The discovery thread!

[o0genesis0o]

What is your primary music source file?

Lossless?
Lossy?
Streaming?
Youtube?
Vinyl?
CD collection?
Live music concert listener?
Bluetooth?





https://www.facebook.com/binylsg/po...AE5yoGjMfCVJ6p2RAXg5ZAC2GyuDoa3fwzjZTJGVEB8cl

Serious, good chain sounds like magic everywhere

 

[gadgetgod]

Serious, good chain sounds like magic everywhere

Nah man, YT sound so congested Spotify I find a little dry, and Amazon music the worst of the lot(we don't have HD here). Apple Music<Tidal<Qobuz. This is my preference.

 

[Leonarfd]

Still interested and thinking about ordering the R4 tomorrow, need an Android dap for my work setup.

I guess other than some improved hardware changes, there will be some improvements:

I was kinda sceptical on this anime tuning, but should be okay.

 

[DynamicEars]

You saying that the DC Elite dongle give you better sound than the Fiio M17?
I'm not sure about it.
I did try the mojo 2 that considered by many as one of the best and the M17 blow it away.
The thing that is great about the M17 is the power.
Even for iems that doesn't require a lot of power, the M17 can open them up even more and give you big, powerful and immersive sound.
Until I'm gonna try the DC-elite myself i cannot believe that such a small device could improve the sound so much.

I was as skeptical as you, and M17 was my endgame source, so it's very normal when someone praising DC Elite is sounded like shilling, or honeymoon period over new toy but The DC Elite is the real deal.

Yes M17 has better power but DC Elite wins in overall dynamic attack, when M17 have very details on treble extension but DC Elite also has this too, but with better transient attack, Its neutral tonality with everything become so clear, vivid, dynamic, make the bass tighter while slam better and deeper, and cut your instruments into surgical layering in the space. All presented in literally 0 noise. When you go to DC Elite thread, these similar praises are all around, I know it's too good to be true.

I give my DC Elite more power by connecting to the SMSL SH-9 (THX AAA 888 chipset) and my M17 has to surrender.


Oh yeah I paid full price for my DC Elite, so it's not review unit and I don't have any connection with ibasso aside from normal happy customer

 

[anli]

there will be some improvements

It is difficult to understand what is changed except for moving output bjt-s from class A to class AB. They say it isn't some kind of EQ-ing, then what? Or is it just class B (to get more 40% of playback time)? Then "crisp" means crossover distortions. Or what? Unclear...

 

[-rowan-]

This thing is nuts. I'll have to re-evaluate my entire collection with this dongle.

because I can’t spend 400-500$ on a DAC LOL

The question is, can you spend $400 on a DAP? Or IEM? If yes, the DC Elite should be a top contender. If no, I understand, but the DCE should be high on the wishlist should you plan to save up for a nice audio toy in the near future.

The Elite. It'll make you redo your entire ranking list.

Suddenly there's so many more layers to the music. That bass quality has been unlocked.

Told ya guys. I totally forgot I have Fiio flagship M17 and modded WM1A since I'm using DC Elite. Definitely my best buy not only for 2024 but maybe since the Mest or Z1R. Especially on that price.

Next is @o0genesis0o

Best dynamics + layering and imaging and soundstage source under $2000.

In releasing the DC Elite, Ibasso pretty much eliminated a large swathe of their own product line (as well as that of other brands). And yes, paid for it with my own hard earned money, not a review unit, not paid to give impressions etc.

It’s a hard one to beat for anyone who likes a more dynamic, tighter, punchier, more impactful, more textured bass and a larger soundstage for better layering and imaging with a very quiet, black background. Sure, something like my N7 and Tsuranagi, which have been my daily rig ever since I got them, is still going to be more refined and nuanced but I don’t deny I’ve been reaching for them far less now. And the DCE continues to surprise me with what it can do for IEMs I thought I knew.

Case in point. I’ve been revisiting the Penon Volt in recent days. Past flagship, several years old. It was what brought me back to the hobby in 2021 (and yes I paid full price for it, without even the members’ discount because I didn’t know about it at the time). Its bass was never the star of the show, even by standards back then. Not exactly defined or textured or impactful. Always played a supporting role to the mids. It does scale up well, and I’ve been fortunate enough to own some decent gear. But it’s getting new life with the DCE now. This is one of the IEMs that defined my headfi journey and even so I’ve never heard its bass come into its own like this in my years with it.

