IKKO Zerda ITM03 Portable Headphone Amplifier

Disclaimer : This unit was provided for an honest review by Hifinage. All opinions are my own. You can buy it from the store:
https://hifinage.com/products/ikko-itm03

(Photos will be attached later)

Build:
Ikko Zerda ITM03 looks extremely pleasing to the eye with its beautiful colour and brushed metal finish. In spite of the size, it is faily light and should not prove any difficulty in using on a daily basis.

Specifications:

• High quality build: Full Shielded design, highly sophisticated production process, Monster OCC Silver-Plated silicone fully wrapped cable, aluminum alloy sandblasted oxidized shell, Weighs only 12 grams
• High-quality performance: Cirrus Logic CS43198 flagship DAC chip, low power, and high performance, support up to 32 bits / 384KHz (optical digital output bit rate is 32 bits / 192KHz) and up to 128x native DSD PCM decoding capabilities. THD+N is well below 0.0015%, providing unparalleled high-fidelity sound quality, restoring the truest and cleanest sound quality, and enjoying the true sound quality
• Easy to use: Built-in adaptive drive, no need to manually install the driver, the connection can be used directly, with 16Ω-600Ω Impedance adaptive, 3.5mm Audio & 3.5mm fiber optic signal output two-in-one interface design, easy to adapt to a smartphone to professional audio equipment.
• Full system compatibility: (Type-c) compatible with Android/Windows/MacOSX System Smartphone Laptop, (Lightning) Compatible with iphone/ipad/ipod
• Parameter details: AC:Cirrus Logic CS43198,Fiber Optic Output:32Bit/192kHz，DSD:128, THD+N：＜0.0015%，FR：20Hz-40kHz，Impedance Adaptive:16Ω-600Ω

Usage:
I used it with a type-c to type-a adaptor with my laptop. Didn't provide much of a hassle, just plug and play. Pretty good.
I do not have any high impedance headphones or iems, hence could not check whether the adaptive impedance holds true.
I do not have anything to use with tis optical out either, hence was not able to check it.

Sound:
Zerdaplays it safe here. It adds a touch of warmth and smoothens the note for a more pleasant and laid back listening experience. However, that may or may not sit well with the listener. Whereas it did well for the harsh tracks, it smothered the smooth tracks.
Zerda ITM03 is best paired with those iems with a boosted uppermid/lower treble, as that particular region will be controlled while providing better musicality. With smooth or warm sounding iems it is a strict no go.
Another negative aspect of Zerda is its soundstage representation. The depth of stage gets compromised considerably, which was an instant turn-off for me.

Conclusion:
At its price point of $99, Zerda ITM03 has serious competition, and it is pretty much evident that they are winning. While using an external USB DAC-AMp, one would not expect the soundstage to losedepth, at least I did not. And hence I was not exactly pleased. However, the smooth touch that it provides is still quite good, and hence I could not totally write it off. However, I genuinely expect Ikko will correct the shortcomings and will come out with a better upgrade over it.

Build Quality :
The color scheme of Zerda is refreshing! The sandblasted, oxidized aluminium alloy shell is of solid build quality. The tail cable is very flexible and does not hold its shape. You get a long strain relief on the type c end and another one from the DAC/AMP body.



Usage :
I wish the Zerda came with a type C to type A adaptor to use with laptops/computers as the third party adaptors are tricky business when it comes to passing audio and having a seamless compatibility.
To the good news, these are driverless and is plug-n-play on my Windows 10 laptop.
Coming to the optical output of the Zerda which caught me by surprise, this enables the user to connect an external dac via a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (provided your dac/amp has a 3.5mm/SPDIF combo optical input) and the Zerda acts like a digital pass through. This is an uncommon feature in the dongle DAC world, can be useful for the right person.



Sound Impressions & Pairings :
The overall sound is warm and smooth with good balance from top to bottom of the spectrum. There is no emphasis on any part, although the top end is rolled off and smoothened out to be forgiving of harsh recordings and bright/edgy sounding IEMs. Ikko doesn't state the power output of the dongle but I have tried pairing efficient IEMs, a 120 ohm impedance Sennheiser HD560s and 300 ohm impedance Sennheiser HD600. While the Zerda had no problems driving my IEMs, it did not manage to drive the Sennheiser HD560s optimally and downright struggled to drive the HD600 which sounded sleepy and veiled. So I would recommend IEM usage exclusively with this dongle as the amp section of the dongle seems to be overwhelmed by high impedance loads. The pairing of the Zerda with upper midrange forward IEMs & Headphones to be the best. In my case the pairing with 560s was ideal as the 560s does indeed have boosted upper midrange, which the Zerda took care of. My only gripe with the sound is that there is a definitive lack in soundstage depth; the stage is flat in front of you.



