HM-901 - Page 9

I am not that technical. To be fair my CD Player can only do 16/44 and as far as I can see it is more the sum of the parts than the bit rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragon 


What do you mean? Dx100 has 24/192 playback right?

Yes it does but that is due to ibasso writing their own driver to bypass the android kernel. The point is using android is pretty much worthless due to this as the only real benefit of using android on such a device is to offer you other alternative players available on android. Since they are limited to android 16/44 playback so is the sound quality. There is a big difference between Power Amp and the stock player. Unfortunately it seems android is the weak point in the chain which isn't allowing the full benefit of the hardware in this case. So IMO until this is fixed there was really no benefit in using android as the OS. My main point is not only is the android driver the weak point regarding 24/192 but even 16/44 tracks sound noticeably worse in comparison to ibassos stock player which is using their own driver for the music processing. Androids driver just isn't up to par to utilize the full potential of the Sabre DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidion27 

I am not that technical. To be fair my CD Player can only do 16/44 and as far as I can see it is more the sum of the parts than the bit rate.

Nope you got it wrong. If the driver isn't up to par it will actually degrade the sound quality. In essence that very driver is working in tandem with those parts. You are as strong as your weakest link. If you have a buggy or subpar driver running your device it will not perform at its full potential. This is very common knowledge. Even in PCs. For example an early driver for ATI cards may have been buggy and not yielded the full performance of the card while in game. With an updated driver the card will perform noticeably better and in turn yield better frame rates. Even ibassos firmware updates significantly effected the sound quality and some for the worse. The latest update however has been a very beneficial one regarding sound quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragon 


So what I get from your post is that the stock player has better sound quality and also allows 24/192 playback. Then why don't we just use the stock and forget the other alternative players?

The point of really using android is to offer that versatility. It seems ibasso has opened their eyes to this recently as on this front this can offer a perfect UI without them having to put much effort into the matter. I think this was their main idea to begin with using android as the OS. I mean I like the Stock player very much but it still isn't perfect yet while players such as Power Amp are flawless and much better UI IMO.

excusse my ignorance but doesn't it mean when andriod is used we can use/ install apps like power amp? Which means you will have better SQ and UI...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

The point of really using android is to offer that versatility. It seems ibasso has opened their eyes to this recently as on this front this can offer a perfect UI without them having to put much effort into the matter. I think this was their main idea to begin with using android as the OS. I mean I like the Stock player very much but it still isn't perfect yet while players such as Power Amp are flawless and much better UI IMO.

i see... im using my ipod classic (idevice probably has the best UI) now and a little bit worried that the UI may not be as good if i get the dx100 but on the other hand, im already used to android because of my phone... do you think it will be a concern for me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidion27 

excusse my ignorance but doesn't it mean when andriod is used we can use/ install apps like power amp? Which means you will have better SQ and UI...

You can install power amp but you are limited because of androids 16/44 driver. This driver is actually degrading the sound quality of the DX100. Power amp does not sound nearly as good as the DX100 stock player. This is because ibasso bypassed the android kernel with their own driver to use the full potential of the Sabre DAC. This is not possible though on the other players as they rely on androids native kernel. So in the end no. The only benefit you get is the UI and mediocre sound quality. Not worth the loss in sound quality IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragon 

 

i see... im using my ipod classic (idevice probably has the best UI) now and a little bit worried that the UI may not be as good if i get the dx100 but on the other hand, im already used to android because of my phone... do you think it will be a concern for me?

Generally speaking the UI is quite useable. It's not perfect but not bad enough to turn me away from the unit. But I want it to be further improved still and it will be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

Generally speaking the UI is quite useable. It's not perfect but not bad enough to turn me away from the unit. But I want it to be further improved still and it will be.

thanks, and is the latest firmware an improvement in sound quality or UI or both? and is it already installed if i purchase the later batches?

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragon 

 

 

thanks, and is the latest firmware an improvement in sound quality or UI or both? and is it already installed if i purchase the later batches?

It's an improvement in both terms of UI and sound quality. On 1.2.3 you actually lost sound quality (it sounded horrible) but you got working album art support. In 1.2.7 you get a smoother UI, superb sound quality (properly working EQ) and working album art. Tags have been working since 1.1.7. Also on 1.2.7 the pop on power up is noticeably smaller than before where it doesn't hurt your ears. Also when powering off there is barely any pop at all. So IMO much better. Still a couple things to address and I've crammed those issues down their throat already lol ;).

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

You can install power amp but you are limited because of androids 16/44 driver. This driver is actually degrading the sound quality of the DX100. Power amp does not sound nearly as good as the DX100 stock player. This is because ibasso bypassed the android kernel with their own driver to use the full potential of the Sabre DAC. This is not possible though on the other players as they rely on androids native kernel. So in the end no. The only benefit you get is the UI and mediocre sound quality. Not worth the loss in sound quality IMO.

Thank you for explaining it makes sense now. It is always great when you hear the penny drop...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidion27 

Thank you for explaining it makes sense now. It is always great when you hear the penny drop...

For what it's worth ibasso has already disclosed that they will be offering their API to some 3rd Party vendors to develop it (that means possibly Power Amp and Neutron could indeed support 24/192). Not a guarantee but it's quite possible. Dmitry from Neutron has already shown great interest in this and I've talked with him about it. He did contact ibasso regarding this now it is in ibassos hands.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee730 

For what it's worth ibasso has already disclosed that they will be offering their API to some 3rd Party vendors to develop it (that means possibly Power Amp and Neutron could indeed support 24/192). Not a guarantee but it's quite possible. Dmitry from Neutron has already shown great interest in this and I've talked with him about it. He did contact ibasso regarding this now it is in ibassos hands.

does it mean idevicelike UI with superb sound quality?

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddragon 

 

 

does it mean idevicelike UI with superb sound quality?

If they managed to get Power Amp to support 24/192 by bypassing the Android Kernel you bet. ;).