Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[Bengkia369]

exactly!
i have pb5 and enleum 23rm
this new l&p transportable looks like a monster
6.5w into 32 ohms yikes
there is not much for spec's on musictecks website
battery run time,dimensions,distortion figures?
6-18650 batterys wow.....

The L&P batteries able to user replaceable? Looks like it could?

 

[Whitigir]

Vince,
Do you think the new upcoming luxury & precision ea4 portable amp will be a good match for d16?
Its now listed on musicteck’s website…

It is a very interesting looking device. Apparently from the limited technical slides, I couldn't tell what topology that amp were designed and based on.

One thing I know for sure based on those slides is that it doesn't have dedicated battery raw power rails like PB5. The PB5 has 5 battery packs with each pack dedicated toward each swing L+ L- then R+ R-. Additionally, it also has it own battery pack for the Korg Tube's as well. You will not see similar design and implementation for a while yet

With a bonus that it also has Stepped analog attenuation.

I think people underestimate the PB5 based on 3 main factors which they shouldn't

1/ Being Ibasso Brand
2/ Being lower pricing comparing to other products
3/ Had discounts for Max series owners

Now, back to the main question whether the LP amp is going to pair well with the D16 ?

The D16 pairs amazingly well with everything that I have. The D16 is the best DAC I have ever had in form of portability together with being a replacement for desktop DAC as well. I just love it and been using it so much nowadays. I have no doubts that the D16 will pair with any amps you would like to, including the LP one. This was why I highly rated the D16 as the Most valuable piece in Ibasso recent line up. If you love external Korg tube amp, the PB5 is also an amazingly innovative one. I could be wrong , but I think the only down side for PB5 in signature is that it is a little too warm and thick, but that can easily be addressed....but then again, it is all about personal preferences...I know it was a thing for me and I fixed it under my own experiences and preferences.

Last and not least, the PB5 barely heat up, you can have it anywhere you want, even within your blankets and sleeping together with it. You will feel no danger at all. It is yet another very valuable feature that people often overlooked

 

[Bengkia369]

It is a very interesting looking device. Apparently from the limited technical slides, I couldn't tell what topology that amp were designed and based on.

One thing I know for sure based on those slides is that it doesn't have dedicated battery raw power rails like PB5. The PB5 has 5 battery packs with each pack dedicated toward each swing L+ L- then R+ R-. Additionally, it also has it own battery pack for the Korg Tube's as well. You will not see similar design and implementation for a while yet

With a bonus that it also has Stepped analog attenuation.

I think people underestimate the PB5 based on 3 main factors which they shouldn't

1/ Being Ibasso Brand
2/ Being lower pricing comparing to other products
3/ Had discounts for Max series owners

Now, back to the main question whether the LP amp is going to pair well with the D16 ?

The D16 pairs amazingly well with everything that I have. The D16 is the best DAC I have ever had in form of portability together with being a replacement for desktop DAC as well. I just love it and been using it so much nowadays. I have no doubts that the D16 will pair with any amps you would like to, including the LP one. This was why I highly rated the D16 as the Most valuable piece in Ibasso recent line up. If you love external Korg tube amp, the PB5 is also an amazingly innovative one. I could be wrong , but I think the only down side for PB5 in signature is that it is a little too warm and thick, but that can easily be addressed....but then again, it is all about personal preferences...I know it was a thing for me and I fixed it under my own experiences and preferences.

Last and not least, the PB5 barely heat up, you can have it anywhere you want, even within your blankets and sleeping together with it. You will feel no danger at all. It is yet another very valuable feature that people often overlooked

Personally, I don't feel PB5 is too warm & thick, I feel it's just nice smooth analogue sound.

 

[decur]

It is a very interesting looking device. Apparently from the limited technical slides, I couldn't tell what topology that amp were designed and based on.

One thing I know for sure based on those slides is that it doesn't have dedicated battery raw power rails like PB5. The PB5 has 5 battery packs with each pack dedicated toward each swing L+ L- then R+ R-. Additionally, it also has it own battery pack for the Korg Tube's as well. You will not see similar design and implementation for a while yet

With a bonus that it also has Stepped analog attenuation.

I think people underestimate the PB5 based on 3 main factors which they shouldn't

1/ Being Ibasso Brand
2/ Being lower pricing comparing to other products
3/ Had discounts for Max series owners

Now, back to the main question whether the LP amp is going to pair well with the D16 ?

