New Portable Amp/Dac: iBasso D1 **with updates on the first page**

[Dexdexter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Computerstud /img/forum/go_quote.gif Don't be too quick to sell your gear LepakVT. The D1 looks very reminiscent of the Mini-Audio MAD01 with USB added. They even have the same DAC chip. Take a look around the forum for the Mini-Audio, I believe Sky reviewed it. However, it did not receive stellar marks from the man.

Perhaps, but no too bad either:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, how does it sound? Well, pretty good! I hooked it up to a Rotel CD player that cost $700 about 10 years ago. And the Rotel sounded better. But the MAD-1 wasn't totally embarassed. It still had nice clarity, decent soundstaging, punchy bass, and reasonably clean and transparent mids. The Rotel sounded better in basically every possible way, but not by a huge margin, which says good things about the MAD-1. As a headphone amp, again driven by the Rotel's coax output, it sounded quite good. It did a fine job driving my DT990/250's. The sound was competitive with amps like the ibasso P1 and the Xenos 0HA-REP. It wasn't as good as amps like the Xenos 1HA, or my RSA amps, but it was a pretty good headphone amp compared to similarly priced portables. Again, it had punchy bass, was reasonably transparent and neutral, and was suprisingly free of noise and hiss.

Looks like they've upped the battery life from 10-12 hours to 40 hours now, as well as addressed other concerns that Skylab mentioned in his earlier review.

I'm most interested in using it as a DAC. But if they've also managed to improve the amp section in the bargain, it would be a nice bonus. Color me intrigued!

 

[Computerstud]

Yeah, I'm looking at this as mainly as a portable DAC in conjunction with the move.

Wonder how it compares to the heavy weights (Micro DAC, Emu 0404)?

 

[jamato8]

I asked a few questions of iBassa and it appears everything was reworked and it is not the same device, though it shares some of the looks. I would imagine they have learned many things from both the T1 and T2 and the P1. From the message they feel it is better sounding than any of their other offerings at this time. They also said a P2 is coming out. The mobile amp and dac world is changing rapidly and I am enjoying it. :^)

 

[globiboulga]

It is significantly bigger than the Move.
Thank god for the change in the DAC world. I still think there is some room for improvement though.

 

[jamato8]

With everything inside of this I guess it would be hard to make it a whole lot smaller at this time but who knows. I think the batteries, with the present size required will be a factor but when I consider the size of my Monica II dac and an amp it is smaller than the combo and all in one case.

I just upgraded my Monica II with 220uF Black Gate nonpolar in super E configuration for the power supply to the dac chip. It will be hard to beat but then most home units aren't better or as good.

 

[ath]

I too was shocked to see that it looks like my Mini Audio MAD-01. The specs for D2 talk about the new DAC chip does it mean that the amp [part of it is still the same. Two AD797's if I remember right. The nice thing was these chips were socketed and allowed rolling opamps.

 

[jamato8]

The amp section uses a AD823 with two 5532 buffers. I have used the 823 and I like the 5532 buffers, I guess as usual it will all be implementation. The unit from the information I got is totally redesigned.

 

[Shevlock]

How big is this in comparison to the move?

 

[Shevlock]

I just ordered my move, and I'm a little put off that I saw this the day that my move came in. This has optical out AND rechargeable batteries, two things that were lacking in the move but had no other alternative...

 

[jamato8]

I was going to order a Move but I have no use for just usb. I emailed about the Move but because of the chip used there is no way that optical can be used. So you have to replace the batteries on the move/they are not rechargable in the unit?

 

[ath]

With all the upgrades over the Mini Audio unit, this amp should be an excellent choice for Iriver H120/140 owners. I was pretty impressed with the Mini Audio unit. Used to carry it around with me but of late it is staying home more often. I replaced the 797's with AD822 and LMH6643 for buffer. Sounded pretty good IMHO.

 

[monolith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shevlock /img/forum/go_quote.gif How big is this in comparison to the move?

Move: 9.6 x 6.3 x 2.8 cm

iBasso: 12.0 x 7.8 x 3.2 cm

Looks like the Move is quite a bit smaller.

 

[Jamfan16]

Quote:

Originally Posted by monolith /img/forum/go_quote.gif Move: 9.6 x 6.3 x 2.8 cm iBasso: 12.0 x 7.8 x 3.2 cm Looks like the Move is quite a bit smaller.

Unless I screwed up my Maf, the Move is 57% as big as the iBasso by volume.

 

[Jamfan16]

Does it look like the recessed jacks will prevent a larger plug (like a Headphile mini plug) from making a full connection?

 

[jamato8]

I emailed iBasso again because a lot of questions posted here are questions I also have. They said that the dac design is new and the amp section is also a total redesign and the parts are of a higher quality than the amp/dac the D1 replaces. It also has many more capabilities. I really look forward to hearing this thing.

edit: The ID of the jacks for the plugs is 11mm.