusiast, you own it to yourself for a personal auditioning and experiences from this very top product from Sony, the Z1R.




 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Introduction

Opus Audio, or the Bit, I am sure the name is not familiar for many people.  Neither was it to me.  However, on the journal to seek for a good digital portable player with adequate power for full side headphones, I came across the Opus 2 from the threads, posts about it as a newly developed player from The Bit.  Reading into it with dual DAC ES9018K2M x2.  The Opus 2 sports the same DAC chipset from Onkyo DP-X1 (newest DP-X1A).  DP-x1 was never that enjoyable in my opinion, and then on top of that, the pricing of Opus 2 threw me off the chair.  MSRP is $1599 equivalent, which put it right into the "high-end" DAP segment.  Opus 2 is more expensive than Sony newest Walkman NW-WM1A, and yet cheaper than WM1Z.  Though with balanced out connections, and a solid reputation on the much affordable Opus 1, I gave the Opus 2 a chance.  Having to ordered it straight from the website, the Opus 2 arrived in 3 days, and that is considered "super fast" for a shipment from Korea to USA.  Customer service through Email was super responsive and fast.  The product is Made in Korea !  I ordered it from Opus itself
 
http://www.audio-opus.com/?page_id=16867


Practicality

It gets warm during play time sitting in the leather case, but not noticeably so.  It charges up rather quickly for a DAP, indicated 4 hours on the box and 8.5-10 hours play time.  It can act as a USB DAC from Windows or MacOS and IOS 7+ with camera kit and stock cables.  I tried using it with my HTC 10 which is USB C to micro USB, and when the cables was connected, the Opus 2 Automatically switch into the function of being an External DAC/Amp. However, it is better to manually set the function from the drop down setting menu and choose USB DAC option setting.  Nice!  Apple and Idevices needed the Camera Kit and another USB cables to stack up-on.  Wow, Finally, a DAP that answer to all of our need: Real stand alone DAC feature, and a DAP by itself.  If plugged into an iPad charger, it can be playing music and charging all day long. 

Opus 2 is 32 bits standalone DAC with Xmos and native DSD playback when connected to the above as a standalone.  Fully USB 2.0 certified

There was no bugs to playback using 3rd party app from any devices in DAC mode.

Songs, albums, artists, genres, folders, favorites, playlists browsing

MicroSD to take up to 200GB.  I don't have any 256Gb to try but I don't think it would present a problem

Bluetooth 4.0 and Wifi capability for OTA upgrades

3.5mm single ended and 2.5mm TRRS balanced connection shares AK style

Ultra energy saving mode:  if not playing music and leaving idles for more than 10 minutes, the player automatically fall into this mode where it could last for weeks.

Battery is Non-user replaceable. Only if you can find the battery and is skillful enough to do so (correction have been made as The Bit does not offer the battery alone, and to replace the battery by yourself is not recommended)

OTG from Opus 2 can not be used as digital transport into other DAC/amp
OTG from your smartphone into Opus 2 and it will acts as a standalone DAC/Amp.  When used with HTC 10 and USB C, I only needed a micro USB to USB C cables
Again, using idevices or IOS, it will need camera kit.

The excitements

The operating system is android, and indicating boot up.  It is much faster than Onkyo DP-x1, Zx2, and WM series on booting up and building data base.  It probably is the fastest with android that I have tried.  The custom android is simple enough, yet strange enough for people who never came across one like this before, and it took me a while playing around to find all the setting such as (high-mid-low gain), equalizer, Dsp functions and so on.  There are 24 bits, auto, and 32 bits xmos for DSP

Browsing music is a breeze with : songs, albums, artists, genres, folders, favorites, playlists

Out of the box the Opus 2 sound great enough that it brought smiles upon me right in the trebles details and the impressive soundstage.  I came across a few other cheaper DAP from new companies before and they seemed to be a mess of a tuning, like there were no guidelines and aims in their products.  I was surprised by the well tune of Opus 2,  the overall transparency, the Dynamic, the balances and neutrality across the board.  This is more like a very modern tuning, digital like with great senses of speed, airy, expansive, immersive with wide and depth of field, and spherically soundstage with streams of continuous musical plays from sides to sides, approaching and receding from plays/notes on panning and fading effects.  The bit as a new company, what did they do to achieve this result ? Did they have their guidelines ? Fine tunes against competitions in this segments and so on ? Those were my questions, I did some digging around and I found out more from digging around and requesting insider informations:

Co-working with the Best Sound Designers and Engineers from Korea

1/ true balanced circuitry with each DAC doing Mono Application is Excellent
2/ Hybrid Opamps and Discrete amplifying tuning circuitry is the money maker
3/ low heat dissipation indicated that the electrical components is of high quality
4/ Direct soldered sockets for Jack plugs on the board is excellent ( the signal integrity is kept to maximum potential )
5/ additional clock systems
6/ X-mos True DAC function with Native DSD playback
7/ True tuning from the Recording to Mastering studio, and then real interactions with audiophiles and critics with countless hours of critical listening for final Fine tuning result



That confirmed about The Bit as a company, they are very serious about their products R&D.  More than often, most companies without a long proven history always want to puzzle up something off the shelves, do some lousy tuning jobs and become a products.  This is not the Bit, they put together a products with "pride, knowledges, keen ears" and then fine tuning it again and again.  We all know that without an artist hands, paints, canvas, are simply tools.  So I can say that the Bit is very professional about this regard.

Arrived in a "snow-white" box with Gold name tag on it.  The box itself gave off an impressions of an elegance lady is sleeping within ! Sliding it up from the bottom, and open it up.  The box was tight and gives off a good opening experiences like opening some expensive presents, well the price isn't cheap ! So right there, the Opus 2 laying atop of the manual book, warranty card, screen protector.  Then the leather case, and finally the USB cables.

Picking her out of the box, for 252 grams she felt similar to the Zx2, weighty enough to indicate that she is not toy-like, rugged enough to feel expensive.  I love how the volume buttons has a solid click when turning on each adjustment with 150 increment steps.  The play and control buttons on the side also has this very rugged and solid click upon pressing too

The hardware

Using Dual ESS Sabres ES9018K2M, and that is 1 DAC per channel as Mono implementations.

The circuitry is true balanced as there are 3 Opamps per channels.  Each channel has 1 Opamp per signals line, and then hybrid circuits with discrete components and 1 more opamp.  It is together of 6 Opamps and 2 dedicated discrete hybrid amplification circuits to totally output balanced connection into 2.5mm.