The D16 pairs amazingly well with everything that I have. The D16 is the best DAC I have ever had in form of portability together with being a replacement for desktop DAC as well. I just love it and been using it so much nowadays. I have no doubts that the D16 will pair with any amps you would like to, including the LP one. This was why I highly rated the D16 as the Most valuable piece in Ibasso recent line up. If you love external Korg tube amp, the PB5 is also an amazingly innovative one. I could be wrong , but I think the only down side for PB5 in signature is that it is a little too warm and thick, but that can easily be addressed....but then again, it is all about personal preferences...I know it was a thing for me and I fixed it under my own experiences and preferences.

Last and not least, the PB5 barely heat up, you can have it anywhere you want, even within your blankets and sleeping together with it. You will feel no danger at all. It is yet another very valuable feature that people often overlooked

thanks,
i find the pb5 perfect as is! and enjoy it very much,especially with d16.

 

[Whitigir]

thanks,
i find the pb5 perfect as is! and enjoy it very much,especially with d16.

In that case, I wouldn't look for another portable amp. I know I don't, if I desired it, it gotta be a desktop amp...which I also have it covered. It is safe to say that PB5 is the endgame portable amp for me ATM

If I don't want that tube timbres, the D16 can do it on it own just fine

 

[Bengkia369]

In that case, I wouldn't look for another portable amp. I know I don't, if I desired it, it gotta be a desktop amp...which I also have it covered. It is safe to say that PB5 is the endgame portable amp for me ATM

If I don't want that tube timbres, the D16 can do it on it own just fine

Totally agreed!

 

[decur]

In that case, I wouldn't look for another portable amp. I know I don't, if I desired it, it gotta be a desktop amp...which I also have it covered. It is safe to say that PB5 is the endgame portable amp for me ATM

If I don't want that tube timbres, the D16 can do it on it own just fine

Only reason for considering the new l &p
Is 6.5w@32 ohms “discrete design”
For use with susvara/abyss and other hard to drive planars
My pb5 drive them well!
Just wondering if they would/can be driven better….

 

[Whitigir]

Only reason for considering the new l &p
Is 6.5w@32 ohms “discrete design”
For use with susvara/abyss and other hard to drive planars
My pb5 drive them well!
Just wondering if they would/can be driven better….

Pb5 is also discrete design with super class A topology.

Rated Power output is not as it appears but rather the voltage swings. While LP can have +/-15V or 13V. It is directly coming from 1 pack of battery source containing 4 cells. It is very different than PB5 which can offer +/-8.5V but it is comming from 2 packs with 1 pack per channel that contain 2 cells. If you total it up, you are getting about +/-16V as well....but just dedicated toward each channel for true balanced design.

Don't forget the pure battery pack just for Korg tube alone! First of it kind atm

 

[purk]

Only reason for considering the new l &p
Is 6.5w@32 ohms “discrete design”
For use with susvara/abyss and other hard to drive planars
My pb5 drive them well!
Just wondering if they would/can be driven better….

Can you provide a link to the new L&P amp?

 

[decur]

I just seen it on musicteck’s website

 

[decur]

Musicteck has a “pre order” link for it
I wish they were more forthcoming with a spec
Sheet

 

[ryder78]

I have only tried Hugo 2 and Mojo 2, those are no match for D16 imo.

Hi, could you please expand as the review from Headfonia suggests that the Hugo 2 has slight advantages when compared to the iBasso D16.

https://www.headfonia.com/ibasso-d16-review/

Comparison​

vs. Chord Hugo 2 ($2500 USD)​

Thanks to a close friend in the audiophile sphere, I’ve recently spent a week with the Hugo 2. It is mind-boggling to me that it was released back in 2017. It may be the most impressive piece of equipment that is still relevant today. Time flies, folks. 2017 was seven years ago. To me, it is one of the best DAC-AMPs one can buy, even today.

Size-wise, it is a bit wider than the D16 and a little heavier. Both of the devices offer excellent detail, resolution, dynamism, and overall technical capability. If you have a Hugo 2, D16 would be a side-step in many areas and upgrade in a few. I had the OG Hugo for a year, and I also know the persisting quirks with the Hugo 2, the long charging time, not-so-good battery life (6/7-ish hours for the Hugo 2), and so on. D16 gets me a solid 9 hours via optical and fully charges in 2, so efficiency-wise, the D16 is a solid step-up, but at what cost?

