Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[easylive]

I always find it difficult reading comments about some device being better.
That's highly subjective, synergy and preference will likely play a bigger role than specs of devices.
DC Elite is ROHM based and the little brother of DX320 Max with an objectively different architecture and tuning than some D16.
Both are very good but I am very careful with telling something is clearly better after several years of headfi

Agree 100%, also the diminishing returns are in play too... I had D16 and sold it (want to cut down littlebit the budget for my night listening), now I want order the Elite for my mmk3...

 

[Golyatx]

Agree 100%, also the diminishing returns are in play too... I had D16 and sold it (want to cut down littlebit the budget for my night listening), now I want order the Elite for my mmk3...

Your sold D16 is my best audio purchase yet

 

[Whitigir]

DC Elite is using your host battery as a power source. While people can be subjected to subjective reasons. I will base my reasons on technicalities first and then subjectivities.

The D16 is a standalone DAC with it own battery source. Together with 16 elements of PWM where as ROHM and other flagship chips possibly have 5-6 as I read somewhere in this thread.

Technically, the D16 is a marvel of engineering feasts against DC Elite.

Now, subjectivities are always a thing, someone may be comfortable with just a small dongle and hook it up to anything easily. Then DC Elite will be a winner here. Sound performances and signature is where you would want to listen and compare to it yourself. If you need inputs from some people, it is obviously the more experiences that someone is, the more solidified his opinions are. For example, someone comparing D16 to DC Elite , putting against someone who comparing D16 to other DAC, the timbres reproduction of a real instruments on all devices like literally recording his own guitars, piano, and reproduced it...vs DC elite...etc..then I would take the one with more experiences as a superior inputs.

In this hobby where subjectivities are...an elusive matters. People can bend the facts, to hype and to shill something up. When it is wrong, it is just one single person opinion as a subjective conclusion. Together with the age of the internet where everyone can be an expert is very very hard to grasp as a concept and to be collectively correct on your researches.

Try your best to have an audition between these 2 devices and think about what you need, your budgets. Then you will always be happy that it was your call and not someone else

 

[jamato8]

DC Elite is using your host battery as a power source. While people can be subjected to subjective reasons. I will base my reasons on technicalities first and then subjectivities.

The D16 is a standalone DAC with it own battery source. Together with 16 elements of PWM where as ROHM and other flagship chips possibly have 5-6 as I read somewhere in this thread.

Technically, the D16 is a marvel of engineering feasts against DC Elite.

Now, subjectivities are always a thing, someone may be comfortable with just a small dongle and hook it up to anything easily. Then DC Elite will be a winner here. Sound performances and signature is where you would want to listen and compare to it yourself. If you need inputs from some people, it is obviously the more experiences that someone is, the more solidified his opinions are. For example, someone comparing D16 to DC Elite , putting against someone who comparing D16 to other DAC, the timbres reproduction of a real instruments on all devices like literally recording his own guitars, piano, and reproduced it...vs DC elite...etc..then I would take the one with more experiences as a superior inputs.

In this hobby where subjectivities are...an elusive matters. People can bend the facts, to hype and to shill something up. When it is wrong, it is just one single person opinion as a subjective conclusion. Together with the age of the internet where everyone can be an expert is very very hard to grasp as a concept and to be collectively correct on your researches.

Try your best to have an audition between these 2 devices and think about what you need, your budgets. Then you will always be happy that it was your call and not someone else

IMO, the transient speed of the D 16 is unparalleled even some of the best decks on the market cannot match it overall the D16 could sell for $5000 and still be a bargain, but of course it would have to be larger. Have a bigger case to accommodate the imagined improvements when you can get it in the space is it right now that it occupies. The only real fault of the D16 is that it is too inexpensive for what you were getting.

 

[Whitigir]

The only real fault of the D16 is that it is too inexpensive for what you were getting.

I second this... being Ibasso and low pricing is the D16 down side.

Could you imagine how people would totally be crazy for it if it was AK or Chord ?

It is alright though, as an enthusiasts, I love what Ibasso have done and achieved. Just like all things in the universe....won't be appreciated if easily earned or purchased ...regardless of worth

 

[ryder78]

DC Elite is using your host battery as a power source. While people can be subjected to subjective reasons. I will base my reasons on technicalities first and then subjectivities.

