[notaris]

Review: iBasso DC04PRO
Exquisite performer

Introduction

iBasso is a company that does not need any introduction. It is one of the Chinese leaders in the audio trade specializing in IEMs, DACs, amplifiers, DAPs, and accessories. In the past few years, it has presented some very nice DACs, among them DC03 and DC04; both were of great quality, with nice sound tuning, and got good reviews.

Recently, iBasso presented DC03PRO and DC04PRO. By just looking at these new devices, you understand the high quality of the two products. And of course, a high-quality product is usually accompanied by high-quality sound, so it was a real temptation to find out!

Description

DC04 was of great quality, but it had a more “conservative” design. DC04PRO is one of the nicest looking DACs in the market today. Anodized, CNC-milled aluminum around, with two tempered glass covers on top and bottom and with two classy buttons on the right side is all one can ask for. The unit comes in two colors, black or blue. Everything looks, feels and sounds of top quality!

Despite of having 3.5mm TRS + 4.4mm Pentaconn outputs, DC04PRO is quite small measuring 59m x 23.4 mm x 12.1 mm and weighting only 21 g. It connects by a USB-C to USB-C cable or for iPhone users by a USB-C to lightning cable, which sells separately; I also had in hand the new really great CB18 USB-C to USB-C cable on which I am going to comment below.

Moreover, there is an iBasso UAC APP made for Android users and giving you: 100 steps of hardware volume, 5 digital filters, 3 gain levels, 2 output modes, 20 steps of L/R balance and a power saver. Furthermore, on the top side, there is anLED light, indicating the current sampling rates: Red for standby, green for PCM files and blue for DSD files.

DC04PRO was designed with all the latest technology and all of iBasso experience:

• Dual Cirrus Logic flagship DAC chips CS43131, which are equipped with Master HiFiT technology for improving the performance and sound. These coupled with a synchronous DC-DC converter and a low-noise high-speed LDO, having 100dB Power Supply Rejection Ratio, ensures great sound quality with extremely black background. CS43131 has been quite popular recently, as, among other things, has (according to Cirrus Logic’s description): An integrated GND-centered with a Class H headphone driver able to deliver 30mW per channel at 32Ω; PCM decoding up to 32bit/384kHz and a 32-bit oversampled multi-bit modulator with mismatch shaping technology; and an output level of up to 2 VRMS into 600Ω headphones.

• Dual RT6863 OPAMP chips, which create a 4-way fully balanced amp with ultra-low distortion. Having an output current of up to 100mA and working at a 10V swing, make DC04PRO output to reach 280mW@32Ω.
• The iBasso in-house developed FPGA algorithm, which is used for the first time in a dongle. This coupled with a KDS femtosecond oscillator, for controlling the jitter, ensures a distortion free sound reproduction.

• A lower power consumption, 650mW in balanced mode and 550mW in single-ended mode. Furthermore, DC04PRO offers a power saving mode option, in which the power consumption is as low as 410mW.
• Top measurements, such as S/N 131dB, THD+N 0.00013% and Noise Floor 900nV or 0.9μV.

All this “sounds great”, but how is it translated into sound performance? Let’s find out!


Performance

Overall, the sound is balanced, transparent, airy, rather linear, although not boring, with good soundstage, great imaging, top dynamics and separation.

The bass is as much as it is supposed to be, and DC04PRO does not have the warmth that is sometimes present in some previous iBasso DACs. This does not mean that the low frequencies are missing, but rather the opposite; there is sufficient sub- and mostly mid-bass that leaves one more than satisfied and, most of all, the bass is taut and very well controlled.

The mids are very nicely presented, without been forward or recessed, and female as well as male vocals are very pleasing to the ears; never shouting or shy independently of how much one increases the volume. It also blends beautifully with the bass and the tremble.

The tremble is sharp and revealing, with plenty of details, without ever been harsh or hissing even in pieces that have plenty of high frequencies; you hear details that were unheard before, and the sound is crispy without though been annoying, which that alone is not a small feat.

All in all, the presentation is very well balanced, and in that sense appears to be rather linear, but it is certainly not boring; it is natural and very pleasant, something in between of analog and hi-fi sound.

What is remarkable is the transparency of DC04PRO, something which we always are coming after, but we don’t always find. Here we do!

The sound is sufficiently airy, with good soundstage, particularly in width, and if I had a complaint that might be the soundstage height and depth, although this is rather minor, and combined with the overall performance it does not really stand out.

The imaging is really great, very correct and almost holographic, while the dynamics is very broad and the separation flawless.

The power is more than sufficient, even for the most demanding and stubborn headphones and IEMs, and I can’t imagine what one would have a complaint in this department; honestly, I never considered the power of a DAC to be an issue, as people are sometimes completely unreasonable and nitpicking.

Last but not least, DC04PRO has such a low noise floor that it can be used with even the most sensitive headphones and IEMs; it always remains perfectly quiet.

All my testing was done by using the CB18 USB-C to USB-C cable, which is great and it overall elevates the performance by some margin; so, if I was buying DC04PRO, I would spend the extra money for CB18, as it certainly worth it.


Selected comparisons

One of the top DACs in the market, and one of my favorite ones, is the Questyle M15. It is beautifully made; and it has top performance and ample power. M15 is based on the flagship ES9281AC DAC chip, and it uses the famous and patented Questyle “Current Mode Amplification (CMA)” technology.

Compared to DC04PRO, M15 has a kind of a bit more linear, more hi-fi I would say, performance, which some people might prefert. DC04PRO, on the other hand, is more alive, and this is something that I personally like. Also, DC04PRO gives you the impression that has a more detailed presentation, although this might be due to its aliveness.

DC04PRO allows you to adjust the volume from the unit, while M15 does not, although it has a gain mode.

I should also mention that M15 costs almost twice as much as DC04PRO, so the latter, compared to the former, is a bargain.


Conclusion

DC04PRO is an amazing unit. It sounds uncolored, natural, organic, transparent, detailed, with good soundstage, top image, and great dynamics and separation. On top of all this, DC04PRO has an outstanding quality, for which iBasso is well known.

DC04PRO is one of the best implementations of the CS43131 chip, and one of the top DAC/AMPs in the market today. At $119.00, it is also a bargain. Certainly, a five-star performer!

Reviewer’s note: The reviewer is grateful to Paul Hu of iBasso Audio for sending him a sample of DC04PRO and to Marek Raczyński for the kind collaboration.

 

[BeowulfTheFoldin]

Man i wish hiby would put out a balanced update to the fc6 because that thing is still my favorite dongle dac amp by far, hell im using it now haha

 

[sonic2911]

I wish they had an app for iOS users

 

[Syan25]

I used my nostrils with this device.