iBasso

Sophisticated and elegant technology is nice ... but sometimes all you really need is just a BIG driver and a really powerful magnet. There’s no need to be subtle with 3T-154, iBasso Audio's way of immediately signalling what sets their entry-level earphones apart. What's awesome about 3T-154 is in its name, with a huge, single 15.4mm dynamic driver kept under the control of a 3 tesla magnet. 137 per cent as large as the competition's drivers, 3T-154 impresses immediately with its power. Twister6 and Audiophile-Heaven praised iBasso's overachievement here. Only a 3 tesla magnet – double a conventional IEM's magnetic flux – could hope to maintain complete control over iBasso's magnificent beryllium-coated specimen. Like the Pirelli ads of old, power is nothing without control. And 3T-154 gives you both. [See Product Desc. For More] iBasso developed a massive 15.4mm dynamic driver because nothing moves as much air as one with such a surface area, with as little effort. Coated with the incredibly stiff material that is beryllium, its ability to move large amounts of air at low frequencies provides the firm foundation to your music. But by not being made entirely of stiff metal, iBasso maintain 3T-154's awesome bass quality even as frequencies rise. Their sandwich core driver construction of a soft plastic centre allows for effective damping at higher frequencies, to stave off the usual challenges of cone and modal break-up with drivers of these sizes. That means 3T-154's driver moves as a perfect piston over all frequencies up to and above its working range, keeping distortion down. A 3 tesla N55 neodymium magnet certainly helps in that respect, with a iBasso's copper-covered aluminium voice coil always kept under the control of magnetic flux regardless of its pistonic position.  3T-154 might be an entry-level IEM but iBasso certainly opted for quality parts in its construction with beryllium, neodymium and copper-covered aluminium all coming together in a high-precision CNC bracket. The experience is just taken up a notch when one considers its 2-pin cable construction and unique interchangeable plug locking system. 3T-154 is so good you may struggle to move up from it – and iBasso undoubtedly build your IEM to last the distance. Also check out a source from iBasso to preserve 3T-154's requisite sound quality here, or check out our other IEMs here.

iBasso Audio's Amp12 is now released as an ultimate separate amplifier module for their flagship DX320 music player, its large, dual batteries ensuring iBasso could take this module's analog circuit to town. Clean, precise and infinitely detailed, with plenty of headstage, air and also a rumbling, authoritative bass, Amp12 is a product of the comprehensive discrete circuit built within, one Headfonia says "enhances the player signature in many ways, giving you a more natural approach to the sound", complete with pictures. [See Product Desc. For More] Indeed, iBasso built Amp12 to act as a most faithful conduit to your music, allowing it to remain truthful to the way it was recorded. The voltage gain stage is tuned to provide a vast and open soundstage, while the power stage takes that and preserves all the low-end authority in your music. Headfonics throws this back to when iBasso championed the term neutral, in days gone by, Audio-PH talking about its perfect balance. Audiophile Heaven adds Amp12 gave music a new lease of life. Plug any big can from Sennheiser or ZMF Headphones straight in to be immediately impressed, or use its dedicated hardware line-out as the ultimate source for Cayin Audio's C9. Also view all our products from iBasso here or our other music players here.

Nutubes return to iBasso Audio, bigger and better through Amp13 for DX300 and DX320. The size and power supply afforded by their flagship music players allowed iBasso to take this tube design to new heights. That extra circuit board space has allowed Korg's sixth-generation Nutube direct-heated triode to achieve new levels of signal-to-noise ratio, transparency and output power. Holding its own even against its balanced Amp14 sibling, iBasso's Amp13 brings plenty of even-order harmonics to sweeten synergies given its single-ended operation throughout. Eschewing bridge-tied load operation means Amp13 also outperforms its counterpart into low impedances. Headfonics confirm Amp13 does all the above, offering the liquidity tube lovers desire. Musicality won out for Audio-Ph. Upgrading to iBasso's mature Nutube tech was totally worth it to Audiophile-Heaven. [See Product Desc. For More] Placed on Amp13's voltage gain stage where it will yield the biggest sonic difference, this Nutube's small output then gets boosted by a Toshiba FET buffer. This preserves Amp13's triode square law, and grants it enough juice to drive the rest of the solid-state output stage.  READ ALSO DAPs have gone down the tube iBasso built Amp13 with dual 3.5mm outputs. The hybrid Nutube section directly feeds Amp13's low noise, low output port (2.5Vrms) for sensitive IEMs. Meanwhile, an intermediary solid-state driver stage gets added for the high output port (4.1Vrms) to push Focals and Fostexs needing more gain. DX320's dynamic range spec is maintained through NJR's NJU72315 digitally-controlled analog volume part, and iBasso hide yet another trick up their sleeve: forcibly driving the ground signal of Amp13 to increase output power and reduce noise. The separate 2,000mAh analog battery aboard the DX3XX line supplies the backbone of power for Amp13's high operating voltages, with four clean, individual DC power sections for crucial parts of the module. The anode packs 21 volts of supply, while eight volt output rails continue to maintain excellent open-loop linearity before negative feedback. Such is expected of a high-performance iBasso Amp13 module that yields excellent distortion and noise specifications, while capturing the romance of tubes in DX320. Also view Amp12 here, all of iBasso's other portables here, and our music player catalogue here.

