Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[PhenixS1970]

Does the quality of a mobile source make much difference when used to feed the D16?

I bought my D16 for desktop use but have found myself using it in the evenings with a DAP as the source, particularly with my sensitive IEMs (VE10 and Solaris) as the D16 produces less hiss.

Would there be any advantage to using a better DAP than my ZX707 (ahem DX340?), or is the difference likely to be negligible since it is the D16 doing all the hard work in this scenario?

I think you get the best out of the D16 when you feed it with an optical source. That’s why I bought the DX180. It’s a great little DAP for on the go, not expensive…and has optical. So for more critical listening I use DX + D16.

 

[BJPromo]

I think you get the best out of the D16 when you feed it with an optical source. That’s why I bought the DX180. It’s a great little DAP for on the go, not expensive…and has optical. So for more critical listening I use DX + D16.

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I use coax for desktop but had forgotten that I can bypass USB even from a DAP... Forgotten despite all @Whitigir 's good advice in this thread!

OK, so taking like for like - let's say DX180 vs DX340 using optical - is there any advantage to using the better DAP as source for D16?

 

[Mungam]

I would use Coax instead of Optical. As it is a Battery Device you (usually) don't need an isolation between Source and DAC. And Coax is normally better than Optical.
There are some reviews out there, where they say that the source is not so important with Coax.
https://twister6.com/2024/02/28/ibasso-d16-taipan-dac-amp-and-pb5-osprey-portable-dual-nutube-amp/

 

[BJPromo]

I would use Coax instead of Optical. As it is a Battery Device you (usually) don't need an isolation between Source and DAC. And Coax is normally better than Optical.
There are some reviews out there, where they say that the source is not so important with Coax.
https://twister6.com/2024/02/28/ibasso-d16-taipan-dac-amp-and-pb5-osprey-portable-dual-nutube-amp/

Thank you - I might pick up a DX180 at some point to try it out, though DX340 is pretty reasonable used so maybe I'll just go all in

 

[PhenixS1970]

I would use Coax instead of Optical. As it is a Battery Device you (usually) don't need an isolation between Source and DAC. And Coax is normally better than Optical.
There are some reviews out there, where they say that the source is not so important with Coax.
https://twister6.com/2024/02/28/ibasso-d16-taipan-dac-amp-and-pb5-osprey-portable-dual-nutube-amp/

You are right . Fluke on my end as I use digital coax too, sorry.

 

[Whitigir]

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I use coax for desktop but had forgotten that I can bypass USB even from a DAP... Forgotten despite all @Whitigir 's good advice in this thread!

OK, so taking like for like - let's say DX180 vs DX340 using optical - is there any advantage to using the better DAP as source for D16?

Using Coax, the mobile sources still matters but very negligible differences. Unless you are taken every steps along the way to improve or extracts all performances such as

1/ buying a good microSD, Micron industrial, Swissbit industrial, Edge, Exceria...or others ?

2/ optimizing the DAP in firmware/OS side

3/ only using offline collections

4/ having a great cables for Coax such as Flat pure copper or silver

5/ using Deoxit on contacts

Even with all of those steps, the differenfes between DAP as a Source for Coax is very negligible. Enough for me to careless about it. For example, I rather be using different MicroSD card and Deoxit layers rather than caring about Coax DAP as a source.

 

[Daniel59]

Does the quality of a mobile source make much difference when used to feed the D16?

I bought my D16 for desktop use but have found myself using it in the evenings with a DAP as the source, particularly with my sensitive IEMs (VE10 and Solaris) as the D16 produces less hiss.

Would there be any advantage to using a better DAP than my ZX707 (ahem DX340?), or is the difference likely to be negligible since it is the D16 doing all the hard work in this scenario?