Very low heat dissipation while operating and charging at the same time while being covered in the leather case.  It indicated the electrical components within is of top quality.

Both 3.5mm and 2.5mm sockets are direct soldered onto the main board for the best signal integrity and conductivity.  These 2 sockets were designed and fit into the chassis very tight and will not move anywhere unless you force it to.  There are different kind of plugs.  I recommend to use a Short plugs instead of the one that has the Collar part.  It will help as the plug lay on top of the main chassis and help to secure it further.

The sound quality  Using easy to drive headphones Z1R, Balanced SA5000/3000 from 2.5 Balanced connection. I found that ops 2 pairing with New Sony MDR-Z1R to be an excellent pairing
 

Back to my preferences, I had always been looking for from a DAP, especially away from Zx2 in this very detailed and resolutions of the lower trebles.  Zx2 with it Warmth, and spherical soundstage are great, but I always wanted this lower trebles to be more energetic with textures, resolutions and extensions.  Yes! Out of the box the Opus 2 is showing this level of great trebles details, texture, resolutions, extensions and air.  It has a much more balanced and Neutral tonality with a Flat overall respond.  I get to enjoy more of the mid, upper mid, lower trebles more than with Zx2.  The trebles remind me of real live performances without electrical gears in the chain, cymbals crashes, high notes from string plays, all are very authentic and realistic.  Timbres are full with micro energies delivered vividly into it body

Soundstage: super wide, deep, spherical together with a clean back ground.  It resembles Pha-3 balanced out.  This is better than DP-x1, Zx2, Mojo

Field of sound rendering:  very fluidly with rendering ability, the panning affects are very continuous and come together as a streams from side to side and vertically together to add into the impressions of soundstage being as good as it is, a very impressive staging coming from a Portable players.

Sounds signature overall:  Spherical soundstage, much wider in X, Y, Z compared to Walkman (Zx2, slightly better than WM1Z ) Speedy, very Digital like, Flat, and neutral altogether.  It expose the ESS Sabres signatures at it best, the analytical, airy with tip top trebles extensions.  Credit is due at the place where the trebles peak and most energetic in well mastered and recorded tracks it shows no sibilants or harshness, there are harshness and sibilants in poorly recorded track and or singer performances.  Therefore it is very revealing.

Bass:  overall is with speedy and super tight Impacts, dynamic and transparency that is well balance and very controlled, fast decay, and very digital like but not lacking the micro energies variations with excellent timbres.  Sub-bass is Fast, vivid, deep and impactful, mid bass is very dynamic, well controlled and in good balancing to the rest of the board

Mid: very detailed and forward, vocal is upfront with reasonable distances and not as close as Walkman, speedy and also more digital like, crystal clear but still carry emotions as the singers will be expressing his vibrators and arts within his voice (addictive).  However the lower mid and upper mid are very energetic which brings micro energies variations and fluidity into the majority of instruments.  The resolutions of each plays, beats, chords, the vibrations of the decays are impressive and more analogue like but still remaining speedy enough.  Very well balanced with great layering, separations and speed for an Airy experiences.  Again, it does not lack the micro energies delivery and body.  You can easily follow a line of string instruments and hear it vibrations, reverberate even though fast but it is vividly presenting within it own spaces and no hint of being mixed up or other layers to bleed in.  It is highly addicting for genres that has most mid and vocal plays such as ballads, pops, jazz.  Even metals and rock will sound good as well due to upper mid and lower trebles being so vividly presenting and energetic with Airy performances.

Trebles: as stated above, this is the Sabres all out with it typical trebles, tuned with more smoothness and balanced to the rest of the board.  It remain a bit cold or a slight bit thin but very well balanced and great extensions.  It is excellently tuned by The bit to get the best of Sabres trebles , extensions, resolutions, but smooth out the harshness and sibilant enough to bring satisfactions to those who prefer "real cymbals crash" and metallic tones.  There is no harshness, and the overall tonality is well balanced.  It is also very revealing due to the neutrality and balanced of all spectrum, so it will not be forgiving toward bad recording or mastering.

I love the sound signature of Opus 2.  It is digital enough, Neutral, well balanced for the level of transparency and Airy presentation.  Together with the excellent detail retrieval and hardware implementations for a portable device, the Opus 2 soundstage is no joke.  Opus 2 is an example of how good digital like performances can still carry emotions and soul within it timbres overall performances.  Put in a simple term, Opus 2 is References but yet not lacking souls and emotions. 

Is it your taste ?

I am afraid when it come down to personal taste and preferences, it is an infinite possibility.  Will you give the Opus 2 a chance to audition it ?  I personally prefer warmer and lush sound signature because I mainly crave for the soul and the emotions within my music.  However, Opus 2 beside satisfying in bringing soul and emotions into the music, it also brings the digital, Airy, and speed with overall neutrality, spherical and wide soundstage.  It is surprisingly good in my opinion and is a worthy piece of collection which has features to be a portable integrated DAC/Amplifier for IEMS and easy to drive headphones




 

 
Value 8/10: Pricing is a bit high and stiff Vs many competitions, eventhough the performance is surprisingly good, but the market is evolving very fast, and so is the competitions
Audio Quality 9/10: Surprisingly good with digital sound signature that carry emotions.  The output could be meatier so the DAC/Amp feature can drive harder to drive headphones
Design 10/10: Light but comfortably weighty, slim, awesome form
Battery Life 7.5/10:  Acceptable for 8-10 hours play time depends on playing PCM high-res or DSD native
User Interface is 10/10: Simple and easy to use, fast, quick boot up or powerdown

i actually won the ipurifier 2 in a contest, and as a pure enthusiast I would like to voice up what I gathered under different instances and circumstances. The ipurifier is very well built and eyes catching. It offers different kind of connectors end to be ordered by your liking and convenient.

Using HA-1 and Zx2-Cradle with all lossless, high-res, and DSD albums. I observed the following instances.

1/ out of the box, stock everything. The ipurifier 2 offer immediate improvements as in bigger bass, dynamic, punches, and some trebles details, larger images and spaces

2/ with real upgraded USB cables, the Ipurifier 2 shows up as a coloration device. It boost the bass and trebles while veiling up the very fine micro details in both sub-bass and lower-trebles.

The experiences were rather strange for me, but I came to a conclusion that the Ipurifier is neither negative or positive. It depends on what you have in your system. From a good system, and stock USB cables, the Ipurifier 2 is positive. But if you have "real audiophile" upgraded USB cables, it will be rather negative.

