Latest Thread Images

The DX90 by iBasso . . . Sound impressions . . . . . . . New Firmware, 2.5.1 . . .
Jun 12, 2014 at 2:05 PM Post #1,396 of 3,155
shakur1996 said:
Guys, in particular SilverEars, goodvibes, jamato8 and headwhacker, maybe the issue with SilverEars' different sound impressions results from the volume level? It's just my quess. Today I noticed that the increase of the volume on dx90 by, for example, 4 steps results in more forward, aggressive, dynamic, detailed and spacious sound. So, maybe dx90's sound is different up to certain volume level and different from certain volume level (what is normal for me) and we all are listening at diferent volume levels. Of course we have different phones and this definitely impacts the volume levels at which we are listening to dx90, but...my normal listening level with my CIEMs is 171 at high gain which produces SPL of 61.5 dB for 1 kHz test tone and as I said today I have increased the volume level up to 175 (which I guess, although I did not measure this yet, gives around 63.5 dB of SPL for 1 kHz test tone) and the sound of my dx90 changed to more spacious and dynamic one - I like dx90, but it sometimes lacks a tad of aggressivness and spaciousness.

Conclusion/guess: maybe SilverEars listens to dx90 at lower SPL level and thus pereceives dx90's sound differently?
 
Click to expand...

 
Yep, your observation is right!
Just for reference, I normally listen at a relatively low volume, and listening to the same volume, I find the sound of my old Rio Karma, more analytical and focused, "crisper" in mid and medium-high range.
However, I'm not saying that the DX90 sounds bad.
Over the years I have collected a dozen DAP's, and I put the DX90 at the top .
But the Rio Karma sounds overall better and is much more similar to my desktop setup.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 3:13 PM Post #1,397 of 3,155
funkforfood said:
  As I said, A&K's are too expensive for my budget, i need to stay in the "400 euro" range.
Yes, i know, the X5 UI is worse than the DX90 UI, but for me SQ is the most important factor, so...
Click to expand...

 
I'm not the guy to advise on that, to be honest.  I think most people, including me, wouldnt be able to pick a difference between 2 DAPs in a DBT, especially if those DAPs are running IEMs (ok, the AK100 unmodded might be the exception).    So I go primarily by UI, form factor and battery life.   I know a lot of people will disagree with this, and that is fine.
 
However, I am sure other people would be better positioned to advise you on the merits of the DX90 vs the X5, which are really the only 2 comparable units at this price.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:01 PM Post #1,399 of 3,155
silverears said:
  There are problems I find with some portable players and amps.  One is that simple portable players such as an iphone, it lacks the amping power to push the phones to the dynamic imaging that the phones can output, if the phone is capable of dynamism, and also lack bass push if the track requires it.  You can actually hear more control with better amping as it sounds more controlled, and the perceived sound stage could be lacking.  What I found lacking with portable amps I have tried was bass definition, they didn't sound very believable sonically, so I didn't think they improved all that much over stock sound.  I will be getting pure ii also, and hoping that it will change the sound for the better.  I have a good feeling X5's LO will benefit, we'll see.  As for the DX90, I've seen the diagram with the amp section, but not sure why LO has volume control.  It seems that ES9018 has digital volume control, and I don't know how it affects the LO.  I have never tried any Pico products and I am curious.  From my experience, I think high voltage swing ability or high voltage source probably helps.  
Click to expand...

The Pico Products are quit good.   I don't even know if I will see an improvement with the Pure ii over the power or slim... I hope to see tonight, but the Pure ii will need some break-in though.  Obviously the Power is a lot more powerful and yet it is still very good with IEMs, it is run off 2 9V batteries.  I notice a BIG difference when using the Pico Slim with the X5's LO.  It seems to open up the soundstage and control the bass better.
 
I usually run the Pico Power at half volume with the DX90 and leave the gain control on the DX90 at around 210-230.  I find these volume setting to give me the best sq.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:20 PM Post #1,401 of 3,155
musicheaven said:
I thought all along that's what we've been doing provide impressions about the DX90
wink.gif
Click to expand...

Quite a bit hasn't been. Many other topics are discussed. I have gotten a few emails because there is so much other information now, in this thread, that it is hard get get an impression form reviews as they are so scattered. The reason I broke this thread off from the other one of the DX90 was so this one could focus on impressions and reviews. It hasn't worked as topics have gone other places with no regard to the title of this thread. 
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:29 PM Post #1,402 of 3,155
A nice place for people owning both dap and want to talk about their differences : http://www.head-fi.org/t/708989/fiio-x5-vs-ibasso-dx90
 
"Hi everyone,
 
Thought i should start a thread where everone who owns a x5 and the soon to be released dx90 could post their comparisons for people like me who are looking at these two daps for their next purchase..."
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:07 PM Post #1,403 of 3,155
jamato8 said:
Quite a bit hasn't been. Many other topics are discussed. I have gotten a few emails because there is so much other information now, in this thread, that it is hard get get an impression form reviews as they are so scattered. The reason I broke this thread off from the other one of the DX90 was so this one could focus on impressions and reviews. It hasn't worked as topics have gone other places with no regard to the title of this thread. 
Click to expand...


jamato8 said:
Quite a bit hasn't been. Many other topics are discussed. I have gotten a few emails because there is so much other information now, in this thread, that it is hard get get an impression form reviews as they are so scattered. The reason I broke this thread off from the other one of the DX90 was so this one could focus on impressions and reviews. It hasn't worked as topics have gone other places with no regard to the title of this thread. 
Click to expand...


