iBasso IT03

SPECIFICATIONS:

Driver: 2 x Balanced Armature + 1 x Dynamic Driver

Impedance: 8 ohms

Frequency response: 10 – 30,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 105 dB

Connector: MMCX

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated to iBasso in any way and do not benefit monetarily or in any other form for writing this review. I purchased this in-ear monitor with my own resources and I am simply giving my honest review of the product!
Review by: “Charlie” from The Little Audiophile

iBasso IT03 Recommended Retail Price (at time of writing): S$379

TLA Score
Physical Attributes
Comfort: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Ease of Wearing: 7/10
Noise Isolation: 9/10
Microphonics: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10

Sonic Attributes
Bass: 8/10
Mids: 7/10
Trebles: 8/10
Sound Stage: 9/10
Separation & Imaging: 8/10
Source Matchability: 6/10

iBasso is a brand name that needs no introduction in the audio enthusiast realm. The DX200 and DX80 DAPs are just some of the popular products under iBasso’s belt, to name a couple. With all these experience in this market, iBasso ventured out and developed their first IEM – the iBasso IT03. Subsequently, iBasso released the IT01 soon after and the IT04 is hitting the stores (in Singapore at least) really soon.

Coming back to the topic, I purchased the IT03 from Zeppelin & Co.located inside Sim Lim Square and I have been evaluating this IEM ever since. With the launch of the IT04, I think it would be great to touch base and talk about the IT03 for a bit. So, for my humble opinions on the IT03, do read on!

THE BOX
If there is one thing that iBasso really knows about the packaging is that first impressions count. I must say, for the price the IT03 is one of the most professionally packaged IEM I have encountered. It is minimalistic yet practical. The box on the iBasso is slightly on the larger size for an IEM. It has the typical picture of the IEM in the front, some specs and relevant information on the sides. Nothing out of the ordinary.



Slide away the white shroud thingy, it reveals the all-black box with houses all the goodies you paid for. Open the magnetic flip black box and you are greeted with a frequency response graph and the obsidian black IT03 on the top shelf. On the bottom shelf, you will find the genuine leather (GENUINE, MIND YOU!) carrying case, along with a ton of ear tips and a warranty card.



Personally, I think the inclusion of the frequency response graph is a good way of advising the listener on what sound signature to expect from the IEM. However, I would have preferred it if iBasso included the frequency response chart with the different tips attached while having the measurements available on their website instead (the IT03 measurements charts are not available on iBasso’s official website). I know this is sitting on the lines of nit-picking and it is what sounds best to the individual user that really matters, but having solid data and measurements is always good nonetheless.



IEM Case
One thing I need to address is that the provided IEM case is just so stupidly small, I can barely fit the IT03 into the leather case. I like the genuine leather case provided, but unfortunately, it just cannot fulfil its intended purpose.



BUILD AND DESIGN
Housing
Just like all of iBasso’s DAPs, they did not cheap out on their IEM line of products and the IT03 is built really well and the design is very robust. I trust this IEM would survive the abuse of being an everyday carry.

The shell is made of a high-quality plastic that is only available in the obsidian black colour, unlike the funky little brother, the IT01, which is available in all black, or red and blue (for the right and left housing respectively).



The MMCX female connector is secured well on the IT03 and I do not see them facing issues of the connector sinking into the shell over repeated plug-ins and outs. Also, the connector is of pretty good quality and would not dent or bend if the user takes decent care when cleaning or plugging or unplugging the cable.

Cable

The cable provided with the IT03 is a tightly braided 4-core Oxygen-Free Copper cable and is actually of pretty high quality in my opinion. It sports a very robust TRS 3.5mm jack and shroud, along with memory ear guides. Nothing fancy, but essential in the making of a good all rounder IEM. Do note that the provided cable does not come with an in-line microphone, though you will be able to switch third-party MMCX cables with an in-line mic.



I have found that the male MMCX connector on the provided cable has a slightly protruded shroud, in which you may not be able to use this cable with other IEMs.



COMFORT
The IT03 is shaped very much like how a Custom IEM would, less the nozzle region. There is a protrusion in the shell above the nozzle to fit into the concha of the ear. The bore of the nozzle is also substantial in size (like T400/T500 kind of size), though the shaft is not unnecessarily long.



The IT03 fit me well, though for some your mileage may vary. The protrusion for the concha and wide nozzle may not fit users with smaller ears. Anyways, in my experience, there was just a tad bit of heat build up over extended listening sessions (2+ hours) and the large nozzle was not fatiguing for my large ears for I am a good listener (hehe)! I will talk about tip selection regarding comfort in the later segments of the review.

SOUND QUALITY
Honestly, the IT03 did not impress me during my initial auditions at Zeppelin & Co. (on a side note, the staff at Zeppelin & Co. had been really awesome as I auditioned the IT03 many times over my visits to their shop because I was frankly undecided if I wanted to pick a pair up. Thank you for being so patient with me XD).

After trying the IT03 out for a little longer, I started to fall in love with them. Here’s why…

Pre – Burn In
Burn-in – do you believe in it?

Out of the box, the first thing you’d probably notice when you play your first track is “Damn… these IEMs are peaky and sharp as heck! In the Trebs! Damn… NID inducing” Well, I won’t lie, they really are. I was going through my albums and I came across the track “Do Something Good” by Zayn, which was a sibilance fest. The “S” consonants and cymbals we so pronounced that it literally just ruined the whole song.

