Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[twister6]

OK I'm one step closer to iBasso DAP to D16 via coax bliss. Now just need a good coax cable (had foolishly assumed that the coax cable that comes with the DAP is 3.5mm to 3.5mm).

Anyone have any recommendations, or can ID the cable in Twister6's photo?

Edit: scratch that! Just remembered that the D16 comes with at least one of these. (I think - my box is in the office so I can't check till tomorrow.) Upgrade recommendations still welcome

are there any upgrade coax cables you can use? I'm sure you can find and pay arm'n'leg for it, especially if it uses thicker gauge and fancy shielding But, do you really need it here? As long as wires/conductors are good quality and have a proper isolation and shielding for digital transmission, you will be OK with stock one.

 

[BJPromo]

are there any upgrade coax cables you can use? I'm sure you can find and pay arm'n'leg for it, especially if it uses thicker gauge and fancy shielding But, do you really need it here? As long as wires/conductors are good quality and have a proper isolation and shielding for digital transmission, you will be OK with stock one.

Music to my ears!

I got there in the end. Goddamn you guys weren't kidding, the D16 sounds absolutely beautiful fed by coax. It's the best I've got these IEMs to sound so far with any gear...

 

[matze76287]

Hi, I would like to test the D16 at short notice and obtain a suitable digital coax cable in advance for connecting the Hifiberry Digi2 Pro to the D16 via S/PDIF. The Digi2 Pro has a coaxial S/PDIF RCA output:

I therefore need a cable with S/PDIF RCA to 3.5mm coax. A first web search for “S/PDIF RCA to 3.5mm coax jack” brought up 2-pin, 3-pin and 4-pin results for the D16 side:

Which of these is correct for connecting the D16 to the Digi2 Pro via S/PDIF? I have seen in reviews that the supplied 3.5mm cables are only 2-pin ... Or will they all work for a S/PDIF connection, e.g. because only the first pin is used?!

And another (related) question: I can't find any manuals for the D16 anywhere. Are they available online? Or only printed with the D16? I always like to get an overview with the manual before I buy. Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

[artkillen]

Hi, I would like to test the D16 at short notice and obtain a suitable digital coax cable in advance for connecting the Hifiberry Digi2 Pro to the D16 via S/PDIF. The Digi2 Pro has a coaxial S/PDIF RCA output:

I therefore need a cable with S/PDIF RCA to 3.5mm coax. A first web search for “S/PDIF RCA to 3.5mm coax jack” brought up 2-pin, 3-pin and 4-pin results for the D16 side:

Which of these is correct for connecting the D16 to the Digi2 Pro via S/PDIF? I have seen in reviews that the supplied 3.5mm cables are only 2-pin ... Or will they all work for a S/PDIF connection, e.g. because only the first pin is used?!

And another (related) question: I can't find any manuals for the D16 anywhere. Are they available online? Or only printed with the D16? I always like to get an overview with the manual before I buy. Many thanks in advance for your help.

I use an Audioquest Golden Gate stereo 3.5mm to dual RCA cable. The left (white) RCA channel can be connected to the coax out of your DAC/streamer/whatever and it works. Sounds a littler cleaner than the stock braided coax cable, if you believe in such things, but the stock cable is no slouch.

You could also use an RCA to 3.5 female adapter on the supplied coax cables.

 

[PhenixS1970]

Looking for some advice. Would like to connect my Astell & Kern CA1000T which has a 3.5 optical out to the D16. Any recommendation for a suitable short cable?

 

[Daniel59]

Looking for some advice. Would like to connect my Astell & Kern CA1000T which has a 3.5 optical out to the D16. Any recommendation for a suitable short cable?

I’ve never used my D16 optical input, but it seems fairly straightforward to purchase any mini-Toslink cable of your choice/length, then buy a 3.5mm mini Toslink adapter to covert one end of your Toslink cable to 3.5 mm (giving you 3.5 mm on both ends).

 

[PhenixS1970]

I’ve never used my D16 optical input, but it seems fairly straightforward to purchase any mini-Toslink cable of your choice/length, then buy a 3.5mm mini Toslink adapter to covert one end of your Toslink cable to 3.5 mm (giving you 3.5 mm on both ends).

Thank you Daniel59, so mini-Toslink is the way to go .

