iBasso D4 HELP! - Page 3

I bought a D4 around January, and I haven't kept up with any recent changes to the hardware so I don't know what the current D4 models are like (if they have indeed changed).  But I will say that the D4 didn't blow me away in its stock form--as shizgeo said, it is a fairly neutral amp/DAC.  Especially with a source like the Touch, I wouldn't expect a night and day difference.  I do find it very useful as a high-quality, portable and low-fuss (in terms of power) USB DAC with my computer.

With the Topkit from Hiflight, I feel like the amp portion of the D4 improved noticeably.  I think the Topkit opamps really synergize with the bassier IEMs that I use, i.e. Westone 3 and Senn IE8.  The overall clarity improved, as well as the soundstage and bass quality.  There was also less hiss on low volumes with my sensitive IEMs.

My D2000s (which have a warm, bassy sound signature) also have a good synergy with the D4.  So maybe it's just brighter, thinner headphones like the K702 (a description based on what I've read) that don't work well with the D4 (at least in stock form)?  However, I did notice a substantial improvement with my AD700s after I installed the opamps, and the AD700s are generally considered a bright, bass-light phone.

Please do post back once you get your Topkit, and let us know if there was any improvement.

I have been a musician for 27 years. I have bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of music instruments and gear. Its a never ending quest to find the proper tone you want etc etc.

I listen to all types of music. I listen to music about 8-10 hours a day while I work. I play music as much as I can in my free time and practice 1-2 times during the week for my current gig.

Yea, I could just plug in any headphone and just listen and forget about the detail, warmth, tone, clarity etc. Playing with head-fi amps, DACs and headphones IS a hobby for me. I enjoying listening to my music via different devices etc. I dont get paid for it, but have fun doing it. My current headphone and desktop setups are awesome and have made my complete music collection sound entirely new.

So, my point is if the D4 is such garbage and you think its a waste of money vs. an iPod touch, stop complaining and move on. People are trying to help you here and give you suggestions. Try changing opamps for different sounds, tones etc. and get the right headphones  as your current choice is very poor for what you are looking for. You seem to be crying the blues that the price is not justified for the device vs an iPod touch and the D4 does nothing for you.

I have listened to several D4s and liked them. I didnt find a huge difference between the D2 and D4. Im not sure what the dual opamps do for the sound. I chose the D2 because it was 1/2 the cost of a Pico and was nearly identical in sound and output. It is my portable/ work office Amp/DAC.

Most people on the forum are into head-fi as a hobby not a job.

Yep ..seems the E5 is perfect for you at this stage in your life!

hey the iPod Touch sq is not that good theres alot better out there . better source means better sound Cowon J3  Cowon s9 Cowon d2+  the clip+for $35 has  better sq and  the right headphones really matter in sq  the d4 comes with 14 day return policy if your not happy and it sounds like your not happy  so return it back  save up and buy one of the best amps out there RSA Protector hey good luck i hope you find what your looking for

To my ears the D4 sounded noticeably better than the E5 when i tried out my ipod nano 3g + LOD and Senn IE8 with them at a meet. They particularly had great synergy with the IE8, it seemed to increase their attack and bite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rarebear 

Look my friend, Dont put words in my mouth..........

you are calling it garbage not me.........

I said you get a lot more bang for your buck with a iPod than the D4...............

You seem to be complaining that I dont like sound I hear and are mad that I dont agree with your opinion.....

You tell me I need a new hobby? Maybe you need to find a hobby other that telling people what they should think and do.. Go to concert and learn to talk to people face to face all the computer posting you seem to think spending money makes you The Oracal....

When you are paying my bills then you can tell me what to do and what hobby to not take up till then grow up and learn your place in life and how to talk to others as you would like to be talked to........

 

I am trying to find answers to my questions about what I hearing and why it doesnt match with what I read here......

 

 

HERE IS THE ANSWER.............................................................................

 

Turns out the iPods EQ works even with LOD hooked up, so all I have to do is change the EQ setting to what I like best.......

 

I guess out of those thousands of dollars of equipment a iPod Touch / iPhone  you dont have..

Yyou seemed to be such an expert commenting on what I should hear and what I needed to change but you never ask if I tried changing the EQ setting.. Maybe you need to find a new hobby....

 

 

 

Get your panties out of a bunch. Im not putting words in your mouth. Thats what i am gathering from what you are saying. You cant compare one type of devices price to another. "Oh my!! I just paid $1300 for this bass amp - it doesnt send email, it doesnt browse, cant play games - its not worth the money I spent"

Im not teling you to agree with my opinion. In that price range I wouldnt have bought a D4.  My suggestion was new headphones.

Im not talking to people face to face. I am on a forum. If you were face to face I would debate with you and maybe even help you find a solution to your problem you cant figure out.

Im not telling you what to do, i am suggesting what you need to do. you can do what you want.

Oh my! You figured it out!?! Amazing - yes you can use iPod/iPhone EQ with amp and eq settings in iTunes too! I assumed you were bright enough to have already set your eq settings on the device before you attached amp! I guess I was wrong.

And yes thousands of $$$ in equipment i have multiple iphones and ipods (yes, even brand new unopened iPods - I worked at Apple for years).

I dont use iPhone for music. 80gig iPod or computer.

I dont have a problem with this hobby - you do. Now go buy a set of good headphones !

My advice is sound. My only suggestion has been a different set of headphones. If you have read the other posts from other people they agree as well. Even EQ'd to suite your taste the K701/2 is not going to give you what you are looking for. K701/2 is  not a garbage headphone - it is an analytical headphone and will not let rock or any heavy music shine. I run my D2 with the eq set to my needs and it is just fine. I dont like it set flat. Although flat eq will give you an actual representation of the recording, source, amp and headphones. The LOD bypasses volume control on the iPod/iPhone.

I never said the answer is to buy, buy, buy and dont remember telling you what equipment to buy??. I remember suggesting a different set of headphones. But, thats what happens here with people in the quest to get the perfect sound and setup. They buy and sell. Sometimes you have to try a few different things to get it just right. If you are patient vs jumping to the conclusion that the amp sucks you will enjoy it. Remember there is still time needed to burn the amp in too. My suggestion is still other headphones. Either Denon D2000 or maybe Grado Sr80i.

now I will enjoy my new hobby!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexofc69 

 Its an amplifier - it amplifies or strengthens the signal thus creating a stronger output that can bring out different details in the recorded music. An amplifier in general will not improve sound quality - it will boost it.

This pretty much sums up why there is no significant difference in the amps. Plus it can be due to just how the stock opamps sound.

Considering your source is an iTouch, it's DAC is nothing noteworthy. So all those amps are doing is just amplifying the same signal (whether it sounds good or not) converted by the iTouch's DAC, only difference may be what the opamps used are focusing on and if one amp does a better job than another. It doesn't necessarily mean that the SQ would improve, nor drastically. Which explains why the D4 sounds better through your computer since it's going through its own internal DAC (which is bypassed when you connect through Line-out). The quality of the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) greatly affects the SQ; essentially your iTouch is limiting the SQ. So other than trying different headphones to get the sound you want, there's not much else to do.

I recommend getting the Topkit because it definitely made a difference in the sound signature of the amp, I can't say it made a world of difference. Sorry I can't be specific, I haven't turned back to the stock opamps since switching and I don't remember how they sound like exactly. I personally find the sound signature of the D4 to be neutral but a dip in the mids.

Hope this helps in some way and doesn't repeat too much of what everyone else has said.