By popular request – iBasso Audio send DX300 and DX320 further down the tube with their balanced Nutube 4.4mm Amp14 amplifier card. Twister6 loved "fine-tubing" the sound! Building on Amp13, and the clamour for a balanced version on the back of its success, iBasso have come up with another Nutube module capable of swinging twice as much output voltage for bigger Focal and Fostex headphones.  iBasso's DX3XX series is a great platform to launch a design as ambitious as Amp14, with its dedicated analog section battery and extra chassis space for an uncompromising audio circuit put to great use here. Amp14 is the natural evolution for DX320, its strong liquidity and air the natural complement to one of Head-Fi's most detailed music players – despite its Nutube's cathode input providing strong immunity to Wi-Fi and external interference, in a reference implementation of Korg's direct-heated triode. [See Product Desc. For More] Placed at the voltage gain stage where it will yield the biggest sonic impact, the small output of Amp14's Nutube then gets boosted by Toshiba FET buffers. The differential stage begins there while preserving the square law function of the Nutube, and grants the voltage section enough juice to drive the rest of Amp14's solid-state output stage.  DX320's dynamic range is maintained through two NJR NJU72315 digitally-controlled analog volume parts. The fully balanced, differential, Amp14 is additionally able to count on common-mode rejection plus adequately applied negative feedback for more linearity and less distortion and noise. The separate 2,000mAh analog battery aboard the DX3XX line supplies the backbone of power for Amp14's high operating voltages, with clean, individual DC power sections for crucial parts of the module including a 14 volt supply for the Nutube's anode. Dual Texas Instruments OPA1622 op-amps make up Amp14's power stage with operating voltages of 8 volts, such that higher impedance transducers are given the swing necessary to perform. A dedicated 4.4mm line-out section on Amp14 also supplies DX320's excellent small signal to an outboard amplifier. Such is expected of a high-performance iBasso Amp14 module that yields excellent distortion and noise specifications, while capturing the romance of tubes in DX320. ichos-reviews says Amp14 completes iBasso's family of amp cards with its natural timbre. Also view Amp13 here, all of iBasso's other portables here, and our music player catalogue here.

Amp 5

This is a discrete single ended amplifier card.Click here to view iBasso official page for specifications.

iBasso Audio didn't just add a 3.5mm output to its classic 4.4mm discrete Amp8, MKII also injects some DX320 magic straight into the DX240 music player. Twister6 thinks this completes iBasso's mainstay with a "resolving dynamic sound". Headfonia says it adds to DX240's flagship feel.  Audio-PH believes the ease of the Amp8 MKII upgrade was "to embody your skills and demonstrate them to a large audience", and MOONSTAR Reviews definitely seconds the added variety and sound quality. [See Product Desc. For More] Based off the stock Amp11 MKII of DX300, a high 8 volt operating voltage grants AMP8 MKII excellent open-loop linearity, with the ability to effortlessly reproduce large dynamic swings in your music.  That's all backed by discrete buffers capable of 2 amperes output to form a potent power stage, able to maintain excellent drive into the ever decreasing impedances that are typical of bone conduction or electrostatic IEM hybrids.  Add Amp8 MKII to your DX240 for a controlled sub-bass boost and detailed emphasis in your upper midrange, while giving your big, transparent, Craft Ears and Empire Ears flagships the footing necessary for them to show everything they can do.  Also browse the rest of iBasso's line-up here, or our other music players here.

Amp 9

2.5mm - 3.5mm adapter

An iBasso 2.5mm - 4.4mm balanced adapter. For dongle type iBasso adapter, please check out the iBasso CA04.

Choose a tail-form dongle for better ergonomics.  2.5mm TRRS to Male 4.4mm TRRRS balanced cable adapter 5N Mono Crystal Copper Cable  Silver Plated Shielding Right Angle  Hand twisted cable 

iBasso's right to flaunt what they can do comes in form of this purple tinted silver copper alloy cable in 4.4mm, a must-have for all IBASSO or mmcx-connector earphone owners, especially the IT07.  / Photography by Zepp Crew.

Originally designed and intended for Ibasso SR-2 but sits well with most headphones with 3.5mm connectors.  Rosson Audio RAD-0 FOCAL Radiance FOCAL Clear FOCAL Stellia Most HIFIMAN, BEYERDYNAMIC, KLIPSCH headphones. // GOOD TO KNOW  4.4mm Balanced Cable  High Purity Silver Copper Alloy  Braided tangle free construction

Built of high-purity 6N single-crystal copper silver-plated wire, iBasso Audio release their CB18 USB-C to C digital interconnect to raise the levels of today's best dongle DAC/amps. With hand-braided conductors to ensure build integrity over long periods of use, and stainless steel USB heads, CB18 will go the extra mile ensuring your sound quality. The superior digital signal transmission iBasso built into CB18 will ensure lowered jitter and digital noise from your source to your asynchronous DAC/amp.  Expect to hear a positive difference with revealing sources like Cayin Audio's RU7, HiBy Music's FC6, iBasso's own DC04 Pro and Questyle Audio's M15, up to iFi Audio's xDSD Gryphon, into transparent transducers. Or, ditch separate transports entirely by going the DAP route with iBasso here, or view all our other cables here.