Ikko Zerda vs Zorloo Ztella MQA :
Zorloo MQA has a more forward upper midrange. The Ztella has substantially deeper soundstage and also trumps the Zerda when it comes to instrument separation and layering. Ztella also dishes out more dynamics and bass impact with a more open top end. It is to be noted that the Ztella is not as forgiving in the upper midrange like the Zerda. Ztella MQA pumps out 2V when >=150 ohms and 1V otherwise. Ztella MQA has a big voltage swing and it drives high impedance loads better. It drove the HD560s and HD600 considerably better than the Zerda : more dynamics, more depth, better layering.



Conclusion:
The Zerda at 99 USD packs the cool feature of Optical Output and serves a smooth and relaxed sound which is fatigue free. With the right pairing, the combination will be commendable. But the competition in the Dongle DAC world is fierce, and the Zerda isn't leading the pack when it comes to sound quality.

Ikko is slowly and steadily becoming a mainstream brand. The iem’s that IKKO has launched have already left their impact in the respective price categories, be it the underrated OH1 or the much-appreciated OH10. Today, we have the Zerda ITM03 for review.

Disclaimer:

The Zerda ITM01 has been to me as a part of the review circle from HIFINAGE in exchange for my honest opinions. The following review has been based on my sensibilities and is subjective to my listening experience.

Specs:

• High quality build: Full Shielded design, highly sophisticated production process, Monster OCC Silver-Plated silicone fully wrapped cable, aluminum alloy sandblasted oxidized shell, Weighs only 12 grams
• High-quality performance: Cirrus Logic CS43198 flagship DAC chip, low power, and high performance, support up to 32 bits / 384KHz (optical digital output bit rate is 32 bits / 192KHz) and up to 128x native DSD PCM decoding capabilities. THD+N is well below 0.0015%, providing unparalleled high-fidelity sound quality, restoring the truest and cleanest sound quality, and enjoying the true sound quality
• Easy to use: Built-in adaptive drive, no need to manually install the driver, the connection can be used directly, with 16Ω-600Ω Impedance adaptive, 3.5mm Audio & 3.5mm fiber optic signal output two-in-one interface design, easy to adapt to a smartphone to professional audio equipment.
• Full system compatibility: (Type-c) compatible with Android/Windows/MacOSX System Smartphone Laptop, (Lightning) Compatible with iphone/ipad/ipod
• Parameter details: AC:Cirrus Logic CS43198,Fiber Optic Output:32Bit/192kHz，DSD:128, THD+N：＜0.0015%，FR：20Hz-40kHz，Impedance Adaptive:16Ω-600Ω

Tested On:

• Samsung Galaxy S10
• Laptop

Impressions:

Lows:

The Bass has enough quality and quantity to it. The decay is quick and depending on the gear used, you will feel sub-bass rumble as well.

Mids:

MIds have the natural tome to them and they have a good amount of extension. Timbre is more on the natural end. The details retrieval is also good.

Highs:

The treble extension has ample details without any peaks or harshness which ultimately caused fatigue.






Soundstage:

The soundstage is decent enough with respect to width but lacks depth. For laid-back tracks, the imaging is good enough, but it may sound cluttery enough for some of the busy tracks. But that is mostly nitpicking.

Final Thoughts:

For the price to performance ratio, Zerda ITM03 is a complete package. Some may compare it with the Lotoo Paw S1 but then the price difference is wide enough for that argument. If you have a tight budget then think no more and buy the Zerda by clicking here

IKKO Audio is mainly known for its IEMs mainly the OH series consisting of OH1, OH10, and the flagship from the brand OH7. I even recently reviewed both the OH1 and OH10, you can check them on Head-fi with my user name or you can check them out at my blog here. Recently I got to know they also manufacture some high-quality portable USB Type-C DAC/AMPs with the IKKO Zerda ITM03. So, Today I am gonna share my impressions of the same.



