Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

Jul 23, 2024 at 12:26 PM Post #586 of 1,678
Question, would the Taipan work well connected to the cheap Hiby M300 DAP? That DAP performs okay on its own but a Taipan connected, would that work as good, or does it need a better source like ibasso DX260 to connect to?

I ask because smartphones have a noise floor, the M300 doesn't, the signal is transparent so maybe a viable option?

Or no?
 
Jul 23, 2024 at 12:34 PM Post #587 of 1,678
Question, would the Taipan work well connected to the cheap Hiby M300 DAP? That DAP performs okay on its own but a Taipan connected, would that work as good, or does it need a better source like ibasso DX260 to connect to?

I ask because smartphones have a noise floor, the M300 doesn't, the signal is transparent so maybe a viable option?

Or no?
Am happily using my IPhone as a source.
I don't see a reason why some cheaper DAP with USB-C connection shouldn't work fine.
 
Jul 23, 2024 at 1:14 PM Post #589 of 1,678
Question, would the Taipan work well connected to the cheap Hiby M300 DAP? That DAP performs okay on its own but a Taipan connected, would that work as good, or does it need a better source like ibasso DX260 to connect to?

I ask because smartphones have a noise floor, the M300 doesn't, the signal is transparent so maybe a viable option?

Or no?
As FooFighter has indicated, it works well with a lot of sources. Give it a good digital feed and that is all it needs.

Having now compared the D16 to some of the top DAC (desktop) on the market, it is right there in performance. The leading edge of attach is very fast with a good decay. Full sounding, transparent, it is nuts what it can do in such a small package.
 
Jul 30, 2024 at 8:28 AM Post #590 of 1,678
Thinking more about this and extension of my previous posts. I was saving up to buy the DX320MAX (£2999), but I was thinking maybe a better option for me as an IEM user only is to buy the D16 Taipan (£1399) with the DX260 (£849) and save the £750 odd.

DX260, better than looking at the M300, perhaps to use solely as the source for the Taipan?

What do you think?
 
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Jul 30, 2024 at 8:34 AM Post #591 of 1,678
Thinking more about this and extension of my previous posts. I was saving up to buy the DX320MAX (£2999), but I was thinking maybe a better option for me as an IEM user only is to buy the D16 Taipan (£1399) with the DX260 (£849) and save the £750 odd.

DX260, better than looking at the M300, perhaps to use solely as the source for the Taipan?

What do you think?
As pure digital source I recommend the cheaper new DX180
 
Jul 30, 2024 at 9:06 AM Post #593 of 1,678
Thank you.

So using the DX180, I won't be missing anything if using a DX260 as source? Reason I ask it many are saying the DX260 with that chipset and design is the best for source in terms of DAPs under £1000. Or is that notion incorrect?
Just use DX180 coax digital out to D16 Taipan. You won't miss out as coax out, it bypass the DAC of DX180 all the decoding are done by D16.
 
Aug 2, 2024 at 7:12 AM Post #594 of 1,678
The difference will be subtle like always with different DACs. And the XD05 has more output power than the D26. 2000mw @32ohms for the XD vs. 1125 with the D16
hello from munich! i have the xd05pro and find its soundstage in stock with the ess is very cramped in all dimensions, but specially in depth, which is even more pronounced by the very little layering qualities. Thinking of exchange it with the D16 as everyone keeps telling me it has the most holographic soundstage, which i am looking for.
If the difference would only be subtle, it would be extremely disapointing. I use the Fiio K11 R2R dac with the amp of the Xduoo and to me its already a huge step up in soundstage depth compared to the ESS xduoo card.
 
Aug 2, 2024 at 7:29 AM Post #595 of 1,678
hello from munich! i have the xd05pro and find its soundstage in stock with the ess is very cramped in all dimensions, but specially in depth, which is even more pronounced by the very little layering qualities. Thinking of exchange it with the D16 as everyone keeps telling me it has the most holographic soundstage, which i am looking for.
If the difference would only be subtle, it would be extremely disapointing. I use the Fiio K11 R2R dac with the amp of the Xduoo and to me its already a huge step up in soundstage depth compared to the ESS xduoo card.
Xduoo XD05 Pro don't have 3D holographic soundstage like those Ibasso.
Ibasso (that I myself owned and tested DX260, DX300Max Ti, D16 Taipan) have that kind of 3D holographic soundstage.
If you into those kind of holographic soundstage, you won't go wrong with those products that I mentioned.
 
Aug 2, 2024 at 10:27 AM Post #596 of 1,678
Can you explain what you mean with "3D holographic soundstage"?
The soundstage changed significantly coming from the Fiio M11 Pro (AKM + THX AAA)
The Fiio has already a sphere(?) like soundstage but it is very wild & unsorted and therefore at times very fatiguing.
The Ibasso on the other hand has a kind of a massive wall to me. Huge in width and height and also good depth giving it an out of head feeling.
What stood especially out to me is that the soundstage is beautiful sorted and objects feel very organic and live like giving it a nice fluidity.
 
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Aug 2, 2024 at 11:26 AM Post #597 of 1,678
Can you explain what you mean with "3D holographic soundstage"?
The soundstage changed significantly coming from the Fiio M11 Pro (AKM + THX AAA)
The Fiio had already a sphere(?) like soundstage but it was very wild & unsorted and therefore at times very fatiguing.
The Ibasso on the other hand has a kind of a massive wall to me. Huge in width and height and also good depth giving it a out of head feeling.
What stood especially out to me is that the soundstage is beautiful sorted and objects feel very organic and live like giving it a nice fluidity.
It's like what you had described!
 
Aug 4, 2024 at 1:06 AM Post #598 of 1,678
Can you explain what you mean with "3D holographic soundstage"?
The soundstage changed significantly coming from the Fiio M11 Pro (AKM + THX AAA)
The Fiio had already a sphere(?) like soundstage but it was very wild & unsorted and therefore at times very fatiguing.
The Ibasso on the other hand has a kind of a massive wall to me. Huge in width and height and also good depth giving it an out of head feeling.
What stood especially out to me is that the soundstage is beautiful sorted and objects feel very organic and live like giving it a nice fluidity.
i can confirm what Fiio is trying to do lately regarding soundstage. They are trying to achieve as much width as possible at the cost of depth, as it seems, that most people care about a wide soundstage the most. The problem is - as you said it feels unorganic and annatural and thus my brain constantly trys to draw a picture of the room where sounds come from but finally fails
 
Aug 4, 2024 at 4:28 AM Post #599 of 1,678
since the battery of the D16 is not bypassable and my main usecase would be using it with various pcs, i wonder how easy the battery will be exchangable. Specially bc ibasso features easy battery swap with their latest daps. Did anyone already open the D16?
 
Aug 4, 2024 at 4:54 AM Post #600 of 1,678
since the battery of the D16 is not bypassable and my main usecase would be using it with various pcs, i wonder how easy the battery will be exchangable. Specially bc ibasso features easy battery swap with their latest daps. Did anyone already open the D16?
For what I know, Ibasso D16 & their PB5 also features easy battery replacement by just 2 screws at the back.
 

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