Give all your music the DSD treatment, says D16. Built of individual resistors, capacitors and code carried on FPGA-Master 2, this all-to-DSD DAC/amp christened 'Taipan' packs DSP approaching -174dB of THD as iBasso Audio's most original, proprietary piece of work to date. iBasso’s USB-input DAC/amp eschews off-the-shelf DAC chips. D16 doesn't differentiate between CD rips, Hi-Res downloads and Spotify, Tidal or Apple Music streaming. It upconverts all your normal PCM material into DSD before decoding your digital to analog. All formats are passed as DSD through D16’s 1-bit decode. Without irony, D16 will yield the most improvement to collectors of SACD-rip, DSD64 files. As a heavily-upsampling DAC, iBasso take the honours for the first Head-Fi product to target and remove DSD64's terrible ultrasonic noise problems. Twister6 praises "a portable audio solution to deliver flagship-level performance with a neutral sound tuning and a natural analog tonality" before becoming a dynamic duo with PB5. It's landed on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list and in Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. Its strengths are comprehensively laid out by Headfonics and MOONSTAR Reviews. Buy this as the greatest gift for the SACD collector in your life, then. Following decoding, the pristine analog is kept totally intact by iBasso's now-familiar discrete stepped resistor analog volume control, before D16's Super Class A output stage pushes your flagship earphones and headphones. [See Product Desc. For More] iBasso build a 1-bit DSD DAC into D16 because there's zero error at the point of conversion. There, D16 relies on the total accuracy of DSD's 1-bit conversion to analog, taking advantage of DSD's sheer ease of decoding to boot. The pitch for DSD's 1-bit conversion is digital at its simplest and closest point to analog – level represented only either as a 1 or a 0, switching on or off. To achieve analog, the bitstream is simply low-pass filtered. But there's work D16 needs to do first, preparing incoming DSD and certainly PCM data from your smart devices over USB, coaxial or optical inputs to emerge as the best possible 1-bit digital stream for conversion. How D16 alleviates said white noise issues of DSD64 – indeed, of any inherent problems to single-rate material be it DSD's noise or PCM's steep digital filtering, intersample overs and digital pre-emphasis – is that it applies heavy oversampling to incoming data.  iBasso's DSP oversamples data to huge bit depth and sample rates synchronous to their new FPGA-Master 2 generating I2S. The new multibit data running many times DSD's base 2.8Mhz rate is then put through a Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) process in preparation for 1-bit decoding.  iBasso treats each of D16's 32 0.1% resistors per DAC phase as individual entities, operating them at very specific moments in the time domain. Ordinarily that might spell chaos co-ordinating a total count of 128 individual DAC elements, but it's iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 that grants a firm grip of how each resistor-capacitor low-pass filter outputs in the time and frequency domain. The result of the entirety of 128 DAC elements outputting at phased intervals leads to a coherent, continuous waveform with finer stairsteps in time. That captures more detail in your music and reduces errors, decoding your music back more accurately to the original waveform. D16's PWM DSP pre-stage addresses the problems of conventional noise-shaped digital's inconsistent rise and fall edges at the frequency level, with adjustments made to facilitate more accurate, predictable switching. A digital volume control with large coefficients is also added here to trim levels and add datastream width. This approach results in a reduction of errors by avoiding intersymbol interference. Notably, non-linearities arising from rise and fall mismatches do not manifest as total harmonic distortion. iBasso's PWM DSP does not produce harmonic errors that vary with digital output levels. This high bit and sample rate headroom is free from overload issues when it is eventually brought back down to the required 1-bit DSD signal for low-pass filtered conversion – but now at a bandwidth of 49Mhz, moving DSD's white noise issues far, far out of the audible band. iBasso's discrete proprietary tech immediately differentiates itself from commercial DAC chips, where IC packages are often too small to perform an ideal 1-bit DSD conversion. D16 also avoids the errors of dynamic element matching inherent to 2-7 bit delta-sigma decoders. The delicate analog voltage waveform painstakingly decoded from DSD in D16 is precious. iBasso's R&D, invested building their own DAC, pays off as the fragile small-signal goes on to be volume adjusted by the same discrete resistor attenuator of DX320 Max TI fame. Said stepped attenuator preserves the resolution of D16 at any listening level. It's that that enables it to play it delicately into your flagship earphones for enjoyment at realistically lower volume levels. Because, it's easy to play it loud, but everyone knows it's in playing back tiny sounds that is the litmus test of a powerhouse capable of outputting as much volume as D16. Without resting on past laurels to increase and decrease both signal and noise levels together at the same time – as only an analog volume control can – iBasso went for the jugular here. After years of work, Head-Fi's analog specialists have once again applied their own, proprietary, stepped analog volume control here to great effect. Transparent at any volume setting down low as much as up high, with virtually perfect +/-0.1dB channel-matching, this iBasso behemoth exposes detail buried deep around the noise floor of your music. So begins D16's fully-balanced, true differential analog circuit that runs at a massive 13 volt operating voltage for linear open-loop operation. Its power stage is fully discrete and boasts buffers capable of outputting more amperes of current than is needed in reality. Said power stage is another call for iBasso's Super Class A to appear. Current mirrors ensure D16's push-pull operation works without crossover distortion, yielding Class A-like performance at all power output levels. That makes for extremely linear open-loop operation before negative feedback is applied ... yet mostly avoids the heat and inefficiency typically associated with Class A designs. Certainly, the quality of D16's power is not discussion, and will reproduce the fidelity of its 1-bit DAC – a milestone in iBasso's history – into your full-sized transducers of choice via your laptop or desktop's USB in your office, or your smartphone on business travels. With superb damping factor as a voltage source, enough standing bias current and signal-to-noise performance to follow today's flagship IEM impedance down low, you know PB5 will be even more in its element pushing TOTL headphones. Everything from Focal to a Fostex and Rosson Audio Designs plus Yamaha and ZMF Headphones is applicable. If you want to free yourself from USB's tether, check out the rest of iBasso's self-contained Android music players here, or view all our other DAC/amps here.

