[lordearl]

Variable.

Excellent - thanks for that, does it do a decent job of driving a power amplifier for speaker listening (ie. when not using headphones)?

 

[samandhi]

Excellent - thanks for that, does it do a decent job of driving a power amplifier for speaker listening (ie. when not using headphones)?

Well, it is just a transport at that point, so the amp will be doing all the driving. As for your question, I find it to be fairly clean, but prefer the coax on the top of the DX300 to transport to speaker amplifier, or Amp12 LO (dedicated LO).

 

[vanez1985]

Finally got my hands on Isa as many of you recommended earlier. Looks like my cat enjoys these as much as I do

Well, probably my itch for better sound is relieved for a while... at least till AMP13 will be released)
Oh wait... I also ordered 7Hz while being ill sometime ago. Ok, Millennial...

Just a quick update: as you warned me before, Isa is definitely more of a specialist than an all-rounder but does sound truly great where it's supposed to deliver.

For instance, I've never heard Foo Fighters - Everlong (Acoustic Version), Etta James - It's a Man's Man's Man's World, Santana - Put Your Lights On, Zella Day - Seven Nation Army or Hercules Dub - Blundetto that good and full of emotions.

 

[RIGATIO]

Just testing and comparing the ak sp1000ss. Well it's a very high level performance. Actually I'm quite surprised how musical and warmish it sounds. Expected more reference like tuning. Imo it has bit deeper and emotional sound than the dx300 but just a bit. Just very very slightly better layering. Dx300 has wider stage and bigger sound overall. The detail retrieval is very slightly better on the dx311.2 (my amp12 is in the UK for an upgrade). The dx300 is almost as smooth as the AK, very very close- can't distinguish any difference in some cases. I can get the AK for 1500e so still thinking rather as an sidegrade as it's not an upgrade in any way. But i expect the amp12EXN to blow the sp1k out of the water when it comes. But very pleasing and natural sound anyways.

 

[RIGATIO]

Actually im very surprised how much wider the dx300's stage is. Its not the matter of a carefull listening, it hits stright away. The only thing the ak has a little advantage is the very slightly more natural timbre. And thats all. Separation, staging, the size of the sound are strikingly bigger on the dx300. Its like coming from a very good dap or a portable dac/amp to the stationary rig.

 

[samandhi]

Actually im very surprised how much wider the dx300's stage is. Its not the matter of a carefull listening, it hits stright away. The only thing the ak has a little advantage is the very slightly more natural timbre. And thats all. Separation, staging, the size of the sound are strikingly bigger on the dx300. Its like coming from a very good dap or a portable dac/amp to the stationary rig.

That's exactly how I felt the very first time I powered on the Amp12, even compared to Amp11.2...

 

[RIGATIO]

That's exactly how I felt the very first time I powered on the Amp12, even compared to Amp11.2...

Well for me and just for me the amp11.2 sounds just slightly wider than the amp12 but i feel the amp12 has a bigger stage overall because of the improved holography. I honestly think that the dx312 and above --> 12W, 12EX and 12EXN are capable of killing every dap on the market. Dont know how iBasso does it but it works and i can confirm that with my own experience. Im really trying to keep the ak sp1000 because i love how it looks, the size and the timbre but even the dx311.2 wipes the floor with it. How TF..CK

 

[Whitigir]

Actually im very surprised how much wider the dx300's stage is. Its not the matter of a carefull listening, it hits stright away. The only thing the ak has a little advantage is the very slightly more natural timbre. And thats all. Separation, staging, the size of the sound are strikingly bigger on the dx300. Its like coming from a very good dap or a portable dac/amp to the stationary rig.

Even at the compromises of the timbres thickness, AK can’t compare on the soundstage front against dx300, which usually thinner timbres yield an illusion of larger and deeper soundstage. That just to shows how amazing the Dx300 is as a portable device

 

[RIGATIO]

Even at the compromises of the timbres thickness, AK can’t compare on the soundstage front against dx300, which usually thinner timbres yield an illusion of larger and deeper soundstage. That just to shows how amazing the Dx300 is as a portable device

Very true but i need to add something more. IMO its not just the illusion of bit slightly thinner sound moving backwards and tricking my brain. The stage just sounds wider, i can hear the sounds spreading further almost physically. This is not an illusion in my case, its just wider. Sure the depth can be tricked by slimming the mids but not the width.

 

[samandhi]

Well for me and just for me the amp11.2 sounds just slightly wider than the amp12 but i feel the amp12 has a bigger stage overall because of the improved holography. I honestly think that the dx312 and above --> 12W, 12EX and 12EXN are capable of killing every dap on the market. Dont know how iBasso does it but it works and i can confirm that with my own experience. Im really trying to keep the ak sp1000 because i love how it looks, the size and the timbre but even the dx311.2 wipes the floor with it. How TF..CK

The question on my mind is; not only how do they do it, but how do they also continue to keep it affordable?

 

[RIGATIO]

One more thing. At the beginnig of my jurney with the dx311.2 i complained about shouty mids. Well, the ak sp1000 is more shouty. And im listening it right now.

 

[ssriram2791]

Well for me and just for me the amp11.2 sounds just slightly wider than the amp12 but i feel the amp12 has a bigger stage overall because of the improved holography. I honestly think that the dx312 and above --> 12W, 12EX and 12EXN are capable of killing every dap on the market. Dont know how iBasso does it but it works and i can confirm that with my own experience. Im really trying to keep the ak sp1000 because i love how it looks, the size and the timbre but even the dx311.2 wipes the floor with it. How TF..CK

Could you clarify what mod is 12EXN ? The other 2 mods I am aware of come from @Whitigir improvisations... Is 12EXN going to be a limited edition module to be release by Ibasso or software tuning ? Kind of getting difficult keeping tracking on how many variations/mods we are seeing.

 

[RIGATIO]

The question on my mind is; not only how do they do it, but how do they also continue to keep it affordable?

YES, great point! Thats the mystery for me.

 

[samandhi]

Could you clarify what mod is 12EXN ? The other 2 mods I am aware of come from @Whitigir improvisations... Is 12EXN going to be a limited edition module to be release by Ibasso or software tuning ? Kind of getting difficult keeping tracking on how many variations/mods we are seeing.

IKR? It is not an official mod from iBasso. It is a variation of @ Whitigir's mods from what I understand.

 

[RIGATIO]

Could you clarify what mod is 12EXN ? The other 2 mods I am aware of come from @Whitigir improvisations... Is 12EXN going to be a limited edition module to be release by Ibasso or software tuning ? Kind of getting difficult keeping tracking on how many variations/mods we are seeing.

The mod EXN is a mode which is implemented by NP Audio from the UK. Its a modification of Whitiger's EX mod. Higher quality components which have been introduced due to the components shortage. I have no clue how this mod sounds but i trust them and waiting for the king to come- AMP12EXN