Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[CharlyBrown]

Would you think that the D16 is way better sounding than the XD05 or the difference is more subtle? I am looking for a portable solution for my LCD-5. And just the dac/amps themselves (so without PB5, etc.)

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.

 

[m3lover1]

I did stack N7 with the PB5 and it is incredible... A very different experience to the D16 as a source. The N7-PB5 is a texture king but a bit drier, while the D16-PB5 leads the way for atmosphere, ambience and space. Epic presentations from each, N7 or D16 as a PB5 source will suit different moods of the week. And then I'll have to try D16 feeding C9 next...

Have you had a chance to try the D16 with the C9? And how it compares to the D16 to PB5?

 

[sofastreamer]

does anyone have an xd05 pro and the d16? I got the xduoo a couple of weeks ago and while it sounds good, it has the worst layering and soundstage depth of all my devices. its still in stock configuration with the ess dac and stock opas. I bought it, because people in the xdp5 pro thread said, its soundstage is like in a 1k desktop device, but while its wide, even the fiio btr15 bt dongle has better depth and layering, if i use it with the 40 EUR balanced Douk Audio u5 amp. since depth and layering are my main priorities, i wonder if the ibasso does better in that regard.

 

[Bengkia369]

does anyone have an xd05 pro and the d16? I got the xduoo a couple of weeks ago and while it sounds good, it has the worst layering and soundstage depth of all my devices. its still in stock configuration with the ess dac and stock opas. I bought it, because people in the xdp5 pro thread said, its soundstage is like in a 1k desktop device, but while its wide, even the fiio btr15 bt dongle has better depth and layering, if i use it with the 40 EUR balanced Douk Audio u5 amp. since depth and layering are my main priorities, i wonder if the ibasso does better in that regard.

If you talk about holographic soundstage, Ibasso should be your taste

 

[KaiFi]

I don’t know, my problem with XD05 is all the glitches and bugs (and knowing there will likely never be any firmware updates to address them). Half the time my laptop doesn’t even recognize that it’s connected. I haven’t heard similar things about the D16, but I’m assuming it doesn’t have any recurring software errors or connection problems?

 

[m3lover1]

For those that have the Cayin N7 and this, do you guys experience any noise when they are connected with ibasso's usb c to usb c interconnect? There's a lot of noise, like static-like clicks if I use their interconnect, but if I use another usb c to usb c there's no noise.

 

[Nightshifter]

I don’t know, my problem with XD05 is all the glitches and bugs (and knowing there will likely never be any firmware updates to address them). Half the time my laptop doesn’t even recognize that it’s connected. I haven’t heard similar things about the D16, but I’m assuming it doesn’t have any recurring software errors or connection problems?

I had no issues with it.
No bugs, glitches or connection problems but had it only connected to a PC (Win 10), android smartphone and a fiio DAC so far.
Keep also in mind that I only have it like 10 days.

 

[Infoseeker]

Yup, I got both C9 and PB5.

C9 is the ultra-transparent one that will not hold back a chain and maintains all chain staging.

PB5 is the mids warmth amp that sacrifices staging to nice tone. It's as if....like a portable mosfet amp.

 

[jamato8]

Yup, I got both C9 and PB5.

C9 is the ultra-transparent one that will not hold back a chain and maintains all chain staging.

PB5 is the mids warmth amp that sacrifices staging to nice tone. It's as if....like a portable mosfet amp.

It must be the source I guess because I certainly do not get any lack of staging or transparency with the PB5.

 

[Infoseeker]

It must be the source I guess because I certainly do not get any lack of staging or transparency with the PB5.

It's probably just our use of similar terminology.

While for me it's about the layering of the initial strikes of instruments. Rather than how they diffuse and spread away along the overtones of the airy frequencies.

 

[Nightshifter]

How do you guys protect the display/glas of the D16? Any ideas?
I flipped the cover 180 degrees so that the metal plate covers the display but I don't think that is meant to be for display protection but cooling the back of the DAC?
Does anyone know if it has thermal sensors / protection?

Btw - the 14 days "trial" is over and as you can see I kept it.
I'll write a little review soon.

 

[puresnow]

I am a noob in the headphones audio community and would like to ask for several suggestions.

- Does anyone know if D16 has a battery bypass function for directly connect to PC without using battery power?

- For using a smartphone (source is only music streaming apps) and connect to D16 via USB-C, does anyone experienced any hissing or jittering sound?

- Compare between using DAP and smartphone as a music source connecting to D16, do they have any different in sound quality?

 

[Bengkia369]

I am a noob in the headphones audio community and would like to ask for several suggestions.

- Does anyone know if D16 has a battery bypass function for directly connect to PC without using battery power?

- For using a smartphone (source is only music streaming apps) and connect to D16 via USB-C, does anyone experienced any hissing or jittering sound?

- Compare between using DAC and smartphone as a music source connecting to D16, do they have any different in sound quality?

1) think the D16 was designed using battery powered, there is no way to battery bypass.
2) no, there is no hissing or jittering sound. But make sure to use a good quality USB C cable. Personally, I'm using DX260 as a transport coax out to D16 + PB5 Osprey combos. I find coax out sound is more superior compared to USB C.
3) of course, there is big difference in sound quality. D16 being a DAC & amp (amp section was similar to Ibasso DX320MAX) is a very high quality one. Don't think any smartphone on the market now about to trump it in terms of sound quality. But if you referring comparing DAPs & smartphone connecting to the D16, I feel using a Ibasso coax out will sounds better compared to smartphone USB out to the D16.

 

[puresnow]

1) think the D16 was designed using battery powered, there is no way to battery bypass.
2) no, there is no hissing or jittering sound. But make sure to use a good quality USB C cable. Personally, I'm using DX260 as a transport coax out to D16 + PB5 Osprey combos. I find coax out sound is more superior compared to USB C.
3) of course, there is big difference in sound quality. D16 being a DAC & amp (amp section was similar to Ibasso DX320MAX) is a very high quality one. Don't think any smartphone on the market now about to trump it in terms of sound quality. But if you referring comparing DAPs & smartphone connecting to the D16, I feel using a Ibasso coax out will sounds better compared to smartphone USB out to the D16.

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

In (3) it's a typo, I actually mean DAP not DAC (as a music source connect to D16).

Did the sound quality using DAP->Coax->D16 feel very significantly better than smartphone->USB-C->D16 or it's just a little bit better?

 

[Bengkia369]

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

In (3) it's a typo, I actually mean DAP not DAC (as a music source connect to D16).

Did the sound quality using DAP->Coax->D16 feel very significantly better than smartphone->USB-C->D16 or it's just a little bit better?

Smartphone especially Android based will always resample to 48kbs no matter what bit rate the original file is, hence will degrade the sound quality quite a bit.
I feel the difference is quite significant, coax out via a DAP is better sounding than USB out via a smartphone.