Sub-bass was seismic and a tad bit loose. Though I do not really mind this as much as the peaky trebles, the raw sub-bass can get a little bit overbearing on bassy tracks.

Sound Stage and Imaging
Nonetheless, the soundstage is VERY wide. I’d say there is a greater sense of width than depth and height, however. There is this very cool almost “surround sound” effect where on one track (can’t remember which one though ), the soundstage was from my 7 o’clock to my 5 o’clock, and this isn’t even supposed to be a binaural track. With me being able to perceive the exact point where the sound is, it shows how accurate the imaging is on the IT03. In short, the wide soundstage coupled with excellent imaging makes a very immersive listening experience..



Post – Burn In
After about 100 hours of run-time, I can safely say that the peaky-ness has mostly resolved itself and the bass has tightened up a little bit. I revisited the song “Do Something Good” and found that the “essy” sibilance has lessened (not disappeared though).

Sound Signature
I found that the IT03 has a rather U-shaped, aggressive sound signature and has a higher treble presence than bass presence. The excellent, detailed treble response means that the IT03 is quite a resolving pair of IEM.

Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage remains unchanged or that the changes are too minute for me to pick up, even after the 100-hour burn-in, so I shall not mention about it again.

Bass
The bass on the IT03 is fantastic. It has enough impact and has a fantastic extension to come off as energetic and full. There is slightly more audible sub-bass than mid-bass and does not muddy the mids in any way. I’d say bass-head should stay away from this IEM though as although the bass is energetic, it might be a little too quick and decays a little too fast for bass-philes.

Mids
The mids are no slouch either. I love how the vocals sound clean and uncongested, especially on live-recordings. For male vocals, I especially liked listening to Ed Sheeran’s “So” with this IEM as I could almost feel that he meant every word he sang.

Female vocals were again fantastic. “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman was a complete joy to listen to as could really “feel” the song and that I too really wanted to cross the border and (go) into the city to… I dunno… something.

However, with all these good things said about the vocals, I should say that the vocals are not (and nowhere near thick). They are slightly lean and therefore does not have the “chesty” kind of sound which occurs when there is a hump in the lower-mids.

String instruments were fast and engaging to listen to. Guitar plucks were very crispy and the fast decay does not smear the following note. The boost in the upper-mid range meant that guitars and especially acoustic tracks are something to ride home about.

Trebles
Smooth, analytical, revealing, sparkly. These are the words I’d use to describe the trebles. Trebles are forward so they do add details to the vocals and also expand the soundstage.

Do note that the IT03 will reveal nuances in poorly recorded tracks and can be fatiguing to listen to on such tracks. Other than that, trebles are lovely and extremely well detailed for the price.

PAIRING
Alternative Ear tips
Final Audio Type-E
I found that the Final Audio tips helped make the vocals more articulate while introducing some sibilance. It provides a great seal, though the insertion is not very deep.



Sony Hybrid
These tips helped make the IT03 sound a little fuller in the mids, while not introducing any sibilance into the tracks. I do not notice any difference in the bass response with these tips. Insertion, like the Final Audio tips, is not particularly deep.



KZ Starline
With the KZ Starline tips, you are as close to making the IT03 fit like a custom as you can get. The insertion is deeper than the Sony Hybrid or the Final Audio Type-E tips, but it does not feel abrasive or uncomfortable in the ear. These tips do, however, elevate the bass response a tad bit, especially in the mid-bass.



3rd Party Cable
I threw on an Infinity Audio Copper Litz Cable just to mute the trebles a little while forwarding the mids and bass a tad bit. I personally prefer this pairing as although the IT03 is no longer as analytical as with the stock cable, tracks just feel richer and more weighty.



Sources
I found that a warm sounding source compliments the U-shaped sounding IT03 the best. As such, the Astell & Kern AK Jr with Fiio Q1MKii slung as AMP was my choice of pairing over the Fiio Q1MKii as a DAC as the pairing, to simply put, lost all its charm. Really.

Also, do note that the IT03 shares the similar characteristic as most other multi-driver hybrids, which is that it needs a competently powerful source to be able to get the full performance out of this IEM. For example, I tried this IEM with my Sony Xperia XA1, which does not have a very powerful amplifier. The experience was just… Yuck. The sound presentation and dynamics just sounded off.



SELECT COMPARISONS
Note: All prices stated were at the time of writing.

IT03 Vs Shure SE535 LTD [S$729]

The Shure SE535 LTD is a fairly popular IEM and is relatively neutral. As such, I will use this as a baseline comparison with the IT03

The SE535 LTD is intended to be a stage monitor, thus the tuning is pretty flat. The sound signature is neutral to a slightly dark, with a rolled-off treble. The mids are flat and the bass is nowhere accentuated.

In comparison, the IT03 is more U-shaped. Bass on the IT03 has better impact and weight while mids sound a little leaner. Treble wise, the IT03 is brighter and more detailed, though definitely the more fatiguing of the two. Between the two, the IT03 is the one with the wider soundstage.

IT03 Vs IT01 [S$149]

Now, this has gotta be interesting. It’s sibling rivalry time. But unfortunately, not really. Despite sharing the IT0x name, they are vastly different in sound signature.

