iBasso D16 Taipan

Sonic Sleuth

500+ Head-Fier
iBasso D16 Taipan Review: A Portable DAC/Amp that Strikes True
Pros: Exceptional detail retrieval: Uncovers subtle nuances and textures in your music.
Expansive soundstage: Creates a wide and immersive listening experience.
Precise imaging: Instruments and vocals are placed with pinpoint accuracy.
Powerful amplification: Drives a wide range of headphones with ease.
Versatile connectivity: Compatible with various sources through USB-C, coaxial, and optical inputs.
Natural timbre: Instruments and vocals sound realistic and lifelike.
Excellent dynamics: Captures the full range of musical expression.
Cons: Mid-bass could be slightly more impactful: Lacks some visceral slam in the mid-bass frequencies.
Upper midrange can be slightly forward: May cause sibilance with certain recordings.
Soundstage height could be more pronounced: While wide and deep, the soundstage could have more height for a truly holographic experience.
No Bluetooth : It would've been a perfect all rounder for connectivity if it also had bluetooth
Preface:

I purchased this unit for myself without any discounts.

Also, I'm not a seasoned reviewer, so whatever I say is purely my observation and your results may vary.

I'm not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment's sound and that's it.

Disclaimer: All impressions and opinions in this review are my own. I have not been paid or compensated by any entity for this review. My assessment is based solely on my personal experience with the product.

IEMs and HPs used for evaluation: The list will be long and exhaustive as it has been my primary portable device from the past 6 months.

  • Sennheiser HD600
  • Sennheiser HD800 (SDR Modded & JAR Modded) / 800s
  • ZMF Bokeh
  • ZMF Atrium Open
  • HIFIMAN HE500
  • DCA Aeon 2 Noire
  • Meze Empyrean 2
  • Softears Twilight
  • Nostalgia Audio Camelot
  • Eminent Ears Ruby
  • I/O Volare
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Introduction:

iBasso is known for consistently delivering high-quality sources that punch above their weight. Their DAPs like the DX320, DX320 Max and portable amps like the DC07 Pro, DC Elite have earned them a reputation for innovation and sonic excellence. The D16 Taipan, their latest offering, seems to be a culmination of their expertise, promising a no-compromise portable listening experience.

Design and Build:

The D16 Taipan exudes a sense of sophistication from the moment you lay eyes on it. The sleek aluminum chassis feels reassuringly solid in hand, and the overall design is clean and understated. On the front panel, you'll find a user-friendly OLED display, a small multi-function knob that controls DAC volume and navigation, a large stepped attenuator to control amp volume, and both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended headphone outputs that also double as line outputs that can be changed in the setting. The back panel houses a comprehensive array of connectivity options, including separate USB-C input for Data and Charge, 3.5mm coaxial, and optical inputs, making it compatible with a wide range of sources.

This thoughtful design extends to the small details, like the clicky buttons and the smooth operation of the volume knob. It's clear that iBasso has paid close attention to both form and function, resulting in a device that's as enjoyable to use as it is to look at.

One thing that annoys me from time to time is that the smaller DAC volume knob and larger amp volume knob are placed too close to each other which makes it difficult to rotate the smaller knob if you have thicker fingers.

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Specifications:

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Battery Life:


In my real-world testing, I was able to get around 7 hours of battery life with moderate volume levels and a mix of high-resolution and lossless audio files. This is quite impressive, especially considering the D16's powerful output.

IEMs: Low Gain : 8.5 hours / High Gain : 7.5 Hours
HPs : Low Gain : 7 Hours / High Gain : 6 Hours

Drivability and Pairing of IEMs and HPs:

The iBasso D16 Taipan proves itself to be a remarkably versatile device, capable of driving a wide range of IEMs and headphones with ease.

IEMs:

From easier to drive IEMs like the Softears Twilight and Nostalgia Audio Camelot, to the more demanding Ice Lab Prismatica and Eminent Ears Ruby, the D16 provides ample power and control. Even the notoriously power-hungry Sony IER-Z1R is driven with authority, revealing its full potential.