The smaller iBasso Audio's engineering gets, the more ridiculous their feats get. So it is with DC Elite – virtually a miniature DX320 Max TI. It goes right onto Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. Headfonics adds "it's a monster of a dongle DAC" and Twister6 adds iBasso stepped it up with DC Elite. "iBasso's DC Elite redefines what’s possible from a portable DAC/Amp dongle" says MOONSTAR Reviews. DX320 Max TI was groundbreaking because it brought a discrete stepped resistor analog volume control to the fold. So how then should Head-Fi react to DC Elite packing exactly the same ridiculous marvel of engineering, in dongle DAC/amp size? DC Elite's stepped volume attenuator, developed in-house from individual resistors by iBasso, is where the money is at. It's that that enables it to play it delicately into your flagship earphones for enjoyment at realistically lower volume levels. Together with the resolution of ROHM's BD34301EKV DAC operating in full current-output mode, DC Elite is the zenith of mini USB DAC/amp development. Never has it been better. [See Product Desc. For More] Effortlessly capturing the spectrum from the softest whispers to the most resounding passages, this device shines, no matter how you choose to experience its performance. While it's a breeze to play it back loud, the true test lies in reproducing the nuances of subtle sounds – no mean feat for a mobile device relying on USB's 5-volt power supply. Rather than relying solely on the success of DX320 Max TI in simultaneously adjusting signal and noise levels – an achievement exclusive to analog volume controls – iBasso embraced an even greater challenge with the DC Elite. Maintaining transparency at both low and high volume settings, with an impressive +/-0.1dB channel matching, this iBasso dongle unveils intricacies hidden within the noise floor of your music. The key lies in leveraging the output from ROHM's flagship DAC, receiving pure I2S provided by iBasso's FPGA. Crucially, the DC Elite's BD34301EKV outputs analog in current, as expected of a high-performance circuit. This allows iBasso the flexibility to sculpt the sonic profile to their liking using an extensive current-to-voltage I/V converter. Consequently, DC Elite ensures the highest quality of small-signal from the outset, with any conversion errors presented as a manageable DC offset rather than more sinister total harmonic distortion. The inclusion of powerful op-amp output buffers, supplying 500mA of current, empowers iBasso's DC Elite to promise a high damping factor while maintaining minimal distortion even with low impedances typical of IEMs, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs. Still the closed-loop internal gain remaining after the application of negative feedback around DC Elite's op-amp IC analog circuit remains high. So where she really shines is in swinging voltage, opening up the sound of any high-impedance Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones while barely breaking sweat. Multiple DC-to-DC converters and LDOs provide sufficient power and also keep the noise floor down, working hand-in-hand with DC Elite's cutting-edge volume control. So here is Head-Fi's first dongle that can truly say it turns your smart device into a super DAP. Herald the arrival of the first super dongle DAC with DC Elite now, or view the rest of iBasso's releases here or our other DAC/amps here.

New and improved USB-C to 4.4mm second-generation audio amplifier by Ibasso.  2 x CS43131 DAC Chips Up to 32bit/384kHz PCM Decoding  Up to 256x Native DSD Decoding with a THD+N below 0.00032%  High Power Output of up to 195mW@32Ohm, 4Vrms@300Ohm

iBasso Audio makes a return to ESS Technology DACs in DC06 Pro, for the better. Their latest balanced 4.4mm dongle runs with dual ES9219C chips – all working controlled by iBasso FPGA-Master technology.  What's special about the ES9219C is that it grants DC06 Pro access to its on-chip analog volume control. MOONSTAR Reviews experienced the "significant upgrade" iBasso offered. This dongle attenuates volume in the analog domain granting much better signal-to-noise performance than the average competitor's lossy digital volume control. Music player levels of detail and fidelity even from USB's 5 volt supply are possible with DC06 Pro. A thoroughly regulated circuit and clean power form the basics here, as with every iBasso. [See Product Desc. For More] Further pushing decoding precision is an outboard clock that means DC06 Pro does not rely solely on its USB receiving chip for a master clock, but its FPGA. Said FPGA sees DC06 Pro overachieve by supplying its ESS DACs the same pure I2S as iBasso's bigger DX180, DX260 and DX320 music players, pushing down DAC phase noise and jitter for a stable decode. After decoding, iBasso's generous use of negative feedback quashes distortion and claims huge signal-to-noise ratio – aided by the analog volume controls of its ES9219Cs. The employment of this feedback also sees DC06 Pro achieve bandwidth that's extended out beyond the human hearing range.  That means phase reproduction in the audible human hearing region is well preserved, for a realistic portrayal of dynamics and natural transparency – a triumph of iBasso's flagship DAC dongle. Powerful op-amp output buffers can supply 100mA of current and mean iBasso's little wonder promises high damping factor while maintaining its low distortion into low impedances typical of IEMs, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs. Still the closed-loop internal gain remaining after the application of negative feedback around DC06 Pro's op-amp IC analog circuit remains high. So where she really shines is in swinging 10 volts, opening up the sound of any high-impedance Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones while barely breaking sweat. The quality of DC06 Pro's signal will translate to nearly everything you choose to drive from its balanced 4.4mm output. Flying the dongle DAC/amp flag high is DC06 Pro, till you turn to iBasso Audio's other upgrades here, or others in our catalogue here.

