[piksnz]

Hi All,
 
I am starting this thread since the original DX90 thread (http://www.head-fi.org/t/697035/ibasso-dx90-dual-sabre-es9018k2m-new-amp-section-review-1st-page) has comments about where the delivery status of their orders are, instead of proper comparisons and reviews.
 
I am currently owning AK100 and would like to upgrade to AK120, But saw lot of good things about DX90. If I can get similar SQ and features from a device 1/4 the price of AK120 then it is a big win situation.
 
Since lot of ppl have already received their DX90, it would be appreciable if you can post some comparisons. Thanks.

 

[piksnz]

Bump. Need more impressions pls

 

[audionewbi]

I doubt youll find many people who had the chance to own all the DAP at once.

I like my C4 alot and I own ak120 and ak100.

 

[jeremyh]

No love for the dx100/r10?

 

[wolfen68]

No love for the dx100/r10?

I had the same thought before I saw your post.  While it may not be the best bang for the buck with the DX90 now released, it is in solid contention for the best sound quality and overall features as compared to others.  Hard to leave that one out.

 

[wasily]

If its any help I rate my portable DAPs as follows: TP> AK120> AK100

 

[SilverEars]

I'm liking this thread because we can have this as a DAP comparison thread, so that others can post their comparisons here.  Yeah, that poll will not be that helpful unless the people that takes it owns all that is listed.
 
Sub'd  

 

[kantana]

What are voting for here?  Is it purely sound quality or bang for buck?  
 
AK240 on SQ
DX90 on bang for buck although I would to add DX100 has better SQ than all those listed except the AK240, I used mine for 2 years and got a lot of enjoyment from it.

 

[piksnz]

The voting is based on SQ and the ease of use. Unfortunately I am not able to edit the poll to include IBasso DX100 now. But the idea of the thread is to give users a overall view of all the popular DAPs out there.

 

[Ivabign]

What advantage does the DX100 have over the DX90? - is it simply a better amplifier? It uses the same DAC chip - but only one of them instead of the 90's 2 DAC chips....  if (when) the USB DAC capability gets added, wouldn't then the DX90 be the clear choice?

 

[piksnz]

I own C4 and AK120. I feel the dynamics and resolution better in AK120. The amp part is poor compared to C4.
 
Test Rig:
C4, AK120.
IE800 IEM.
 
Nirvana - Nevermind from HDTracks.

 

[SilverEars]

  What advantage does the DX100 have over the DX90? - is it simply a better amplifier? It uses the same DAC chip - but only one of them instead of the 90's 2 DAC chips....  if (when) the USB DAC capability gets added, wouldn't then the DX90 be the clear choice?

9018 on the DX100 is 8 core.  DX90 is dual 9018K2M with total of 4 core.

 

[Ivabign]

  9018 on the DX100 is 8 core.  DX90 is dual 9018K2M with total of 4 core.

Well that explains it....

      If I start really getting into this like I do computers, I'm a lost cause.

 

[SilverEars]

Quote:

   
If it is the number game -
 
K2M only has 2 DAC cores on each chip (for stereo), so 2 K2M have a total of 4 DAC cores, for dual-mono setup. On a single full fledged 9018, there is already 8 DAC cores,which can do 8 channels output (i.e. 7.1ch setup), or like DX100, in a quad-mono setup (4 DAC decoding single channels). So with all things equal, 9018 should still beat K2M easily. Remember, K2M is actually more of a simplified 9018. When the Chinese smarphone maker BBK vivo went to ESS asking for a dumb down version of 9018 for portable use, ESS answered with the K2M by taking away 6 of the 8 DAC inside 9018.
 

 

[wolfen68]

  What advantage does the DX100 have over the DX90? - is it simply a better amplifier? It uses the same DAC chip - but only one of them instead of the 90's 2 DAC chips....  if (when) the USB DAC capability gets added, wouldn't then the DX90 be the clear choice?

 
Beyond the desktop oriented 9018 DAC, the DX100 also has a better amplifier and additional output features such as optical out and 1/4" headphone jack.