Its noise floor is exceptionally low, even with highly sensitive IEMs. Even at high gain levels, there was no perceptible hiss or background noise.

Low Impedance Headphones:

The D16 handles low-impedance headphones like the ZMF Bokeh and Focal Utopia 2022 with grace. There's plenty of headroom, ensuring a dynamic and engaging listening experience without any strain.

High Impedance Headphones:

High-impedance headphones, such as the Sennheiser HD600, HD650, and HD800, are no match for the D16's powerful amplification. It effortlessly drives these headphones to their full potential, delivering a clear and detailed sound with excellent dynamics. Even the open-back ZMF Atrium is handled with finesse, showcasing the D16's ability to control even the most demanding headphones.

Planar Magnetic Headphones:

The D16's versatility extends to planar magnetic headphones as well. It drives the Meze Empyrean 2, Ananda Nano, and Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire with impressive authority, delivering a rich and detailed sound with excellent dynamics and control.

Sound Analysis:


Tonality: The D16's tonality is best described as neutral and revealing. It's like a perfectly clean window, allowing the true essence of the music to shine through without any coloration or distortion. This pristine presentation might not be for everyone, as some might prefer a warmer or more "musical" sound. However, for those who crave accuracy, the D16 is an absolute dream.

Listening to "Spanish Harlem" by Rebecca Pidgeon, I was immediately struck by the D16's ability to convey the subtle nuances of her voice. Every breath, every inflection, was rendered with stunning realism. The accompanying acoustic guitar was equally impressive, with each note resonating with a natural warmth and texture.

Bass:
  • Sub Bass: The sub-bass extension is phenomenal, reaching down into the depths of the frequency spectrum with ease. It's not just about quantity, though; the quality of the sub-bass is equally impressive. It's tight, articulate, and textured, adding a sense of weight and impact to the music without ever sounding bloated or overpowering. "Angel" by Massive Attack is a perfect showcase for the D16's sub-bass prowess. The deep, rumbling bassline is reproduced with incredible authority and texture, creating a truly visceral listening experience.
  • Mid Bass: The mid-bass is equally well-defined, with a punchy and articulate character. While it might not have the same visceral slam as some other DAC/amps, it's incredibly accurate and controlled, allowing the basslines to shine through with clarity and precision. In "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac, the bass guitar is presented with a satisfying thump and definition, driving the rhythm section with a sense of purpose.
Midrange: The D16's midrange is where its transparency truly shines. Vocals and instruments are rendered with exceptional clarity and detail, allowing you to hear every nuance of the performance.
  • Lower Midrange: Male vocals are presented with a natural warmth and richness, while retaining a sense of clarity and definition. There's no muddiness or congestion, just pure, unadulterated sound. Leonard Cohen's baritone vocals in "Hallelujah" are a prime example. The D16 captures the weight and texture of his voice with remarkable fidelity, allowing you to connect with the emotion of the song on a deeper level.
  • Upper Midrange: Female vocals are equally well-rendered, with a smooth and detailed presentation. The D16's ability to reproduce subtle nuances and inflections is truly remarkable. Diana Krall's vocals in "Peel Me a Grape" are captivating, showcasing the D16's ability to convey the emotion and intimacy of her performance.
Treble: The D16's treble is extended and airy, adding a sense of sparkle and detail to the music without ever sounding harsh or sibilant.
  • Lower Treble: The lower treble is smooth and refined, with a delicate touch that brings out the shimmer and shine of cymbals and other high-frequency instruments. In "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck, the cymbal crashes are reproduced with a realistic shimmer and decay, adding a sense of air and spaciousness to the music.
  • Upper Treble: The upper treble extends effortlessly into the highest frequencies, revealing subtle details and textures that are often lost on lesser DAC/amps. This adds a sense of air and openness to the music, making it sound more lifelike and engaging. The triangle in "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd shimmers with an ethereal beauty, adding a touch of magic to the listening experience.
Soundstage: The D16's soundstage is wide and well-defined, with a good sense of depth and layering. Instruments and vocals are placed precisely within the soundstage, creating a realistic and immersive listening experience.
  • Width: The soundstage extends well beyond the confines of your head, creating a sense of spaciousness and immersion.
  • Depth: There's a good sense of depth to the soundstage, with instruments and vocals layered convincingly in front of and behind each other.
  • Height: While the height of the soundstage is not as pronounced as its width and depth, it's still noticeable, adding another dimension to the listening experience.
Listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, I was impressed by the way the D16 placed each instrument and vocal in its own distinct space. The soundstage was wide and deep, with a good sense of layering, allowing me to appreciate the complexity of the arrangement.