The IT01 has a balanced sound signature with lower-mid warmth. Bass is emphasized and is pleasantly weighty. Though the bass does not decay very quickly, it does not sound bloated or overbearing. As such, it is a very natural sounding bass. Mids are pretty smooth with warmth in the lower-mids, in which male vocals sound especially erm… “luscious”. Trebles are not accentuated and are very unintrusive. There is sufficient detail, though I would have preferred a slightly more forward treble. The soundstage on the IT01 is also decent with more width than height.

The IT03 has the more “audiophile” tuning of the two. The overall bass region is less thick and more agile. Mids are leaner than that of the IT01 but do seem more articulate. The IT03 is also very much brighter, more detailed and more prone to sibilance, with it’s BA driver working the trebles. Soundstage is much wider on the IT03 than on the IT01.

CONCLUSION
The iBasso IT03 is a fantastic IEM for the price. Not many other IEM manufacturers are able to deliver such performance at under S$400 and I truly believe that this IEM strikes well above its price range, especially when you have found the right pairing. If you do wish to pick one up, do audition it first as the fit might not be for you.

With a fantastic build quality and a ton of accessories, you do not need to worry about these breaking if you take adequate care of them. Also, I wanna say EXPERIMENT. Try the IT03 with different cables and different tips. See what you like and it will grow on you, as it has for me. That is all for now I guess… Thanks for reading and see you in the next one!

Do check out our WordPress site at https://thelittleaudiophile.wordpress.com/ for more reviews!

Specifications

• Drivers: Dynamic: 9.2mm Driver for low freq. & Balanced Armature: Knowles dual BA for mid and high freq.
• Freq. Response: 10Hz-30kHz
• Sensitivity: 105+/-2dB
• Impedance: 8 ohm
• Noise Attenuation: -30dB
• Rated Power: 5mW
• T.H.D: <1% (at 1kHz /1mW)
• Plug Size: 3.5mm gold-plated
• Cord Length: 1.2m
• Weight: 9g without cable

Price (MSRP): U$D 260


The box…

The IT03 arrives in a nice hassle-free box. The earpieces are well arranged and protected and the cable tightly wrapped. The accessories are all placed at the second section which include 3 sets of single flange eartips (in 3 sizes per set) and a genuine leather carrying case. The eartips arrive in two types, narrow and wide bore. A larger variation of tips should have been added for this price, like double flange and foam tips. Also, the case is very small to hold the large earpieces inside.



The Design

A piano black color theme with a very classy and elegant look surrounds the IT03 everywhere. The shells are all made of a thick acrylic material with a completely smooth surface and zero sharp edges. The shape is very unique taking a custom-like form factor, and the size is quite large indeed. The nozzle is wider than standard and not too long, and also lacks the stopper at the upper part to properly fit the eartips, what limits a lot the possibility of extra tips rolling.

The included detachable cable utilizes the standard MMCX connections; never been my favorite choice, but it’s very popular. The earpieces’ sockets allows any regular MMCX cable to be used on the IT03, but the included cable can’t be used with every IEM. The cable itself consists of a twisted 4-wire and it’s ended in a very solid L-angled metal plug. The cable doesn’t tangle too much and microphonics are nonexistent.

Now, trying to fit the IT03 might be quite a challenge at first. The universal custom-like shape means the IEM needs to be fit in a similar twist motion as a real Custom IEM. The nozzle is not as long as with a full CIEM so the IT03 doesn’t get too deep into the ear canal, but the rest of the earpiece sits almost like any Custom made IEM filling the whole outer ear cavity. Those who are not used to CIEMs will need some practice at first, but it becomes very natural afterwards and easier than real customs in-ears.

While the fit is very secure, the comfort is not the best. The shells are very large and probably meant for medium to large ears. I don’t have large ears myself and the IT03 tends to cause some discomfort usually after an hour of use. Having a custom shape might look nice on a universal earphone, but it also limits the fit for many people. Personally, I think a more standard ergonomic shell would be a wiser option for a next earphone release from iBasso.

Apart from that, the isolation is very high among universal fit IEMs, getting close to full sealed acrylic custom in-ear models.



Into the Hybrid Sound…

The combination of both drivers technology, dynamic and balanced armature, is always a challenge. I’ve already auditioned a long list of hybrid in-ear models from various companies from the sub $50 range to over $500 including Custom ones, some of them being superb masterpieces and others utterly awful in every bit part of their sound. Selecting the right dynamic driver and choosing the best BA unit(s) and then tune them together into a single shell is not an easy task, and matching their speeds and decay needs extra dedication to avoid (in)coherence issues as much as possible. A small mistake and you get a terrible V-shaped response, a serious lack of bass quality or an overly bright product. But, if done right, you got yourself an excellent earphone which can manages every frequency at its best.

As for the new released iBasso IT03 hybrid, while I don’t know the full details about the R&D, it’s not hard to tell that the engineers put a lot of effort and dedication to make this earphone. The IT03 is quite different from other hybrid sets that sell at a similar $200-300 bracket, not just in its unique shell design but most importantly in its sound tuning.

Overall, it has a very warm and engaging sound with a very strong and dominant sense of musicality that takes all the attention from the listener. While the 9mm driver inside takes a main role in the stage, it still gives enough space to the natural mids and smooth highs to play along in a coherent and unison way with the low end, with a large and deep sense of stage.