iBasso Audio can't stop and won't stop loading Cirrus Logic DACs into their sources. DC07 Pro is their latest balanced 4.4mm dongle supplied by a quad of CS43131 DAC chips from the DX180 music player, working controlled by iBasso FPGA-Master technology. It's landed right on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. DC07 Pro's state-of-the-art decode flows onto a fully-balanced analog path counting on common-mode rejection and claiming 134dB of signal-to-noise ratio. Audiophile-Heaven have added it to their Hall of Fame. To ichos-reviews, it's iBasso's best-ever DAC dongle. An OLED screen basically adds to the illusion of music player levels of detail and fidelity even from USB's 5 volt supply are possible with DC07 Pro. A thoroughly regulated circuit and clean power form the basics here, as with every iBasso. It's solutions like DC07 Pro that continue to see USB DAC/amps raise their game. Further pushing decoding precision is an outboard clock that means DC07 Pro does not rely solely on its USB receiving chip for a master clock, but its FPGA. [See Product Desc. For More] Said FPGA sees DC07 Pro overachieve by supplying its CS43131s DACs the same pure I2S as iBasso's bigger DX180 and DX260 DAP alternatives, pushing down DAC phase noise and jitter for a stable decode. After decoding, iBasso's generous use of negative feedback quashes distortion and claims up to 134dB of signal-to-noise ratio. The employment of this feedback also sees DC07 Pro achieve bandwidth that's effectively flat from 10Hz to 75Khz. That means phase reproduction in the audible human hearing region is perfectly preserved, for the totally realistic portrayal of dynamics and natural transparency – a triumph of iBasso's budget DAC dongle. Powerful op-amp output buffers can supply nearly one watt of power. iBasso's little wonder promises high power and damping factor while maintaining its low distortion into low impedances typical of IEMs, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs. Still the closed-loop internal gain remaining after the application of negative feedback around DC07 Pro's op-amp IC analog circuit remains high. So where she really shines is in swinging volts, opening up the sound of any high-impedance Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones while barely breaking sweat. The quality of DC07 Pro's signal will translate to nearly everything you choose to drive from its balanced 4.4mm output, or 3.5mm – turning it into a miniaturised DX180, if you would. Flying the dongle DAC/amp flag high is DC07 Pro, till you turn to iBasso Audio's DC Elite here and other upgrades here, or others in our catalogue here.

After iBasso Audio's success with DX260, you knew DX180 was going to be on its way. Doing good by DX260's industry-leading measurements, DX180's 130dB of dynamic range and -115dB THD is ensured by 4 Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs. Twister6 says it simply: "I'm impressed!" It exceeds the highest expectations of ichos-reviews. More than outright audio benchmarks, it's the continued evolution of iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 technology to lower entry points that's reason to celebrate. It landed on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list and Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. "DX180 is a very accomplished and natural-sounding" player says Headfonics, this iBasso arriving at the sweet spot between raw resolution and musicality. MOONSTAR Reviews praised a near-flawless display. iBasso's affordable player never pushes you out of your comfort zone, sweetening the deal – and detail – its correct, super-quiet operation, yields. With its unique CS43131 implementation, the Android 13 DX180 exceeds even Cirrus Logic's nominal specs giving listeners a degree of pocket fidelity from Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music never experienced before. [See Product Desc. For More] That's owed to iBasso's very precise decode thanks to its FPGA-Master 2, banishing noise and distortion with proprietary code aboard operating DX180's arsenal of DACs with an accuracy and co-ordination not thought possible before. This numbers-chasing from iBasso leads to a new-found transparency in your music playback. The technical basis upon which the idea of DX180 was founded was to operate its sheer number of DACs in as flexible and independent a way each. Each DAC answers to iBasso's veritable puppet master – the FPGA-Master 2 aboard. iBasso's treat each of the 4 CS43131s as individual entities, and operates them at very specific moments in the time domain. Ordinarily that might spell chaos, but it's iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 that grants a firm grip of how each Cirrus Logic outputs in the time and frequency domain. The result of the entirety of 4 DACs outputting at phased intervals leads to a coherent, continuous waveform with finer stairsteps in time. That captures more detail in your music and reduces errors, decoding your music back more accurately to the original waveform.  Throughout, FPGA-Master 2 keeps an iron grip on proceedings as the CS43131s work in synchronous mode, counting on iBasso's FPGA-generated I2S to work in the exact manner intended. Superior to the switched-capacitor output stage on Asahi Kasei Microdevices voltage DAC counterparts, the Class H analog outputs of CS43131s are accurate before being fed into DX180's low-pass voltage summing gain stage that smooths the audio wave removing ultrasonic artifacts further. After the differential decoding, iBasso's generous use of negative feedback quashes distortion and claims up to 130dB of signal-to-noise ratio. The employment of this feedback also sees DX180 achieve massive bandwidth that's effectively flat 10Hz to 75Khz. That means phase reproduction in the audible human hearing region is stellar, for realistic portrayal of dynamics and natural transparency – a triumph of iBasso's new mid-line player. Powerful op-amp output buffers supply current and mean iBasso's wonderkid promises high damping factor while maintaining its low distortion into low impedances typical of IEMs, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs. Still the closed-loop internal gain remaining after the application of negative feedback around DX180's op-amp IC analog circuit remains high. So where she really shines is in swinging voltage, opening up the sound of any high-impedance Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones while barely breaking sweat. And DX180's future-proof Android 13 software will mean Google Play Store app support of Tidal, Spotify and Apple Music for years to come, backed by a Snapdragon 665 SOC processor. Certainly, iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 wonderkind might be all the DAP you need. Till you step up to what dual battery power supplies, current-output DACs and a discrete output stage can do for you in DX320. Explore the rest of iBasso's range here, or view our other music players here.

