Until about 5 months ago, I was using an AR-M2 as my portable music player. I acquired it about 2 years ago to replace a Fiio X5. My problem with the X5 was the analog amp simply didn't have enough power to deliver strong and well controlled bass. When paired with an external amp, the sound was great, but I got tired of carrying and charging two separate pieces. The AR-M2 solved this problem as it has a very strong analog amp and did not need any external support. In fact, the sound overall was great. However, the user interface was problematic and I got tired of waiting 2 years for a firmware update. Of course, shortly after I bought the DX200, AR finally did provide a much improved UI and updated firmware. Now my wife is enjoying the AR.
In any case, I was very excited to get the DX200 given the strong firmware support from ibasso and Lurker. I was a bit disappointed by the sound from AMP1. It felt like a bit of a throwback to the Fiio in that the bass was not strong and well controlled. Now that I have AMP5, the problems are solved. With AMP5, I think the DX200 sounds just as good as the AR-M2 while providing a better UI and greater compatibility with various micro-SD cards (the AR was a bit finicky).
Note that I do almost all my listening with Sony XBA-Z5 IEMs.
I did not want to go to a balanced set up as I use the Z5 for listening to movies on planes and switching cables or fiddling with adapters every time I want to switch from DAP to airplane and back is too much hassle.
In short, I think AMP5 is a big improvement over AMP1 and likely will satisfy unless your phones are particularly difficult to drive.
Hi, thank you.
From my research I felt amp5 was the way to go, also as i don't yet have a balanced cable.
Although I do enjoy analytical listening from time to time I mainly just enjoy/relax, the described character of amp5 was what was needed if accurate.
My headphones, Focal Clear, are not hard to drive, easier in fact, than the Elear or Eutopia which aren't that hard to begin with.
These headphones will show up any failings on part of the DAP, mind you, so it will have to be as good as the Mojo or at least have a signature that greatly appeals to me.
My IEM's are Audiofly AF180, they are great out the Mojo too, I prefer them to Shure SE535, easy enough to drive.
There's only a handful of tracks that I really like to turn up on so amp5 should be adequate with plenty headroom.
Amp1 should be interesting, I can get an adapter for the balanced XLR cable that comes with the Focal Clear, that cables too long at 3m for portable use though. I may get a shorter 4.4 balanced later on to try the amp4.
It will be nice not to have to muck about with Mojo/poly and don't think it will stream Qobuz with the "Go figure" Poly app when it eventually arrives, not sure on that though, I could be wrong. Pretty sure it won't play offline Qobuz though, which I presume Android / DX200 will?
Regarding "burn in" .... Who am I to argue with iBasso. They supply the cable so they must believe.
I remember years ago we used to burn in our Ham Radios, (not talking valve, they certiamly did need it) the character of the transmitted and received audio did change, but as I said that was many moons ago.
If pink/white noise is best are the files readily available ?? ... I presume they are just looped? A mix of pink then white then pink and so on?
Never done this before, just played music burning in my headphones. .... The Focal Clear did benefit I'm sure.
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