The “Bass” in the iBasso…

At the low end, with a 9.2mm Dynamic driver, the IT03 is very powerful and full-bodied, carrying great impact and more than enough of weight. The whole bass is always very present and quite dominant, but more focused into the mid and upper regions rather than the lower sub-bass parts. Its strong presence takes a lot of attention from the listener, but it isn’t something too overpowering and actually has a great control with heavier tracks. I wouldn’t classify it as pure basshead, but it is not too far from being one; in fact, any bass boost could easily make the IT03 a bass monster. Regardless the source or track, the low-end sounds very full, thick with a strong of attack if the music allows it, and a very correct decay. Sometimes it may be a bit boomy and show a slight bleed into the midrange but it remains well controlled and can be easily separated from the rest of the sound just adding a better sense of warmth and more importantly a good sense of musicality.

Extension is very decent and quite effortless, though the IT03 is not particularly a fast hybrid at the lows, nor the most accurate and informative in its lowest frequencies; the Dunu DN-2000 while stronger in impact and more aggressive, also sounds more spacious and fuller with its larger dynamic driver. The new DN-2002 with its double dynamic drivers is much faster and cleaner as well. Nevertheless, the IT03 is well tuned for any kind of drums,
metal, rock or pop genres.


Add ‘Balance’d to the ‘Dynamic’s and dive into the midrange…

For starters, we have the well-known and so famous twin BA drivers from Knowles, the tiny TWFK (in whatever version). Nothing new for a triple-driver hybrid option nowadays. The so pricey K3003 from AKG, the Dunu’s and many other hybrid sets all of them included these dual balanced drivers for their mids and highs, and yet all of them turned to be quite different from each other due their respective dynamic part, filters/damping and final tuning. The iBasso offer is no exception. Being a fan of the TWFK in its ‘pure’ (no hybrid) implementation, I always have my doubts on how ‘another’ new hybrid may result with this small and yet extremely detailed and accurate drivers.

The midrange is full thanks to the lower end dynamic driver part, though it can result a bit overshadowed by the extra mid-bass kick, especially when paired with a warmer sounding source. Even though, the real bass bleed is kept as minimal as possible, giving a relatively flatter midrange response, followed by a strong clarity and detail. Still, overall accuracy is not the main offer of the IT03, which seems aimed for a more musical and engaging presentation rather than a ‘reference’ signature type, making a different use of the extreme clarity and high level of detail of the smallest Knowles dual drivers. It’s not a real v-shaped sound that gives a more distant midrange for a pronounced bass and too sparkly highs, but the powerful low end may overshadow the rest of the frequencies sometimes.

Anyway, regardless the bass response, I still find that the special part of the IT03 is in its midrange. Generally, it is somewhat more distant to create a better sense of space but knows when to be pushed forward when it gets to the voices sounding smooth and sweet. Male voices sound full and well balanced with the low end, and while female voices are also well placed they are just a tad thinner in texture.

All in all, the mids on the IT03 may not be too forward to fall under a mid-focused IEM and won’t be the best match for accuracy, but they have that special and unique sense of musicality within.


Reaching the Highs…

The treble on the IT03 is a bit different than the other similar triple hybrid IEM sets (with similar Knowles drivers). It is more laid-back but not rolled-off, full and present in its musical presentation. Despite the lack of treble emphasis, the IT03 can’t be called dark or off sounding, but might be considered a bit “safe” with its less sparkly, smooth and more inoffensive presentation. The treble detail is very good in the TWFK based driver fashion, but not a true TWFK analytical or overly bright signature. The IT03 doesn’t carry the airy feel of the discontinued Rock-it R-50M or DBA02/B2, and surprisingly it also doesn’t have the same accuracy level of those, though it’s less treble emphasis works as wonder to control down the extra harshness or sibilance that these tiny Knowles drivers usually deliver.



Soundstage & Presentation

The soundstage is rather large when the IT03 is properly powered. It’s very equal in terms of width and height for an IEM, and has excellent depth. Separation and positioning are very good, though the IT03’s ability to give an engaging and musical presentation gives up significantly in timbre and imaging that hybrid sets can offer at this price point. It’s still has a very enjoyable sense of realism that can be addicting despite not having the most coherent 3D effect.

A review of the iBasso IT03 In-Ear Monitor (IEM):


Introduction:

As one of the well-respected old-timers on the DAP (Digital Audio Player) scene, iBasso raised a few eyebrows a year or so ago when they decided to venture into the congested and competitive IEM market. They released the IT03, a hybrid IEM featuring a dynamic driver combined with two balanced armatures, priced at $259 at the time of writing.

Since I started writing this review (months ago!), they have released the IT01 (a single dynamic driver, priced at $99) and are about to release the IT04 (1 DD plus 3 BA’s, priced at $499).


I own the IT01, and since I received it, I listened to it non-stop, to the exclusion of the IT03 and my TOTL Noble Katana. This was partly due to the extensive recommended burn-in period and partly due to it being crazily great for the price, featuring a stunning low end which combines well with an otherwise balanced and cohesive sound signature that has detail and sparkle in spades.

Terrific as an on-the-go IEM (and I am frequently on the go!), and good enough to satisfy deeply for more critical listening at home.