What is your primary music source file?

Lossless?
Lossy?
Streaming?
Youtube?
Vinyl?
CD collection?
Live music concert listener?
Bluetooth?





https://www.facebook.com/binylsg/po...AE5yoGjMfCVJ6p2RAXg5ZAC2GyuDoa3fwzjZTJGVEB8cl

All of the above.

But - and this has been especially so since the DC Elite arrived - it has been mostly Apple Lossless. Still Bandcamp for music discovery though. And the things I love, I purchase at the highest available bit rate, so my big FLAC library is still growing. Still have loads of CDs and vinyl though realistically speaking I hardly ever reach for those now.

Have you heard the Cadenza 4 or S15 from Letshouer?

I may have missed it but I would be very interested in any comparisons of the S12 2024 with the Cadenza 4. I wasn’t going to pay it any heed after the kilobuck Cadenza 12 that failed to impress me at all, but the 4 came as a pleasant surprise and I’m glad I checked it out - very balanced and well tuned at just a fraction of the price of the 12. Would buy if a good offer comes up.

Do you use your RS2 with Dual SD Cards? (This was another feature that made this DAP so attractive other than the R2R)

No but when the spring in one of the slots crapped out on me, the other slot sure came in useful. I know I should just send it back for repair but have put it off for the longest time because of all the uncertainties involved in sending something back to China.

Out of all of them. Even the AirPods Max.

Without a Doubt AirPods Pro 2nd Gen . (I have Both USB C & Lightning models ) have the BEST! Transparency Mode.

Conversational Awareness is just Insane. ( I love how it automatically adjusts loud frequencies out , The H2 chip is amazing Tech.)

Really am looking forward to this Hearing Aid firmware update to test them out.

Looking forward to the APP2 update as well! It has to be said though, that good as they sound and amazing as their tech is, they’re still some ways off compared to some of the “conventional” gear we have. Don’t get me wrong, I travel with them all the time and their ANC is indispensable, especially on long flights. But on one recent trip, I somehow ended up using them pretty much exclusively for about two weeks and when I finally had a chance to reach for the tiny Penon Vortex and R3II that I also had with me, it felt like manna to the ears.

Possibly why I thought I had them too loud on the Burning Rig. But they were only at listening volume when I took them out of my ears .

Possibly, though the nozzles wouldn’t have been covered either when they were on your burning rig, or would they? I did wonder about the large vents but didn’t actually suspect a thing until it was mentioned on the thread.

 

[Nimweth]

With the Penon os133 I am rediscovering some of my older IEMs. Dug out my TRI Starsea today, threw some Spiral Dots on and listened to this, amazing. Starsea now in top rotation!

 

[Ozboyblu]

Looking forward to the APP2 update as well! It has to be said though, that good as they sound and amazing as their tech is, they’re still some ways off compared to some of the “conventional” gear we have. Don’t get me wrong, I travel with them all the time and their ANC is indispensable, especially on long flights. But on one recent trip, I somehow ended up using them pretty much exclusively for about two weeks and when I finally had a chance to reach for the tiny Penon Vortex and R3II that I also had with me, it felt like manna to the ears.

I think just about every IEM in my collection, sounds better than the AirPods Pro Gen 2. Just because of the wired Lossless connection. Nothing worse than listening to your favourite track , on say the SHOCK ️ for example , then putting that same track on Apple Music with AirPods Pro 2 using Bluetooth AAC. Night and day better on a wired connection. I really do hear a difference. but in saying this. AirPods Pro have their benefits, that IEM’s don’t have. ANC is unreal, Multi point seemless switching from all my apple devices. Conversational awareness on phone calls. Siri integration Etc. So many features. I look at APP2 as a complimentary device rather than a replacement of my IEM’s.

Possibly, though the nozzles wouldn’t have been covered either when they were on your burning rig, or would they? I did wonder about the large vents but didn’t actually suspect a thing until it was mentioned on the thread.

I’d say the vent does contribute to the noise level. Would also depend on the surface of burning rig area. Hard or soft surface would depend on a reflective or dampened sound levels.

 

[-rowan-]

These cablemakers on AE are pretty good with custom configurations. If you message them prior to purchasing and ask to customize the cable to something they don't have listed like a regular 2pin connector, swapping a modular plug to a fixed plug or vice versa, or even changing the color of the hardware, they're pretty open with making those adjustments. They may charge extra, but I've never had to pay more than what they have listed on the site, but I've only ever asked them to change from a modular plug to a fixed 4.4mm.