Disclaimer:-

I got the Zerda ITM03 through a review circle organized by Hifinage India. I am not affiliated with them. All thoughts in this review are based on my impressions of the device over the past few days. But as a kind gesture for including me in the review tour and letting me experience IKKO Audio Products, I am including the purchase link of Zerda ITM03 through Hifinage below.

https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio-portable-usb-amp-dac/products/ikko-itm03

Packaging & Accessories:-

Each and every IKKO product I have used to date(OH1, OH10, and now ITM03) has impressed me with its colorful, designer packaging. Both the OH1 and OH10 had anime-designed packaging and here the Zerda ITM03 also has colorful packaging. There are IKKO and Zerda branding logos with some technical info printed on the front of the package. On the back, we have an image of the ITM03 along with its key features and technical specification. Please refer to the images below for these.





When we pull out there’s a warranty card and just the ITM03 USB DAC/AMP. I am actually kind of disappointed here as they didn’t even include a Type-C to normal USB adapter in the package. This is kind of a bummer at least for me.

Package Contents:-

>ITM03 USB Type-C DAC AMP.

>Warranty Card.

Design & Build Quality:-

One thing I am sure of now, I would never be able to complain about IKKO’s build quality. I mean I tried their OH1 fantastic metallic build, I tried their OH10 even better copper build, and now the ITM03 again a well-finished, matte-finished metallic build. The color blue is something similar to the OH1, from pictures the ITM03 might look edgy but it has a smooth texture that feels really premium to touch. The cable here is completely shielded according to the brand it is an OCC silver-plated cable. It has a Type-C connector that is non-removable. IKKO Audio says it can also be used with iOS devices using a Lightning connector, I guess for that we will be needing a Lightning to Type-C connector of some sort. Also, there’s a glowing red light inside the 3.5mm headphone port as it also supports optical output.



In terms of build, as I stated above No Complaints at all. In fact, it is a very well-built device.

Driving Power, Pairings, & Sound Impressions:-

For the purpose of this review, I used the ITM03 with my smartphone Honor View 10 and my DAP Cayin N3 Pro. While it drastically improved the sound quality through my smartphone using it with N3 Pro is kind of useless and not necessary at all. So everything that I will be writing this review is mostly based on my usage of ITM03 with my smartphone.

While the Honor View 10 still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, it surely lacks power and dynamics for high-quality IEMs. When I tried my FiiO FD5 directly with the View 10 it was driven at adequate volume but lacked the openness and dynamics of the output. Using the ITM03 in the chain helped a lot even at like half the volume.



Since ITM03 is a source, sound impressions are mostly based on the transducer paired. So I will be including the sound impressions in this segment itself.

With FiiO FD5:-

FD5 is a highly sensitive pair. It never needs much volume though it will lack its dynamics and openness with bad sources such as a smartphone directly. And honestly, one won’t notice this unless he/she has used FD5 with better sources. With the ITM03 the FD5 is powered only at around half the volume. The pairing is quite natural and warm. There is no harshness, no fatiguing even after long listening sessions(pair FD5 to a bright source and you will understand what I am talking about here).



What’s better here with ITM03 is that the FD5 gets enough power to shine, open freely, and provide a clean, smooth, transparent output. I feel like it gets slightly colored, warmer than neutral. Vocals, mids sound airy and transparent, bass feels lacking a slight bit of punch here(I am used to using FD5 with my N3 Pro more). But overall if you ask me, the pairing is quite good and melodious.

With AudioSense T800:-

I recently got the T800 from a friend for auditioning, and man its intimacy is fantastic. About its pairing with the ITM03, it's again fantastic. It sounds musical, smooth, and engaging. I don’t find the pair lacking anything, again the pair is being driven at about half the volume at adequate listening levels for me.



Based on the above pairings, I find the ITM03 to have a warm and musical sound signature. It produces beautiful mids and great extensions at both ends. What it lacks is a slight bit of punch in the lower end that is evident in punchy IEMs such as the FD5. In terms of dynamics such as layering, Imaging, or soundstage, the ITM03 performs quite well for its price range. Overall I find the ITM03 output to be quite enjoyable and melodious. It can easily surpass some entry-level Hi-res players priced around its price segment.

As for the included Optical output, I don’t have optical-3.5mm cable and as I stated earlier IKKO hasn’t included much of accessories in the package. I honestly was not even able to use it at all.