Now, when I meant Audiophile Grade USB, I literally meant it. The cables where you observe the changes and improvements right immediately compare to stock.

However, USB cables of real audiophile quality is really not out there yet, and or unless you spend a hefty sum on it. Then we are speaking audiophile USB grade. In my experiences, I use my own DIY USB cables and was able to observe the above. I guess to the majority of folk out there, the Ipurifier 2 should be a positive device within your chain.

Last year I was so excited buying the Walkman Zx2 and Z7 from Sony, and I was gradually enjoying the better of real quality audio when I am stepping back into the portable world. I feel that now is better than ever to have the dips into the rest of Sony gears, the PHA-3 portable amplifier. Why ? Because somehow many people don't appreciate it, and hence the used market price is dropping hard, and I was lucky to have bought one at a very good price.




What made me decided to buy the Pha-3 were these followings: Portability, Build quality, Balanced output, USB (charge/audio in at the same time by 2 ports), seamlessly connect to Apple devices, and computers, build-in battery. Better yet, about 5-6 hours of digitally fed and play with Balanced out. I can confirm that the Pha-3 is a worthy purchase if you already own Zx2. It carries a different sound signature and yet closely resembles the Zx2 with yet more transparency, separations and expansive soundstage.

Right when I decided to have gone with this purchase decision, I had looked into Pha-3 board and components, and it seems that Sony uses the Technologies inside the Walkman Zx2 for it as well. For example, the OS-Con capacitors, and then packing very good desktop class ESS9018S with independent Texas instrument opamp chip per Channel for balanced. What I realized immediately ? The burn-in process. My brand new ZX2 needed 200 hours roughly to sound better, and it even had weaker, less counts of these capacitors inside. Therefore, it was just making senses for PHA-3 to at least need 300 hours for burn-in or even more, please take it literally.

I then even read all around the websites, forums, and different reviews, impressions on the unit, and all seemed to be very disappointing from the performances. But surprisingly most of the "used and for sell" units are all used for less than 100 hours. Case in point is that my unit was sold to me with less than 20 hours used, and everything came inside the box, most cables are still inside their untouched plastic bags and ties. This lead me to believe that most of the people who reviewed, and impressed on the PHA-3, and even people who is selling it, they all have not been burning in the PHA-3 properly. From my own experiences, my Zx2 sounded horrible at first, but gradually changing with burn-in.




I dived in blindly and made the purchase, then I started bumping into different problems. The Pha-3 is so sensitive, and only a slight movements, then the Pha-3 will stop being charged regardless of it being plugged in. There was no indication of it stopping it charges ? I didn't know, and left it for burn-in overnight to wake up into an empty PHa-3 which couldn't even turn on. It took me about an hour scratching head and reading around the forums to find out about this problem, and was sure that the Pha-3 could take charge and play music at the same time. I also needed any power outlet with 2.1A output, and voilà, any IPad charger will do. First problem solved.

Second problems, the PHA-3 is charging so slow....and it run very warm. It will shut off when it get too warm, and it will take 15 hours to charge up if you connect it to a laptop, or anything with less than 2.1 Amp outlet.




Third problem, yeah ....the 300 hours burning in is horrible, and yet the result was sweet. Pha-3 has better dynamic and presences at 120 hours, and then even more when approaching 300 hours. I only let it sit and play music with attached headphones, and nothing special in the process. Once again, this picture from my Zx2 guide by Sony to prove it



Now look at Pha-3 motherboard . Do you see why I recommend 300 hours ? To my opinion, it only stop improving after 500 hours or so



When all 3 problems combined together, and no wonder why people would just want to smash this little thing, and sell it. Well, lucky for me.

The sound signature, the PHA-3 carry Sony house sound with punchy controlled Bass, sparkling trebles, clean back ground, forward vocal and of great separations, transparency, expansive soundstage. Please do mind that I only use "balanced out" connection. Therefore, please regard this impression with strictly balanced connection. The Pha-3 is surprisingly sensitive with different cables materials which leads me to believe that Pha-3 is of a very good build quality and internal parts. Looking at some of the online picture of the motherboard, I could see a lot of high quality film resistors, capacitors and...so on.

It can get a huge improvements if using with Sony accessory Dock if one is using Walkman DAP. Perhaps, using Walkman+Dock+Pha-3 and balanced connection will bring one of the most sophisticated sound from Sony. The best about this combination is the transportability. Zx2 with Pha-3 on battery, and both last for 5-6 hours. Docked and stationed for ultimate listening without running out of battery ever, and that "oh so good" sonically quality.

Also, depends on your experiences/preferences, upgrading the cables quality will bring about observable improvements




Sound-scape: spherical, expansive in width, depth, height, and immersive with 3rd dimensions.

Bass: Full of controls, packing punches, and very detailed. The sub-bass can get very very low with vivid details, and especially on complicated bass plays, every lines were vividly presenting with it own definitions. Distortions ? Perhaps only in bad records in my experiences, the PHA-3 is awesome in bass department. However, driving some higher impedance headphones may expose the weakness of the Pha-3, the lack of dynamic and it senses. Even when using Z7 which was made for it, I felt it was slightly lacking as well. I can tell that it pair superbly well with Fostex TH900, and I would think other similar variants as well ? I can observe a total control of bass tonality, vivid visceral energy and highly textured lines with excellent tonality.

Mid: forward and transparent, centered and vividly presenting. The separations of each instruments, tones and tonal balances are vivid, spacious. The micro energies and variations are very fluid and packing full of details, energies. However, Mid spectrum is very boring, lifeless when the unit is still new, all of the micro energies variations, and plays are like not there but only huge empty spaces. It actually improves a lot and vividly playing after 300 hours burning-in....and magically continue to improve upon micro dynamic energies and it variations up to 500 hours. I found strings plays carry less organic warmth feeling where the wind instruments has a much better expressions and organic with it inner wind and brass housing tonality. Do not mistake it though, the strings plays and tonality is still too good to criticize, it only trades a bit of warmth for clarity, separation and micro energies.

Treble: sparkling, energetic tonality, airy, and is very detailed without being harsh/sibilant. This is where the trebles get tuned a bit differently than the Sabres ES9018 sound signature I had been expecting, the cold/chilling, sparkling, detailed trebles ? Instead the Pha-3 trebles is yet sparkles, dense, thick, airy, detailed, and not...cold ? Strangely eh ? I wouldn't think it was Sabres chip inside, and if you believe different DAC carry different sound like I do ! I love it here. I would call this trebles a sweet and detailed lady !




