[Djinnenjous]

 
Ulmisch, I love you ! Really. Thank you.
 
I feel so stupid, especially after writing to ibasso for a replacement. 
 
 

You're not stupid.  It's pretty much expected that the headphone out will be at the top of a DAP (at least with the mainstream brands) and iBasso doesn't mail out any kind of manual with the DX90.  With three ports to choose from it's pretty easy to make that mistake.  Hell, I probably did it myself when I first got mine.  I know I plugged my auxiliary cable into the coaxial jack in my car in the beginning.  Yuck.

 

[trenino]

Thank you all. All is good now. Music to my ears. I think I will rediscover my favourite music.

 

[proedros]

i don't know if burn-in is real or just a mind-induced myth , so i simply trust what i am hearing

the dx90 seems to be improving , currently listening to a terrific vinyl rip of santana - III , this is one hell of a DAP for the money even with a mid-tier iem like RE-272 (retail rpice 200-250$)

cheers

 

[DrSheep]

They included that burn-in cable for a reason, but again, the DX90 SQ don't change that much after burn-in for me.

 

[headwhacker]

  No way is the AK100 near the DX90, IMO. the DX90 is more dynamic, more transparent and better bass. I use my DX90 for classical all the time and jazz, I have almost as large a library as classical which is around 1500 or 1600 albums. I would take the DX50 with the latest FW over the AK100 and I have both to compare. Soon I will have the AK100 II so to that I will compare, after the 100II is fully run in. 

 
I wouldn't trade my DX90 to an AK120 straight up even if the market value of AK120 is higher. I used to be set dead on to get an AK120 before. I had it compared to my then DX50+C5D stack using my JH16 and was disappointed.
 
 For very sensitive iems, AK120 does not have a black a background as DX90. It just feel a bit grainy on an AK120. Bass is loose and not as tight on AK120 compared to DX90.
 
AK120 is no match for DX90 if you look at the amp section alone. I can enjoy very sensitive iems all the way to full size cans. HE-400i sound as good driven directly by DX90 (mid gain) as it is driven by O2+ODAC and still have enough juice to spare. It can drive my T1 as well decently on low volume. (But still needs more voltage swing to drive it at loud levels) I doubt AK120 can do that. 
 
The only thing I can see AK120 holds advantage over DX90 is battery life. But then DX90's battery is swappable and I use a fat battery to extend the battery life.

 

[DrSheep]

Very true, as the gain from the DX90 is crazy.

 

[Djinnenjous]

  Thank you all. All is good now. Music to my ears. I think I will rediscover my favourite music.

This, for me, is what the DX90 is all about.  A/Bing my favorite songs from my iPod to the DX90 just about floored me from day one.  There are still occasions when I catch chills listening to Eric Clapton play "Third Degree" because of how pristine and elegant his guitar tones sound through iBasso's little monster.  What really sends it over the edge for me is the three-dimensional layering and instrumental separation.  I've never heard music like that in my life.  Hearing singers inhale between lines or faint chatter from folks in the studio at the end of a recording are just a nice bonus, really.

Have the time of your life with it!

 

[proedros]

has anyone paired the dx90 with the Noble 4 ? Impressions ?

 

[ADD-F2X]

I found this DAC HowTo at another forum: ( might help someone )

Driver:
http://www.ibasso.com/download/

Windows 32-bit:
1) Install the driver.
2) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
3) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

Windows Vista/7 64-bit:
1) Disable driver signature enforcement. ***
2) Install the driver.
3) The device will work now, but the drivers won't load across restarts.
4) Enable test mode. ***
5) Sign the driver. ***
6) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
7) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

Windows 8 64-bit:
1) Disable driver signature enforcement. ***
2) Install the driver.
3) The device will work now, but the drivers won't load across restarts.
4) Disable Secure Boot. ***
5) Enable test mode. ***
6) Sign the driver. ***
7) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
8) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

***
Signature Enforcement + Enable Test Mode + Sign Driver
http://thehotfix.net/forums/index.php?/topic/25436-how-to-load-and-run-unsigned-drivers-in-64-bit-windows-7/

Disable Secuer Boot :
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481258.aspx

FX

 

[ADD-F2X]

Another Geek here with his modded DX90 with some interference Blocking Pads !?

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/headphones-earphones-portable-media-devices-314/ibasso-dx90-dap-dual-sabre-dacs-4607009-38.html

FX

 

[jamato8]

I found this DAC HowTo at another forum: ( might help someone )

Driver:
http://www.ibasso.com/download/

Windows 32-bit:
1) Install the driver.
2) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
3) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

Windows Vista/7 64-bit:
1) Disable driver signature enforcement. ***
2) Install the driver.
3) The device will work now, but the drivers won't load across restarts.
4) Enable test mode. ***
5) Sign the driver. ***
6) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
7) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

Windows 8 64-bit:
1) Disable driver signature enforcement. ***
2) Install the driver.
3) The device will work now, but the drivers won't load across restarts.
4) Disable Secure Boot. ***
5) Enable test mode. ***
6) Sign the driver. ***
7) Select "DAC" mode under "USB Settings" inside the DX90's settings.
8) Connect your DX90 to your PC and select "iBasso Mango HiFi Audio Device" as the default audio device.

***
Signature Enforcement + Enable Test Mode + Sign Driver
http://thehotfix.net/forums/index.php?/topic/25436-how-to-load-and-run-unsigned-drivers-in-64-bit-windows-7/

Disable Secuer Boot :
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481258.aspx

FX

The latest dac driver has the signature so there is no reason to disable it. 

 

[ADD-F2X]

I agree Jamato,

but this HowTo worked for me without BSODs ( don't know how many out there are using the older drivers )

FX

 

[taz23]

Another Geek here with his modded DX90 with some interference Blocking Pads !?

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/headphones-earphones-portable-media-devices-314/ibasso-dx90-dap-dual-sabre-dacs-4607009-38.html

FX

Hmm...  will a MuMetal sheet like this (http://custommagneticshielding.magneticshield.com/category/mumetal-sheet-and-foil) have the same effect?

 

[ADD-F2X]

Hmm...  will a MuMetal sheet like this (http://custommagneticshielding.magneticshield.com/category/mumetal-sheet-and-foil) have the same effect?

Your MuMetal should be similar to the used 3M Pads : http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1318125.pdf
They absorb electromagnetics, too.

I'll give the 3M's a try, i saw them in other devices like USB HD's ontop of the cable connectors inside.

FX

 

[Lurker0]

 

Another Geek here with his modded DX90 with some interference Blocking Pads !?

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/headphones-earphones-portable-media-devices-314/ibasso-dx90-dap-dual-sabre-dacs-4607009-38.html

FX

Hmm...  will a MuMetal sheet like this (http://custommagneticshielding.magneticshield.com/category/mumetal-sheet-and-foil) have the same effect?

I believe, the key difference is that 3M AB5100S has high resistive surface and safe for applying.