Measure iBasso Audio's progress through DX260. Head-Fi's best measuring Android music player with 133dB of dynamic range and -121dB THD counts on 8 Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs for its ultimate measured performance. But more than that, it's the debut of iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 technology that's reason to celebrate. Perfectly neutral with just a tint of sweetness, every musical nuance is audible against DX260's black background.  With that operating its CS43198 chips quad-mono, the Android 11 DX260 exceeds even Cirrus Logic's nominal specs giving listeners a degree of pocket fidelity from Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music never experienced before. DX260 lands in Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. Its qualities are evident for MOONSTAR Reviews to see. Ichos-Reviews says iBasso's "unparalleled transparency and neutrality surpass even flagship models". [See Product Desc. For More] That's owed to iBasso's very precise decode thanks to its FPGA-Master 2, banishing noise and distortion with proprietary code aboard operating DX260's arsenal of DACs with an accuracy and co-ordination not thought possible before. This numbers-chasing from iBasso leads to a new-found transparency in your music playback. The technical basis upon which the idea of DX260 was founded was to operate its sheer number of DACs in as flexible and independent a way each. Each DAC answers to iBasso's veritable puppet master – the FPGA-Master 2 aboard. iBasso's treat each of the 8 CS43198s as individual entities, and operates them at very specific moments in the time domain. Ordinarily that might spell chaos, but it's iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 that grants a firm grip of how each Cirrus Logic outputs in the time and frequency domain. The result of the entirety of 8 DACs outputting at phased intervals leads to a coherent, continuous waveform with finer stairsteps in time. That captures more detail in your music and reduces errors, decoding your music back more accurately to the original waveform. Throughout, FPGA-Master 2 keeps an iron grip on proceedings as the CS43198s work in synchronous mode, counting on iBasso's FPGA-generated I2S to work in the exact manner intended.  Superior to the switched-capacitor output stage on Asahi Kasei Microdevices voltage DAC counterparts, the Class H analog outputs of CS43198s are accurate before being fed into DX260's low-pass voltage summing gain stage that smooths the audio wave removing ultrasonic artifacts further. After the differential decoding, iBasso's generous use of negative feedback quashes distortion and claims up to 134dB of signal-to-noise ratio. The employment of this feedback also sees DX260 achieve massive bandwidth that's effectively flat 10Hz to 75Khz. That means phase reproduction in the audible human hearing region is stellar, for realistic portrayal of dynamics and natural transparency – a triumph of iBasso's new mid-line player. Powerful op-amp output buffers supply current and mean iBasso's wonderkid promises high damping factor while maintaining its low distortion into low impedances typical of IEMs, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs. Still the closed-loop internal gain remaining after the application of negative feedback around DX260's op-amp IC analog circuit remains high. So where she really shines is in swinging voltage, opening up the sound of any high-impedance Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones while barely breaking sweat. And DX260's future-proof Android 11 software will mean Google Play Store app support of Tidal, Spotify and Apple Music for years to come, backed by a Snapdragon 660 SOC processor and 4GB of RAM. Certainly, iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 wonderkind might be all the DAP you need. Till you step up to what dual battery power supplies, current-output DACs and a discrete output stage can do for you in DX320. Explore the rest of iBasso's range here, or view our other music players here.

Beryllium and brass make IT01X another sure iBasso Audio buy. Premium materials make this single dynamic earphone another standout over-achiever after IT00, ready to rack up more plaudits from the Head-Fi world. A single dynamic driver appears enough to achieve the highest resolution possible. In this case, iBasso have helped this entry IT01X all the way, employing a beryllium-plated dynamic driver chambered in a brass inner cavity. [See Product Desc. For More] You'll know the moment you pick it up that iBasso engineered this for sonic honesty and transparency, to hear deeper within any mix. A sandwich driver has its surface coated with beryllium for the metal's stiffness, lightness and air acceleration properties. IT01X's driver material combination helps it move as a perfect piston over all frequencies up to and above its working range, keeping distortion down due to cone and modal break-up as frequencies rise. Low frequencies emerge with authority thanks to the brass chamber built into IT01X's compact and truly ergonomic shell, Helmholtz resonators stimulating proper airflow and reducing standing waves in the bass. The driver responds lightning quick due to a high-magnetic flux produced by a strong neodymium magnet, completing a package iBasso masterfully engineered at any price. IT01X promises high-resolution playback without the premium. Twister6 say it ticks the boxes anyone would want in an affordable reference. It touches Audiophile-Heaven the right way. MOONSTAR Reviews praise IT01X's "strong bass performance, highly transparent and silky smooth midrange, and with a treble region that is able to produce a great sense of airiness and sparkle". Ladies and gentlemen will put on the featherweight, easy-fitting shell for hours on end, lost in their music. You can also compare IT01X to its multi-coloured IT00 sibling here, check out everything else from iBasso here, or view our other IEMs here.

