I finally got my Boa today and while I'm no head-fi pro, I'm going to post my thoughts as clearly as possible as there doesn't seem to be too much info on this amp/DAC combo.
I'll post more information as I go through listening intervals during the burn in process.
First Impression (2 Hours): The USB/DAC is very balanced across the spectrum and I can easily tell the difference between the sonic qualities of the combo and the Realteak that comes with my computer. I'm using my Beyerdynamic DT770 (80 ohm) which seem to be a good pair with this amp. Currently listening to Deepsky, Live at Plattenleger (Melodic/Downtemp Breakbeat) and I can already hear things I haven't heard before. The other thing I notice is that there is an overall "musicality" for lack of a better word. The music seems very spacial, yet pulled together. I'm looking forward to continued usage and it can only get better from here.
Second Impression (24 hours) For the past 20 hours I have been using just the amp portion. I played various types of music today and I was amazed at how music I had listened to for years sounded so differently with the Boa and my BD's. Across multiple genre's I was able to discern minute differences and each part of the music has such great separation. The bass is strong and powerful, but not overwhelming. Mids are seem to be just the right amount to bring the missing (usually it's all about bass and highs) parts of my music to the sound field and the highs just top it all off. I almost expected this amp to be too bassy considering other reviews, but I am finding it not to be the case. I'm going to use IEM's for rest of the night and I'm about to test out the portability as I go on my 2 mile evening run.
Third Impression (110 hours) Interesting developments since the 24 hour update. Over the past few days I just let the amp and DAC burn in with a varied playlist at 3/4 volume streaming USB from the PC. I haven't done any listening other than to put the headphones on for a few minutes and take them off and during those small sessions I had become disheartened by the sound I was hearing. The bass had almost became too neutral for my tastes, mids were recessing back from the 24 hour listen and highs were a little much. I was a bit surprised, but I think I may have the answer. I was only burning in with the amp and DAC wasn't getting any love. Since then I have been using both amp and DAC and they are beginning to play together nicely. Bass has tightened up considerably and the highs have tamed down a bit. The sound still seems veiled and the amp still sounds better (stronger) when using my iPod as the source, but the DAC is slowly improving.
Final Impression (450 hours) Aww this baby is sweet!!! It has settled into this milky, flavorful and enjoyable sound that IMHO is what a good headphone amp is all about. Admittedly I was not a big believer in the premise of burn in for a solid state amp. I figured it can't really change THAT much, but this amp proved me wrong. The DAC also sounds great out of my computer and has really added to the pleasure that I already enjoyed of listening to music. Specifically I notice that I don't have to use the EQ as much as I did before a headphone amp, the soundstage has really opened up and even on my bottom line Sony XB-500's (by Head-Fi standards), the amp impacts the sound in a positive way. The gain matching is top notch as I use the higher for my cans and the lower for my IEM's and neither is too overpowered.
Final Thoughts
I would not hesitate to buy an iBasso product again and I have found my sweet spot for my needs which are:
Affordability (see below)
Portability (iPod Classic 7G and iPhone 3GS)
Listenability (Sony XB-500 and Klipsch Image S4)
Ampability (iBasso D2+ Boa)
Happyability 11 out of 10...
EDIT
I wanted to add these thoughts as I know that not everyone's taste in music is dance, beats etc. and some may want to know how the iBasso sounds with different music types. My musical tastes are 95% dance music with the occasional other music types thrown in for variety but most burn in and listening sessions were done with beats type music.
Today I got a free 20 song download from iTunes for Christmas music and I am astounded at how great it sounds with the iPhone 3GS, iBasso and my Sony XB's. The vocals are very milky smooth, instrument separation is impeccable and the overall musicality is just a joy to hear. No one sound is overpowering the other and it seems to be knitted ever so delicately and feels like a cashmere sweater in wintertime.
I'll post more information as I go through listening intervals during the burn in process.
First Impression (2 Hours): The USB/DAC is very balanced across the spectrum and I can easily tell the difference between the sonic qualities of the combo and the Realteak that comes with my computer. I'm using my Beyerdynamic DT770 (80 ohm) which seem to be a good pair with this amp. Currently listening to Deepsky, Live at Plattenleger (Melodic/Downtemp Breakbeat) and I can already hear things I haven't heard before. The other thing I notice is that there is an overall "musicality" for lack of a better word. The music seems very spacial, yet pulled together. I'm looking forward to continued usage and it can only get better from here.
Second Impression (24 hours) For the past 20 hours I have been using just the amp portion. I played various types of music today and I was amazed at how music I had listened to for years sounded so differently with the Boa and my BD's. Across multiple genre's I was able to discern minute differences and each part of the music has such great separation. The bass is strong and powerful, but not overwhelming. Mids are seem to be just the right amount to bring the missing (usually it's all about bass and highs) parts of my music to the sound field and the highs just top it all off. I almost expected this amp to be too bassy considering other reviews, but I am finding it not to be the case. I'm going to use IEM's for rest of the night and I'm about to test out the portability as I go on my 2 mile evening run.
Third Impression (110 hours) Interesting developments since the 24 hour update. Over the past few days I just let the amp and DAC burn in with a varied playlist at 3/4 volume streaming USB from the PC. I haven't done any listening other than to put the headphones on for a few minutes and take them off and during those small sessions I had become disheartened by the sound I was hearing. The bass had almost became too neutral for my tastes, mids were recessing back from the 24 hour listen and highs were a little much. I was a bit surprised, but I think I may have the answer. I was only burning in with the amp and DAC wasn't getting any love. Since then I have been using both amp and DAC and they are beginning to play together nicely. Bass has tightened up considerably and the highs have tamed down a bit. The sound still seems veiled and the amp still sounds better (stronger) when using my iPod as the source, but the DAC is slowly improving.
Final Impression (450 hours) Aww this baby is sweet!!! It has settled into this milky, flavorful and enjoyable sound that IMHO is what a good headphone amp is all about. Admittedly I was not a big believer in the premise of burn in for a solid state amp. I figured it can't really change THAT much, but this amp proved me wrong. The DAC also sounds great out of my computer and has really added to the pleasure that I already enjoyed of listening to music. Specifically I notice that I don't have to use the EQ as much as I did before a headphone amp, the soundstage has really opened up and even on my bottom line Sony XB-500's (by Head-Fi standards), the amp impacts the sound in a positive way. The gain matching is top notch as I use the higher for my cans and the lower for my IEM's and neither is too overpowered.
Final Thoughts
I would not hesitate to buy an iBasso product again and I have found my sweet spot for my needs which are:
Affordability (see below)
Portability (iPod Classic 7G and iPhone 3GS)
Listenability (Sony XB-500 and Klipsch Image S4)
Ampability (iBasso D2+ Boa)
Happyability 11 out of 10...
EDIT
I wanted to add these thoughts as I know that not everyone's taste in music is dance, beats etc. and some may want to know how the iBasso sounds with different music types. My musical tastes are 95% dance music with the occasional other music types thrown in for variety but most burn in and listening sessions were done with beats type music.
Today I got a free 20 song download from iTunes for Christmas music and I am astounded at how great it sounds with the iPhone 3GS, iBasso and my Sony XB's. The vocals are very milky smooth, instrument separation is impeccable and the overall musicality is just a joy to hear. No one sound is overpowering the other and it seems to be knitted ever so delicately and feels like a cashmere sweater in wintertime.
No problem at all. I'm really curious myself.