Layering and Separation: The D16 excels at layering and separation, even in complex musical passages. Instruments and vocals are presented with exceptional clarity and definition, allowing you to easily distinguish between them. This adds a sense of transparency and detail to the music, making it more engaging and enjoyable to listen to. In "Jupiter" from Holst's The Planets, the D16 effortlessly untangles the various musical lines, allowing each instrument to shine through with clarity and precision.

Timbre: The D16 renders instruments with a natural and realistic timbre. Acoustic guitars sound full-bodied and resonant, pianos have a weighty and authentic tone, and violins possess a smooth and expressive quality. This attention to timbre adds a sense of realism and authenticity to the music, making it more engaging and enjoyable to listen to. Listening to "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton, I was struck by the natural timbre of the acoustic guitar. It sounded full-bodied and resonant, with a realistic sense of weight and texture.

Detail Retrieval: The D16 is a detail monster, uncovering subtle nuances and textures in the music that you might never have noticed before. This level of detail retrieval adds a sense of depth and complexity to the music, making it more rewarding to listen to. In "Clair de Lune" by Debussy, the D16 revealed subtle details in the piano performance that I had never heard before. Each note was rendered with exquisite detail and clarity, allowing me to appreciate the nuances of the composition.

Dynamics:
  • Micro Dynamics: The D16 excels at micro dynamics, capturing the subtle variations in volume and intensity that bring music to life. This adds a sense of realism and emotion to the music, making it more engaging and enjoyable to listen to. In "Teardrop" by Massive Attack, the quiet passages were rendered with a delicate touch, while the louder sections exploded with energy and emotion.
  • Macro Dynamics: The D16 also handles macro dynamics with ease, effortlessly transitioning between quiet and loud passages. This allows the music to breathe and flow naturally, creating a more dynamic and engaging listening experience. The dynamic shifts in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Strauss were breathtaking, with the D16 capturing the full force of the orchestra without any compression or distortion.

DAC Section Performance with External Amps:

When paired with a powerful and transparent external amplifier, the D16 Taipan's DAC section truly shines. The already impressive detail retrieval, soundstage, and imaging capabilities are further enhanced, revealing even more nuance and micro-detail in your music.

Synergy with Aroma A100TB:

The Aroma A100TB, with its balanced design and powerful amplification, complements the D16 Taipan beautifully. This pairing results in a wider and deeper soundstage, with improved instrument separation and layering. The A100TB's ability to drive demanding headphones allows the D16's DAC section to fully express its dynamic range and micro-detail retrieval capabilities.

Listening to "Hotel California" by the Eagles, I was struck by the expansive soundstage and precise imaging. Each instrument was placed with pinpoint accuracy, creating a holographic listening experience. The A100TB's added power gave the music a sense of scale and grandeur, while the D16's DAC section ensured that every detail was rendered with clarity and precision.

Synergy with iBasso PB5:

The iBasso PB5, with its unique Nutube technology, adds a touch of warmth and musicality to the D16's neutral presentation. This pairing creates a more engaging and emotionally resonant listening experience, without sacrificing detail or transparency. The PB5's tube-like characteristics enhance the D16's timbre, giving instruments and vocals a more natural and organic quality.

Playing "Imagine" by John Lennon, I was moved by the emotional depth and intimacy of the performance. The PB5's warm and inviting sound signature complemented Lennon's vocals beautifully, while the D16's DAC section ensured that every nuance of his voice was captured with clarity and precision.

