The appearance of the Fiio X3 player on the market served as a trigger that intensified the struggle of manufacturers of “advanced” sound players in the “up to $ 300” segment and caused the appearance of at least two new models: iBasso DX50 and iHIFI 760. The first one is especially close to the X3 in terms of price and solutions used, which is why I was particularly interested in comparing them with each other, which I did as soon as I got the DX50 for tests.
IBasso is no stranger to the audio market. They release a lot of models of popular amplifiers and DACs for those who prefer to listen to music with headphones. In their achievements, there is a very interesting and ambiguous model of the portable player iBasso DX100, which surprised, firstly, with the help of the touch screen, and secondly, using the Android 2.3 operating system, albeit fairly fine-tuned. Rather uncompromising circuit design (player built on the ESS9018 DAC) led to considerable size, weight and price of $ 830 (for this price the player can be purchased on the manufacturer's website). Of course, such a price tag did not allow the company to fight for a segment of non-audiophiles who want to get high-quality sound without a hole in the budget. Watching the interest caused by Fiio X3 before the release, iBasso decided not to lag behind and released a more affordable DX50 model with a price of $ 240 (again on the manufacturer's website).
Specifications
- Supported resolution: up to 24 bit / 192 kHz
- DAC: 24 bit Wolfson WM8740
- Headphone Amplifier: Built-in up to 9 volts
- Screen: 2.4 ″ IPS touchscreen, 320 x 240
- Coaxial output: up to 24 bit / 192 kHz
- Analog outputs: 3.5mm headphone and line-out
- Volume control: 256 steps, digital
- Built-in memory: 8 GB (about 5.5 GB are available to the user)
- Memory card support: SDXC and SDHC MicroSD cards, up to 2 TB
- Gain Switch: 3 Position
- Supported formats: APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3
- Battery: compatible with Samsung S3, up to 14 hours of play (larger capacity batteries available)
- Charging time: 3 hours using adapter, 5.5 hours from USB port
- Dimensions: 64 mm x 100 mm x 17 mm
- Weight: 146 grams
Line Out:
- Frequency range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz ± 0.2 dB
- Signal to noise ratio: –109 dB ± 3 dB
- Non-linear distortion + noise : 0.003%
- Output level: 1.5 V rms (1 kHz, 0 dB)
Headphone Out:
- Frequency range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz ± 1 dB
- Non-linear distortion + noise: 0.004% (at a load of 32 Ω)
- Output level: 1.2 V (Low gain), 1.7 V (Mid gain), 3.1 V (High gain)
- Signal to noise ratio: –103 dB ± 3 dB (Low gain), –106 dB ± 3 dB (Mid gain), –108 dB ± 3 dB (High Gain) (at a load of 32 Ω)
- Output Impedance: <0.5 Ω
Package and Delivery
DX50 comes in a stylish box of small size, covered with a brown cloth without any identifying marks. Over it is put on a paper ring with a silver name of the model and manufacturer. Under the cover is the player itself, fixed on the sides of the frame, and in the bottom of the box you will find everything that comes in the kit.
In addition to the player itself, you will receive: USB cable, coaxial output cable, bag and film to protect the screen.
In general, the DX50 is clearly outperforming its competitors in terms of packaging style, although the delivery set doesn’t really shine.
Design and management
The player looks impressive and solid for the device in this price category. The metal black case with a vertical texture, good build quality and fit, lack of backlash - all this benefits the DX50, the player looks more expensive than its price, these are not typical “Chinese bricks”, having learned the value of which I want to twist with my finger at the temple.
The main control is a touch screen. By today's standards, of course, it looks quite average, but for a budget player it’s more than good: viewing angles, a picture, a sensor’s work are not satisfactory.
But no matter how good the screen is, using only it to control the player is a clear path to failure. One of the most important features of the player should be the ability to control by touch, and here you can’t do without physical buttons. The developers of iBasso understood this perfectly and made as many as 6 physical buttons.
Three are located on the front panel and are responsible for rewinding / switching tracks and for playback / pause. Two more are on the right side and allow you to adjust the volume. In the course of using the player, you understand more than ever that 256 steps of volume control are really too much, you have to keep the buttons pressed for a long time to change the volume.
The decision of the developers to place the outputs on the bottom panel seemed a bit strange: there is a linear output, a headphone output and a gain switch, while the MicroSD card slot, a USB port and a coaxial output are located on top. On the left side is the last button - the power and lock switch.
The back panel contains a single color element: the name of the player. The same panel moves up to access the battery.
The interface is designed in a restrained, minimalist style. Its functionality is typical for players of this type: the tracks can be played from the internal memory, card or USB-connected device. There is a sort by artists, albums and genres. Pleasantly pleased with the presence of an 8-band equalizer with presets, it will help to overcome problems with some headphones.
The first versions of the firmware were enchantingly raw, but the developers are actively developing it and correcting errors. At the time of this writing, version 1.2.6 is relevant, it has already got rid of most of the problems, although occasionally there are still incomprehensible slowdowns, once the player even freezes.
Measurement of a standard battery showed that the player on a single charge plays records in the FLAC format for 14 hours and 50 minutes.
Sound
To listen to the player used the following equipment.
- Headphones: Ambient Monitor AM6 HiRez, T-PEOS H-200, VSonic GR01, Fischer Audio TBA-04
- Amplifier: Fiio E12
- Records: FLAC format
The player’s sound, of course, is close to neutral, at first it seemed to me that the DX50 is prone to brightness, but after listening a little longer, I realized that it’s not so much the brightness of the sound, as the weakness of the upper bass. They are a little lacking, and this is perceived by the ear as an emphasis on HF. With the wrong selection of headphones, it gives the "sharpness" that some users on the Web complain about. In this regard, the DX50 is partly the opposite of the X3, which, on the contrary, differs in the basic version by a slightly lax and booming bass.
In addition to this problem, in general, finding fault with the player is stupid. For most users, “regular” players will be a real revelation to the DX50 (quite serious by portable standards, the DAC and the amplifier still make themselves felt), the clarity of sound, its dynamics and headphone control are far superior to solutions with simpler circuitry.
Of course, in the review of the DX50 can not do without a comparison with its closest competitor Fiio X3. In the basic version, both players play at approximately the same level, the future buyer only needs to choose between the slightly blurred bass of the X3 or the lack of bass in the DX50. But for X3, there is an inexpensive modification that corrects sound problems (transfer of an op amp to bipolar power and a number of small tweaks), for the DX50 the mod currently does not exist, although work is being done in this direction. Thus, after the modification of the sound wins X3.
Also on the side of the Fiio product is the ability to work in the mode of an external sound card, a more affordable price and superiority in power. The advantages of the DX50 are design and convenient operation.
Another problem with DX50 that foreign users complain about is the lack of official dealers offering DX50. We are more fortunate in this regard: residents of Russia can buy it, for example, in a store , and Ukrainian music lovers - use the services .
findings
Very good player, both in sound and in appearance. Taking it in hand, you understand that before you is a high-tech device that opens a ticket to the world of high-quality sound. Sophisticated control and thoughtful ergonomics complete the picture.
I can not fail to note that the competition in the segment of inexpensive players is very high, and this benefits the consumer, giving us more interesting devices for less money.
Addition: modification
As in the case of the X3, the same developed a mod that noticeably improves sound quality. Details of the mod are described. This modification removes the extra capacitors from the signal path and turns off the gain switch, which contributes to the degradation of the sound. I did not hear the result, but according to the reviews, this interference with the player removes that bass problem I wrote about.
By the way, I do not recommend to climb on the inside of the player on my own, better to entrust it to an experienced master.
The article is based on materials .
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