NB: for anyone reading who might not be familiar with the ‘lingo’, TOTL = Top Of The Line; a flagship model, usually with a high price tag attached.


I have also heard a demo model of the upcoming IT04, which blew me away in basically every regard!


With the (pretty deserved) hype of the IT01 and the upcoming IT04, the IT03 seems to have been somewhat overlooked in recent discussions.

I heard a Chinese phrase some years ago; I don’t know if it’s still in common use, but it humorously refers to things or people being relegated to ‘forgotten corner’; I can’t help feeling that this has been the fate that has befallen the IT03 of late!


Upon a sudden whim, I picked up the IT03 a few days ago and revisited it.

I was immediately blown away by its qualities and remembered why I’d loved it so much in the first place. It has gone straight back to being my first-choice IEM.

Hence, I decided to force myself to make the time to return to this review and finish it off!

This IEM deserves the exposure, without question.

Without wanting to give too much away, this IEM absolutely warrants your time, I guarantee it!

Read on for more, intrepid explorers!


The IT03 can be purchased directly from iBasso (and shipped to many locations) at the following link (correct at time of writing):

http://ibasso.com/cp_xq_dy.php?id=4756


A (somewhat lengthy) bit of preamble first:



The Fit:

Regarding the fit, I think one’s individual ear anatomy will play a part in how comfortable these are for you, along with a bit of care being taken as to putting them in.

The protruding upper nodule makes a useful anchoring point that remains unnoticeable when correctly positioned. However, sometimes I’ve become aware of it digging uncomfortably into my ear, but this is due to me either failing to put it in correctly first time, or fiddling with it unconsciously and moving it slightly out of position. This caveat aside, I love how securely these IEM’s fit and never have trouble getting a good seal with the right kind of tips.


Tip Selection:

This is an important factor with these IEM’s that should not be overlooked.

The first time I heard them, I felt they displayed a jaw-droppingly huge soundstage and stunning transparency, clarity and airiness.

However, I recall thinking “wow.. where’s the bass?!” (especially since I was expecting this to be a strong point in an IEM containing a good quality dynamic driver).

That was with Silicone tips, which I generally never get along well with and have trouble gaining a good seal (I have large manly ear canals, heh).

Once I switched over to Comply-style memory foam tips, the qualities I noticed in my initial impressions all decreased to a slight degree, but then I discovered the magnificent bass capabilities of the IT03. Switching to Crystalline Audio’s Crystal Tips (the name represents the sound quality rather than the construction material!) brought back slightly more of the original qualities without sacrificing bass. Monster Foam Supertips again offered further incremental gains in the original qualities whilst also increasing the bass capabilities.

Finally, there are the tips on which I have settled of late, the Symbio wide-bore tips.

These are a hybrid tip similar to previous offerings from Sony and Trinity Audio, but with a couple of factors that make them unique.

They use a silicon outer skin around a bonded-in cushion of dense memory foam (rather than the light and somewhat less effective foams I’ve experienced in other products).

The silicon outer is very thin and heat sensitive so that once inserted, the heat of your ear makes it conform nicely to your individual ear canal shape, whilst the foam keeps it securely in place, and both combine to produce a seal nearly as good as a quality memory foam tip would provide.

These factors, along with the wide bore had pretty startling results compared with any other tip I’d used previously. Those original qualities I mentioned increased significantly and noticeably.

The bass perhaps decreased very slightly but was largely unchanged.

However, whilst I’d certainly encourage one and all to try the Symbio wide-bore tips, the key take-home point/valuable life-lesson here is simply “Tips Matter” – experiment and go with what you know works well for you (allowing for the fact that an ear tip that works well with one IEM may not fit so well on another).


I’ve heard (or heard of) some people trying the IT03 and saying “ugh, where’s the bass?!”.

Whilst respecting the views and different tastes of others, given the amount of bass (sub bass, mid bass etc) that the IT03 is capable of putting out, I strongly suspect that people having such reactions are either:

a) Suffering from a lack of correct seal or tips that aren’t a good pairing with the IT03

Or

b) They are bass-fiends who find that even with the dial turned up to 11, the IEM is not inducing the desired levels of involuntary incontinence, even when playing their 24/192 ‘The Barry White Collection’ FLAC files with the X-Bass function of their DAC engaged


Gratuitous Photos! Graphically exposed!

Just the main pics you need to get an idea.
The IEM comes professionally presented with good packaging, and as a lovely extra touch, a classy looking carrying pouch.
Note that I'm using the upgraded iBasso CB13 cable in these photos.
The stock cable is black and very light and thin. I personally think upgrading to the CB12 ($89) or better may bring out even more of the qualities of these IEM's.





The Sound:


As ever, my preferred method of testing is to try out the product(s) in question with a selection of songs from various genres and to let that process draw out the comparative strengths and weaknesses of each product.

I have a few tracks which I’ve only found available on MP3; the rest are FLAC or WAV in 16/44 or 24/192.
As a way to test and benchmark, I have A/B tested the IT03 with the Noble Audio Katana on all these tracks (and many others), since it’s the best other IEM that I currently own (and an outstanding IEM in its own right). If anyone wishes to send me more TOTL IEM’s to expand my review with, I would not attempt to dissuade you from this course of action


Also, for the purposes of this review, I have used two DAP’s to play the music on for testing; the iBasso DX200 (with AMP1 – balanced mode and AMP3) and the Shozy Alien+ (single ended, but using a 2.5mm balanced to 3.5mm SE Eidolic adapter).


