iBasso IT01 a fun IEM. Single multilayered graphene driver. !! 99 USD !!

[quodjo105]

Photo is not that great but these are very ergonomically designed and have an aesthetically pleasing shape. The cable is very beautiful and the red and blue are great for identifying right or left channel. They sit nicely in my ears without falling off and isolation is very good as I confirmed on the subway today:



They also sound better amped as I mentioned before. Mid-bass is more controlled and clear, there's more sub-bass quantity, vocals are more forward and treble extends nicely from my DFR. They have a very fun sounding and musical signature. Very easy on the ears. For anyone who's looking for a $99 IEM, I wouldn't hesitate. Just feed it with some power to unlock its potential.

How does the bravado's sound compared to these. I know the bravado's are superior, but do they share any similarities?,

 

[Colors]

How does the bravado's sound compared to these. I know the bravado's are superior, but do they share any similarities?,

I think it's pretty unfair to compare the Bravados to these as they're six times the price but I can give you some comparisons:

Bravado
- more sub-bass quantity (the IT01's sub-bass extension is actually pretty good, just less quantity)
- more treble extension
- clearer vocals (I'm talking ER4 level, although the IT01 is very clear too)
- tighter mid-bass (both have good mid-bass but the Bravados is cleaner)
- non-recessed male vocals (the IT01's male vocals are slightly recessed)
- better soundstage width (due to improved end to end extension)
- better soundstage depth (due to harder hitting notes)
- better instrumental and note separation (due to the crossover technology)

IT01
- better isolation (9/10 on a crowded busy subway)

TLDR: - the Bravado is more balanced sounding with a harder hitting sub-bass and cleaner separation of frequencies with better vocals. It's an incredible IEM that does not disappoint. However the IT01 is a very good buy at $99 with great extension on both sides and a pretty hard hitting sub-bass too. Great isolation. The Bravado does everything the IT01 can do at but at six times the cost. If you like the IT01, you will definitely love the Bravado.

 

[quodjo105]

I think it's pretty unfair to compare the Bravados to these as they're six times the price but I can give you some comparisons:

Bravado
- more sub-bass quantity (the IT01's sub-bass extension is actually pretty good, just less quantity)
- more treble extension
- clearer vocals (I'm talking ER4 level, although the IT01 is very clear too)
- tighter mid-bass (both have good mid-bass but the Bravados is cleaner)
- non-recessed male vocals (the IT01's male vocals are slightly recessed)
- better soundstage witdth (due to improved end to end extension)
- better soundstage depth (due to harder hitting notes)
- better instrumental and note seperstion (due to the crossover technology)

IT01
- better isolation (9/10 on a crowded busy subway)

TLDR: - the Bravado is more balanced sounding with a harder hitting sub-bass and cleaner separation of frequencies with better vocals. It's an incredible IEM that does not disappoint. However the IT01 is a very good buy at $99 with great extension on both sides and a pretty hard hitting sub-bass too. Great isolation. The Bravado does everything the IT01 is good at but at six times the cost. If you like the IT01, you will definitely love the Bravado.

Thank you . I appreciate your effort.

 

[Colors]

Thank you . I appreciate your effort.

Np.

If anyone wants to test the sub-bass of their IT01, listen to 15 Step - Radiohead

 

[BlueWindNoise]

Would it be a waste to use it with 4.4mm balanced?

I don't think so. I've been using them with the AMP4S on the DX200 with the CB12s cable. They scale really well.

 

[bowei006]

Guys, do you think these babies are great when paired with something like a Shanling M2S?
The only sources I have are a LG G6 and that liltte boi M2S so I hope it would be a good pair.

By pure coincidence a few weeks ago, I used my IT01 with my friends Shanling M1. Really dig it.

The IT01 are a bit dark and can get way too warm and (low quality) bassy without the proper amp. I prefereed the clean and transcience of the M1 paired with the IT01 as it balances out the unit.

It's not the M2S but take it as a probable comparison.

Would it be a waste to use it with 4.4mm balanced?

In this world of crazy audiophilia, people do crazy things to lots of headphones. Aftermarket cables worth 10x what the actual headphone costs.

That would be a very uncrazy thing to do if you want. The IT01 is MMCX so there should be a lot of generic universal options for you to use. The total cost would most likely be almost the same as the price of the IT01 though hahah.

