Sometimes I want to start a review right from the conclusions, and then I'll talk about everything in order. I will not deny myself the pleasure: became for me one of the best discoveries of last year, having pleased both with a high-quality sound and all other characteristics. But, perhaps, without details, still can not do.
Before moving on to the novelty, a few words about the previous model. OPUS # 1 showed that Koreans from theBit have their own vision of the sound and are able to implement it in the gland. The first model of their player turned out to be very interesting - a neutral feed with a slightly extended scene gives a nice engaging sound. To this, the company added a body made of polycarbonate (there is also a limited metal version) and a convenient firmware based on Android (it was recently upgraded to Android 5.1 with an interface like the older model). A noticeably reduced price made OPUS # 1 even more interesting.
I'm so detailed about the past model in order to make it clear where the "legs" from the elder grow.
After the success of the first player, theBit decided to approach the creation of the second model with the maximum scale. To begin with, they replaced the DAC with the ESS Saber 9018K2M. Whatever they say, chips from ESS are one of the undisputed market leaders. To bring the circuit to the ideal, it was decided to use two chips at once in a fully balanced connection. To this, a hybrid amplifier was used, using the op amp and discrete elements, high-precision master oscillators and other necessary elements. To support the USB DAC mode, a separate XMOS chip is used, which allows Native DSD support in this mode. Completed the picture quality screen, 128 GB of internal memory and other necessary flagship buns.
Naturally, the price tag of the model corresponds to a high rank. Of course, theBit is far from the amounts requested for the flagships of Astel & Kern or Sony, but OPUS # 2 is quite impressive 1400 dollars, however, the price may vary slightly depending on the country.
Specifications
- DAC: 2 × ESS9018K2M
- Processor: 4-core ARM Cortex v9, 1.4 GHz
- RAM: DDR3, 1 GB
- ROM: 128 GB
- Screen: 4 ", 800 x 480 IPS
- Memory Cards: MicroSD up to 256 GB
- WiFi: 802.11n
- Bluetooth: v4.0
- Battery: 4000 mAh, 3.7V Li-Polymer
- Operating time from one charge: from 9 h
- Charging time: ~ 4 h
- OS: Android 5.1.1
- Dimensions: 76 mm × 124 mm × 18.3 mm
- Weight: 252 g
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz (± 0.02 dB), 10 Hz - 70 kHz (± 0.3 dB)
- Signal to noise ratio (@ 1 kHz): 116 dB for balanced output, 115 dB for conventional
- Split channels: 135 dB for balanced output, 130 dB for conventional
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.0009% @ 1 kHz
- Output level: 2.5Vrms for balanced output, 2.3Vrms for conventional
- Supported formats: WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE (Normal, High, Fast), native DSD (DFF, DSF)
- Maximum resolution: up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DSD to DSD128
Packing and delivery kit
Well, at last, at least one of the manufacturers of audio equipment has made the box not black. Koreans decided to completely abandon the liver and go to the bright side, making a package of radically white with foil stamping. The design of the package is standard: a dense box in a thinner "dust jacket". Inside, everything is also normal, on top of the player, under it in individual boxes (still the top level) accessories. Except instructions and warranties, a pair of protective films (praise of Zeus, another one immediately glued to the screen), a quality MicroUSB-lace and an excellent case were put in the set for OPUS # 2.
As before, theBit cooperate with Dignis, so the case is made of genuine leather, perfectly fitted and looks stylish. Special thanks for the fact that the cover does not have to be bought separately.
In general, no frills, but everything that is needed for operation, is included.
Design and management
The first thing you notice after removing the player from the box is the size and weight. OPUS # 2 is quite large and, thanks to the aluminum body, weighs 250 grams. Fortunately, the designers worked on the player, so he kept the dimensions acceptable for the portable device and lies perfectly in his hand. Of course, this player is not put in the pocket of narrowed-down jeans or business shirts, but compared to, for example, Lotoo Paw Gold, it is more transportable.
The design is quite stylishly combined with different shades of colors close to black, as well as various bevels and protrusions. In general, you can estimate the look by photos, but for my taste, the look of the player turned out to be interesting and not similar to other models.