+1 to this. I regularly ask for my usual preferences - no earhooks, 2-pin connectors to fit recessed sockets - and they are always happy to oblige.

Fun story - here is the most extreme customisation I’ve asked for. XINHS had a 2-wire silver-palladium cable that I liked enough to ask them about the possibility of making an 8-wire version and they not only obliged, but apparently liked it enough to continue making and selling more.

So this is the result:

The pics in the listing are the ones they took of my cable after completing it. They must have made many more and I’m a bit surprised they didn’t redo them after the cable took off.

 

[DynamicEars]

In releasing the DC Elite, Ibasso pretty much eliminated a large swathe of their own product line (as well as that of other brands). And yes, paid for it with my own hard earned money, not a review unit, not paid to give impressions etc.

It’s a hard one to beat for anyone who likes a more dynamic, tighter, punchier, more impactful, more textured bass and a larger soundstage for better layering and imaging with a very quiet, black background. Sure, something like my N7 and Tsuranagi, which have been my daily rig ever since I got them, is still going to be more refined and nuanced but I don’t deny I’ve been reaching for them far less now. And the DCE continues to surprise me with what it can do for IEMs I thought I knew.

Case in point. I’ve been revisiting the Penon Volt in recent days. Past flagship, several years old. It was what brought me back to the hobby in 2021 (and yes I paid full price for it, not even a members’ discount because I didn’t know about it back then). Its bass was never the star of the show, even by standards back then. Not exactly defined or textured or impactful. Always played a supporting role to the mids. It does scale up well, and I’ve been fortunate enough to own some decent gear. But it’s getting new life with the DCE now. This is one of the IEMs that defined my headfi journey and even so I’ve never heard its bass come into its own like this in my years with it.

Exactly same experience with me. I mean the Z1R is with me for quite sometime (They're 2018 flagship), paired with sony DAPs, with Fiio DAPs and settled with the flagship M17, tried others DAP too but couldn't beat the M17 pairing. But with DC Elite, the Z1R is like magically upping to half level above, addition to already great bass, and redefine the resolution, clarity and dynamic attack and then sharpen the imaging and layering. This is where I reach end game, or at least for loooong time until another step up point (if I'm willing to, like Annihilator 2023) but spending $3000 for like 5% increment is very high in diminishing return.

The DC Elite is a very value device that actually a flagship class source, disguise as a dongle.

 

[cagix]

Dc elite is must have product it is product everybody need it and class benchmark. For years i have listen to product i have and some i was tryiing. I have aune m1s. Astell sr 25, fiio m 11 ess plus 2. Listen to ibasso dx 200, hiby r 6 pro first gen, mojo first, chord qutest and gustard a 26. Only one is better gustard a 26.

 

[Leonarfd]

iBasso DX180 - SONY WM1AM2 - HIBY R8

Each of their built in music player and screen comparison, other than more resolution the R8 II and WM1AM2 is similar. The DX180 is more contrast full and vibrant.


Side comparison:

 

[Ferdinando1968]

That's what I thought before as well. But HOLY! This is a massive sq upgrade. It's turned this $34 budget planar into one of the best things I've ever listened to.
And I already had the DX180, Q15, Onix, TP50, CDA-M1P, KA17, Martha...

It is a hard machine to beat as SQ.
I have DACs up to just under 1K USD, and it sounds better than all of them (and to think that I like ‘warm’ signatures).

That said, it is not that you can’t survive without it, or that I don’t like the rest I have anymore, on the contrary.

But the fact is that when I want to test an IEM, I use ELITE.

Round and round or always the ELITE connected.

 

[Ferdinando1968]

What is your primary music source file?

Lossless?
Lossy?
Streaming?
Youtube?
Vinyl?
CD collection?
Live music concert listener?
Bluetooth?





https://www.facebook.com/binylsg/po...AE5yoGjMfCVJ6p2RAXg5ZAC2GyuDoa3fwzjZTJGVEB8cl

When I'm out walking:
ROON+local files or streaming+BT

When I'm at home or in office:
ROON+local files or streaming+lossless

 

[cagix]

Iam surprised because iam not basshead any means. But quite like it how punchy is dc elite with timsok ts 316. How bass is hard. There are quite some things i liked it. Like clearness, opennes, transient response etc.