Pros: The best about it pros is the Fidelity of spaces which are so accurately at the same pace and distant constantly, and then within this space is the Depth that contains the definitions of each instruments energies and plays. Connecting to other devices are a breeze and clearly indicated. Balanced connection, Vocal, expansive and spacious presences, excellent separations and layering, great energies expressions almost all around, warmer and musical bass/trebles. Very good mid, forward with good transparency and smooth vocals.

Can be portable stack with Zx2 or other Walkman/sources by running on it built-in battery. Or docked on your desk

Cons: some what weak in the power and stability. It results in weaker mid-upper bass to lower mid energies expressions, but only if you try to use higher impedance headphones, or are picky. Some tracks will show it worse than other ? Long time charging, too sensitive on movements because the PHA-3 will get disconnected from charging without indications. Gets warm on operation, especially if you cover it in any fabric, leathers...pocket....etc.

What would I like for a better experiences ? Would love to have much better power supplies.....even if it was more Bulky even at 2x this thickness, needs better battery, charging indicators. Less sensitivity toward moving in which may result in the sound being stopped. Also a larger battery with faster charging ?

Pairing and utilizing: I used pha-3 with Zx2 as a transport, and I originally mistaken the cables inside the Pha-3 box to be a good cables for Zx2. I was wrong, this cables was horrible, even though it was short and is a better fit, but it doesn't have the built in components where the Sony real "dongles cables" has, the WMC-NWH10. I modified it for better optimization as in elminating the female type A USB and replaced it with micro USB for direct Pha-3 connection and upgraded cables. It is superbly paired with TH900 , then MDR- Sa5000 in balanced connections. You may ask how ? Any vendor can make them balanced for you via (modifications), or if you are handy with DIY, you can find many threads here on head-fi for it.



Pha-3 can be seamlessly connected to Apple devices, and PC. The analog line out is using the same port on the back with a switch to opt for headphones or line out, be noticed that the Balanced connection is not available when you are in Analog line-in. It means anything you amplify by Pha3 via Analog feeds will not output balanced connection by Pha-3, but only Single Ended. I love the Pha-3 and Zx2 when connected line out toward my large stereo system. It is so good and satisfying. When using it like this, the dynamic, controls, tonality, and energy are so so good, and that I had talked to a well reputable friend who also confirmed that even though the amp section of the Pha-3 may be a bit weak, when having a good quality amplifier, the DAC section in the Pha-3 is "excellent". It explains the superb quality when using with my large stereo system. It also means that Pha-3 can be used as DAC/Pre-amp for hard to drive headphones.

DSEE HX: it will work in digital connection and anything below CD quality will trigger it. The sound seems to be sharper in the highs and more extensions in the low. However, some people may not enjoy it much as it may render your track to sound a bit less organic and more artificial. The option is excellent at what it does

I absolutely optimized this little rig that I have and I am loving everything coming from it, and if you wonder, I do think that this is a good investment and having this setup will satisfy most folks out there who is caught into the High-Fidelity audio worlds which is portable, transportable. I even think this setup is almost future proof that even if new Walkman is to be released or higher end DAP ? The most important thing here in the chain is the PHA-3 with it flagship 9018S and Sony specially catering to your sound, unless PHA-4 is announced, even so, there is so little room to improves considering form-price-performance factors. I hope you enjoyed reading

Edit: Updated with video
[VIDEO]https://youtu.be/folne8cazX8[/VIDEO]

Please allow me a moment to express my appreciation toward IFI for this opportunity to demo the Micro IDSD for reviewing purposes and return. The unit itself is a DAC/AMP combo which plays DSD natively, and sport Burrbrown DAC, so any fan of BurrBrown will be happy.

Upon receiving the unit, it arrived in a nice and neat box, and literally comes with a lot of supportive cables and adapter, a carrying pouch as well.




At first I couldn't figure out how to charge the unit because the confusion between the "smart charging" port on the side and the "digital input". Took me about 15 minutes to figure out that the unit charging port is the digital input with male USB and provided blue USB cables. I had to look for the manual to discovered that the smart charging port on the side is to charge your devices as an external battery pack only! So, please do not get confused


The device itself is like a chunk of aluminum with ports ! But it magically about the size length of the Note 4. Hah! Perfect stack up! Though, it would be nice and neat if IFI with all of their supplied cables would add in a short Female USB to OTG micro USB cable. There is only 1/4" out for headphones, and if you have 3.5mm style plug, you can use the adapter inside the box. I like the RCA stereo out for pre-amp to large stereo systems. This is excellent feature for people who also love large stereo system. It can be pre-amplified (controllable output volume), or direct (max output)

The knobs and switches, it would be nice to have the volume knob and switches more covered, recessed, or a button to lock it, because it is so easy to knock it out of the setting and damage your own hearings. It is best to set it and sit still to enjoy it. Therefore, I agree with people calling the IDSD the "transportable" unit. Beside, the rubber bands once strapped on to stack, it could easily hit and move the gain switch....which may again damage your hearing, I stacked it up higher to avoid hitting it. I rarely move mine, and more than a couple occasions I almost yank out my headphones due to the sudden loudness...this 4000 mW is not a joke ! So, it is good to set and sit to enjoy, and not recommended to pocket it on the go.


Battery longevity: I listen to my collections for about 2-3 hours a day, and it keeps up just fine, with both Zx2/note 4 and IDSD stacking, it last an average of 6-5 hours. It digital input actually will draw and charge itself whenever possible, and I observed that it charged from The IPad Pro, because they both went through their battery faster and the blue light will lit up even though the unit is turned to off. Therefore, on supportive device, the USB in port can be used to feed digital and charge at the same time. Interferences and noises are no issues here when stacking on a phone or getting too close to the computer. I do hear hums and such on PHA-3 when paired with smartphone being on top. So, interferences isolated = 1 more credit toward micro IDSD. However, IDSD micro doesn't have secondary self charge port while the main digital/charge port is being used, and that means you just can not stack another additional battery on top, this is where PHA-3 get the credit, but then PHA-3 takes a longer time to charge up than Micro IDSD. So, you get to pick your poison.

Battery recharge: it charges around 4 hours on average by using the Apple 12W charger and its blue digital cables.

Also to note, the adapter of 3.5mm to 1/4" that comes in the box will work with any 3.5mm TRRS hi-fi man style or Zx2 style.

