iBasso DX100 Reference DAP Impression

[Haonan]

I will think it is made by iBasso but customized for Hibiki Intersound.

Hi Randius bro, I think u got the names mixed up. The iBasso R10 DAP will still be made by iBasso directly, but distributed soley by Hibino Intersound as its main JP distributor. (also distributor for Shure products in Japan)

As for the original R10 accessories that are exclusively for sale only in their JP market like the monoblock (is that their desktop stand? not very sure as I haven't been following HF threads much lately), I may be able to help u guys arrange to bring them in by importing in myself, since I got contacts atm in Japan. Maybe once you have concrete details on sale date and pricing liao, you can update this thread and I will see what I can do for you guys (I'm abt to convert my HWZ account to Deluxe membership soon anyway, so I shd be able to do future MOs for u guys for the related R10 accessories)

Cheers!

 

[Randius]

Hi Randius bro, I think u got the names mixed up. The iBasso R10 DAP will still be made by iBasso directly, but distributed soley by Hibino Intersound as its main JP distributor. (also distributor for Shure products in Japan)

As for the original R10 accessories that are exclusively for sale only in their JP market like the monoblock (is that their desktop stand? not very sure as I haven't been following HF threads much lately), I may be able to help u guys arrange to bring them in by importing in myself, since I got contacts atm in Japan. Maybe once you have concrete details on sale date and pricing liao, you can update this thread and I will see what I can do for you guys (I'm abt to convert my HWZ account to Deluxe membership soon anyway, so I shd be able to do future MOs for u guys for the related R10 accessories)

Cheers!

Thanks haonan for offering to help. Yah, got the name mixed up. Should be HIBINO Intersound.

Yes, the monoblock is a desktop stand (and also cable manager) to reduce the vibration caused by other devices resting on same surface, like laptop. DX100 is actually pretty susceptible to this. For guys who are interested, please note the stand does not offer any other functionality like charging the device.

 

[TeamStereo]

The monoblock will fit both the DX100 and the R10 since its like the same thing? Should get one for myself

 

[Randius]

Just found out a little more info about the accessories. The monoblock is really solid aluminium block thus weighs around 2KG. It also has an anti-static patch on the resting area for the DX100/R10. As for the case, in addition to silicon, there is also a leather flip-style case available.

 

[racoiaw]

2kg! Like carrying laptop around sia

 

[Randius]

2kg! Like carrying laptop around sia

It is worse than carrying laptop... But then this thing is never meant to be carried around

 

[TeamStereo]

Really worst than laptop =( but laptop with all the stupid adaptor is worst. -.-

 

[dqwong]

iBasso

DX100 Firmware V1.2.3 Jul 31st, 2012

hmmm...

going to try now.

 

[TeamStereo]

Its a good update using it currently =)

 

[dqwong]

New firmware seems to have widen the soundstage.. maybe it's just my ears or something.

There's some kind of reverb/echo....

 

[TeamStereo]

A lot more smooth too =)

 

[Promethus]

Woot! Can't wait to try!!

 

[dqwong]

I think those that have previously evaluated the DX100 on the older firmware should give this player another shot, because the new firmware sounds so much better than any of the previous releases to my ears. Finally they have nailed the vocal naturalness/realism that was lacking in the previous firmware(previous versions have a very small hint of artificialness/roughness/harshness to the vocals).

 

[kenz]

Downloaded and installed v1.2.3.

Agree it is possibly the best firmware update (SQ wise) to-date for DX100.
Most apparent improvements are,
1. soundstage > significantly wider than previous firmware.
2. bass > greater presence of bass (not more forward), punchier.
3. mids emphasized > vocals are a (little) bit more forward.

UI got smoother and gapless is back. Navigating the menu and UI is very smooth and stable.

The gap in SQ between the DX100 and Sony Z have widened further after this firmware update.

Basically, iBasso took firmware 1.0.3 and 1.1.7 and refined their best traits together.

Unfortunately, some niggles are present.
1. Accessing music files (internal memory and sd card) from directory, lead to unresponsive music info display on homescreen and clicking open the music player widget.
2. Pressing power button to go to go to sleep triggers the "thump" sound and reoccur whenever screen display goes to sleep during music playback.
3. There is a few seconds (3 ~ 5 sec) delay when switching/jumping track out of order or between albums.
4. The player during playback gets hotter than previously at firmware 1.0.3.

Niggles 1 and 2 seem to self rectify when switching the access of music files through album instead. odd.

Hopefully, the rest of the niggles will solve themselves after some usage (which seems to be the case for a number of users on head-fi).

Will need to monitor this firmware for a while.

 

[Promethus]

When accessing through directory. Music will stop when display is off.

Albums re organized my files. Everything is chaotic now.

 

[LouisLoh]

When accessing through directory. Music will stop when display is off.

Albums re organized my files. Everything is chaotic now.

Can't anyone just put up something that WORKS and sounds good at the same time?

 

[kenz]

Can't anyone just put up something that WORKS and sounds good at the same time?

Agree.

iBasso DX100 hardware + Sony Z software = win

 

[TeamStereo]

Agree.

iBasso DX100 hardware + Sony Z software = win

Maybe that will make it cost around $2000

 

[dqwong]

Can't anyone just put up something that WORKS and sounds good at the same time?

Hifiman HM601/801/901? Got hardware buttons also..

 

[dqwong]

Finally find out the technical description of Digital filters Slow Roll Off vs Fast Roll Off:

The internal Fast Roll-off filter pre-installed in the Sabre DAC.
On the OLED display panel this appears as “Sabre Fast Roll-Off”

This is a ‘classic’ FIR filter with symmetrical coefficients, hence it is linear phase and non-dispersive. It achieves excellent suppression of -115db, and so has to have a relatively large group delay of 35 samples. That means, that for a CD at 44.1Khz the group delay is about 800uS. (less for higher sample rates). This filter exhibits pre-ringing, but achieves perfection in rejection: no sample rate artifacts above 22.05Khz are present in the output.
The internal Slow Roll-off filter pre-installed in the Sabre DAC.
On the OLED display panel this appears as “Sabre Slow Roll-Off”

This filter is designed to reduce the group delay present in the Fast Roll-off filter. It is a symmetrical impulse response (i.e. it has symmetrical coefficients), it is linear phase and non-dispersive. It achieves good rejection but the rejection begins slowly, 24Khz or so is present in the output if the music content has signals near 20khz, but signals higher than that are suppressed. The group delay however is much less, being only 6.25 samples or 140uS at 44.1Khz. This filter also exhibits pre-ringing.

Overview of New Filters: Version 2.1 and later