Some Final Words:-

I personally have not used many DAC/AMPs. I actually don’t like using my smartphone for music, as I listen about 5-6 hours minimum every day, and using my smartphone is not my preferred mode of music. Since my childhood, I have used iPods, MP3 players, and now Hi-res players for the past few years. But using the ITM03 surely is an enjoyable experience. It allows one to enjoy hi-res music at the ease of their smartphones and to be honest also performs quite decently for its price. If you are looking to buy a portable USB DAC/AMP, the ITM03 is a smooth-sounding, melodious device that is well-built but misses on some basic accessories in the package.

IKKO Audio (IKKO Technology Co. Limited) is a relatively new Chinese brand that designs & develops Hi-Fi components like In-Ear Monitors, DAC/AMP. The IKKO Zerda ITM03 is a DAC/AMP Dongle with a pretty small form factor. For review I have received the USB-C variant of the dongle, but it is also available with Lightning connector. The body is made up of aluminium alloy sandblasted oxidized shell with monster OCC Silver-Plated silicone fully wrapped cable and weighs only 12 grams. Overall, it feels like a rugged product to hold. It offers 3.5mm audio as well as optical out.

The IKKO Zerda ITM03 features the CS43198 Chip featuring high impedance of 600 Ω, a 130 dBA dynamic range, a THD+N rating of -115 dB, and inter channel isolation of >110 dB and support sampling rates upto 384kHz and Native DSD x128. The Zerda ITM03 is compatible with operating systems like Android, Windows PC’s, MacOSX and iOS. It supports plug-and-play which means you doesn’t need to install any drivers.

As IKKO claims, Zerda ITM03 is a very powerful DAC/AMP for the size and has according to IKKO official specs a power rating of 1V – 32mW and can drive up to 600-ohm headphones. And to my surprise it did drove my Beyerdynamic T1Gen2 quite well. The background of the Zerda ITM03 is clean and dark thanks to the low THD+N of 0.0015.



Disclaimer:
I have received IKKO Zerda ITM03 as part of review circle from Hifinage in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range. During my testing I was not able to test optical out, so all the impressions are in perspective direct single-ended output of DAC/AMP. One can purchase same from the following link.

Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to LG V30+ and Vivo X50pro and tested on CatEar Mimi, Fiio FH3, T1 Gen2 and Focal Clear



Sound Impressions:
The IKKO Zerda ITM03 has a slightly warm. The sound signature of the Zerda ITM03 shows a slightly forward vocal and mids.

The mid bass has a punchy slam and slightly forward presentation but that too in a very controlled manner so that it doesn’t interfere with the lower mid spectrum. The mid bass is quite smooth and relaxing and warm tonality makes it quite musical. On the other hand, sub-bass rumble is average I would say in terms of extension and quantity.

The midrange is again slightly forward; it is transparent and has a hint of warmness in it. The male vocals sound fuller and same is the impact with the female vocals as well and warmer presentation adds quite a lot emotion to it. The clarity and detailing are also top notch as per price point of view. Talking about instruments, they feel quite airy and precise. There is a lush in whole mid-range.

Now coming towards the treble region, that I felt is toward neutralish side. Instruments like flutes, violins are having a lush and will say not bright at all with enough extension. Treble is not harsh or sibilant at any point of time and is suitable for a wide range of genres.

Last but not the least, talking about the soundstage, it has a wide stage that is suitable for a fairly precise separation of instruments and vocals although the depth has felt quite average.



Final Verdict:
IKKO Zerda ITM03 is definitely a good upgrade to the traditional sound driver of phone/tablet/pc and also quite versatile in terms of optical output that is one of its kind as per my knowledge for a dongle. The overall sound signature is warmish and musical with decent soundstage and imaging give a bit forward presentation with quite elegant and rugged looks and feel making it an interesting quite value for money gadget to have.

Disclaimer:
The Ikko Zerda ITM03 is a sample that was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion in this review, as part of a review tour organized by Hifinage. I thank the team at Ikko and Hifinage for giving me this opportunity.

Introduction:
Ikko is amongst the few Chinese OEM's that have shot to fame in a relatively short span of time due to their focus on great value for money products that cater to both the enthusiast and the audiophile crowd. They are renowned for their iems in general such as the Ikko OH1 and OH10 which have garnered rave reviews across the globe.