By tradition, on the left side there are three playback control buttons. On the top are two outputs: 3.5 mm for headphones, it can also be a linear output and even serve to output a digital signal through the optics. Nearby - 2.5 mm four-pin socket of the balanced output. On the other side of the upper end - the shutdown button, it also serves to lock the screen. On the right side is a volume control using an encoder. This control rotates with distinct clicks and allows you to change the playback level within 150 steps. The bottom face contains a MicroUSB connector and a microSD card slot.
The main part of the front panel is reserved for 4 "screen. Of course, it is much smaller than it could be, because the free edges of the OPUS # 2 are very wide, but for a player, a large display would be an unreasonable luxury. The screen in this player is very pleased with the quality - it has a normal resolution, good viewing angles, and even in the sun it remains more or less readable. The sensor is also reliable, which allows you to control the device without any problems.
In the case of the "second opus" a 4000 mAh battery is hiding, which allows it to work from one charge for 9 hours and 15 minutes (my standard test with MeeAudio P1 as load, medium gain, volume 60, FLAC 44.1 kHz / 16 bit). The player has a "deep sleep" mode, which allows him to be always ready to turn on in a split second and begin to please the owner with music. Charges the player from 2A charging a little less than 4 hours, in general, on nutrition - traditional for modern devices results.
Over the firmware in the Bit worked well, as in the first model, Android is used, "covered" by a custom shell, hiding all the "giblets" of the operating system. There is no access to Google Play, nor the ability to install additional software. The situation looks a little paradoxical - there is Wi-Fi in the player, but its only application at the moment is firmware update "by air". Perhaps in the future theBit will add streaming services or even the ability to install programs independently, but now this is not.
The entire interface is built around the playback screen. It is detailed, contains a very high-quality picture of the cover and all the necessary information. In the upper left corner there is a button for access to the media library. The latter allows you to view your tracks by artists, albums and genres, traditionally there is a list of all tracks for fans to listen "in a row" and view by folders. Support for playlists and favorites is also available. Navigation is simple enough, but convenient.
The player's settings are traditionally hidden in the "shutter", which can be opened with a swipe from above on the playback screen. In the curtain itself is the slider for adjusting the brightness of the screen, as well as controlling wireless interfaces, including an equalizer, a sleep timer, and repeat and mix modes. The icon with the gear allows access to the full menu of settings, everything is traditionally expected: there is a good 10-band equalizer, select a gain, switch the line-out mode, sleep timer, select the USB connection mode. By the way, the player does not support USB Mass Storage, so on macOS you will need to use Android File Transfer, however, this is unlikely to be a problem.
In general, the player interface is very convenient: the library is easy to use and quickly scanned. Will other possibilities add in the future? Will show the time, while the player is focused on playing music and copes with this task well.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: Meze 99 Classics, Lear LHF-AE1d, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser K10AU, Campfire Audio Jupiter, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
That's it such a player, perhaps, I was missing a long enough time. He has a truly flagship "level" (resolution, microdynamics, speed, etc.), but he does not add anything from himself, offering a monitor feed, while avoiding excessive dryness and loss of emotionality. In general, to paint in detail this player is simple enough, the word "correct" that is most suitable to its presentation, and this "correctness" is manifested in almost everything.
The OPUS # 2 bass is fast, outgoing to good (but not out of depth) depth, the player does not try to "dry the bottom" to depict the ideal separation of lowercase instruments, and does not add LF weights to create a pleasant "massive" effect, OPUS balances between extremes, acting out what is embedded in the record. For lovers of the colored filing of LF this player is unlikely to have to taste, but for connoisseurs of naturalness, especially with love for acoustic instruments, this player will like. The bass in this model is not only correctly textured, it is really universal: where it is necessary, it can strike, where it is necessary - smoothly and slowly envelop.
The midrange range captivates with a balanced supply - it is very detailed, but without a shaving in the razor sharpness that is often given to the sound when they want to create the effect of "detail". OPUS # 2 does without such artificial embellishments, pleasing with the elaboration of the material and the authentic transfer of emotions. The midrange of this model is very bodily and possess the necessary completeness, which is often devoid of devices with "monitor" sound. One very interesting feature of the sound of this player is that it does not push the vocalist forward, as some devices do, but positions exactly where the sound engineer conceived. The imaginary scene is constructed volumetrically, three-dimensionally, depth and width indicators are not record, but approaching them. The player qualitatively conveys the nature of the instruments, but for some reason it is the bow that succeeds him beyond measure well.