From a sound perspective, Hugo 2 has a slight edge over the D16; it feels slightly more resolving in the upper midrange, but the difference is only perceptible with some of my IEMs. Its sub-bass extension feels a tad better, too; I’m trying very hard here. Signature-wise, the Hugo 2 feels a tad sharper, with slightly more bite. The D16 feels more effortless and coherent in comparison. Technical-wise both devices are very close and before I start imagining things, let’s wrap this section up.

 

[FooFighter]

Hi, could you please expand as the review from Headfonia suggests that the Hugo 2 has slight advantages when compared to the iBasso D16.

https://www.headfonia.com/ibasso-d16-review/

Comparison​

vs. Chord Hugo 2 ($2500 USD)​

Thanks to a close friend in the audiophile sphere, I’ve recently spent a week with the Hugo 2. It is mind-boggling to me that it was released back in 2017. It may be the most impressive piece of equipment that is still relevant today. Time flies, folks. 2017 was seven years ago. To me, it is one of the best DAC-AMPs one can buy, even today.

Size-wise, it is a bit wider than the D16 and a little heavier. Both of the devices offer excellent detail, resolution, dynamism, and overall technical capability. If you have a Hugo 2, D16 would be a side-step in many areas and upgrade in a few. I had the OG Hugo for a year, and I also know the persisting quirks with the Hugo 2, the long charging time, not-so-good battery life (6/7-ish hours for the Hugo 2), and so on. D16 gets me a solid 9 hours via optical and fully charges in 2, so efficiency-wise, the D16 is a solid step-up, but at what cost?

From a sound perspective, Hugo 2 has a slight edge over the D16; it feels slightly more resolving in the upper midrange, but the difference is only perceptible with some of my IEMs. Its sub-bass extension feels a tad better, too; I’m trying very hard here. Signature-wise, the Hugo 2 feels a tad sharper, with slightly more bite. The D16 feels more effortless and coherent in comparison. Technical-wise both devices are very close and before I start imagining things, let’s wrap this section up.

I confirm this review
It's all a matter of synergy and preference.
I am listening 75% to D16 due to its more organic and effortless presentation.
Yet thick IEMs like the Annihilator with its less resolving low end I prefer to use with Hugo2.
Fei Wan for example which is very resolving and can get sharper up top: D16.
Hugo2 can sound more clinical with certain pairings but to my feeling is the most resolving mobile source while D16 is more natural in that regard and is more forgiving

 

[danielgregori]

It is a very interesting looking device. Apparently from the limited technical slides, I couldn't tell what topology that amp were designed and based on.

One thing I know for sure based on those slides is that it doesn't have dedicated battery raw power rails like PB5. The PB5 has 5 battery packs with each pack dedicated toward each swing L+ L- then R+ R-. Additionally, it also has it own battery pack for the Korg Tube's as well. You will not see similar design and implementation for a while yet

With a bonus that it also has Stepped analog attenuation.

I think people underestimate the PB5 based on 3 main factors which they shouldn't

1/ Being Ibasso Brand
2/ Being lower pricing comparing to other products
3/ Had discounts for Max series owners

Now, back to the main question whether the LP amp is going to pair well with the D16 ?

The D16 pairs amazingly well with everything that I have. The D16 is the best DAC I have ever had in form of portability together with being a replacement for desktop DAC as well. I just love it and been using it so much nowadays. I have no doubts that the D16 will pair with any amps you would like to, including the LP one. This was why I highly rated the D16 as the Most valuable piece in Ibasso recent line up. If you love external Korg tube amp, the PB5 is also an amazingly innovative one. I could be wrong , but I think the only down side for PB5 in signature is that it is a little too warm and thick, but that can easily be addressed....but then again, it is all about personal preferences...I know it was a thing for me and I fixed it under my own experiences and preferences.

Last and not least, the PB5 barely heat up, you can have it anywhere you want, even within your blankets and sleeping together with it. You will feel no danger at all. It is yet another very valuable feature that people often overlooked

100% agree. And let me ask, what desktop dacs did you compare it to? I'm very interested to know how good the d16 is. Apart from it, I almost didn't have any external DACs (except for the Cayin CS-100DAC, but that was a time ago).

 

[danielgregori]

Is 6.5w@32 ohms “discrete design”
For use with susvara/abyss and other hard to drive planars
My pb5 drive them well!
Just wondering if they would/can be driven better….

Right now I'm waiting for my new susvara, I talked to a guy from the forum, he said that pb5 drives it perfectly. But it would also be interesting to see if LP can drive it better. Do you have an og or a new susvara?