It took me a few tries to get the Zx2 to work with Micro IDSD. I figured both Zx2 and IDSD has to be off , connected, then turned on IDSD (wait on the green light), then turn the ZX2 screen on in order for them to pair up ? Strange, but whatever as long as it works.
Now, then I tried to pair it with Note 4 and Onkyo Hf player, it worked just in a snap of a fingers.






Pairing with Windows 10 laptop requires manual download of the driver from IFI, and connecting to IPad or IPhone with IOS only needs Apple Lightning to Camera USB cables. I tried watching movies and gaming are both simply superb. It is so far the best Single Ended device that I have come across so far.




Summed up: It is Warmth but sweet mid range, beautiful micro energies variations, every micro movements of the tonal body from the inner fidelity can be observed . That is why I call it beautiful and sweet, especially string instruments and drum plays. Yeah, tube-like, impact, darker, warmer, but controlled, detailed, great 2D soundstage, and musical are the summed up of Micro IDSD perfectly. So, I guess, if they hit your spot ? Please read on.


The sound signature: warm tone on low and mid spectrum while the vocal is with great transparency, airy but darker trebles and very good separations. Very good soundstage, and this soundstage is the typical soundstage that I like a lot, the spherical soundstage. I would say it is even a bit more emphasized toward Lower mid bass and bass energies (the impacts, oh my...). This sound signature will grab "bass lovers" and "audiophiles" all alike at the heart on the first impression. I love (quality only) type of bass, and it really did grab my attentions. Please don't be mistaken this bass for the kind of bass that you hear on cheap gears and or low quality. I have to say it again, (it is the energies, the fidelity, the impact ) that is emphasized. For example, in the song that is well known to me, I feel the percussionist applied more power into his beats and plays but they are all so magically controlled, detailed, textured. The best enjoyment comes from both Xbass and 3D off. Beautiful dynamic energies.

The next thing I found out is that it uses Femto clock to totally eliminate Jitters ? I think this is the cheapest device to have built in the Femto clock at the price $499 on Amazon and authorized dealers.



Soundscape: surrounding and holographical

Soundstage: spherical, good width and depth. But with more attention and I would say this soundstage is with more width than depth, also the 3rd dimension Presentation is surprisingly good for a device with single ended and at this price range. Now, there is 3D function, and it seems that IFI reserved the extra 3rd dimensional depth and height for this feature. There is a noticeable improvement on this 3rd dimension senses when turned on. It also improves the width and depth of 2nd dimensional and the separations of each instrument spaces as well. Most importantly, it doesn't feel artificial.... Actually to really look into nit picking it, the mid is a bit sharper , and there are more reverbs, but not to the noticeable level to call it artificial. Some smoothness in the lower energy of upper mid and lower trebles play may be a tad harsher.

Bass: Very detailed , clean and full of energies while retaining the warmth but very clear and transparent. I love how deep, powerful the sub-bass goes and still detailed/controlled without being muddy, the separations of different plays are well presented, and the power applied onto each beats on different instruments are very well presented. Then there is X-Bass function, which don't really noticeably bring out "Bass" as I would think, it actually turned the mid-bass to be warmer and with deeper sub-bass. Bass is very enjoyable and addictive on this device with big body and defined dept whether you turn on X-bass or not because it doesn't really bring the kind of EQ like noticeable bass bump, but more like a different kind of sound signature bass. Keep it off for tighter and more controlled bass, or on for a tad warmer and deeper bass. I observed much deeper bass and slams on SA5000 VS TH900. It probably scales with the headphones and the headphones sound signature itself as well. The best thing about the bass here is the Percussion of the play, whether it is projected further away or closer to me, I always feel that Slam and Bang in full body (always full of energies and impactful).

Mid: Mid is warmth, with excellent separations, every details are well presented even some nuances details are playing out very good. Vocal is forward and clean with the transparency and smoothness. Mid spectrum is full of energy that one would expect coming from a powerful amp of 4000mw as advertised + some more, and not only that the variations of the micro details energies are very well perceived, and that means beautiful strings play, brass, and wind instruments. I would say Mid spectrum is one of this IDSD forte, it is just so good, sweet, fluid, warmth+smooth, linear, detailed and full of energies. Oh, and that electric guitar crazy plays, it is always full of energies. Excellent variations of micro energies, and kind of following it give me the total satisfactions, the feeling of hearing the guitarists right in front of my eyes, if I focused on to it, and never miss any micro-details.

Trebles: very detailed, warmth but detailed, splashy but soft, and well extended but Super smooth and thick, also a bit darker but energetic. It helps to observe detailed play without introducing fatigue. There is this beautiful blend of upper mid and lower trebles spectrum for a very detailed fidelity and sparkles without the harshness and hot coming trebles. It is so well received that the extensions of vocal tone is more "air like" rather than harsh "S,X,Z". I rarely enjoy Rock and Metal, but I tried it here "the veer Union-Decade", and it was awesome. I never liked Rock and Metal much because the music domain too much into upper mid and high spectrums, if not done right it could easily be lacking the bass thumb, energized and detailed trebles but harsh and hot trebles which had always makes these genres less enjoyable for me. However as stated here, I love this trebles and the sound overall from Micro IDSD




Conclusions: I have yet to hear a better (bass quality and musicality with the warmth+detail+transparency sound like this especially mid spectrum, vocal and wide soundstage) from a single ended sonically performance like this Micro IDSD. For the moment, I couldn't help but wondered "what if" there was balanced connection due to Dual DAC in this unit ? My experiences with Balanced vs SE had always been very favorable toward a good Balanced design. Even though my Demo unit had some flaws here and there, whether defective or bugs, it is still a too good with price to performance ratio. I enjoy it a lot due to the warmth tonal body, big and powerful bass but too well controlled, the transparency mid, the clear vocal, and the smooth transitional between upper mid and lower spectrums and then the airy trebles with flying details but still relax and musical. It makes me recall the 80ish hi-fi systems with tube and such, and back then I was only a kid....so....memory won't be that good for sound quality




The love-hate Story:

Ok, I give up. How come it sounds so good with SE connection ? The tonal balances, details, and musicality is even better than Zx2. For my personal taste and preferences, I love instrumentals, pop, EDM, ballads, therefore I love what I am hearing here, full of energy, dynamic, beautiful strings plays. One could even call this being a bit colored like i mentioned above, more toward the warmth and tonal body thickness, so it is all about musicality, enjoyment and not for picking your music a part in the while of not missing any beats and micro details. Also don't forget that vocal, very addictive. If I thought Zx2 had that unique tonal body and musicality, this IDSD micro brings it to another level, an improvement, at a cheaper price, and single ended connection! I can totally justify buying it for my Zx2. By this, I can enjoy Zx2 alone, or pair it up to IDSD micro for enjoyment, and I can even use it to iPad, laptop, iPhones, a function that Zx2 lack.