The ZERDA ITM03 being reviewed today, is a departure from the usual transducer offering from Ikko and forays into the source side of things, a portable one at that, without really breaking the bank. The ZERDA houses a Cirrus Logic sourced CS43198 DAC chip, which takes care of the analog conversion. Well, it doesn't quite end there.....not even close. The ZERDA boasts of doubling-up as a digital transport too, housing a Fiber Optic Digital Output, a rarity if not unique for a Dongle DAC. The Optical output is good for 32 bits / 192KHz and the ZERDA can otherwise shell out upto 128x native DSD PCM decoding capabilities.

Build Quality:
Considering the Zerda has an optical-out and optical output based cables are relatively very fragile and prone to damage due to the nature of the optical array setup, Ikko went all out to ensure that the ZERDA was over-engineered and made sturdy enough to handle the daily grind (at least on paper & touch and feel it does!). As per Ikko, the ZERDA is fully Shielded design and undergoes a highly sophisticated production process. Then there is the Monster OCC Silver-Plated silicone fully wrapped cable and the actual external housing apart from the cable is an aluminum alloy sandblasted oxidized shell which weighs only 12 grams. Overall, it works well in day-to-day use.



Test Rig:
LG G8X ThinQ, Dell Ultrabook and Marantz SR5014

Sonic Performance:
To it is straight, The ZERDA is a mixed bag if one is considering the quality of sound coming off the analog side of things, straight plugged into a phone or laptop. There is plenty of power on tap when required to power and scale most iems (barring the most power-hungry planar's). That said, although the ZERDA has a clean and clinical approach, it lacks a bit on timing and separation when the going gets tough. Depth and height seem equally constricted and this is highlighted even more when listening to iems like the Sennheiser IE800 or the Campfire Audio Andromeda which like to reach for the extremities way beyond your head. In the ZERDA's defense, the soundstage is not narrow or it in-your-head by any means. It's just that, with the IE800 / Andromeda, you start to see the boundaries of width and height being reached quite easily and the expanse is not infinite like it generally is with these iems. What's underwhelming is the depth which is quite shallow and feels almost flat-ish, alright when listening to low-fi to mid-fi iems, but not all that great when the transducer starts revealing these attributes.

On the flip side, not all that the ZERDA does is underwhelming. Take tonality for instance which is excellent with a hint of extra extension towards the top end which is always welcome. Midrange portrayal is amongst the best in class with a hint of warmth and lushness. Timbre is also very natural and add to that the midrange presentation and what you get is a very analog performance, unlike most dongle DAC's in this price range. Bass slam is done well, there's more mid-bass than sub-bass focus, but the bass is well articulated and textured, make it a hearty listen on the Sennheiser IE800's. Although I would have personally loved a bit more bass quantity, most non-bassheads will find the presentation to be very likable, balanced, slightly laid back yet fun, and sweet overall.



Comparisons:

1. VE Odessey HD (10$) : Before the knives come out, this might not be the best comparison here considering the disparity in price tag, but there are things which the VE Odessey does, which a lot of 100$ Dongle DAC's can't really get right. Bass performance and quantity for instance, is outright insane. Call me biased but the Odessey is basshead approved . The way the Odessey goes about its work is outright big and bold. Dynamic range and detailing isn't the best, infact there is considerable smearing of transients too and the tonality is a bit dark, but when the IE800 is paired with the Odessey, it sounds like listening to a really good pair of stereo speakers kept up front and close to the listener. Compare this to the ZERDA, you immediately notice the overall heft in the signature, the Odessey feels quicker but not necessarily refined or better separated, both of which the ZERDA does much better. Tonality is also a win for the ZERDA and so are the extensions. That said, the thing that the Odessey excels over the ZERDA is in soundstage depth and height, both of which are starkly better. This 3D presentation of the Odessey renders the overall sound to feel like having a bit more emotion, a bit more soul.