USB vs. Coaxial Input - A Subtle Distinction

While the iBasso D16 Taipan excels with both USB and coaxial inputs, based on my experience using coaxial input from the DC07 Pro, DX280, W2 Ultra, and DC Elite, and USB input from the DX280, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, here are my observations:

Coaxial Input:
  • Slightly smoother and more "analog" presentation: Coaxial input seems to lend a touch of warmth and smoothness to the overall sound. This is particularly noticeable in the midrange, where vocals and instruments have a slightly more rounded and organic quality.
  • Enhanced soundstage depth: Coaxial connection seems to add a bit more depth to the soundstage, creating a more three-dimensional listening experience.
  • Improved dynamics: I noticed slightly better dynamic range and micro-detail retrieval with coaxial input, especially when paired with higher-end sources like the W2 Ultra and DC Elite.
USB Input:
  • Slightly more analytical and detailed presentation: USB input tends to offer a slightly more analytical and detailed sound, with a focus on clarity and precision.
  • Wider soundstage: The soundstage with USB input seems to be slightly wider, creating a more expansive listening experience.
  • Excellent transparency: USB input maintains the D16's inherent transparency, allowing the true character of the music to shine through.

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Conclusion: A Taipan that Strikes True

The iBasso D16 Taipan is a remarkable piece of audio engineering that pushes the boundaries of portable listening. Its innovative DAC design, combined with its powerful amplification and versatile connectivity, makes it a top contender. Its exceptional detail retrieval, expansive soundstage, and precise imaging make it a truly captivating listening experience.

SHOOTINGTECHIE

100+ Head-Fier
IBASSO D16 TAIPAN DAC AMP- The smooth drink !!!
Pros: 3D staging
Warm pleasing tonality
Thick notes making male vocals wonderfully handsome
Female vocals still have their own tones to make you drool
Mids are beautiful to listen
Cohesion among the instruments
Smooth resolution of nuances with dynamism
Taller stage
Notes separation even with thicker notes
Subbass and bass rumble
Power is quite a lot
Cons: Not a good pairing with warm iems
Treble non airy
Slightly wider stage would be wonderful.
IBASSO D16 TAIPAN DAC AMP
IBASSO
has been a well-known brand in the music industry and has been making great iems, DAPs etc which are very well known throughout the world. Founded in 2006, I has been gaining ground with their superior DAPS and DAC AMPS, dongle at most of the price segments. Today I am getting a chance to try their DAC AMP- IBASSO D16 Taipan DAC AMP.

DISCLAIMER-
The IBASSO D16 DAC AMP is part of a review tour organized by A.G. and IBASSO AND SANDEEP in my country. The sample belongs to the brand. I had the opportunity to listen to it for 7 days for this review. This review is completely based on my experience with it, and all opinions, positive or negative, are my own and no one else’s. No external factors influence my review; only internal factors like my brain and heart influence it 😜. Please try it yourself, if possible, since we all hear things differently. If you want to purchase it, you can buy it from the official product website from the link:
IBASSO D16 TAIPAN DAC AMP

PACKAGING-
This is what I call a premium package. The entire thing is packed in a black soft leatherette and is wonderful to touch. The inside has iBasso D16 Taipan, charging cable, USB-C to USB-C OTG Cable, USB-C to Lightning OTG Cable, 2x coax/OPT cables, 2x pouch bags and an beautiful user manual. The pouches are made up of leather with velvet inside which makes it a wonderful case to take the iBasso Dac-amp. It also has another pouch for the cables (black velvet). I loved the packaging a lot this time, even the insides are also softly padded and has velvet.
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BUILD-
Ohh it’s a big boy and has some heft to it. There is a case also provided that fits wonderfully with the dac amp and has holes for ventilation too. There’s two volume wheels and one of them is stepped attenuator, so easily changes in volume using the first wheel and then the bigger one for finer increase to ge the perfect volume. Then comes the display it’s a gorgeous display and I love it. The connectors are also really great and have good hold over the headphone wires. The back has the other ports and a on and off switch.
Ohh I did forget about the cables, they are braided and have good fit and heft to them. I liked their build quality, and they will resist time and some twisting for sure.

