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DX240 DAP. DAC ES9038PRO - NEW: AMP8MK2S .****** NEW Firmware! 2.01 *******

Mar 16, 2023 at 3:32 PM Post #2,401 of 2,879
wizzman121 said:
LOL, mine just arrived too. I am documenting this here so I do not mix them up since like you said as the new "2S" is not marked any different than the "2". Time to go plug it in!

PXL_20230316_192430299.jpg
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Just a heads up... LOL.. you've got the amp 8s labeled backwards 🤣

The middle one is MK2S.

f63d2c6aab85ef7801779720d6e2d4ab.png
 
Mar 16, 2023 at 3:35 PM Post #2,402 of 2,879
LOL- let me fix that image
 
Mar 16, 2023 at 4:25 PM Post #2,403 of 2,879
The AMP8 MK2S just arrived. I purchased this directly from iBasso and it arrived in a week. This was a total blind buy- not even any insight from iBasso on its sound signature. I haven't even done any direct A-B comparisons because I am enjoying it so much. My way too early impression is that it kind of takes the best of the AMP8 MK2 and AMP1 MK3 resulting in just a wonderful balanced sound. A few initial observations:
  • It has slightly less bass than AMP8 MK2 (Which I find can be a tad bloomy sometimes) but far superior quality.
  • It has the balance of the AMP1 MK3 (which I slightly preferred over the AMP8 MK2) but it is so much more dynamic.
  • It has superior imaging than the other two amps- each sound has a much more defined spot.
  • Increased air and treble extension in the sound- Superior sense of space but not in an artificial way.
  • The best part of all is the balance is so good you can crank up the volume and there are no annoying peaks anywhere.
  • This still has the energetic iBasso sound but I find it just much more refined and balanced- I will call it a very dynamic and three-dimensional reference-sounding amp.
The sound may evolve a little as it burns in but I am really blown away at the noticeable improvement over both the AMP8 MK2 and AMP1 MK3. Go get one if you have a DX240!
 
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Mar 16, 2023 at 4:41 PM Post #2,404 of 2,879
wizzman121 said:
The AMP8 MK2S just arrived. I purchased this directly from iBasso and it arrived in a week. This was a total blind buy- not even any insight from iBasso on its sound signature. I haven't even done any direct A-B comparisons because I am enjoying it so much. My way too early impression is that it kind of takes the best of the AMP8 MK2 and AMP1 MK3 resulting in just a wonderful balanced sound. A few initial observations:
  • It has slightly less bass than AMP8 MK2 (Which I find can be a tad bloomy sometimes) but far superior quality.
  • It has the balance of the AMP1 MK3 (which I slightly preferred over the AMP8 MK2) but it is so much more dynamic.
  • It has superior imaging than the other two amps- each sound has a much more defined spot.
  • Increased air and treble extension in the sound- Superior sense of space but not in an artificial way.
  • The best part of all is the balance is so good you can crank up the volume and there are no annoying peaks anywhere.
  • This still has the energetic iBasso sound but I find it just much more refined and balanced- I will call it a very dynamic and three-dimensional reference-sounding amp.
The sound may evolve a little as it burns in but I am really blown away at the noticeable improvement over both the AMP8 MK2 and AMP1 MK3. Go get one if you have a DX240!
Click to expand...
Do you find the note weight is the same as the older Amp8 Mk 2? Aside from the tonal balance, going from Amp1 Mk3 to Amp8 Mk2 the biggest difference I found was the note weight felt fuller/heavier and this brought the sound closer to the presentation of the 320. If Amp8 Mk2s retains those qualities but improves technicalities, it should be a home run!
 
Mar 16, 2023 at 4:45 PM Post #2,405 of 2,879
dumpsterfire said:
Do you find the note weight is the same as the older Amp8 Mk 2? Aside from the tonal balance, going from Amp1 Mk3 to Amp8 Mk2 the biggest difference I found was the note weight felt fuller/heavier and this brought the sound closer to the presentation of the 320. If Amp8 Mk2s retains those qualities but improves technicalities, it should be a home run!
Click to expand...
I can try and post some more specific impressions when I find time to A-B-C them but yes, the new AMP8 MK2S has excellent note weight but without the bloom and slight v-shaped sound of the AMP8 MK2. It is a very full sound but with superior clarity.
 
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Mar 16, 2023 at 4:48 PM Post #2,406 of 2,879
wizzman121 said:
I can try and post some more specific impressions when I find time to A-B-C them but yes, the new AMP8 MK2S has excellent note weight but without the bloom and slight v-shaped sound of the AMP MK2. It is a very full sound but with superior clarity.
Click to expand...

This is how I am hearing it also. It’s fuller than 8MK2 with a better balance across FR whereas MK2 feels like almost a U shape in comparison with a bit more of a bass and treble boost. I’m really liking this MK2S so far. The mid range comes off as more organic to me also, with 8mk2 there’s a bit of a digital glare going on in comparison. Very early stages still obviously, but given I’m about an hour in only.. I’m impressed. Can’t wait to see how it matures.
 
Mar 16, 2023 at 5:02 PM Post #2,407 of 2,879
Fantastic! Mine is expected for delivery tomorrow.
 
Mar 17, 2023 at 1:53 AM Post #2,408 of 2,879
Anyone else having this issue with Neutron? If I change the oversampling settings the sample rate readout at the top goes to 44.1 no matter what I have it set to in Neutron. And even if I turn oversampling off, it seems stuck at 44.1. If I play a song in Mango it goes to the correct sample rate, then reverts back to 44.1 on Neutron. Even a restart doesn’t seem to fix this.

Playing with it further, I can get it to change sample rate if oversampling is on, but it stays at 44.1 if oversampling is off no matter what the actual sample rate of the original file is.
 
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Mar 18, 2023 at 1:12 PM Post #2,409 of 2,879
dumpsterfire said:
Fantastic! Mine is expected for delivery tomorrow.
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Don't forget to give your impressions. I still thinking is it worth to get this amp as alternative to 8ex. From early comments of better clarity and more linear bass compared to mk2 it sound like ex version of first amp8. So not sure. If not having ex it (8mk 2s) could be best upgrade from amp1
 
Mar 19, 2023 at 7:46 PM Post #2,411 of 2,879
ExpatinJapan said:
Also interesting is to see comparisons between iBasso limited edition amp3mod and amp8mk2s

The internals look similar


Amp3mod (by iBasso)
14CFB66D-A6CF-49AE-AF2D-A51C54A27935.jpeg

Amp8mk2s
40FC4037-EAB5-4AA2-A873-4259215A5284.jpeg


816B3455-7F16-45D6-A21B-D3355D84F806.jpeg
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this is interesting, have you compared them? soundwise?
 
Mar 19, 2023 at 8:24 PM Post #2,412 of 2,879
I have had AMP8MK2S for a couple of days, it is extremely, extremely good.
 
Mar 19, 2023 at 11:42 PM Post #2,413 of 2,879
Was going to sell my DX240 with amp 8EX in favor of the ZX707. Now, I will have to keep it and buy the Amp8MK2S. This hobby and madness is never ending!
 
Mar 19, 2023 at 11:49 PM Post #2,414 of 2,879
purk said:
Was going to sell my DX240 with amp 8EX in favor of the ZX707. Now, I will have to keep it and buy the Amp8MK2S. This hobby and madness is never ending!
Click to expand...
You have to hear MK2S.
 
Mar 20, 2023 at 12:00 AM Post #2,415 of 2,879
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