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/
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/