SPECIFICATIONS-
4.4mm LO:

Output Level: 3.3Vrms (DAC Low Gain) 4Vrms (DAC High Gain)
  • THD+N: -120.4dB(0.000095%)@1kHz AES17-20K A-wt
  • DNR: 123dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • SNR: 123dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • Crosstalk: 135dB
  • Frequency Response: 15Hz-40kHz +/-1dB
3.5mm LO:
  • Output Level: 1.65Vrms (DAC Low Gain) 2Vrms (DAC High Gain)
  • THD+N: -118dB(0.00012%)@1KHz
  • AES17-20K A-wt
  • DNR: 120dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • SNR: 120dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • Crosstalk: 133dB
  • Frequency Response: 15Hz-40kHz +/-1dB
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4.4mm PO:

  • Output Level: 4.2Vrms (AMP L Gain + DAC H gain)
  • 6.8Vrms (AMP H Gain + DAC H gain)
  • Output Power: 1125mW+1125mW@32 Ω THD+N<0.5% THD+N: -117dB(0.00014%)@1KHz
  • AES17-20K A-wt 6000 Load
  • DNR: 123dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • SNR: 123dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • Crosstalk: 131dB
  • Frequency Response: 15Hz-40kHz +/-1dB
3.5mm PO:
  • Output Level: 2.1Vrms (AMP L Gain + DAC H gain)
  • 3.4Vrms (AMP H Gain + DAC H gain)
  • Output Power: 640mW+640mW@16Ω THD+N<0.5%
  • THD+N: -114dB(0.00014%)@1KHz
  • AES17-20K A-wt 600 Ω Load
  • DNR:118dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • SNR: 118dB AES17-20K A-wt
  • Crosstalk: 130dB
  • Frequency Response: 15Hz-40kHz +/-1dB
OUTPUT- 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm single ended; 4.4mm LO and 3.5mm LO
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CHARGING: 2.5hours and battery life as per my testing : 8:30 mins with just blon bl03 (3.5mm SE output). The DAC and charging options are different, so while charging it can also work as a dac, very useful as after few years when the battery dies you can use it as a desktop dac with LO to amp.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS
SENNHEISER HD558 (modded)

This is the oldest headphone in my collection and has been modded with a 3.5mm jack and the inner ear foams are removed. It sounds great for what it costs and ages. The usual sound is more enhanced and thicker and has warmer tonality. The presentation is much better and much more around the vocalists and the head stage is more 3D instead of 2 dimensional. The bass and subbass are tighter and have a rumbling experience. They do go deep in the sub-bass region and have some rumble. More defined notes though overall and definition is more. Power requirement is only 25 in high gain.

BEYERDYNAMIC TYGR 300R
Beyerdynamic TYGR 300R is a mostly flat to neutral headphone and has an energetic and sharp treble experience. This headphone is best suited for D16. The treble is much more refined and upper mids glare also reduced especially in songs where the trumpets and saxophones scare you suddenly. The presentation is quite good and has 3D presentation around the singer. The notes are much more thicker contradicting the leaner presentation of the notes. The bass though is much more impactful and subbass rumble a bit more defined and goes deep. It runs Tygr very much like a desktop amp and I like the presentation. Power requirement is High gain and 45 on the volume.
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HIFIMAN DEVA
Deva is the only planar headphone in my collection and boy does it shine with the D16. The notes are much thicker and well defined overall. There is more spacing among the notes of the instruments and also among the instruments. The placement is much better overall in the head stage and the notes structure is more refined. Bass is more impactful and subbass rumblier. The vocals are much sweeter and probably shorter in the height of the headstage. The treble is also energetic and lacks the ting of the treble region which makes it much more beautiful to listen to. Power requirement is High gain and 56-60 on volume wheel with the secondary wheel turned to 3 o clock from zero.