I would add that this review has been done over the course of many months. I do property management/investment in London on a self-employed basis, and anyone reading who has their own business will know how it has a marvellous tendency to intrude upon one’s intended activities!

Since I wrote the bulk of this review, iBasso have released AMP units 4 and 5.

I haven’t yet heard 4 (and greatly wish to do so!), but I own AMP5, and I would say that the sound signature of the DX200 with AMP5 is comparable to the strengths of the Shozy Alien+ DAP used in this review. So, if you are a DX200 owner and you are salivating at my descriptions of the Alien+ sound on certain songs, AMP5 is going to give you a similar experience I believe!


As mentioned above, please note that all impressions below are in both comparison to the Noble Katana as well as ‘stand-alone’. It’s hard to quantify something without a benchmark against which to compare it!


With all this box-ticking preamble out of the way, shall we proceed?

Make it so, number 1



Hobotalk – Walks With Me (from Beauty in Madness, 16/44 FLAC):


This song, by a relatively obscure Scottish band, is one of my all-time favourite songs. A piece of pure bliss; warm and wistful, slightly melancholic without being cold or depressing, beautiful and peaceful in equal measure.



DX200 (AMP3):

Well, this track was nothing short of magical with the IT03.

Every instrument sang with clarity, detail and lifelike timbre. The soundstage seemed even more expansive and open than usual, and a song that itself dances on the edge of perfection found in the IT03 a perfect partner.


DX200 (AMP1): The IT03 impresses again with its beautifully open, 3D, spherical soundstage.

Whilst the notes exhibit slightly less thickness than I hear on the Katana, the articulation of the guitar plucking here is very crisp and accurate. The separation and placement of the instruments is absolutely first class. In the latter parts of the song, where all the instruments are playing and there’s a lot going on, this keeps everything crystal clear, all the details discernible without any feeling of fatigue or muddiness.

This is helped by slight increase in smoothness brought by this combination.


Alien+: Like jewels laid out on black velvet, the black background, superb separation and clarity on this DAP really allow the detailed nature of the IT03 to shine through, with the musicality of the Alien+ bringing an extra sparkle of magic but without in any way reducing the levels of detail.

There’s a faint sound above the guitar fingerstyle playing, which I think might be the brushing of a sleeve or part of the player’s hand against the guitar body. The IT03 brings out this small detail more than the Katana, and even more so when played through the Alien+.




The Darkness - Black Shuck, Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman, Givin' Up:


Now then. I’m autistic (but fortunately was blessed with extreme attractiveness to compensate), and this seems to come with a sensitivity to certain sounds and frequencies.

I love rock, and I love these songs, but I’ve mostly found them difficult to listen to, due to the dense and noisy nature of the song, the joyful bashing of cymbals, occasionally piercing falsetto and so on.

Also, these tracks really benefit from a powerful low end (doesn’t need to be one that is not balanced with the rest of the sound signature, just not an anaemic or lacking one!).

Here’s what I found:


DX200 (AMP3):

There was more crunch and power to the guitar riff’s second opening segment on ‘Get Your Hand Off’, but after that, its accurate and slightly forward presentation of the percussion rendered the sound a bit noisy and overwhelming to my hypersensitive ears. However, that’s not been a normal incidence with these IEM’s rather something unique to this specific, difficult track that I love but have often found difficult to listen to in the past due to fatigue and noisiness.


DX200 (AMP1):

In comparison with the Alien+, the cymbals here are kept more in check.

The sound overall is a very good match for these songs. I have noted repeatedly the musicality of both the Alien+ and Katana generally, but with these songs (especially noticeable on the song Givin’ Up), this combination with the IT03 has plenty of musicality in abundance and sounds extremely engaging.




Alien+:

Cymbals a bit forward for my tastes, which (as noted above) makes the track a slightly difficult listen for me. Having said that, all other aspects of the song sound so outrageously good that I listen anyway, and for those without any sensitivity in this area, I think you’re going to be sitting with a big grin on your face!








Ray Lamontagne - A Falling Through:


This track features a gorgeous drum beat in the background, a delightful deep thump with significant bass weight and presence, that still doesn’t dominate the song but increases its emotion. Along with this, the strumming of the acoustic guitar is a great test for an IEM’s faithful representation of timbre.


DX200 (AMP3): There’s a gorgeous lifelike thump and shudder to the drum, which is more prominent in an extremely likeable way; not over-accentuated in any way and still retaining the original gentle quality in the song. Guitars sound a bit brighter in tone but softer in overall presentation.


DX200 (AMP1):

A nice balance between the drum and the delicate guitar



Alien+:

Drum very slightly too forward here for me, and the vocals have a slightly forward presentation too, but in this case they are presented beautifully and soulfully. The musicality of the Alien+ shines through on this combination.




Club 8 - Love Dies:


My goodness, this song is astonishing. The first time I heard it, my jaw dropped.

It’s extremely crystalline, clear, beautiful. It takes a good combo of equipment to display this to perfection without letting the highs become piercing or strident in occasional places.