Yeah I got you tough to control, it's similar to people ask many times the same questions.

migou67 said:
A nice place for people owning both dap and want to talk about their differences : http://www.head-fi.org/t/708989/fiio-x5-vs-ibasso-dx90

"Hi everyone,

Thought i should start a thread where everone who owns a x5 and the soon to be released dx90 could post their comparisons for people like me who are looking at these two daps for their next purchase..."
Click to expand...



Be ready to indicate to people to go to those mixed player discussion threads. I can only imagine having n number of those threads propping up, we are getting so many choices.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:37 PM Post #1,404 of 3,155
I just received the 4200mAh battery. It's a little thicker than I expected and unfortunately, the sound actually seems to degrade a bit.
 
When using the 4200mAh battery, the sound seems a bit thinner; bass is a bit less defined, and articulation and texture seems a bit lessened.
 
The battery is rated at 3.7 volts (VDC), while the stock battery provides 3.8 volts, I guess this is the problem.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:53 PM Post #1,405 of 3,155
marleybob217 said:
  I just received the 4200mAh battery. It's a little thicker than I expected and unfortunately, the sound actually seems to degrade a bit.
 
When using the 4200mAh battery, the sound seems a bit thinner; bass is a bit less defined, and articulation and texture seems a bit lessened.
 
The battery is rated at 3.7 volts (VDC), while the stock battery provides 3.8 volts, I guess this is the problem.
Click to expand...

They are all the same voltage, due to the type of cells. I would use, discharge and recharge and generally condition the battery by use. Unless there is some type of resistance incorporated but that is the discharge rating and .1volt isn't going to change much. This would be better on the other thread for the DX90 but I guess you are describing a sound impression though not directly related to the Dx90 but to the power source. 
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 6:51 PM Post #1,406 of 3,155
jamato8 said:
  They are all the same voltage, due to the type of cells. I would use, discharge and recharge and generally condition the battery by use. Unless there is some type of resistance incorporated but that is the discharge rating and .1volt isn't going to change much. This would be better on the other thread for the DX90 but I guess you are describing a sound impression though not directly related to the Dx90 but to the power source. 
Click to expand...

Hmm, I just wanted to share somewhere! I guess I'll just do some more testing, and just keep the bigger battery as a spare.
 
Jun 13, 2014 at 12:15 AM Post #1,407 of 3,155
marleybob217 said:
  Hmm, I just wanted to share somewhere! I guess I'll just do some more testing, and just keep the bigger battery as a spare.
Click to expand...

Of course. I thought it might get more exposure there. I seem to get good sound with the 4400uA battery I have from Anker and would like to get an OEM Samsung S3 battery as I have read a number of times that it affects the sound of he DX50  in a positive way so it might have the same affect on the DX90, but only way to know is to try one but find a true OEM seems to be the task.  
 
Jun 13, 2014 at 2:44 AM Post #1,408 of 3,155
jamato8 said:
  They are all the same voltage, due to the type of cells. I would use, discharge and recharge and generally condition the battery by use. Unless there is some type of resistance incorporated but that is the discharge rating and .1volt isn't going to change much. This would be better on the other thread for the DX90 but I guess you are describing a sound impression though not directly related to the Dx90 but to the power source. 
Click to expand...


They're different voltages. The cell chemistry is different in 3.7V, 3.8V, 3.85V (S5) cells.
 
Jun 13, 2014 at 3:23 AM Post #1,409 of 3,155
jamato8 said:
Of course. I thought it might get more exposure there. I seem to get good sound with the 4400uA battery I have from Anker and would like to get an OEM Samsung S3 battery as I have read a number of times that it affects the sound of he DX50  in a positive way so it might have the same affect on the DX90, but only way to know is to try one but find a true OEM seems to be the task.  
Click to expand...

let me know if you find that battery. I couldn't imagine how this would improve the sound though. I imagine ibasso optimized the hardware around the stock battery. And i'm derailing...


arashi said:
They're different voltages. The cell chemistry is different in 3.7V, 3.8V, 3.85V (S5) cells.
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert but it certainly makes more sense. And 0.1 volt difference is still a ~3% decrease in power on this scale.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 5 (members: 0, guests: 5)
Back
Top