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Mini-Review: iBasso T3 portable amp - Page 2

post #16 of 154
12/4/09 at 7:52am
Thanks for the review Headphoneaddict.

Just a quick question, after D4 burn in how does it compare to the D10 in:

1) usb+D4 vs optical+D10?
I suspect D4 might have a slight advantage due two dual channel Dac, but is the difference very obvious?

2)D4 vs D10 in only amp section with LOD+ipod.
with topkit in D10, how do they sound?

I really love the D10 with DAC/Amp combo but with only Amp+LOD+ipod, I find I do miss the low end a bit.
Have blackgates on the way so hopefully it will improve. I just need a slight improvement and I will be more than happy
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post #17 of 154
12/4/09 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LevA View Post
Thanks for the review Headphoneaddict.

Just a quick question, after D4 burn in how does it compare to the D10 in:

1) usb+D4 vs optical+D10?
I suspect D4 might have a slight advantage due two dual channel Dac, but is the difference very obvious?

2)D4 vs D10 in only amp section with LOD+ipod.
with topkit in D10, how do they sound?

I really love the D10 with DAC/Amp combo but with only Amp+LOD+ipod, I find I do miss the low end a bit.
Have blackgates on the way so hopefully it will improve. I just need a slight improvement and I will be more than happy
I could answer that now, but I would prefer to wait to incorporate that into my big USB DAC/amp review. It wont be much longer. It's like a movie trailer that gives away the whole plot and makes me not want to see the movie. I don't want that to happen to my review...

Like I said in a previous post, there is a sneak peek at: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6147003-post934.html

I am curious which topkit are you using in your D10 (HiFlight went through three of them for D10 over the months), and what earphone/headphones are you using? If I recall the D10 has a little more bass with the AD744 class-A output-put bypassed opamp topkit than with the TLE2141 class-A version. The AD743 version was also good in that area, but it had more hiss with Westone IEM.
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post #18 of 154
12/4/09 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
I could answer that now, but I would prefer to wait to incorporate that into my big USB DAC/amp review. It wont be much longer. It's like a movie trailer that gives away the whole plot and makes me not want to see the movie. I don't want that to happen to my review...

Like I said in a previous post, there is a sneak peek at: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6147003-post934.html

I am curious which topkit are you using in your D10 (HiFlight went through three of them for D10 over the months), and what earphone/headphones are you using? If I recall the D10 has a little more bass with the AD744 class-A output-put bypassed opamp topkit than with the TLE2141 class-A version. The AD743 version was also good in that area, but it had more hiss with Westone IEM.

fair enough about the D4 vs D10 comparison
I look forward to your final ranking and review in your DAC/AMP thread (which btw has helped me a lot in my portable amp decision.)

I'm using the 744OBCA/8201 topkit which I really like with the ESW10's.
I think with the amp section only, the bass is still good with most genres like rock. pop, jazz etc. However, I do wish a tad more lower end with my classical music which what I listen to mainly.
As I said, with the DAC/AMP combo I am extremely happy with my cassical music..if only they would produce an optical out DAP that we could buy..sigh..
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post #19 of 154
12/4/09 at 12:33pm

Great review Larry

Great review. I agree 100%
iBasso has really come out of the starting gate and taken the lead with these two amps.
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post #20 of 154
12/4/09 at 2:41pm
I'm guessing taht if the T3 is able to drive the 300 Ohm HD600's to reasonable listening levels, there should be absolutely no problem working the yuin PK1's 150 ohm?
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post #21 of 154
12/5/09 at 1:22am
Anybody know how the T3 pairs with the UE TripleFi 10s? I wasn't really planning on getting the TF10s but I had to jump on the Amazon sale. Is there much to be gained?
The cost of the amp does not worry me... so please leave the cost/benefit ratio out of it.

I've been considering getting/building an amp for over two years now, just never took the opportunity. Now that my SCL4 have crapped out on me, I find myself on Head-fi again looking at all the various amps. I talked myself down from some of the more expensive amps - the RSA Shadow is an attractive little package (I love the size and battery life and volume controls in particular), and the Pico Slim sounds like it might not be too bad either... but ultimately the T3 looks like as good of a jumping off point as any.

And there's always the FS forum if it doesn't work out...
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post #22 of 154
12/5/09 at 1:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mesasone View Post
Anybody know how the T3 pairs with the UE TripleFi 10s? I wasn't really planning on getting the TF10s but I had to jump on the Amazon sale. Is there much to be gained?
The cost of the amp does not worry me... so please leave the cost/benefit ratio out of it.

I've been considering getting/building an amp for over two years now, just never took the opportunity. Now that my SCL4 have crapped out on me, I find myself on Head-fi again looking at all the various amps. I talked myself down from some of the more expensive amps - the RSA Shadow is an attractive little package (I love the size and battery life and volume controls in particular), and the Pico Slim sounds like it might not be too bad either... but ultimately the T3 looks like as good of a jumping off point as any.

And there's always the FS forum if it doesn't work out...
I'll be able to let you know next week.
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post #23 of 154
12/5/09 at 1:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LevA View Post
fair enough about the D4 vs D10 comparison
I look forward to your final ranking and review in your DAC/AMP thread (which btw has helped me a lot in my portable amp decision.)