The D16 is a standalone DAC with it own battery source. Together with 16 elements of PWM where as ROHM and other flagship chips possibly have 5-6 as I read somewhere in this thread.

Technically, the D16 is a marvel of engineering feasts against DC Elite.

Now, subjectivities are always a thing, someone may be comfortable with just a small dongle and hook it up to anything easily. Then DC Elite will be a winner here. Sound performances and signature is where you would want to listen and compare to it yourself. If you need inputs from some people, it is obviously the more experiences that someone is, the more solidified his opinions are. For example, someone comparing D16 to DC Elite , putting against someone who comparing D16 to other DAC, the timbres reproduction of a real instruments on all devices like literally recording his own guitars, piano, and reproduced it...vs DC elite...etc..then I would take the one with more experiences as a superior inputs.

In this hobby where subjectivities are...an elusive matters. People can bend the facts, to hype and to shill something up. When it is wrong, it is just one single person opinion as a subjective conclusion. Together with the age of the internet where everyone can be an expert is very very hard to grasp as a concept and to be collectively correct on your researches.

Try your best to have an audition between these 2 devices and think about what you need, your budgets. Then you will always be happy that it was your call and not someone else

Thanks for the comprehensive response. That makes a lot of sense.

I was initially looking at Chord Hugo2 or Mojo 2 where the latter is close to iBasso DC Elite's price range, alongside D16 Taipan. After a while I decided to just focus on the DC Elite and D16 Taipan and disregard the Chords. The DC Elite and Mojo 2 are around my comfortable price range as I want to avoid spending more. The small form factor is also important to me although listening is mostly at home. I will only consider spending more if there is a MASSIVE sound difference which I consider to be worthwhile. If the difference is subtle or not too significant, I'll happily settle with the cheaper devices.

I'll try to listen to some of the options in the store to determine what will work best for me.

 

[Golyatx]

Density of bass and tone weight are insane on D16.

 

[Nightshifter]

Density of bass and tone weight are insane on D16.

%

 

[Whitigir]

Density of bass and tone weight are insane on D16.

%

Exactly! Some people may be confused with it being bass or warmth but in fact it isn't. It is pure analog timbres but without analog hisses and with digital fidelity. This was why I keep saying, the D16 is the best DAC I have heard yet, desktop or portable devices. Especially for a portable one. It is just amazing. I know perhaps it is inspired by Mola Mola Tambaque which I have never tried or wanting to due to it pricing. But anything desktop reasonably priced, I have tried them out and the analog quantity, quality of the D16 is so vast and spreading out very wide on the entire bandwidth from low to high... as much as a rythmitics hi-hat that can also carry it own emotions is stupidly good.... it is unbelievable.

However, I don't want to sound like I am hyping it up too much, so I restrains my posts . It is still a subjective matters in the end....even as far as real organic instruments are...still subjective. You gotta give it a try and decode for yourself. I have tried to record my piano sessions and then reproducing on the D16 and what can I say ? Can't tell much of a differences from live to recording. If this isn't accurate then I don't know what is ... keep in minds that I don't have pro recording equipments, just typical gaming rigg!

 

[audionewbi]

Has anyone experimented with duelund capacitors?

 

[jamato8]

Has anyone experimented with duelund capacitors?

They would never fit. I use them on both of my CAYIN amps. But they are large and barely fit in those. That would be the HA6A and the 300 B Mark two.

 

[danielgregori]

Friends, does anyone know why I can’t play dsd256 and higher through any connection from ibasso320max as a source to d16?

 

[Whitigir]

Friends, does anyone know why I can’t play dsd256 and higher through any connection from ibasso320max as a source to d16?

Only USB connections can do that. Sometimes switching between coax/usb from 320Max needs a restart

 

[danielgregori]

Thank you! But what are the limitations of a coaxial cable? Can it play dsd?

Only USB connections can do that. Sometimes switching between coax/usb from 320Max needs a restart

 

[Stouthart]

Thank you! But what are the limitations of a coaxial cable? Can it play dsd?

No, coaxial cable cannot play DSD. Only PCM 16/44.1-24/192. But...it sounds significantly better than USB.