FOCAL CLEAR
Upper mids handled beautifully, more cohesion in the notes, thicker notes and warmish tone and treble more beautifully done with full of energy and loving the thicker bass and sub-bass. But the tonality is slightly on the thicker side, but cohesion is on point. I would love a little wider signature that could accentuate clear. But one thing that is much better is the placement of instruments which are wonderfully done and not at all feels congested. Its fun to listen to in this but it’s a bit too much warm for my taste. Power requirement is High Gain and 38 on the volume wheel and turned to 2 o clock from zero.

ZMF AEUTEUR
ZMF aeuteur is an difficult to drive headphone and requires a bit of power to do its best. I loved the larger presentation and more cohesiveness among the instruments. The aeuteur is a slightly more matured headphone where energy is there but to bring out everything it requires a lot of power. While D16 handles them well, there is more thicker sound but not so much in the height of the notes in the headstage which felt lacking a bit. The bass and sub-bass impact had increased and also the sub-bass was more wonderful. This requires a little more powahh for sure it felt like. But for the portable factor this thing did quite well.
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IEMS-(This can easily power iems so not an issue at all)
BLON 03

The oldest among all my iems. It’s a very versatile iem. Adding D16, added a big amount of definition to the notes, there was also improvement in the notes thickness and the presentation was great. I loved the bass impact and extension and this made it a wonderful listen.

PENON FAN
Penon fan is a highly dynamic iem with a tangy treble flavour and slightly leaner notes. This with D16 is a combo made in heaven, it encounters the leaner notes and makes the notes thick and more defined in the body of the notes. The treble is also more controlled, but still retains the energy. The bass impact is more and sub-bass is more rumbly and beautiful to listen to.

QOA ADONIS AND WYVERN
The Adonis is warmish iem and with D16 it becomes a bit too thick for my tastes. There is no cohesion issues or the instruments being put one over the other, but they are very near to each other with the thicker notes. This makes it bit uneasy to use. But then comes the bass and sub-bass which you would love in this iem.
Then comes the smaller brother the wyvern, what this lacked is the dynamism of the notes and the depth of the notes. D16 handled this very well and also tamed the energy a bit overall and refined it as notes much more structured and wonderfully placed all throughout the small stage. I loved the presentation here and would definitely recommend.

DITA AUDIO M
Dita loved the pairing with D16. Something in the iem just had its own switch on. The notes were thicker and wider too. But the separation was maintained in the notes and also between the instruments. There was much better and impactful bass response and also the upper mids were much sweeter. A little more zeal into the treble section and this would have been golden.
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Overall-
Very versatile, able to power most things, adds more surrounding presence to the instruments. There is more placement accuracy to the instrument’s presence. Wider stage and energetic bass and sub-bass. Subbass has more extension and more rumble. Treble energy but that feel is slightly decreased along with the upper mids, and notes are thicker. There is more tonally warm to neutral tone depending on the music producing instruments at the end of the ears. Notes are more defined and detailed with this as source.
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VERDICT-
Definitely recommended if you got a slightly warm to treble heavy iem. The power and musicality would enthrals you for sure. This thing can work also as a desktop amp dac with power coming in so it will useful even when the battery is gone. So a very versatile product, hence highly recommended.

Mllump

Head-Fier
Remember when?
Pros: Build
ALL the terms: imaging, resolution, soundstage, timbre
Cons: Price (maybe)
Feature set (if you're looking for more than sound and expandability)
Do you remember how you felt when you made certain leaps in this hobby? Years and years ago, I stumbled upon some Shure SRH1540's. Then scored a $250 pair of Pioneer SE-Monitor5 (ugh, I had no idea what I had at that price). It was, though, a literal "revelation" of what was possible in personal (consumer?) audio. There was no turning back.