A correct, reference tuning need not be boring, as proven by iBasso's IT04. This four-driver hybrid IEM begs to be played track after track. Fully balanced from the box, this mid-tier wonder is iBasso's shot at a flagship, taking us within very close sight of the top. You'll be able to see everything from iBasso here and all our other earphone options here.Featured in picture: ADV. bluetooth cable turns IT04 wireless for fuss-free commuting days.

iBasso Audio imagined tube magic in DX320 Max TI, and so conceived PB5 'Osprey' – losing the ROHM DACs, but gaining you two Korg Nutubes for a 4.4mm balanced tube/solid-state hybrid portable amplifier. Indeed, PB5's output stage should appear very familiar to fans of DX320 Max TI, packing iBasso's expertly designed, proprietary discrete stepped resistor volume control, Super Class A output stage and an over-the-top, clean power supply of six separate batteries. Twister6 praises PB5's "analog texture with bigger soundstage expansion" before becoming a dynamic duo with D16. It's in Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. While DX320 Max TI is a distant memory, its PB5 descendant could arguably ascend to greater heights.  As a fully analog product PB5 grant you the ability to line-in via today's amazing DAP sources ... while retaining the other aspects that went so far in defining iBasso's greatest flagship DAP. And adding tubes. Head-Fi now finds itself blessed with accessible opportunity. DX320 Max TI was more than a product but the birth of the super portable concept that has more applications than one. PB5 is such an example, iBasso's gift to the masses helping listeners enjoy the vast majority of DX320 Max TI solid-state output stage plus tube magic and – whisper it quietly – perhaps even surpass it with a high-performance DAC/DAP source of your choice. [See Product Desc. For More] Whisper it quietly, indeed. PB5 works near-silently because iBasso's stepped resistor analog volume control shows up where it could be most crucial – in their first battery-powered tube and solid-state hybrid amplifier. Said stepped attenuator preserves the resolution of your best DAP sources in the presence of Nutubes that may not otherwise share the same noise performance as the rest of PB5's carefully assembled transistor circuit.  Before that begins to sound like a problem, the gains from inserting Nutubes into PB5's (read: mini DX320 Max TI's) signal path far outweigh any cons. Beyond granting the kind of natural, spacious and effortless sonics tubes are known for, Korg's fluorescent 6P1 dual triodes pay dividends on the circuit design front too. READ ALSO The benefits of adding input tubes to a circuit As triodes, Korg's 6P1s provide iBasso access to an all-important square law transfer function for wide operating conditions. With tubes – audio's long-established ideal input device – now working differentially in balanced push-pull configuration to receive signal from your 4.4mm source, iBasso's proprietary stepped resistor attenuator takes charge of volume. Additionally counting on common-mode rejection, it's this proprietary volume control that enables PB5 to play it delicately into your flagship earphones for enjoyment at realistically lower volume levels. Because, it's easy to play it loud, but everyone knows it's in playing back tiny sounds that is the litmus test of a hybrid tube/solid-state amp capable of outputting as much SPL as PB5. Transparent at any volume setting down low as much as up high, with virtually perfect +/-0.1dB channel-matching, this iBasso tubed behemoth exposes detail buried deep around the noise floor of your music. So begins the rest PB5's fully-balanced, true differential solid-state circuit whose push-pull operation produces odd harmonic distortion that dovetails perfectly with the naturalness of its Nutubes. Built with individual transistors of iBasso's choosing allows great control over PB5's tuning, while an immense operating voltage over 16 volts grants an innately linear open-loop circuit, with substantially less negative feedback, to be fashioned. At the tip of PB5's spear are buffers capable of outputting more amperes of current than is needed in reality, while keeping output impedance near zero. Said power stage is another call for iBasso's Super Class A to appear.  Current mirrors ensure PB5's push-pull operation works without crossover distortion, yielding Class A-like performance at all power output levels. That makes for extremely linear open-loop operation before negative feedback is applied ... yet mostly avoids the heat and inefficiency typically associated with Class A designs. With superb damping factor as a voltage source, enough standing bias current and signal-to-noise performance to follow today's flagship IEM impedance down low, you still know PB5 will be even more in its element pushing TOTL headphones. That's especially when you consider its six separate batteries providing clean, independent power to each critical section of PB5's circuit.  Everything from Focal to a Fostex and Rosson Audio Designs plus Yamaha and ZMF Headphones is applicable. Flexibility is the operative word here and sources like Cayin Audio's N7, iBasso's own DX260 plus HiBy Music's RS6, R8II and RS8 will be queuing up to lend their signal to PB5. PB5 is the perfect segway to add tubes to your portable flagship sources, but it's so much more. Through Osprey's stepped attenuator volume control and Super Class A output stage, DX320 Max TI's spirit lives on. Check out the rest of iBasso's sources for PB5 here, or view our other DAC/amps here.

iBasso Audio's Year 2020 contribution to Head-Fi involves a high definition, open back rendition of a monitoring sound. Two years of research after its predecessor, the SR-1 allowed study of strength to be distilled in the SR-2. A full open-back deploying Tesla magnetic flux technology with bio-cellulose dome diaphragms, iBasso's SR2 promises a wider soundstage and transparency that may lift elements waiting to be discovered in your music.  Package comes with a second pair of stock pads that add tuning ability shifting the SR-2's natural presentation to a tighter, tauter and faster one. Major HiFi wrote "things are looking up when I'm still thinking about how some tracks that I haven't tried might sound on the SR2". Audiophile Heaven wholeheartedly recommend SR2 "if you're looking for a comfortable, light, and well-made headphone, with a natural tonality, rich sound, with a natural soundstage, and with an excellent amount of detail for the price". Also view everything else from iBasso here, or check out our other headphones here.