I'm using the 744OBCA/8201 topkit which I really like with the ESW10's.
I think with the amp section only, the bass is still good with most genres like rock. pop, jazz etc. However, I do wish a tad more lower end with my classical music which what I listen to mainly.
As I said, with the DAC/AMP combo I am extremely happy with my cassical music..if only they would produce an optical out DAP that we could buy..sigh..
Chatted with HiFlight about the D10 and moar bass and he said, "The opamp that should have more punch and dynamics in the D10 is the OPA1612. The LMH6655 would likely be a good buffer to go with the OPA1612. I don't think the sound will be as lifelike as the Topkit, but it is what is desired [for more impact from D10]."
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post #24 of 154
12/5/09 at 2:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Chatted with HiFlight about the D10 and moar bass and he said, "The opamp that should have more punch and dynamics in the D10 is the OPA1612. The LMH6655 would likely be a good buffer to go with the OPA1612. I don't think the sound will be as lifelike as the Topkit, but it is what is desired [for more impact from D10]."
Thanks HeadphoneAddict

I'm going to wait for the BGs to arrive see if they make a difference. I just want a slight impovement so maybe that will do it.
otherwise i dont want to trade off the lifelike sound of the topkit for only lower end improvement. I did try another opamp combo that did have better low end but was simply no match to the highs, detail, separation and depth of the topkit I have now.

as I said, if only they made optical out DAPs, the D10 would simply be unmatched for its qualities and functions as a portable amp.
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post #25 of 154
12/5/09 at 3:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
I'll be able to let you know next week.
Next week?!? I signed up for the free trail of Amazon Prime had mine overnighted with Saturday delivery for 7 bucks, lol. But I'm more or less sans headphone right now, so perhaps I was a bit impatient due to that.

I look forward to your impressions (and my TF 10s!). Man, there are going to be a lot of TF 10 questions for the next few weeks...
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post #26 of 154
12/5/09 at 4:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mesasone View Post
Next week?!? I signed up for the free trail of Amazon Prime had mine overnighted with Saturday delivery for 7 bucks, lol. But I'm more or less sans headphone right now, so perhaps I was a bit impatient due to that.

I look forward to your impressions (and my TF 10s!). Man, there are going to be a lot of TF 10 questions for the next few weeks...
Mine get here on the 8th because I'm a cheapskate.

I've had the Triple.fi 10 Pro in the past, and traded them for some electrostatics because they were not transparent enough for me. They had some mid-bass coloration that made them a little more artificial sounding than the SE530 or Livewires customs that I was enjoying at the time (Jan 2008).
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post #27 of 154
12/7/09 at 10:48am
Thanks for this review!

I'm curious though... you mention that you like the iphone 3g/3gs output better than the T4, but you like the T3 better than the T4 also. I'm wondering how the T3 compares to the iphone 3g/3gs output? Is it even worth it if you'd be using it with the iphone 3g/3gs with a LOD? How about a D4... would this be a noticeable improvement over the iphone 3g/3gs headphone out? (I would be using with W3s - not full sized cans or anything).
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post #28 of 154
12/7/09 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bik2101 View Post
I'm guessing taht if the T3 is able to drive the 300 Ohm HD600's to reasonable listening levels, there should be absolutely no problem working the yuin PK1's 150 ohm?
Just got my T3 for PK1. Man this is tiny... Anyway, the volume is at 4-5 / 10 compared to 8-9 / 10 from my iPhone 3Gs. So yes, T3 has no problem driving PK1.
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post #29 of 154
12/7/09 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pj_rage View Post
Thanks for this review!

I'm curious though... you mention that you like the iphone 3g/3gs output better than the T4, but you like the T3 better than the T4 also. I'm wondering how the T3 compares to the iphone 3g/3gs output? Is it even worth it if you'd be using it with the iphone 3g/3gs with a LOD? How about a D4... would this be a noticeable improvement over the iphone 3g/3gs headphone out? (I would be using with W3s - not full sized cans or anything).
If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, and plan to run full size cans the T3 will be better than no amp as it will give more volume with the HD600 and HE-5. Or if you plan to use the UE 11Pro with the iPhone, then the T3 will be better because it keeps the heavy bass under better control. On the other hand, the T3 will give the ES3X and JH13Pro more bass than the iPhone headphone out, so if you like that then the T3 is still a good option.

I'm not sure there would be a big improvement with Westone 3, but I do have the 5G Nano, iPhone 3GS, T3 and Westone 3 with me at the car dealer having snow tires installed and I'll try to listen to that and report back if I have time (wife might be picking me up for lunch).
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post #30 of 154
12/7/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, and plan to run full size cans the T3 will be better than no amp as it will give more volume with the HD600 and HE-5. Or if you plan to use the UE 11Pro with the iPhone, then the T3 will be better because it keeps the heavy bass under better control. On the other hand, the T3 will give the ES3X and JH13Pro more bass than the iPhone headphone out, so if you like that then the T3 is still a good option.

I'm not sure there would be a big improvement with Westone 3, but I do have the 5G Nano, iPhone 3GS, T3 and Westone 3 with me at the car dealer having snow tires installed and I'll try to listen to that and report back if I have time (wife might be picking me up for lunch).
That would be fantastic if you wouldn't mind giving that combo a shot - W3 + 3GS + T3. I would actually be even more interested in W3 + 3GS + D4 if you found the time (nothing crazy, just a quick listen). I'm really torn in deciding if it's worth it for me or not (if I do get an amp it will be the D4 not T3, and only used with my 3G and W3 (and the next iphone gen next year). If the change is really subtle for this combo, it wouldn't be worth it to me (except for the DAC which I would hardly use), but if it's a noticeable difference/improvement, it would definitely be worth it as I would like to get the most out of my current equipment.
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