I had a chance to listen to a DX90 over the weekend side by side with the 50.
My thoughts after 20 mins of listening: the DX90 HO sounds as good or better than my DX50+BH2. It is hands down better than the DX50 HO by itself. I thought the imaging was better, details were more present, it had a better separation of channels, the sound stage was wider, vocals sounded great, bass was thumpy and tight but not boomy or muddy...basically its the bomb. I loved it and will sell my combo as soon as I can put another $150 into audio. It is a clear step up from the DX50 and well worth the money. I prefer it to my 50+BH2 combo both for sound quality and size.
I did NOT think it sounded dry, flat, too bright, too dark, too warm, too cold or too anything for that matter. I now suffer from the burden of knowledge. If only I never listened to it I would still be living in ignorant bliss...
Aha, you've caught upgradeitis. But wait, if you think carefully about it Ibasso are on a steep learning curve at the moment. What they learn from the DX-50 and DX-90 (and what others do with the firmware that sounds better than stock!) will surely find it's way into a single more refined, elegant player in the future (maybe not too distant, who knows).
I have already been reading of DX-90 users pairing their players with portable amps to improve the sound! And that really poor battery life!
Just a thought MCImes, but when you did your DX-90 DX-50 comparison did you carefully volume match the outputs while listening to identical music files on each? . I am not doubting there are improvements in the HO stage, but as far as line out (with all those amp choices) is concerned I believe this becomes more a matter of preference.
Anyway, all I am trying to say is if someone enjoys their DX-50, it might be a wiser decision to wait to see what Ibasso come up with next (rather than jump on the upgrade wagon now).
maybe a slightly smaller dual Wolfson (or Cirrus Logic) player with further improved headphone AMP out and even better battery life (than DX-50), more mature UI, who knows! Whatever they do after the DX-90 it will be interesting.
DOC2008's 'Mega Sound Explosion' has made a real positive difference to the quality of the DX-50 HO and LO and I believe he plans to write this sound signature into the new DX-50 firmware when it arives. The soundstage is more accurate, as well as the mids being improved with better clarity overall. He actually has done something far more than just port the DX-90 firmware over! Also, he has a DX-100/HDP-R10 (which sounds better than DX-90 by most acounts) and in his words below was pretty pleased with the results of Mega Sound Explosion:
-I think
IT was your dream
-the thought-it looks like it's time to sell the R10
-never thought that poltinniček might
AS WELL play. DX90 standard and x 5 IMHO nervously smoking in aside
DOWNLOAD MEGA
DOWNLOAD WITH YANDEX
DOWNLOAD THE VERSION WITH THE CWM