It's a hobby of love. If you enjoy and love the IT01,.....then go for it

 

[originalsnuffy]

With regard to the IT01 and the Shanling M2S....I think this is a great combo if you are okay with a tuning that is something more like "mild fun" vs. reference. Both are very slightly warm to my ear. I think they do well with rock and most jazz. I love the idea that I don't freak out about losing or breaking these items because they are both reasonably priced. And could be reasonably replaced if necessary. Whereas I do worry a bit about my reference setup as described next.

For classical I prefer a more reference kind of tuning. Still listenable but with classical I lean to the N5II and the FLC8S.

 

[papa_mia]

With regard to the IT01 and the Shanling M2S....I think this is a great combo if you are okay with a tuning that is something more like "mild fun" vs. reference. Both are very slightly warm to my ear. I think they do well with rock and most jazz. I love the idea that I don't freak out about losing or breaking these items because they are both reasonably priced. And could be reasonably replaced if necessary. Whereas I do worry a bit about my reference setup as described next.

For classical I prefer a more reference kind of tuning. Still listenable but with classical I lean to the N5II and the FLC8S.

Cool. I do listen mostly to classical music, jazz, rock and heavy metal, but mainly some easy going, piano tracks, rarely some super super complex stuff so I think this can be a viable choice here.

 

[journeyman63]

Guys, do you think these babies are great when paired with something like a Shanling M2S?
The only sources I have are a LG G6 and that liltte boi M2S so I hope it would be a good pair.

I'm using mine with the Shanling M3s and they sound great to my ears. I'm new to the world of DAPs and IEMs and so can't really compare their performance widely, but I like the combo very much.

 

[HerrXRDS]

I have no luck with the IT01, maybe my ears are weirdly shaped. I had to return the first pair because the channels weren't balanced and had excessive driver flex. Now the second pair sounds OK but the driver flex is even more pronounced, to the point it makes cracking noises every time I move my mouth or even tilt my neck. Tried foams, spin dots, spiral dots, everything to no avail.

Any other recommendations for something similar to IT01 if possible with a tad more energy in the low end, better separation and more air? I enjoyed the bass and separation on ZS6 more than the IT01, but the recessed mids and very harsh treble is killing them. I was looking at the Fiio F9 Pro, is the bass and separation better on them?

 

[Colors]

I have no luck with the IT01, maybe my ears are weirdly shaped. I had to return the first pair because the channels weren't balanced and had excessive driver flex. Now the second pair sounds OK but the driver flex is even more pronounced, to the point it makes cracking noises every time I move my mouth or even tilt my neck. Tried foams, spin dots, spiral dots, everything to no avail.

Any other recommendations for something similar to IT01 if possible with a tad more energy in the low end, better separation and more air? I enjoyed the bass and separation on ZS6 more than the IT01, but the recessed mids and very harsh treble is killing them. I was looking at the Fiio F9 Pro, is the bass and separation better on them?

Hm, I've used my IT01 for a few days and I don't have this driver flex issue..the sound just cuts off randomly?

As for an alternative, I find I often have to decide between the Campfire Comets or the IT01 when reaching for my IEMs. They're both similar to me. The Comets has less recessed mids than the IT01 but slightly less sub-bass quantity and more treble. The IT01 has pretty darn good bass for $99.

 

[HerrXRDS]

Hm, I've used my IT01 for a few days and I don't have this driver flex issue..the sound just cuts off randomly?

As for an alternative, I find I often have to decide between the Campfire Comets or the IT01 when reaching for my IEMs. They're both similar to me. The Comets has less recessed mids than the IT01 but slightly less sub-bass quantity and more treble. The IT01 has pretty darn good bass for $99.

Not cutting, just the noise from drive flexing. I had many IEMs over the years, but this is the worst I've seen. Couldn't even concentrate at the gym today cause every time I'd tense my neck when lifting the damn thing would flex. I don't think I can live with it.

I was looking at those Comets, but right now I need a pair for gym and mostly riding my bike so with all that wind noise I need something fun with lots of bass and sparkle.

 

[handwander]

Interested in these but unsure why the Japanese price is so high. Like $160 usd equivalent vs the $99 on Amazon US.

 

[Colors]

Interested in these but unsure why the Japanese price is so high. Like $160 usd equivalent vs the $99 on Amazon US.

Try PenonAudio.

 

[BlueWindNoise]

Interested in these but unsure why the Japanese price is so high. Like $160 usd equivalent vs the $99 on Amazon US.

How much direct from iBasso? Or is that the direct from iBasso price?