Third time's a charm for iBasso Audio building reference open-back headphones. SR3's 150ohm impedance, carbon fibre diaphragm, tesla magnet and 4.4mm stock cable adapts to many modern audiophile sources, for flexible quality every way you listen. SR3 leapt straight onto Headfonia and Audiophile-Heaven's Recommended Buys lists. It's very complete to Headfonics. iBasso check all MOONSTAR Reviews' boxes. Its carbon fibre diaphragm one-ups its iBasso predecessors' biocellulose units, with the stiffer large driver now combining a more pistonic motion at low frequencies with a material that is still self-damped up high. [See Product Desc. For More] Its low modal break-up means that intermodulation is kept low, as SR3's driver continues to be kept under the control of magnet capable of one tesla. That iron-grip is important given the excursion iBasso's liquid silicone suspension is capable of. SR3 is a low-distortion affair always, with its copper-clad aluminium wire voice coil kept thin and light by a 150ohm impedance. Inertia is low and SR3's driver reacts instantly to the smallest voltage impulses. Indeed, it's a 150ohm load that's simultaneously easy to drive for any partnering amplifier, such that a tube amplifier mates comfortably with suitable damping factor and impedance matching. ichos-reviews declares SR3 "the undisputable value king". iBasso's flagship headphone comes terminated in 4.4mm also meaning many modern bridge-tied load outputs on music players won't grind their gears pushing into inordinately low impedances, small power supplies and output stages producing less in the way of distortion and noise as a result. SR3 will make for a happy result running from iBasso's own DC07 Pro and DX180, but high output impedance, imperfect voltage sources from FiiO and Shanling will not be tested untowardly either – music players from the latter both having enough mettle to push SR3 very satisfactorily.  iBasso's greatest achievement therefore seems to have set up SR3 to perform in virtually any way you ask it. Also check out the rest of iBasso's sources capable of partnering SR3 here, or view our other headphones here.

--- SOLD! --- iBasso Audio have shown Head-Fi what the entry-level DX170 and flagship DX320 are capable of. And it's been left to the DX240 to act as the crossroads of them all, bringing together all the best traits of iBasso's DAP prowess into one single device.  DX240 is so good, in fact, it displaces DX300 on Headfonia's Recommended Buy list and joined its big sibling there on Audiophile-Heaven. DX240's owners are entitled to three free amp card endplates and a matching leather case worth $149, while the upgrade to Amp8 MKII updates capabilities further! [See Product Desc. For More] Revitalising the popular form factor that the original genre-defining DX200 and DX220 packed, the DX240 is another cumulation of the progress iBasso have made. With stock Amp1 MKIII, this versatile player promises an abundance of transparency and plenty of involvement through a liquid mid-range, particularly with female vocals. ESS Technology's ES9038Pro top-dog – outputting in current to a proper I/V stage for best distortion characteristics – arrives as the decoding backbone. The refinements made around this DAC chip bring DX240 into portable audio's future.  Trickling down from the DX320, a FPGA acts as a clock and data master, presenting raw I2S for the ES9038Pro in the cleanest, quietest and most precise manner. Joining those are the Snapdragon 660 CPU, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.  Headfonics say DX240 lands with real purpose in the world of modern music players. Major HiFi met "really no setbacks to this device whatsoever". MOONSTAR Reviews says DX240 delivers sonically, and in terms of usability. "Every dollar works out completely" to Audio-PH.  Twister6 found this iBasso a jack of all trades and master of them all too. Full Google Play Services and Android 11 usability is a breeze when viewed through DX240's 1080p screen. Play up to DSD512, 16X Tidal MQA and full Hi-Res Lossless Apple Music online or offline – entirely bit-perfect through iBasso's bypass of Android sample-rate conversion. Truly, DX320 miniaturised desktop DAC/amps – and DX240 miniaturised DX320. With a palm-and-pocket-friendly form factor, DX240 is reminiscent of DX170 – but with added amp card modules. Amps1 through 8, developed for iBasso's DX2xx line, are compatible here, so your collection of cards will find a new lease of life. At the same time, enjoy the new Amp8 MKII, developed for and only for the DX240. But really, iBasso's DX240 is a new lease of life for the entire music player category, balancing fidelity, power, portability and access in one stroke. Bravo – also shop iBasso's other releases here, or all our other music players here.

--- SOLD! ---

--- SOLD! --- iBasso Audio releasing a flagship UIEM is exciting, and certainly tuned for excitement is the brand-new IT07.  This seven-driver hybrid puts top quality components at your service, as a graphene dynamic driver for bass props up six premium Knowles balanced armatures. [See Product Desc. For More] IT07 proves its worth at the bottom and at the top of the spectrum, thrilling with its bass and treble performance. There's the option to dial these in further yet, with included interchangeable acoustic filters within reach to suit multiple sources, tastes and music genres. Tasteful emphasis of the frequency extremes flank a lucid and spacious mid-range performance that flows effortlessly, its liquidity reminiscent of AM05. Emotive vocals never risk being overshadowed.  Audio123 sees this as a legitimate step up from iBasso's previous IT04 in a comparison with today's popular flagship UIEMs. Headfonics has "no complaints because it does so many things very well ... Tesla driver can dig deep into the bass, the vocals sound very smooth and clear and the highs are clean and crisp with an overall balanced frequency response". MOONSTAR Reviews and Twister6 compare it favouribly with other flagships of its day, with IT07 holding its own against Meze's Rai Penta and 64 Audio's tia Trió, among the rest. An excellent stock cable terminated in balanced 2.5mm comes included, to work from the box with iBasso's DC01 USB-C DAC dongle, or one of our music players here.  // RECOMMENDED: Upgrade with the IBASSO CB16 if you're part of the 4.4mm club. View the rest of iBasso's releases here, or check out our other IEMs here.