Then, after a bout with skin cancer, and a skin graft behind my ear, I moved to in-ear only (also timed with needing glasses). I started, as many do, with Blessing, then SA6. After a number of buy/sell adventures, I decided to take a bigger bite and purchased a U12t. Another one of those "moments" when I was awestruck by what was possible. With that, I learned a valuable, and hard, lesson of this hobby...you have to spend "chunks" to get the real upgrades you're looking for. I know, I know. There may be exceptions, and most of us try to "hack" this via the used market here on head-fi. Again, the U12t meant no going back.

I tried a lot of side-grades, but the u12t became my consistent "re-purchase"...it was a standard. Then, the Volür was released. I still have it. I've never owned anything this long in this hobby. I've thrown cables, tips, dac/amps at it, and have never been disappointed in the Volür, but I was still compelled to squeeze what I could out of them.

Enter iBasso's D16 Taipan.

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At the retail price of $1400, and a used price of around $1000, besides stacks when I used headphones, it'd be the most I'd dropped on anything for IEMs (they don't "need" much) amplification. IT is COMPLETELY OVERKILL...and it is ENTIRELY GLORIOUS!

It is the most naturally euphoric auditory experience I have ever had in this game...bar none. No stacks. No other portables (I've used H7, Q7, Q15, DC Eilte, W4, etc) and no other stacks (Gustards, Schiits, Toppings, Earmen) have ever impressed me as much as this little block has.

While I wouldn't say the Taipan has a "color" it is the best combo of (and stay with me here) technicality, analog, natural timbre, and power I've ever heard. I'll put it like this, I truly, truly feel like I could not ever get more out of the Volür than with this rig, and that's what I was incessantly searching for. Look, this is a very personal, subjective, and even romantic pursuit for us all. So, there's no way to discount how a link in your chain makes you feel. You "need" that draw.

I could not recommend the Taipan more. I know my Volur really, really well. I know it leans warm with bass quantity and quality. Still, I can tell through the sound, that even more neutral IEMs or HPs will not be treated harshly. We have all read reviews that it says something like (of great gear) "it presents the music as it was intended" blah, blah. The purpose of this "review" was to simply point this one thing out in the form of a question and answer:

IF, LIKE ME, YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING TO HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR IEM OR HEADPHONES...SOMETHING TO REALLY SHOW YOU WHAT YOU HAVE...SUCK IT UP...SAVE...AND GET A TAIPAN.

Later on, you could even add an Osprey, to complement your DAP with raw power that's not going to color the alternate source. In the mean time, grab yourself another one of those moments when you knew without a doubt you took one of those leaps, and you will be glad you did.
G
Golyatx
Best review I have ever read, gg.

Trance_Gott

Headphoneus Supremus
The endgame portable DAC + headphone amp
Pros: Best portable DAC available
Next level Instrument separation
Very powerful
Amazing bass quality
Very holographic imaging
Batteries are easy replaceable
A dream combination with the DX320 MAX Ti and PB5
Cons: I wish it had the same design as the DX320 MAX Ti
Now I also have the entire top stack from iBasso at home, which consists of the DX320 MAX Ti, PB5 and D16. In terms of design and dimensions, it fits perfectly with the PB5. The leather case is the same color and material. Only the DX320 MAX Ti with its brown case does not quite match the stack visually, but the dimensions do.

The D16 comes with everything you need for connection. As with the PB5, the cables are of very high quality. To connect to the DX320 MAX Ti, you can use the included USB-C to USB-C cable or the coax cable. With both connection variants, I can see a minimal improvement in direct comparison in coax operation. I therefore use the coax cable. With a stated runtime of 9 hours, I get a good 7 hours of playtime. By pressing and holding the OLED display and the smaller rotary control, which serves as a digital volume control, you can access a menu in which the inputs and outputs can be set and the gain level for the DAC part and the AMP part. The outputs can be configured as pure lineout outputs, e.g. to operate the D16 on a stationary chain. The OLED display also shows all settings and information on the data rate currently being played and the battery status. With the PB5, I would also have liked an OLED display to show the battery status. The large volume control is responsible for the volume of the amp section. So you can control the DAC and amp section separately.

