mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
Posts: 1,003
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Post by mrarroyo on Nov 17, 2011 11:35:02 GMT
I picked up last night my newest portable amp, the iBasso T5. You can read about it at: www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=75www.ibasso.com/download/2011113133335.pdfWhen I first plugged to the line out of the iBasso D-Zero the sound via an Audio Technica ATH-ESW9 was pretty bad. The bass was so overpowering that I did not want to keep listening. Also due to the overwhelming amount of bass the top end was missing. I left the unit burning in overnight and I have been listening to the same combo for the last 45 minutes and I can say that the sound is much better. The bass has calmed down and it is allowing the mids/top end to cut through, a much more enjoyable presentation and one I hope continues to improve over the next 100 hours or so. According to other users and iBasso this is a much better sounding unit than their previous efforts regardless of price. I can understand a manufacturer making such an statement, but some users whose "ears" I trust after years of comparing notes are agreeing with iBasso so I am going to listen closely to "check their hearing" I will post more over the next few days but no final opinion till Monday or so.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
Posts: 1,003
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Post by mrarroyo on Nov 19, 2011 0:06:12 GMT
The unit continues to settle, now has about 35 hours of burn in. I found that if you start charging the battery you cannot use the amp! I wish that was not the case.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
Posts: 1,003
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Post by mrarroyo on Nov 20, 2011 14:48:25 GMT
Up to about 60 hours of burn-in much smoother. The battery lasts a tad over 20 hours of continuous playtime then the T5 starts to distort.
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
Posts: 1,003
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Post by mrarroyo on Nov 28, 2011 11:20:57 GMT
Comparison of the iBasso D4 Mamba (w/ TopKit w/ buffers bypassed), D-Zero, T5 versus Leckerton Audio UHA4 (AD8610).
What an interesting afternoon, it has been a while since I set aside time to compare portable amps and so I found myself enjoying myself quite a bit with 4 examples from iBasso and Leckerton Audio. Since three of the units are amp/dac combos I decided to use the line out of the D4 Mamba to feed the T5, D-Zero, and the UHA4. The D4 Mamba sports the TopKit from HiFlight except the buffers are bypassed since IMO the unit sounds better that way.
The D4 Mamba was fed from an iMac 3.06 using iTunes 10.5.1 and BitPerfect version 0.32. The files were from Joe Pass Unforgettable album in Apple Lossless. The cans used were an Audio Technical ATH-ESW9 and all the components were fully burnt in with the T5 having the least amount at 192 hours.
Since age has a lot to do with the listening experience I am 53 YO and I listen at low levels ... 65-68 dB on average with peaks into the low 70 dB’s.
First I compared the iBasso T5 with the D-Zero. I found the T5 go be more open, clear, and with better detail. I also find the T5 to have better treble extension. So overall IMO the amp section of the T5 is the better sounding of these two units.
Next I compared the iBasso T5 with the Leckerton UHA4. I found the T5 to have better bass and overall a punchier and gutsier presentation. On the other hand I found the UHA4 to be more open, extended and clearer. The UHA4 has a wider soundstage. Not a night/day difference but enough to notice. Perhaps the difference is due to the abundance of bass in the T5. IMO for the cost difference I would go with the UHA4 over the T5.
Next I compared the iBasso T5 with the D4 Mamba, of course the dac in the D4 fed itself while I used the same IC to connect the D4 to the T5. Although you can hear the iBasso similarities between these two units the D4 is to my ears the clear winner by its musicality and ability to draw me into the music. It has a better top end with great clarity and definition, the bass in the T5 continues to be the best among the 4 units compared but not enough to make it to the top.
Lastly I compared the iBasso D4 Mamba with the Leckerton Audio UHA4. The D4 has a wider soundstage, and more air between the notes. The D4 is the more engaging and musical of the units and gets the top spot.
So in closing I prefer the D4 Mamba with the HiFlight TopKit w/ buffers bypassed. This is followed by the UHA4 which has the best volume pot of all the portable units I have used under $275- $300 regardless of manufacturer. The T5 follows not too far behind and the D-Zero rounds up the pack.
The differences between the first three are not huge but to my ears noticeable. If you need to save some money and size is of importance then the iBasso T5 is for you. If you can spare the funds and do not mind opening the unit up to replace the op-amps then the iBasso D4 Mamba would be the way to go. If space is important and you need a dac then go for the UHA4 by Leckerton Audio.
I realize my findings are quite different from others who have compared these units but, we all hear differently. Cheers and thanks for reading.
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