1. LG G8x ThinQ (300$) : Spare me one more time here (lol!) but from the point of being objective, the LG G8x houses the highly common and renowned ESS 9218p DAC which also happen to grace the internals of a lot of entry-level DAP's, DAC/AMP's, dongle DAC's and so on. It was the de facto choice for the entry-level audio gear for the last few years now and for good reason. Ofcourse not all devices with the same DAC chip sound the same, and it all depends on the implementation, however, some common traits stay as is which defines the underlying characteristics of the chip in general. Comparing the ESS chip with the Cirrus Logic one on the ZERDA, it's easy to say that both have contrasting approaches to how the sound is portrayed. The ZERDA sounds more pleasing and analog, decently detailed and well extended, has a lush midrange with a sweet tonality. The LG on the other hand sounds more analytical detailed has a mildly thinner presentation but one with immaculate separation and speed. In complex tracks and fast numbers, it's the LG that leaves the ZERDA behind in dust without breaking a sweat. Imaging is on par on both but the soundstage is slightly better portrayed on the LG thanks to the better depth and height projections. Midrange performance is a mixed bag depending on one's preferences. The LG is more detailed and textured, but that's at the cost of lushness and sweetness in tone. The ZERDA is the polar opposite, being smoother, more forgiving, and sweeter of the duo, although not forward sounding but has more analog sounding attributes to it than the LG. Bass is more impactful n the ZERDA whereas it's more controlled and layered on the LG. Overall, it's a toss-up, and based on one's preferences, the ZERDA suits better for a laid back and euphonic presentation whereas the LG sounds like a more technical performer, not to forget the ability to also churn of MQA as a bonus!

ikko Zerda ITM-03 USB-C DAC Review


Disclaimer:

Ikko Zarda USB-C DAC has been provided to me for review purposes by Hifinage, India. I am in no way related to them or work for them. All the sound evaluations provided me are subjective to my own listening and sources used. You can buy ikko Zerda USB-C DAC from Hifinage through the link given below for INR 7999.

https://hifinage.com/collections/ikko-audio-portable-usb-amp-dac/products/ikko-itm03

Introduction:

Ikko Zerda ITM03 is an USB-C DAC adaptor, which houses a single Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chip. It supports only Android phones till now. It has 3.5mm SE headphone output, which can also double up as digital output. It is made of sandblasted aluminum alloy in a very compact form. Its cable is made of OCC silver, shielded by a silicon layer. It looks and feels very polished. It is quite powerful.





Sound Impressions:

Gears Used: Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus-->Apple Music/Tidal MQA-->ikko Zerda ITM03-->JVC HA-FDX1 IEM.



Initial sound impressions were decent. It is quite powerful. My IEM, FDX1 needs good amounts of power, Zerda was able to drive it sufficiently.

Bass representation is quite good, with decent amounts of slam. It has got decent sub-bass rumble, making it an enjoyable listen. Bass decay is fast.

Mids are presented well with good clarity. Mids are neither forward nor recessed. Vocals sound sweet, with natural tonality. Upper mids have good extension. Detail retrieval capabilities are good. Timbre is quite good.

Treble has very good extensions, with decent amounts of detail. Cymbals sound natural. Instruments sound natural with good enough space between them. It doesn’t sound harsh or fatiguing.

Soundstage width is very good but it has got below average depth and height. Instrument separation and imaging capabilities are very good in slow songs/melodies. Where Zerda falters is that, whenever a busy/fast song is played, it becomes little congested with instrument separation and imaging taking a hit. It has no problems with slow paced songs or melodies. It is slightly unforgiving with poor recordings too.

Comparison:

Lotoo Paw S1:

Lotoo Paw S1 is an USB-C DAC offering from Lotoo, priced at INR 13,990. It is MQA certified and has two headphone outs, 3.5mm SE output and 4.4mm balanced output. I used only the 3.5mm SE output for the comparison part. Compared to Zerda, S1 sounds cleaner and more natural. It has better bass, in quality and quantity, cleaner mids, and sparkly treble. S1 has wider and deeper stage representation and better separation and imaging. Has better detail retrieval capabilities. Yes, S1 indeed costs almost double that of Zerda, and should sound so.

Verdict:

Ikko Zerda ITM03 USB-C DACAMP turned out to be a decent offering from ikko. It sounds good as long as you are limited to slow paced music and becomes little congested with anything other than that kind of music. It could have done better if it had better stage depth, separation, and imaging. Overall, it is a decent performer with few small niggles.

Introduction
The IKKO audio are relatively young Chinese company, they developed wider range of audio products, the OH1 & 10 hybrid IEMs are especially well known. After that, they start to release some audio products, like the DAC/AMP, USB DAC, cable and Bluetooth cable. Today I am checking out their DAC/AMP dongle, the Zerda ITM03, the price of it is $99USD




Disclaimer
I would like to thanks Watson from IKKO audio for given this opportunity, and the review will be based on my honest opinion through the music I listen to.