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The D16 is a 1-bit discrete DAC that uses an FPGA master 2.0 specially developed by iBasso, which achieves measurement values that are currently the measure of all things in the portable segment. The D16 is somewhere between a Delta Sigma DAC and an R2R DAC and combines the best of both worlds. Of course, measured values are not everything, it should also sound good. In addition to the very elaborately designed DAC structure, the amp structure is also not without its drawbacks. A similar architecture to the DX320 MAX Ti is used here. The power is a whopping 1125mW+1125mw@32Ohm. You can drive anything with it except perhaps a Susvara OG and 1266 TC. The D16, on the other hand, can drive the Unveiled.

I eagerly compared my new reference, the brand new PMG Audio APX SE directly on the DX320 MAX Ti and then on the D16 fed by the DX320 MAX Ti via USB. The incredibly good measured values are directly reflected in the edge definition and separation of individual instruments. The D16 raises the already reference-like instrument separation of the DX320 MAX Ti even higher. Incredibly, it beats my DX320 MAX Ti here. At stage size, the ROHM DACs of the MAX Ti are still somewhat more holographic and deeper. Nevertheless, the D16 has a very large stage image.

Tonally, the D16 is absolutely neutral and free of coloration. Overall, it is a touch brighter than the DX320 MAX Ti. The bass of the DX320 MAX Ti is a touch harder in its attack and stronger in the low bass. Both are detailed and at the very highest level.

In the mids, the D16 is absolutely real and free of coloration. This is one of the most natural tunings I have ever heard, everything seems strikingly real. Very neutral usually means a little too thin. Fortunately, this is not the case here. Instruments are given an analog character that always has enough fullness. The DX320 MAX Ti counters this with slightly fuller mids.

The treble presents everything, really everything, effortlessly from the recording. Thanks to the sharpness of the edges, this is even easier than with the DX320 MAX Ti, which is a little silkier in this area. But nothing is annoying with the D16. Despite the seemingly infinite high-frequency range, it never gets into the harsh range.

With most IEMs, I still prefer direct operation with the DX320 MAX Ti. However, there are a few exceptions and these are usually the warmer IEMs. A Multiverse Mentor sounds stunning directly on the D16. The holographic stage imaging becomes even more tangible and the strong bass range seems more controlled. The rather bright IEMs, on the other hand, cut a better figure directly on the DX320 MAX Ti.

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But stop, there was something else? What happens if you use the entire stack consisting of DX320 MAX Ti + D16 + PB5? Oh my God, the APX SE plays better than in direct operation on the DX320 MAX Ti. What the D16 lacked somewhat and the DX320 MAX Ti has, namely the stronger bass range and the smoother treble, is now provided by the PB5. The stage also gains in size in all areas and now plays as big as with the ROHM DACs directly. Imagine the DX320 MAX Ti reference sound in which everything is even sharper and there is a little more bass overall! The Ambient Acoustics MAD 24 plays in a different league in this 3-way combination. Absolutely holographic stage imaging and this edge definition paired with the fullness of the individual sound elements is simply awesome! Of course, this is a stack that you can't really consider when you're on the road, but for at home or in the garden it's probably one of the best portable systems you can buy at the moment. Sensational what iBasso has achieved here with the 3 devices. Two years ago, I wouldn't have thought such a mobile sound possible. But with the D16 alone, you can certainly upgrade any mid-range DAP. I think the price of 1500€ is absolutely fair for this brilliant sound, considering the prices charged by the competition today. If you already own a PB5, I can only advise you to put the D16 in front of it
sofastreamer
sofastreamer
thank you for the review! You mentioned, the rohm dacs are projecting a deeper and more holographic soundstage. did you have the oportunity to try the dc elite too? it only has one of the rohm dacs, but i wonder if soundstage depth and the holographic effect would still be at least very close to the D16.
Trance_Gott
Trance_Gott
No sorry never heared the DC Elite.
G
Golyatx
hi, I have both by myself now (dc elite borrowed), and taipan is MUCH better, dc elite has treble emhpasis and does feel some digital overal.. taipan is absolute endgame, best source I have ever heard
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