The track starts slowly, and from about 50s in to 1:07, you can hear a progression of sounds being introduced at the edge of the soundstage, giving the impression of the soundstage opening out like a blossoming flower.


DX200 (AMP3):

Staggering, crystalline clarity and openness, huge soundstage, precise detail.
Occasional slight sharpness in the treble.
Beautiful blossoming out of the soundstage from 0:50 - 1:07.


DX200 (AMP1):

As I go through these songs, I’m starting to notice that this combination really displays great power and control in the low-end, without any muddiness, and still with sparkle in the high-end and that huge soundstage and great separation.



Alien+:

This song has some sharpness in the treble and occasional moments of sibilance.

This combination seems to bring that out; as ever for others less sensitive, this may be no problem at all. Conversely, this helps to really make the background synthesiser arpeggios shine from 0:25 – 0:52. Terrific detail and resolution here.





RDF (Radical Dance Faction) – Borderline:


This is a somewhat cold and melancholic song, but with a hell of bass line.

It features a wonderful moment in the beginning where the percussion being employed changes 3 times in succession, giving one’s equipment a wonderful opportunity to show of faithful representation of timbre.


DX200 (AMP3):

Superb detailed presentation of the varying percussion techniques from 0:33 - 0:50; bass line is deep, tight and controlled.


DX200 (AMP1): Didn’t get a chance to compare; apologies!



Alien+:

This came across as the weakest combination here (although I should add that I imagine it would still eat plenty of other combos for breakfast!). The bass and percussion felt slightly too much and it simply didn’t engage as much as other combinations. It wasn’t bad by any means, just the lesser of several giants




Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing:


One of my go-to test tracks for testing (and just listening), and I know several other reviewers on here share this point of view!

A staggeringly good song, with lots of things to look at; percussion, timbre, guitar fretboard wizardry etc.


DX200 (AMP3):

This combination presents the bassline wonderfully, bringing the song alive and driving it along.

There’s so much space and openness, I’m having fun just focusing on one instrument, then another, then the vocals; every component here is given its own distinct space in the mix, and yet there’s just this INCREDIBLE cohesiveness and musicality over it all.

It’s not like this is the first time I’ve heard this combo, or even this combo with this specific song (I’m actually listening again, just prior to publishing this review), but I’m just staggered by how amazing this combination sounds.

By way of comparison, the TOTL Noble Katana sounds relatively mediocre compared to the IT03 on this song (and with this DAP/AMP combo). The IT03 is just so dynamic, the soundstage and separation so world-class, and the bass so satisfying, that is in itself, TOTL on this song (and many others!).



DX200 (AMP1):

The bassline is wonderfully strong and musical at first on this version; but without unbalancing the sound; it enhances the music rather than detracting from it.

Background details (soft acoustic guitar strumming for example) are brought enchantingly to attention, and overall this is an engaging and moving presentation of the song.




Alien+:

This has plenty of weight and presence in the low-end too. The dextrous and delicate fingerpicking of the guitar line is brought out beautifully here and overall the sound is musical and extremely engaging. Nothing whatsoever to fault. Just superb.






Anberlin – The Art Of War:


This is a staggering track. There’s so much going on in it and so many things to zone in on when listening. There’s powerful percussion and bass, a driving rhythm, synths and sound effects and over all this, great vocals, searing lyrics and simply majestic rock!

In terms of analysis of detail retrieval, on this track, around 9 seconds in, there’s a sudden sense of space opening up in the upper-central zone of the soundstage, along with a faint, almost imperceptible hum.

I don’t know much about music production, but I’m guessing this is the ‘channel’ being switched on that the bass guitar is linked up to (as indeed the bass comes in at the same spatial location a second or two later).




DX200 (AMP3):

This song sounds superb with this combination.

It brings out all the best points described above, without any imbalances.

I could wax lyrical about it all day! The bass and drums have the tactile, percussive quality that I love and which seems to be unique to Dynamic Driver setups. As a result, the whole song has this irresistible force and driving energy, shivering with sub-bass, soaring gloriously as all the instruments in the dense mix are given space and clarity to shine. The IT03 has the speed, accuracy and detail in its low end to really present this song extremely well.



DX200 (AMP1):

Increased soundstage and separation vs the combination with the Katana.

A good balance overall to the sound, without anything being smothered.

I found I could mentally flip my focus easily from one aspect or instrument in the song to another, or simply sit back and let it wash over me. An improvement in bass weight over the Alien+; overall this combination is an outstanding match for this song.




Alien+:

A big smile broke out on my face at about 11 seconds into the song as the bass and the drums kicked in and the keyboards followed shortly after. Huge soundstage and separation, but with all the bass weight that I longed for, but none of the muddiness or smothering of the final details; everything is rendered crystal clear and powerfully; technically excellent but capturing the essence of great rock music. I find the cymbals very slightly too forward (because I am especially sensitive to such things), but regardless this is a close to perfect match-up for this song.



‘Homeless’ by Paul Simon (Graceland, 25th Anniversary edition, 24/96 FLAC):

Listening to the African vocal ensemble (Ladysmith Black Mambazo – credit where it’s due!) at the beginning, the song sounds warm and luxuriant; the audio equivalent of sinking into a cosy armchair on a day of deep snow, with a hot cup of cocoa in front of the dancing flames of a log fire*.


*other clichéd imagery is available:

A duck waddling and falling over on a frozen lake.