I had never been aware of IFI and it products line up, until I got offered a chance for this demo unit for audition and return. I was a bit skeptical because I am slowly losing faith of "affordable and quality" audio to be in any new products anymore. Then I wasn't even excited about the unit when it arrived. I even had a hard time with it on the first day. The confusion of smart charge port and digital and charging ports, the pairing with Zx2. But then, after everything was figured out and listened to it. I changed my mind, and I just want to buy it. Therefore, I went digging into it real hardware components and it explained everything: high quality components, and Femto clock, dual DAC, Quality Capacitors. It is so lovely, beside the unique sonical quality, I think it build is unique for this price range as well. I am glad to have the chance to audition this unit. The design within the device is all dual like (Dual DAC, Dual Mono Pre-amplification).....and the end output is only Single ended....god...so frustrated regardless of IFI explanations, I still think there will be a huge market for this type of Warmer, darker, more musical sound signature and balanced connection for an even better quality.



Comparison VS Mojo: form and build factors, Mojo win straight out. Sound performances ? I prefer IDSD micro with it beautiful warmth tonal body and transient micro energies, and I also prefer the more spherical soundstage. But keep in mind, Mojo can totally be Portable, with better clarity and transparency, more neutral, but only a little less spherical in soundstage, where as IDSD Micro is only Transportable....as in do not put in the pocket moving and jamming. All of these buttons will get messy and blow out your ears drums.



The potential of RCA pre-amplifier output. It is actually more powerful than I imagined. I tried on to connect o my large stereo system, and it actually is pumping pretty good impact, dynamic, and the soundstage is very very good for a device of it size. It carries on with the above sound signature from headphones, but most noticeable will the bass, depth, impact, and the soundstage. Me and my wife are both surprised by it. Therefore, I have nothing to say beside the good thing for this micro IDSD being a quality pre-amplifier.

Sound signature in general: detailed, neutral, great clarity, super speedy, good control of layering and spaces rendering.

This was an import purchased unit from Japan as US release is not here yet. The design is beautiful, nice screen, snappy processing power



The operation system is android 5.1 which was the newest upon the announcement of the DP-x1 itself. I got the over the air upgrade on firmware out of the box, it was still 5.1 but with bugs fixed, and not sure what. I hope that Onkyo would keep up with the OTA upgrade on firmwares. Because as at this moment, I had quiet a handfuls of bugs from 3rd party apps, including Gonemad, Poweramp Alpha....etc.



Prior to receiving the unit, I actually was following the thread about it, and have seen couples of people reporting back as the socket TRRS 2.5mm for balanced connection got broken. This problem is known to happen with A&K players, thought not through head-fi forum, but it is presents, and people always rather A&K had gone with 3.5mm TRRS instead. Why ? The larger = the stronger. Upon receiving of the unit, I inspected closely, and it was my priority to examine and inspecting the socket as much as I could. Not much of attention needed, just 2 seconds out of the box and I immediately noticed the huge gap between the chassis and the 2.5mm TRRS socket. I could even look into the bottom of the socket through this gap. Looked closely and I realized that the ports on the frame itself are the same sizes and seem to be made for 3.5mm socket. However, Onkyo had 2.5mm TRRS installed inside of it. I thought, oh..wow...I don't think it would be a problem as long as I am careful enough. Surprisingly, I tried to plug TRRS into it, and the socket was very very tight the first time, then I tried to remove it, and it was also very hard to remove. I turned the player upside down and it was easier to plug/unplug the jack. It captured my full attentions. The first time I plug/unplug TRRS was too tight because it could have been the side to side play on the socket. I couldn't even listen to music without thinking about it and how soon, when it was going to break. It was an obvious inevitable to happen. Hopefully Onkyo will address the issue before global launch





The next problem that bugged me was the UI and the android system itself is not too friendly toward 3rd party program. I installed Poweramp alpha app, and 3 minutes into a track it started to act all maniac on me, the sound cut in and out, clipping one one channel, just like it was possessed. I uninstalled everything, and it still happened on the stock player. So I had to do a hard factory reset on it, and it is now working just fine and as intended with stock player. Some speculations were made that it is due from 3rd party developers need to be contacted about developing the correct drives to utilize the dual DAC ? I think Onkyo need to do it



So then I proceeded into listening sessions with my collections of 16/44.1 and 24/96 FLAC files with TRRS silver into th900 and AGC. The first thing first that captures my attentions would be how transparent the sound is, and with very tight+dense and splashy trebles, but the bass was with less density and in place it is more articulated and the thinner density of the bass leave out more room for this excellent and detailed trebles to be playing out. On top of that, there is the spaces for layering between instruments and expose a hugely expansive and immersive field of sound and soundstage. This field and soundstage is actually "spherical" and this is exactly what I like. 3rd dimensional is also very well played out. Vocal is very detailed with great resolutions , speed and transparency. However string instruments kind of fall short on it tonal body. I would have a hard time picking out which string instruments is which. I tried with different filters on Dp-X1 set up, but not really anything that tick my preferences.



.

Gain setting: this can be accessed by setting>>>sound&notification. There are 3 different options in setting>>sound and notification>>>lock range adjust. Then there is sound-signature preferences as digital filter setting ? Sharp/slow/short. Let's look at soundstage first. Lock range is being detailed as digital timing by Onkyo. Wider = more forgiving and more musical, then toward narrower = more controlled, tighter, better clarity and separation, but less musical

Soundstage: Soundstage is actually very good with the "spherical" feeling totally expansive and immersive. X, Y, Z are fully rendered with instruments fully energetic or rather being detailed and of very good definition. .

Soundscape: spherical like stated above and with excellent rendering of 3rd demension

Everything, sound wise are effected by digital filter and lock range adjustments slightly enough to alter the sound signature slightly toward individual preferences. However these are the general characteristic that apply almost always.

Bass: it is very speedy, tight, fast, deep, articulated well controlled. It is very very fast that clearly shown there is no emphasizes onto any part of the low spectrum itself, mid-bass is impactful, sub-bass gets very deep and impact with authority when being summoned. Yet, it tonal body is "clean!"