The HF range retains some of the sound characteristic of the ESS Saber - rapid attacks combined with excellent detail make this player not the best option for fans of dark sound (or HF haters), but in general, the older Opus does not have excessive sharpness, it "weighs" the amount of HF, which is conceived by the authors of music. A good study of the attacks and attenuation of the upper frequency range gives this player the opportunity to play up those small details qualitatively, which often determine the "level" of the top device - light attenuation of notes, small nuances of breathing and other, often lost by other players "fishechki." In fact, the HF band does not contain much "music" information, but it's worth spoiling it, and the quality recording loses most of its vividness and naturalness.
Comparisons in this review will be exactly one and a half since OPUS # 2 is really from the top segment, and it should be compared with a classmate, in whose role I have Lotoo Paw Gold. Plus, another sparring partner from a simpler category, though similar in filing.
Lotoo Paw Gold . In general, the players are close by what is usually defined as a "level". More precisely - LPG is slightly higher, but in the upper segment the difference is already very small compared to the difference in price. LPG offers a more focused pitch, with emphasis on emotions and macro-dynamics. In other words, if you need a player to "cut" and "tear" - this is Lotoo. In addition, the Lotoo is much stronger amp, which makes it the best option for tight full-size headphones. In contrast, "Opus" plays strictly what is put into the record and not a gram more (but not less) and at the expense of less power less noise and has a darker background.
Questyle QP1R . If OPUS # 2 no longer had a younger brother in the person of the first model, they could have become a "Bush". The same monitors and the desire for a neutral game, but a bit easier on the level. QP1R is less emotional, slightly worse than RF, slightly easier on LF, in general, in each separate nuance the difference is not great, but in the total there is a noticeable difference.
Compatibility
In general, the OPUS # 2 is not the most powerful amplifier, which has a beneficial effect on its operation with the sensitive multi-driver IEM of the top segment (I think readers of several previous reviews already understood this), it very clearly delineates the sounds without overloading the headphones and distorting their idea developers. On the other hand - to Opus do not pick tight, full-sized isodinames (without an amplifier), although for most full-size headphones it is quite enough.
Stylistically, the player is universal, however, for my taste, neutral feed is better suited for classics, various progressive types of rock and metal and other "serious" music. Sensitivity to the quality of the material is high, but not prohibitive, I would rate her scores on 8 on a 10-point scale.
As usual, several sample tracks
Vanden Plas - Vision 11even: In My Universe . The group, undeservedly shaded by the more famous representatives of the prog-metal scene. German representatives of the progressive scene in their works always focused on theatricality of the presentation. The last album at the moment, included in the two-part saga "Chronicles of the Immortals", was no exception. Excellent orchestration, catchy melody, good vocals - everything that connoisseurs of melodic and complex music need. Naturally, OPUS # 2 shows itself perfectly on this track, offering the necessary neutrality and dynamism.
上原 ひ ろ み (Hiromi Uehara) - Brand New Day . Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to call Hiromi one of the brightest stars on the modern jazz scene. This fragile Japanese woman combines in her creative work an extraordinary improvisational talent, virtuosity and amazing energy. Her current project, named simply "Trio", includes also bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips, who help to emphasize Hiromi's piano. In general, I can safely recommend any of her tracks, they are fresh, virtuosic and fascinating, but this one turned upside down first. With the technically advanced OPUS # 2, you can easily imagine yourself right in the studio, next to the piano. By the way, using the position, I'll attach a link to one of my favorite videos of this Japanese explosion of emotions.
Simon & Garfunkel - Sound of Silence . Sometimes, very little is needed to create beautiful music. Two voices, complementing each other, and simple melodic accompaniment merge in transcendental synergy, giving a result that significantly exceeds the simple sum of its components. Paradoxically, to enjoy such "simple" music, a very qualitative path is needed, and OPUS is one of their main candidates for the role of a source in it.
conclusions
In general, the player has a clear niche - a high-level source for fans of monitor feed. In it, he feels very confident, speaking on an equal footing even with more expensive competitors. Korean developers from theBit once again showed that they have their own vision of sound and they know how to achieve it at any possible level. Personally for me, this player became one of the main discoveries of last year, and it will remain in my collection of reference sources for a long time.
The article is based on materials .
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