An old couple holding hands in an historic street.

A cat standing up on its hind legs wearing a top hat.


DX200 (AMP3):

Oh, the humanity!

This combo brings the detail, clarity and separation that allows each of the distinctive voices to shine individually, whilst the weighty and musical low end brings out the resonance when the voices sing together in harmony. The cup of cocoa has had Bailey’s, Bruichladdich or one’s tipple of choice added to it


DX200 (AMP1):

Much as above; slightly less richness but still sounding really, really good!



Alien+:

Much as with the AMP3 above. The (very) slight decrease in detail and clarity are offset by blackness of the background and the even greater weight and musicality here to offer an experience that is sublime.



Shawn Mullins – The Gulf of Mexico (16/44 FLAC):


Well, I’m adding this on at the last minute. I don’t have time for a full breakdown, but this song features shimmering, chiming acoustic guitar strumming, gravelly vocals, picked electric guitar harmonies and so forth. It’s a song I’ve loved for years, but listening to it with the IT03, DX200 and AMP3, I can honestly say that it’s one of the best musical experiences OF MY LIFE.

Seriously, it was just magical; I was transfixed. OMG, the soundstage, the separation, the SOUND!


Everything was crystalline, beautiful, perfectly presented. SO musical, just perfect.
I’ve listened to it about 10 times now since the first (about a month or so ago), and it’s not getting any worse!

Comparison with the iBasso IT01:

Now, this is interesting.
As mentioned, when I first received the IT01, I put everything else on hold to listen to it (and give it a very extensive burn-in period - for those that believe in such things).
I really fell in love with the IT01.
I has a huge bass, and a much more V-shaped tuning than the IT03 - possibly it could even be described as L-shaped, due to its remarkable bass quantity and quality.

I find the IT01 sounds especially good on hard rock tracks, with it's weighty and visceral low end and sparkling highs.
I think it is an outstanding IEM which offers terrific value for money, especially considering the overall package it comes with - the cable, the carry case, etc.

However, having revisited the IT03, I can confidently say I believe it to be in an altogether different league.
It has excellent bass too, but not so overwhelming, tighter and more controlled.
In pretty much every other regard it is a significant step up from the IT01, and I say this as a big fan of the IT01!


Conclusion:


This IEM is simply remarkable. It seems to be something of a chameleon in that it can sound neutral and analytical, or powerful, bass-rich and musical, depending on the tips, DAP/DAC and Amp it’s connected to.


Earlier, I alluded to the magnificent bass capabilities of these IEM’s.

And ‘capabilities’ seems an appropriate phrase to use; they are able to exhibit subtlety, warmth and delicacy, or to go as deep, rich, visceral and impactful as the song and source material requires/permits, but they never bloat, bleed into the mids or add bass that wasn’t there to begin with.


They are all about faithful reproduction, with the technical sharpness, speed and detail to do that to a high level, combined with the facility to (re)produce whatever depth or quality of bass or percussion is present in the music. This is a huge plus point for them.


Along with all these qualities, it has the thing that blew me away when I first put them in my ear; the huge soundstage, separation and clarity. This is such a blessing; I’ve found it makes so much of the music I love even more accessible; dense and complex tracks are allowed to ‘stretch themselves out’ and make all the components shine individually without losing any of the cohesiveness or musicality.


Its outstanding clarity (combined with its fairly analytical sound signature) can occasionally come with a touch of sensitivity in the treble (for those who are sensitive to such things). However, this is me making myself have to look for something to be critical about; I can't stress enough how much I love these IEM's and what terrific value for money they offer. And bear in mind that I actually have a sensitivity to treble, but I find it’s only rarely an issue with these IEM’s, and frankly, they sound so damn good that I can’t stop going back to them anyway


People looking for a neutral and analytical sound will likely find these to hit their sweet spot, especially if they are also fans of sparkling clarity, detail and transparency allied to an expansive soundstage and all the benefits to bass and percussion that a dynamic driver brings.


However, for those whose tastes steer more towards a warm/natural/musical sound, these are able to do exceptionally well in that regard too, when paired with a DAP/DAC/Amp of a more warm, organic and/or musical nature; the iBasso DX200 with AMP3 or AMP5, Alien+, WM1Z would be excellent, and in the more budget range, the Shanling M2s or the Cayin N3 – both of which I have reviewed previously - could perhaps fit the bill nicely).


Bluntly, there are certain combinations of song and equipment with which the IT03 sounds like a TOTL IEM. No joke, no hype. The Katana is far from being the only TOTL IEM I’ve heard, and I still can sit with a jaw slack with amazement and utter delight when listening to the IT03 with DX200 (AMP 3) on Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing”, and Shawn Mullins’ “The Gulf of Mexico” and various other tracks.

And I haven’t even tried it yet with AMP 4 or AMP5!


With the caveat that this is my own (absolutely honest) opinion, your mileage may vary and all the usual disclaimers:

If you're looking for the next step up from the IT01 ($99) or IEM's in and around that price range, and perhaps you can't or don't wish to go up to the $500 level (where the IT04 resides, for example), I don't think you can go wrong with this.

At this price point, and with the world-class soundstage and separation these have, combined with the many other great qualities I’ve mentioned, I have no hesitation in recommending these outstanding IEM’s.