Mid: Digital filter affect it here more obvious. I prefer leaving it at "sharp". Onkyo states that (sharp = natural, Short = thicker mid, Slow = foward). Vocal is defined, with great resolutions, tight, and very airy, very realistic like I am listening to a live singer right in front of me. Mid is very very defined, great layering and of great clarity, very spacious, and exactly how it brought the sense of great depth and layering to the soundstage itself. Each instruments has it own space (and a wide space) that each Instruments can clearly voice itself up clearly. The best yet is the higher top-mid spectrum and the lower-treble spectrum. This is the transient region where most of modern pop, rock, EDM...etc has many satisfying trebles extension, tonal body, and of very very modern music....this region is always filled up with full of energies.

Trebles: lock range adjustments affects can be observed here. Due to the excellent bass and mid spectrum with the energetic lower-trebles region, trebles is fully extended, splashy, sparkling, great tonal body density, very airy. Brass such as hit-hat, cymbals of different sizes voice up their own tones with authority, and the satisfying splashy trebles. Folk who loves modern music especially in pop, rock, EDM, ballads will find it being very very addictive. I am being one of these, and I love it here !

Tonal body: tonal body is neither too thick nor thin. It is defined and fast enough that will leave the greatest sense of spaces, inner-fidelity or impact of each tone beats are of great resolution. However, it lacks the flows, the variations of energies. An example of a guitar string for example, a finger control on the string varies it tonal plays and express the emotions, it barely show itself here with DP-X1. Yes, it lacks of that

DP-X1 has excellent soundstage, spaces, layering, separations, and very very good splashy trebles with organic timbres (is not harsh). However due to the too controlled and speedy tonal body density, the DP-X1 can only bring about clarity, space, details, but not enough "emotion" of the tonal body. Coming from Zx2, I really liked the spacious and clarity, but I couldn't deal with the lack of emotions and expressions in my music, especially guitar, violin or string instruments in generals. I love and I prefer the flows, fluidity and the accuracy of the varied micro body energies within each string plays!



Regarding digital filter and lock range adjustments

I personally using TRRS with ACG and prefer

1/ Digital filter : Sharp. lock range: Narrow. This is the most neutral, precise, and the greatest sense of spaces accuracy and air..... Very precise on every tonal body textures, and strongly energetic with the "inner fidelity", the energies applied upon each instruments. The most powerful and critical for analyzing your music, and best for neutral and details folk

2/ Digital filter: Short. Lock range: wide. This is for the larger and more expansive and immersive, submersive soundstage, but still very precisely controlling the power. Better musical experiences, less control and loosen up the tonal body "inner energies" a little bit. This is for better musical and entertaining purposes...everyone

3/ Digital filter: Slow. Lock range: narrow. This is for the most energetic tonal and inner fidelity into mid spectrum. Every string plays, organ or piano hit, and even toward the lower-trebles energies as hand shake devices. All of these will sing and voice up strongly and energetic. This is fantastic for Mid-centric folk who loves every details and energies in the mid spectrum


You can always set it in the between. But try these above and observe for yourself. I am not sure how it would conclude for you, but that is for ACG and TRRS out.

Final conclusion: DP-X1 offer a level of transparency, clarity and soundstage in TRRS output that is not seen by other devices at this price range. It surpass ZX2 in this department by using TRRS on ZX2 as well. However, it lacks of the transient variations of tonal body energies that can only be offered by ZX2 in my experiences. So, if you ask which one is better ? They are both good, but in their own right. Ask yourself this question "Do I like spacious rendering, detailed, clarity and things in my music that I can clearly pick a part and count the number ? Or do I like a little blend of everything in harmony and while be able to feel the expressions and emotions of the composed track but in compromises of a little bit of those above?" Your answer will respectfully decides DP-X1 and or ZX2 in order.

Thanks for reading, please PM if any questions

Thanks to Chord electric for giving me a chance to experience your newest product "Mojo". All tests and critical listening sessions were done with the helps of MDR-Z7, MDR-SA5000, Fostex TH900, and 24/96 files, 16/44.1 files.

First of all, the mojo arrives In a very small box, probably as small as an iPhone box. The Mojo itself is very small and compact. Though, there is a weighty feeling while holding it in my hand. The feeling that would give me the impression " wow, small but weighty, definitely good stuff".

Looking at it, the whole body is with aluminum and feel cold to the touch. The 3 matted glass balls look so pretty. It reminds me of the game that I used to play when I was a little kid. I immediately tried to roll it around....and it rolls "lol". I was so silly to even try it. Why ? I have no clues, but it was fun and made me laugh. Press on it for functions of course !

How do I like it ? 10/10 for design and feels. I rated it so high because of how little, compact, small, cute...whatever....it has the feeling of a solid device, high-end appearances...and definitely not 600$ feeling. The silly balls, and the colorful display on it is enough to bring out the little kid in me. It feels like twice it pricing right at the moment when counted the audio performance and power output. However the cons are the lacks of Analog inputs or line-out. Using it while charging is possible, but it heats up by a little bit and keep me cozy !

There are 10 different colors on the LED. The volume output is accordingly displayed by the color. At 30-50% driving my Z7 is already too loud for me and depend on the tracks that I listen to. I can still tell that it has a lot more power in reserves.




In about 10 minutes or so, I could feel the device is warmed up. I thought of why it was made by aluminum and smiled again. Yeah, silly me, but then the matte though, it really easily catching scratches as some people mentioned, but who cares ? It already look and perform twice it cost.

Using stock Sony ZX2 data cables and zx2 as a source. Tossing CD quality into it and some 24/96 high-reds tracks. I smiled again. It greets me with the Punchy and powerful bass, the airiness and resolutions of mid and treble, hence the soundstage is Immersive and expansive. The depth of each instrument tones, and the body is very balanced, or too well balanced. The tonal body is thick enough to feel authentic and that realism inner fidelity, yet the decay and depth is just right that I can tell while ZX2 does emphasize onto warmer and thicker tonal body and decay, the Mojo actually lean toward "neutral, but organic and musical" sound signature. The feeling between ZX2 and Mojo is clear using standard connection




1/ Mojo tends toward clarity, airiness, while having enough tonal body for realism and fun. It remains neutral and flat though, but definitely not sterile or boring, or clinical. Let's say Mojo is Neutral with excellent clarity and enough fun and realism to keep one on edge, and definitely at the price of $599, if you are an audiophiles or music lover, you would immediately make the purchase . Even though I don't have that chance to have listened and experienced that many portable DAPs and amps, I know good sounds when I hear it, and I don't even think there is any other sub 600$ device that can and will offer this kind of sound signature from the Mojo. The feeling: Jaw drops ($600?), and feet starting to dance with a smile

2/ ZX2 tends toward musical and realism and retrieves extra definitions. It definitely feels more emphasizes onto inner energy, it appears with thicker tonal body and longer decay. The trebles in the ZX2 is with better extensions, though harsher than Mojo. The feeling: Melt my heart, close my eyes, relax with a smile.

