[shakur1996]

Someone wrote that dx50 has V shype signature. Others wrote that the signature is not rather flat. Can someone please confirm which of those two best describe dx50?

I understand that bass is tight and impactful, treble is extended and smooth, but what about mids. Are they recessed?

What about micro-details in the recordings? Are they pushed forward?

I'm considering purchasing dx50 in the near future, but I have to learn from you dx50 owners how it actually sounds.

 

[purk]

  Ok so I bought the DX50 solely to use as a DAP only and amp/dac it separately. I listened to my LCD3s straight from the DX50 as somebody wrote that they use the LCD3s straight from the DX50?? IMHO its not good and nowhere near as good as my LCD3s straight to my DX100 FWIW.
 
I love the build quality and really if I can sort out the line out I will give some more impressions.

 
The DX100 has considerably better headphones output with more power, headroom, and better sense of dynamics.  Listen to the DX100 is similar to a mid-price home amplifier.  I hope the iBasso get their act together and resolve the file scanning / reading issues as all of my files are properly tagged.  They need to get the coaxial output to work with 24 bit materials as well. Otherwise, I may have to sell mine.  

 

[CJG888]

For when it's (hopefully) all working, I can wholeheartedly recommend the recording of the Shostakovich cello sonata in D minor with Daniel Shafran, released on HD Tape Transfers. This sounds absolutely incredible on the DT48Es.

But for now, I'm putting it back in its box and waiting for the new firmware!


Please tell me that someone else noticed the reversed channels!!!!!

 

[H20Fidelity]

The channels on my DX50 are reversed. Does anyone else have this problem?

This is a sick joke of a product launch. It clearly isn't ready to be anywhere near a customer yet. Give it another few months...

Terribly sorry to hear that, email iBasso immediately and inform them, that would personally drive me insane.

 

[azarel]

As promised, a quick comparison between DX50 and Studio V 3rd Anniversary daps.
 
Firstly, a run down of the items used in determining the opinion of both daps:
 
IEMS: Futuresonics MG6pro (Dynamic drivers, for those unfamiliar with them)
Cable: Toxic Scorpion
Albums tested: Adele, Killers, Rachael Yamagata, Nirvana, Faye Wong*, Wu Bai*, David Guetta, Beyond* *Mandarin artists
 
Ok now for the quick run down....
 
Treble: Between the 2 daps, studio v has a very distinct 'bright' or 'sparkly' treble which I personally feel that it's pretty tiring even for a pair of dynamic drivers iems. DX50's treble is definitely more 'laid back' which allows for long listening sessions without needing to take a break to rest the ears. Bass: I love the way bass is reproduced on studio v as it feels 'punchier'as compared to dx50 (at low gain setting). It's not to say that DX50 is not without bass, but i guess its more accurate to describe that dx50's bass won't grab your attention as compared to how studio v whips out their bass like glowing light sticks in the night. Soundstage/Imaging/Details: Probably the most important difference between the 2.
 
Details: For studio v, it's a very detailed dap where it is somewhat unforgiving when your source is crap. But it shines when it comes to instrument sounds like the plucking of the guitar strings where it sounds so 'alive' that it is as though you're actually right there next to the guitarist plucking the strings. Dx50 in this area probably lose out to studio v as it just don't bring out the same level of detail as studio v. It's not a drasticdifference but it's something that one can spot without trying too hard.
 
Soundstage: For studio v, I would describe it's soundstage akin to a performance in say a class room? It's not as wide as compared to DX50. To me, DX50 feels like the band is being played in a hall or a football field where there's some distance between you and the performer, whereas studio v brings a more 'intimate' feel as though you're up close and personal with the performer.
 
Separation/layout: DX50 performs remarkably well in this area as it does a wonderful job of separating each individual components (e.g. lead singer and backup singer, different instruments) that's being used in a song. It's like each instrument and individual is lined up along a straight line with sufficient spacing between each other. For studio v, it feels like each component is laid out in rows of 3, where they line up behind each other. As a result sometimes studio v feels slightly more 'congested' as compared to DX50.
 
