[Marco Angel]

I was shocked to find out that its footprint was as big as the Apex Glacier's - matching the X5 - and it's almost (I think) twice as thick too. Still, it's bass boost is monstrous 

Only reason why I don't have a picture of my rig yet is because my Nikon V2 is charging 

Im looking for an e12 due its warm signature, until now it seems it has a clean but not that warm sq, and paired with the neutral LO of the dx50 and my iems, I'm guessing it would be a good match.
Also the bass boost which is on the 50hz and lower is the perfect add on

 

[olddude]

H20Fidelity said:
 
"Unfortunately, I never tried C&C BH with HD600, I can assume it would offer quite an expansive soundstage, a natural trait of BH amp, however from a power perspective I cannot say for certain, sound will definitely come out. 

 and it may drive them fine on high gain. I do have HD600 here with me atm actually and they can be driven from something like JDS C5 or Tralucent's T1, those amps cost a little more than $100 with T1 coming in around $250.

I'm quite surprised at your soundstage comments with an ER4 and DX50 headphone out, if anything from my experience both are quite lacking in soundstage width, it is well known an ER4 (which I own) has hardly any staging, however again if you're finding it suitable why worry about an amp upgrade?

The problems with DX50 headphone out is it lacks soundstage width in comparison to many players I've heard and the instrument separation is weak, what this does is cause congestion and smearing in the mid-range, especially with faster or busy tracks. Next time you listen to your DX50 from headphone out, listen how easily you can pick out background samples or backup singers, (guitars, piano, vocalists etc) throughout the chorus for example of a busy track, you may think it's ok in the way of coherency though I promise you it can be much better. Now depending what you've heard you may not agree, but I can assure you players like Studio V 3rd Anv, Colorfly C3, Rocco BA express superiority in those technical areas without too much trouble, that's where my problem lies with DX50 HO.

Apart from those areas mentioned I don't really have an issue with headphone out, detail is there, resolution is fine, I simply cannot stand the congestion and narrow stereo imaging but again I'm comparing to other players I'm accustom too. To put it bluntly I have an IEM called RDB Mini, it has a wonderful wide soundstage, I know this because I've heard it with players like Studio V 3rd Anv, little Colorfly C3 though why when I put it with DX50 does it suffer and become narrow? To me that's subtracting from the IEM's potential. 

Therefore I add the T1 and try to improve those areas much as possible."  

Yeah, what he said.  

 Except I use the C5

 

[BucketInABucket]

I agree the headphone amp internal could be better (DX-90 improvements). So the C&C BH will drive my HD600 O.K? I am now wondering if the ER4s would improve further also? With a tight seal they are already seem pretty accurate across the frequencies and with good soundstage.

The C&C BH2 will probably improve your ER4s. The HD600 on the other hand probably won't be powered to its full potential because I've tried it's brother the HD650 on the C&C BH2 and it sounded like the little amp was really really struggling to drive the HD650. I recommend you to get a more powerful amp than the C&C BH2. 

 

[yoztpetra]

I have no idea what internal amp DX50 use(cbb searching but I'm sure its written somewhere in this thread) but is it possible to mod it like clieOS did with X3?

 

[HK_sends]

I have no idea what internal amp DX50 use(cbb searching but I'm sure its written somewhere in this thread) but is it possible to mod it like clieOS did with X3?

 
Go to the iBasso site and look at the DX90 information. There is a chart that shows the DX50 DAC and internal amp information compared to the DX90. Somebody posted the chart in one of the DX90 threads but it should give you insight to what the DX50 uses. Hope this helps.
Cheers!
-HK sends

 

[KT66]

  ^Nice stack.  I use to own the Voyager.  Do you find the combo a little too warm?

Not all, I find it quite flat, just don't put on the contour switch, the Voyager is massively underrated here.
I do slightly prefer the O2 but the shape is just not portable.

 

[olddude]

 
Thought I'd reshoot to show similarity of size of DX50 and JDS Labs C5.  

 

[BucketInABucket]

 
 
Thought I'd reshoot to show similarity of size of DX50 and JDS Labs C5.  

Ooo, is that another mundorf cable? I have the newer version with the longer jacks unfortunately as I was too slow 

 

[olddude]

Yep- pricey but good.  I needed the shorter jacks for clearance of the ports.  I think he'll custom-make these if you ask nicely.

 

[ClieOS]

  I have no idea what internal amp DX50 use(cbb searching but I'm sure its written somewhere in this thread) but is it possible to mod it like clieOS did with X3?

 
Sure it can. But we have no idea which opamps iBasso is using as they have sanded off all the marking. But a multimeter will give you a good idea of what kind of voltage it is running and you should be able to find something suitable for mod. There are also some output caps you can swap out as well.

 

[HK_sends]

 

  I have no idea what internal amp DX50 use(cbb searching but I'm sure its written somewhere in this thread) but is it possible to mod it like clieOS did with X3?

 
Go to the iBasso site and look at the DX90 information. There is a chart that shows the DX50 DAC and internal amp information compared to the DX90. Somebody posted the chart in one of the DX90 threads but it should give you insight to what the DX50 uses. Hope this helps.

Cheers!

-HK sends

I'm sorry everybody, I didn't realize the chart I mentioned on the iBasso website didn't say what OpAmps were used in the DX50.

Cheers!

-HK sends

 

[Skooter]

  Interesting seeing the AK100 mentioned here and of course in other threads. No reason why not. I have mentioned this before and have the AK100 modified with the 22ohm resistance out of the signal path. I have taken the AK100 and the DX50 apart. The AK100 really has nothing over the DX50. The boards in both decent as are the electronics. The parts in the AK100 are of no higher standard and the screen is the same. The size difference with the Ak100 being smaller doesn't matter much to me as the DX50 is already pretty small anyway. The sound of the DX50 to my ear and having a number of good daps to compare to, is better in some ways than the AK100. It has a more live feel to me. I am also getting very good depth and placement with the DX50. At 3 times the price, for me, with no exchangeable battery and no line out, the AK100 would actually be a downgrade for my listening. It is all fun though and a good time DAPs. 

Jamato8,
 
Does the DX50 & DX90 line out run direct or pass through some electronics between the DAC and headphone socket? 
 
Thanks - 

 

[nakedtoes]

I'm sorry everybody, I didn't realize the chart I mentioned on the iBasso website didn't say what OpAmps were used in the DX50.
Cheers!
-HK sends

I mailed ibasso previously they mentioned the opamps from TI but can't reveal the actual model.

 

[solblack]

  The C&C BH2 will probably improve your ER4s. The HD600 on the other hand probably won't be powered to its full potential because I've tried it's brother the HD650 on the C&C BH2 and it sounded like the little amp was really really struggling to drive the HD650. I recommend you to get a more powerful amp than the C&C BH2.

I had a different experience using the C&C BH2 and the 650 also my Alpha Dogs.
The sound (sound stage ect) from the 650 with the C&C was fine.
Of course with the Alpha Dogs you have to be at the highest setting using the C&C but acceptable.
If you want more power i would go with Ray Samuels Mustang I like the Predator.
just my two cents...

 

[BucketInABucket]

  I had a different experience using the C&C BH2 and the 650 also my Alpha Dogs.
The sound (sound stage ect) from the 650 with the C&C was fine.
Of course with the Alpha Dogs you have to be at the highest setting using the C&C but acceptable.
If you want more power i would go with Ray Samuels Mustang I like the Predator.
just my two cents...

I forgot to state that I compared the BH2 with the Glacier, 627 MICRO and VMV SMSL VA-1. Alone, it sounded alright but the difference was quite surprising when I compared it with the other amps.