Package & Accessories
The ITM03 come with the small and compact box, there are the typical IKKO style illustration at the front cover with the brand name, model name and other information, whereas the specifications at the rear side of it. After remove the cover, the dongle are sited in the foam.






Accessories list:
1pcs x Zerda ITM03 DAC dongle


Design & Build
The design on Zerda ITM03 are fairly simple with compact sizes. The main body and lightning/Type-C connector part are in the aluminum shell with sandblasted oxidized finished in the blue color. On the main body there is the brand logo with the word “Zerda” located on top, while at the side of the main body there is the model name and the word “Made in China”. The wire connect the main bodies and connector are made by the OCC Silver-Plated material, and cover with the black rubber-ish material.





The build ITM03 are pretty good, it is rounded in well polished finished. The 3.5 mm jack and the connector part do not have any loose after I used for few weeks. The cable also has additional strain reliever to provide the better durability.






Driving power & connectivity & Hissing
The IKKO claims that Zerda ITM03 can drive up to 600Ω headphones, but unfortunately I do not own any of headphones that is 600Ω, but as far as I tried it can drive the Final audio E5000 & B1 fairy easily. The Zerda ITM03 don’t need any driver or app to be installed before using them. There are no background noise at all on ITM03.


Technical specification:
Digital Input: USB Type-C / Lighting
DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198
Output: 3.5mm Single Ended/Optical Out
THD+N: 0.0015%
DNR: 120 dB
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 KHz
Output Power: 1 V – 32mW
Fiber Optic Output: 32 bit/ 192kHz
Adaptive Impedance: 16Ω-600Ω
Weight: 12 grams


Images from IKKO Audio official webiste

Driving power & connectivity
The IKKO claims that Zerda ITM03 can drive up to 600Ω headphones, but unfortunately I do not own any of headphones that is 600Ω, but as far as I tried it can drive the Final audio E5000 & B1 fairy easily. The Zerda ITM03 don’t need any driver or app to be installed before using them.


Sound

Paring
I use both of the iPhone 11 and iPad mini 5 as the source to play my library through the Zerda ITM03 and connect to my IEMs.


Overall tonality
The ITM03 has mildly U shape with slightly warm and lush tonality. It has more bass punch and clarity, detail yet lush midrange with more emphasis on upper midrange, along with clear and better extended treble compare to my iPhone 11 and mini 5.

Bass
The bass are slightly warm, the sub bass has average extended and decay speed. The bass has above average punch and impact. It has good levels of detail and clarity. The bass are well controlled and impactful.

Mids
The midrange again has slightly warm tonality. The lower midrange has moderate amount of bodies and clear yet lush. The upper midrange are well emphasis. It has good amounts of transparency and bodies, It sound vividly with our harshness. The detail retrieval and clarity are really good.

Treble
The treble are extended well with slightly bright tuned, but never get fatiguing. The treble are smooth and well controlled. The upper treble has good amount of sparkle and airiness. It has average levels of crispness. The detail retrieval and clarity are above the average.

Soundstage and imaging
It has above average width, with average depth.
The imaging are decently done.


Comparison
Maktar Spectra X2 ($199USD)

Bass
The bass on X2 are more linear compare to ITM03, while the ITM03 provide more powerful bass with slightly more depth. The bass has more clarity and detail on X2, whereas the ITM03 has warmer and fuller tonality.

Mids
The midrange are cleaner on X2, fuller on ITM03. The X2 has more neutral timbre in comparison, while the ITM03 has more natural presentation. The midrange has higher transparency level and clarity on X2, while the both did the pretty good jobs in term of detail retrieval.

Treble
The treble are brighter and extended further on X2, both has similar tonality, but the ITM03 has more bodies, while he X2 are slightly clearer. The treble has more airiness and crisp on X2. The detail retrieval and clarity are slightly better on X2.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider on X2, with same levels of depth.
The imaging are pretty similar.




Conclusion
The IKKO Zerda ITM03 is well finish DAC dongle, it feel durable with high standard build quality. The output is powerful and stable. It offer the great sound for users who upgrade it from the phone. The sound is well done, it provide greater bass punch, detail midrange and smooth yet sparkly treble. Thank you for reading, HAPPY LISTENING!

IKKO audio official website: https://ikkoaudio.com/
IKKO Zerda ITM03 product page: https://ikkoaudio.com/product/ikko-zerda-itm03/