I hope it was enough to describe the sound signature between these two devices: zx2 and mojo.


Zx2 with TRRS cables from here for comparison:

Soundstage is the most noticeable differences from Mojo vs Zx2 with TRRS output. In some recording on modern pop, and I could hear singer being from the left to the back to the right to the front and to the left again very clearly on ZX2. While on Mojo it would rendered to be from the left to the left-back to the right-back to the right and to the right-front then to the left front. Let's say on the ZX2, the mix goes like spherical 360 degree where as Mojo would do more of an X-scape. So ZX2 has larger further, fuller, more surrounded rendering. Pictures below are for references only. It took me a long while and countless critical listening sessions on high-res....A/B to really be able to confirm it.




Zx2 retrieves better nuances and minutes details than Mojo across the whole spectrum. More like the tonal body, extensions, decays, and reverbs of which were masterfully mixed in the track. This is which gives off the "emotions within the tones/beats/music". Where as Mojo would be a clean devices with fun and musical sound signature, but yet lacking just that little bit of the so called "emotions in the tones/beats/music" VS Zx2. I would say Mojo is (high-fidelity sounds) and ZX2 is (music as intended by the artist). Do not mistake it here as Mojo is a "very capable devices to retrieve nuances details", kindly reminds you that it edges out on Zx2 out of the box (which means no upgrade cables or TRRS on Zx2)

Mojo does has a very clean and clear background, and I think it beats ZX2 in this department. Because Zx2 while having a very fine level of details, tonal body and realism, the trebles and highs are a little bit harsher and sharper. Some people may prefer it this way as it is more detailed and more realistic as live cymbals, bells, brass...etc has this brightness. Mojo does play it out very nicely, but is timed for shorter notes being and cleaner decays. Once again, Mojo is more relax than Zx2 here

Let's take a look at the pros and cons on each:


1/ Mojo pros: native DSD, compact, pretty to look at, fun balls to play with, colorful to bring out the kid from within anyone, powerful to drive most headphones without worrying. Price...even if you add an older smartphone to transport !
Mojo cons: only digital amp, and no analog amping, no balanced output..

2/ zx2 pros: DAP, with lot of features, balanced TRRS out or standard TRS, also compact
Zx2 cons: no native DSD, TRRS is a PITA to utilize and make uses, lower power output than Mojo, can only drive limited headphones

Considerations based on different circumstances

1/ Mojo vs ZX2 stock (stock player app and Sound adjustment app + TRS out): Mojo edges out on almost everything, especially the tighter bass, snappy+airy trebles, better separations and less congested

2/ Mojo vs ZX2 (stock app player with sound adjustment disabled +TRS out): both stands toes to toes with each offer different sound signatures and upon personal preferences to decide. Zx2 has warmer feeling, splashier trebles but harsher where as Mojo has that Clean and airy feeling with smoother trebles.

3/ Mojo vs Zx2 (stock app, sound adjustment disabled, TRRS): ZX2 slightly edges out on impressions of layering, clarity, spaciousness, separations, sub-bass with better depth and definitions, more impactful tonal body, brighter and splashier trebles extensions+ resolutions and tonal body accuracy overall. Here is the maximum potential of Zx2, and I think it would still come down to a person preferences. Here, mojo feels smoother warmer and more musical as the resolutions/clarity/trebles and extensions is a bit toned down or a step back from Zx2, where as Zx2 feel impactful with more of a little bit of everything, but too detailed on splashy trebles and it extensions and clarity. I can see who is addicted to separations, clarity, resolutions, and splashy trebles definitions would prefer Zx2 and call it for being a better device that express slightly better "high-end" music ? However, you will need quality TRRS cables. For the majority who would love music, sit back, and relax, they would still pick Mojo as it is very fun, detailed, punchy, well controlled, smoother and musical.

Conclusions: these are both very good device and are both at excellent price/performance values. Under normal circumstances Mojo would edge out in usability, friendly, power and quality sounds. Under special circumstances as ZX2 with the uses of TRRS (which is a PITA to seek for or DIY), then Zx2 would edge out slightly over-all, and that is to put aside all other things, but only taking into account of tonal body and inner fidelity (energy within each tone beat). Zx2 is also a standalone DAP with micro SD slot, android OS, long battery life....but lack of power for power hungry headphones

If time turned back, I would pick Mojo, and skip all the PITA efforts to obtain TRRS for Zx2.....and still having better quality out of the box with more power that can even drive HD800. Straight up zx2 with only TRS and sound adjustment app, it can not compete to Mojo and it pure power period. But since I have been stuck with Zx2 and having too much time and efforts with TRRS, which turned ZX2 to edges out over the Mojo (broke through the diminishing return barrier), I would stick with ZX2 as a DAP and need not feeding it, listening with either Th900 or Z7 for days on the go without charging, and perhaps waiting for ZX3 or newer version of it .

Mojo on android phone.
Smartphone Android 5.1 Note 4 with OTG and Mojo. I had to buy the Onkyo HF player paid version in order to play digitally into Mojo. It works great and sounds even better than ZX2 feeding the Mojo on transparency and soundstage, then it can even real time convert to DSD which is very fun and also sound good, it lags and skips sometimes as I don't think it is perfected yet (the app will also notify you of it being beta), but it is something fun to do. It is best to stick with the original files and not up convert anything.


OTG adapter I used can be found here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015XA3W0G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

I also do not think Zx2+Mojo= heaven like some people has asked me. Zx2 feeding 24/96 into Mojo didn't sound as decent as Note 4 feeding the same file. I observed the transparency and soundstage was a slight bit better on the Note 4 feeding Mojo. Still Zx2 with TRRS and sound adjustment app disabled edges out over the Mojo as a stand alone DAP. So it is best to either get a Mojo or a ZX2, and it is all up to you. Thank you for reading. Please pm if any questions




Some questions would arise and my personal answers can be found here

http://www.head-fi.org/t/742609/sony-nw-zx2-hi-end-dap/9750#post_12209904