Vocals: This is another area that's worth mentioning. For DX50, it's pretty consistent to say that you'll always feel that the singer is placed right in front of you, probably just a few metres away. However for studio v, it feels as though the singer is just right next to you, a very intimate feeling to it. A very good example would be that for certain songs by female singers like Rachael Yamagata, it feels as though she's just whispering into your ear, or that you took too much medication and start hallucinating that she's in your head singing to you. It's that type of intimacy that I can only find in studio v.
 
Well that's about all the observations that I've spotted between the 2 daps. Hopefully I didn't confuse too many as this is probably my first time doing a review. Do let me know if there's any inconsistencies or wrong technical terms used.

 

[Anthony1]

Welcome to boutique audiophile headfi 

 where everything isnt perfect  out of the box

 

[GoldfishX]

Someone wrote that dx50 has V shype signature. Others wrote that the signature is not rather flat. Can someone please confirm which of those two best describe dx50?

I understand that bass is tight and impactful, treble is extended and smooth, but what about mids. Are they recessed?

What about micro-details in the recordings? Are they pushed forward?

I'm considering purchasing dx50 in the near future, but I have to learn from you dx50 owners

how it actually sounds.

 
Oh you hear details aplenty. As I said, I find the mids recessed behind the treble (there is virtually zero bass bleeding into the mids, which is a constant issue) and this is on two fairly dark headphones (AD2000x and Mad Dogs). I want to say there's a spike around 4-5khz. Very similar to the HD800 and their brightness issue.
 
Heh, I need to try flipping my headphones around to see if anything sounds different.
 
Edit: Yep, channels reversed. Roxette sounds normal now, Per on the left, Marie on the center/right. Ditto Van Halen (which is infamous for its separation)...Roth on the left, Eddie's guitars on the right.
 
Man, VH sounds godlike on this thing!

 

[Turrican2]

Ordered.

 
look forward to the DX100 comparison!

 

[purk]

  Welcome to boutique audiophile headfi 

 where everything isnt perfect  out of the box

Sony gets much closer to perfect than most.  I have nothing to complain beside the memory issues on my Sony Walkman with digital amp module (A867, Z1070, and F807).

 

[CJG888]

Not perfect out of the box? It doesn't bl**dy work!

I will write a review on this DAP, as I think that it sets a new sonic benchmark at the price level, but I will wait until I have some stable firmware which will allow me to listen to whole albums with my cans on the right way round...

 

[HiFlight]

THIS case is a perfect fit for the DX50. There is also room inside for extra cards.

 

[santhoshr]

 for certain songs by female singers like Rachael Yamagata, it feels as though she's just whispering into your ear, or that you took too much medication and start hallucinating that she's in your head singing to you. It's that type of intimacy that I can only find in studio v.

It feels very creepy

 
Very nice review! Thank you, now I want to try Studio

 

[azarel]

  It feels very creepy

 
Very nice review! Thank you, now I want to try Studio

 
give it a try. both studio and dx50 are 2 different beasts. vocals and string instruments really do shine with studio, whereas dx50's separation/imaging is fantastic with rock music. The only common factor that they both have is eh... really buggy firmware hahaha 

 

[nihontoman]

reversed channels? :| hope mine won't have it, or better yet - it's just an firmware issue that will be corrected with the release of the newer one....
 
which batch has the reversed channels?

 

[H20Fidelity]

Oh you hear details aplenty. As I said, I find the mids recessed behind the treble (there is virtually zero bass bleeding into the mids, which is a constant issue) and this is on two fairly dark headphones (AD2000x and Mad Dogs). I want to say there's a spike around 4-5khz. Very similar to the HD800 and their brightness issue.

Heh, I need to try flipping my headphones around to see if anything sounds different.

Edit: Yep, channels reversed. Roxette sounds normal now, Per on the left, Marie on the center/right. Ditto Van Halen (which is infamous for its separation)...Roth on the left, Eddie's guitars on the right.

Man, VH sounds godlike on this thing!

Are you saying your channels are also reversed too? Can few owners please check their units with a track they know well?