 

[chriseu]

My mola mola tambaqui dac i use with my 2 channel home stereo system consisting of vinnie rossi L2 preamp and L2 mono block amps,used with my palmer turntable and Gamut rs2i speakers. I also use my tambaqui(alternate) with my auris nirvana IV headphone amp
For my solid state desktop amps in my stable,i use niimbus us5 pro and enleum amp-23r with my Totaldac D1direct r2r dac…
My headphone stable consists of susvara og,diana tc,diana dz,dan clark expanse,zmf verite closed and final audio d7000.
With my portable rig, i use the ibasso tripple stack of dx260 coax out to d16 dac/amp to pb5 nutube amp. I also alternate the pb5 with my portable enleum amp-23rm(when i use final d7000) a synergy i really love…
For transportability,especially while travelling,my go to rig is the dx260/d16/pb5 with abyss dz and superconductor upgrade cables.
And yes,the superconductor cables make a huge difference in soundstage width and depth and overall sq with this setup….
So,to compare d16 and tambaqui “hmmmm” both are really great! But it really “ALWAYS” comes down to synergy between what’s connected to them…
For my stuff,my total dac r2r dac goes really well with my solid state amps and the tambaqui goes great with tube gear.
Hands down,the d16 portable dac/amp is the best portable dac i have ever heard and own.
I have used in the past, chord mojo,mojo2,hugo,hugo2 (dacs)with all my portable amps, and d16 to my ears is much much better!
How so?
all the chord portables sound sterile and non-musical to my ears! Yes,they are very technical sounding and analytical,but very digital sounding…
D16 does not sound like a portable, if i had to describe it,id say its a cross breed between the best that r2r dacs offer and the best that delta sigma dacs offer(in sound signature) yes,the best of both worlds,a wonderfull heavenly blend.
Ibasso,sure knows how to thread the needle here.
D16 is musical,detailed,large soundstage,transparent,great mids,deep punchy bass,and most important to me,organic and natural sounding
When,i listen to it,i hear only music,not the player..
Tambaqui is similar to d16,in that its very analog sounding,but tambaqui is a dryer type sound,while being analog like(thats why it matches so well with tube gear)
The thing that really sticks out to me with tambaqui,is its extremely well implemented switch mode power supply!
This dac is the FASTEST dac i have ever heard!
After going thru many slow r2r dacs in my 2 channel home stereo system,the tambaqui woke up my stereo,like no others have.
The synergy is just perfect.
Synergy is everything in audio….

Have you hooked up the D16 to your desktop Enleum-23R? I wonder if that produces good synergy. I have an LCD-5 and thinking about trying this chain. Actually, both the D16 and the desktop Enleum are pretty lightweight, so could also just take it with you on some extended vacations.

 

[Death_Block]

D16 is very light, looks are deceiving. But as @Whitigir mentioned, it’s mostly empty lol

Appreciation edit:
Laying in bed, nothing around, no tv, no kids, no noisy neighbours, well fed, clothes in the washing machine, housework done, all prepped for work, chilling on the bed with your headphones and the D16 fully charged going through your favourite songs.
What pleasant music to enjoy while horizontal in ya jocks.

 

[BJPromo]

D16 is very light, looks are deceiving. But as @Whitigir mentioned, it’s mostly empty lol

Appreciation edit:
Laying in bed, nothing around, no tv, no kids, no noisy neighbours, well fed, clothes in the washing machine, housework done, all prepped for work, chilling on the bed with your headphones and the D16 fully charged going through your favourite songs.
What pleasant music to enjoy while horizontal in ya jocks.

It's a miraculous device. What I can't get over is the absolute blackest of black backgrounds with the most sensitive IEMs. I can't listen to my VE10s with anything else now I'm used to the D16.

 

[Death_Block]

As someone agreeing, yes it’s pitch black. I’ve not yet to listen to any iems with the D16 yet. Strange I know, I’ve had it for yonks. But I’ve never needed to. It has substantial amounts of good power for the headphones I’ve used it for. So much so that after going heavier into desktop gear, you can’t simply not sit down and tap your foot without needing more musical prowess than this while taking the bins out, or cooking, or vacuuming, or washing the car (just no fuel stop car wash moments), or just a poo, it’s just with you all the time, because you want it to be.

 

[PhenixS1970]

It’s my favourite dac/amp to listen to Traillii JP .

 

[Whitigir]

The D16 is the best DAC in portable device that I have had and still loving every minute of it

 

[pwaustin]

Question regarding how the D16 works: does the source make a difference in sound if connecting via SPIF? For example, since the signal is being processed by the D16, would the dx180->D16 provide the same sound as dx340->D16?

 

[LWR999]

The D16 is the best DAC in portable device that I have had and still loving every minute of it

It would be perfect if it was also a Roon end point over Wifi!
(but I realise the more you add sometimes the more you can end up taking away)

Speaking of which, does anyone know of something super small that acts as a Roon end point with the D16? Doesn't need a screen. Just needs to be super portable