Portable audio player Hi-End class iBasso DX80 review is the new flagship of the brand line has shifted to the post DX90 and recalling the legendary debut model DX100. Following tradition, the developers showed an uncompromising approach to the issue of the quality of components and functionality, while maintaining a reasonable price.
iBasso DX80 review is in the same price bracket that Astell & Kern JR and Fiio X5II, but it looks more solid and serious as possible and specifications, and just in appearance. Solid aluminum housing with large function keys DX80 inherited from his immediate family. Some of the changes have affected the size and shape. Regarding the DX50 and DX90 new model turned out to be a couple of centimeters long, but complicated hull shape with beveled corners DX80 makes more elegant and eliminates the harsh image of “Hi-Fi brick” which looks are not important.
In terms of ergonomics management iBasso DX80 review finally reached the pinnacle of evolution. The first player iBasso DX100 has a large touch screen and a small volume rocker, which is not allowed, for example, switch the track without looking. Models of the next generation of DX50 and DX90 received large and convenient playback controls and deduced separate volume buttons, which greatly simplifies communication with the player correctly and allowed to control the main functions without pulling the player out of his pocket. But reduced to the size of 2.4-inch touch screen, on the contrary, it demanded special attention: the small icons and small text sometimes cause problems, especially when you need to track from the list, or to carry out the setting on the go. And then, finally, all the pros and cons of previous models were taken into account. iBasso DX80 review has a large convenient playback controls, such as large and convenient volume control and in addition to this large and high-quality 3.2-inch IPS-screen with a resolution of 480×800. As a consequence of the increase of the screen player interface was larger icons and text began to read much better. The screen was more informative and much more functional use of the player is now as convenient as a smartphone.
Design: iBasso DX80 review
Incorporates the best ergonomic solutions predecessors and saving feature family features in the issue of e-filling iBasso DX80 review to show independence. How else? The flagship of the line must bring in something new, and, at least, one step ahead of counterparts in terms of quality. In place of the low-Wolfson DACs and high-tech Sabre, ES9018 came dual Hi-End chip CS4398 from Cirrus Logic with a resolution of 24-bit / 192 kHz. Previously this could only boast of much more expensive players Astell & Kern AK120 and AK240. Using the DAC CS4398 is notable not only the high-class quality of chips but also the ability to decode the one-bit formats and DSD64 DSD128. The list of formats supported by the player appears also DXD play which will take place in the course of real opportunities within the DAC.
Features: iBasso DX80 review
Other details of the design are worthy of the title of Hi-End Player. iBasso DX80 review assembled on a gold-plated six-layer printed circuit board with high-quality electronic components. The scheme used audiophile capacitors Nichicon Audio have a good reputation among the Hi-Fi and Hi-End manufacturers. Synchronization of digital part provides two high-precision MEMS-oscillator manufacturing SiTime, a feature of which is not sensitive to vibration, shake, and other mechanical noise. The protection of sensitive circuits player from radio frequency and electromagnetic interference shielding provides doubles the motherboard and the player own body entirely made of aluminum. The changes were made and the battery. Earlier iPods iBasso installed removable battery compatible with models used in smartphones famous brand. Now the lithium-polymer battery capacity of 3600 mAh is integrated into the housing. If necessary, it can also be replaced, but the procedure is more complex than ever before, and will require a service engineer experience. When playing Lossless-file, one full charge should last for 13 hours. Rechargeable own power supply 5V 2A will take about three hours, and when you try to charge the player from the USB port of the PC will have to wait as much as eight hours, which in general is not too bad, because the player can be safely left to charge overnight or slowly refuel during the working day.
The need to replenish energy on board iBasso DX80 review – is not the only possible cause of its connection to USB-port. As a portable player on the road, it turns into a USB-DAC when working with your computer, and this function is implemented at the highest level using XMOS-technology. Built XMOS-Processor provides quality asynchronous audio stream up to 32bit / 384kGts. This makes it possible to listen from your computer any files, including high-DXD and DSD. When connected to a PC running under Mac OS and Linux drivers are required, and to work with Windows will need to install a special driver, who gave the German software company Thesycon.
Function USB-DAC implemented in iBasso DX80 review is a good opportunity to get a high-quality sound from a computer outside the home, in the office, traveling or a business trip. We should provide an opportunity to use this to integrate the computer into a home Hi-Fi system. Switching player with stationary audio equipment can be carried out in various ways. Line output allows you to connect it to the integrated amplifier, and an adjustable headphone output can be used to connect directly to a power amplifier or active speakers. Digital switching is also available in full. With the coaxial and optical outputs iBasso DX80 review switched to the external DAC or digital inputs AV-receiver. Thus, in addition to its primary function iBasso DX80 can act as a USB high-DAC or USB-SPDIF transmitter and also capable of operating as an independent source of analog or the digital signal in the home Hi-Fi.
However, all this would be the largely useless supplement, if not for the high quality of their sound path DX80. It features not only an excellent DACs and advanced headphone amplifier power of 260 mW with an output impedance of less than 0.1 ohm which is able to work confidently with different headphones impedance and sensitivity, including very complex loads. Selecting the operating mode of the amplifier is not a mechanical switch on the body, as it was in previous models, and the player menu. Specifications headphone output is impressive: S / N ratio 114 dB, distortion less than 0.002%, frequency range from 17 Hz to 20 kHz channel separation is 70 dB. And on the linear output quality even higher. Such characteristics cannot always boast of stationary sources Hi-Fi class of comparable value.
The sound of the player is to be expected are high-resolution, character tends to be neutral, but it does not differ dryness or noticeable restrictions in the dynamics. Bass energetic, tight, well-articulated, the middle of a natural and expressive treble transmit a sufficient amount of air, they are transparent, clean and not pushy, even in the most difficult compositions. The sound is comfortable and has a long-term listening. In its price group player has all chances to become a leader, and quite able to compete with more expensive counterparts.
In the direct comparison of files of varying quality difference is obvious, but it is in no way leads to the desire to listen to everything exclusively in Hi-Res, in the format 16 / 44.1 iBasso DX80 review, at least, good. It is important to note that the player supports the breakdown of CD images on the CUE file, eliminating the impossible task to break the entire music library on the tracks. Listening to DSD is a special pleasure. The sound of these files is the most open, clear and gives the maximum effect of presence. The only thing you can experience is impossible to find in this format all your favorite records.
Format and quality of audio each is free to choose for him, but do not forget about the simple technical problem faced by many music lovers high resolution. One album HiRes format, whether FLAC, DSD or DXD takes 1-2 GB 4-5 GB of memory. Against this background, the memory card 32 or 64 GB does not seem to be big and one for everything this may not be enough. Developers’ iBasso aware of the problem, so the DX80 is equipped with two slots for a microSD card with support for SDXC up to 2TB! Such large maps on sale yet, but even couples currently available microSD capacity of 128GB is enough for about a hundred albums in the highest quality or 500-600 of albums in CD-quality. To temporarily expand memory and to allow listening to music with the usual stick player supports USB-OTG, but will have to get hold of the adapter separately.
Verdict: iBasso DX80 review
iBasso DX80 review is sold in a beautiful premium package, which could be called a gift. Options are not the richest but include everything necessary for the immediate start of the operation. In addition, to the player is in the box charger, high-quality USB-cable to transfer files, a cable to connect the coaxial digital output, as well as pleasant and very useful bonuses in the form of screen protectors and silicone cover designed to protect the gadget completely.
Source: ibasso
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