You didn’t specify whether you are streaming Hi Res audio from your DAP or have your audio stored on micro SD cards because if it’s the former, that would actually affect the quality of your audio the most. Just last night, I was offered a free 90 day trial to use Amazon Music as my hires streaming service. I have been using Apple Music for streaming, and have been using this streaming app/audio database for all my music listening. Audio Streaming apps are fantastic for being able to discover new music without having to purchase your own copies of audio, but the disadvantage is that you’re at the mercy of the quality of that streaming app’s music sources.
For instance, going back to my 90 day free streaming trial on Amazon music, I decided to stream a favorite guitar instrumental album I have been listening to for the past week (thanks to Apple Music for suggesting this album to me based on my previous acoustic guitar genre listening). This particular album was stored in Apple Music database as a 16-bit, 44kHz lossless album. I was excited to see that on Amazon Music app, that same album had been resampled to 24 bit, 192kHz lossless. My initial thought process had me thinking I was going to be listening to a “better”, higher definition audio rendition of this album to what I have been listening to on Apple Music. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The 24 bit, 192kHz album was way inferior to the 16bit, 44kHz version, and it was far from subtle……and I believe it’s these types of differences (whether you stream music often and on what streaming apps) that will make the biggest impact on your audio quality.

 

[sofastreamer]

Does the quality of a mobile source make much difference when used to feed the D16?

I bought my D16 for desktop use but have found myself using it in the evenings with a DAP as the source, particularly with my sensitive IEMs (VE10 and Solaris) as the D16 produces less hiss.

Would there be any advantage to using a better DAP than my ZX707 (ahem DX340?), or is the difference likely to be negligible since it is the D16 doing all the hard work in this scenario?

best thing would be to try yourself. if you have a chance to compare a higher and dap to yours.

my 2 cents: a transport shouldnt play an audible role in such setup, as its just reading and sending the ones and zeros to the next device. a zero is always a zero and a one is a one. but im sure there will be people telling that it indeed will make a difference. people on this forum also have the ability to hear differences between sd cards, so who am i, just trusting physics?...if you are into esotherics, snake oil, astrology, homeopathy, Qanon, UFOs or any of the likes, you might want take a look into the watercooler thread tho

Dx340 is actually on par to D16 but as an all in one device. Just with different signature

someone in the 340 thread told me, the amp in the d16 is more sophisticated.
twister6 wrote in his review:
"DX340/amp15 soundstage is pretty wide but in a natural way, while it felt like D16 was stretching a little wider, giving you a more 3D holographic positioning of sounds."

 

[Whitigir]

best thing would be to try yourself. if you have a chance to compare a higher and dap to yours.

my 2 cents: a transport shouldnt play an audible role in such setup, as its just reading and sending the ones and zeros to the next device. a zero is always a zero and a one is a one. but im sure there will be people telling that it indeed will make a difference. people on this forum also have the ability to hear differences between sd cards, so who am i, just trusting physics?...if you are into esotherics, snake oil, astrology, homeopathy, Qanon, UFOs or any of the likes, you might want take a look into the watercooler thread tho


someone in the 340 thread told me, the amp in the d16 is more sophisticated.
twister6 wrote in his review:
"DX340/amp15 soundstage is pretty wide but in a natural way, while it felt like D16 was stretching a little wider, giving you a more 3D holographic positioning of sounds."

Yeah, when I said on par, I meant the DAC parts. The dx340 amp is changable, the D16 is not.

 

[BJPromo]

Thanks for all the responses, very helpful.

Noting the coax proviso, if DAP source is negligible in comparison even with SD card then that's reassurance enough for me! Will probably pick up a DX340 at some point, all of @Whitigir 's bomb shelter pics have got me in the mood. If the background is as black as the D16 then I can probably just use the DX340 instead with my VE10s in the evening and keep the D16 for my desktop use

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

And that is why pairing D16 with an additional amp will further elevate sonic performances such as PB5

if you add the price of PB5 and D16 you get a completely unreasonable price

 

[BJPromo]

if you add the price of PB5 and D16 you get a completely unreasonable price

Idk I think it's comparable to other high-end portable DAC/amp stacks. I doubt I'll get a PB5 as it overlaps too much with my C9, there's certainly a lot of praise for the pairing though and not just in this thread

 

[icnaiwhimor1975]

Idk I think it's comparable to other high-end portable DAC/amp stacks. I doubt I'll get a PB5 as it overlaps too much with my C9, there's certainly a lot of praise for the pairing though and not just in this thread

I'm surprised no one has bought my D16

 

[BJPromo]

I'm surprised no one has bought my D16 for $899 yet

Well plugged me too though, that's a good price.

 

[chickenmcnug]

I'm surprised no one has bought my D16 for $899 yet

Well plugged indeed, sent you a PM lmao.