Ibasso it01x InTune

Aptly Named...........Aptly Engaging

EQUIPMENT

Topping a50s Headphone Amplifier

Xduoo MT-602 Hybrid Tube Headphone Amplifier (Sylvania 5654 Tubes)

SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK2 DAC

JCally JM20 Dongle

Shanling UA2

BGVP A07 Tips

Cable: Stock Cable & Kbear Limpid Pro Silver 4.4mm Balanced Cable

Sources: Flac Files From my Personal Collection / Tidal

SPECS

Impedance: 16Ohms.

Sensitivity: 108dB/mW.

Distortion: <1%.

Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-40kHz.

Single Double Sided Beryllium Coated Diaphragm

MMCX Connector

NOTES

The $139 USD iBasso IT01x is a single DD earphone sporting a driver that is Beryllium coated on both sides. It also boasts a brass cavity, probably for rigidity and lack of resonance, and uses an MMCX connector for cables. It is one of the smaller earphones I have had but just as with the Smabat NCO, size doesn't mean much except for fitment. Even though it is small, the nozzle does extend further than many other earphones and is wide as well. Tuning out of the box favors the sub-bass and mid-bass with very sweet controlled treble. Careful source selection, Tip rolling and cable selection were necessary to extract a more balanced signature and allow those high frequencies to breath and not be occasionally overshadowed by the prodigious bass output. The IT01x is not hard to drive but the mid-bass and lower midrange can take on a congested presentation which improves drastically when a source with ample power is used. A source that is warm or has bass emphasis does not match well with the IT01x and the Topping a50s turned out to be a great synergy as it is quite neutral and even can be considered somewhat "Dry", in a good way. It also has ample power particularly on its balanced out.

BUILD QUALITY & FIT

Build quality is very good and not just for the earphone but all it's included accessories as well. The iBasso IT01x is not made of metal but obvious care has been taken in it's construction. Fit is excellent for me with the small size making it almost disappear in your ear. The only issues some may have with fitment is the nozzle which is longer than usual and wide as well. The presentation out of the box is impressive as is the number and quality of accessories included. A hard case carrying box is a nice touch and the stock cable is of very good quality. A bevy of different tips are included as well as replacement nozzle filters and obviously all are of good quality and fit well. iBasso's overall retail presentation makes a definite statement that these are not a budget earphone.

:SOUND:

BASS

Bass is emphasized from mid-bass down to a very strong sub-bass. This emphasis, in stock form, can call attention to itself more often than warranted and at times tends to overshadow other parts of the frequency spectrum. With some tip/cable rolling and being driven from the Topping a50s, the sonics were brought back into a more balanced perspective. Bass while strong with average speed lacked some definition. On "Circumstance" by Wayman Tisdale, the power of the bass was there but the texture of the bass that drives the track was partially blurred. This was also the case on "The Journey Inwards" by LTJ Bukem. Bass power was there but just lacking enough detail to make the bass interesting. On tracks such as "Protection" by Massive Attack, this lack of absolute definition was not as apparent, and "Emotions Electric" by A Guy Called Gerald did again highlight the visceral bass presentation. All in all the bass of the IT01x can be fun at times but lacks the absolute definition that some of it's competitors possess, most of whom though cannot match the prodigious bass output of the iBasso. While pleasing with much electronic music, the lack of definition does become very apparent with Jazz and acoustic music.

MIDS

The midrange can be quite intimate sounding with this being more apparent on female vocals than males. Without careful tip/cable/source selection the mids can be easily overshadowed by the bass at times. This effectively lessens the details and openness of the midrange. When dialed in, the mids favor more macro-details than micro-details and have a warm lean. Female vocals in particular are very clear with male vocals being not that far behind. There is an interesting rise in the upper-mids that really makes it easy to lock on to some female vocals in a very engaging way. There is absolutely no harshness of stridency noted as well and a general smoothness to the presentation that can be quite alluring. One thing of note is that the iBasso IT01x does not candy coat poor recordings. While quality recordings generally sound very good, if your main staple is low bitrate lossy music files, the IT01x will clearly highlight the sonic failings of your music collection.

TREBLE

When dialed in, the treble has a detailed quality with a sweetness and is extended with just enough shimmer and air to make things interesting. There is no thankfully no trace of stridency, grain or harshness and just like the mids, it's ample macro over micro details here. I found the treble surprisingly good being also satisfying and did very much enjoy their presentation. There are times when I was taken by surprise at the organic quality of the treble. Very smooth indeed. I would have to say that the treble was the star of the show here as long as the quality of the recording was high enough.

IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE

The iBasso IT01x out of the box can suffer with respect to imaging. The prodigious, I would say bass-head level, lows can serve to muddy and collapse the soundstage. As mentioned earlier, it is critical to match Tips/Cable and Source to extract the best performance and realize what the IT01x is capable of with respect to imaging. When this is done the IT01x throws a very clearly layered & pleasant soundstage with ample width and above average depth and height. "Stimela (The Coal train)" by the late great Hugh Masekela was a joy to listen to. It is a live recording that is captured very well. All the elements had their positions in the soundstage and air around them was palpable. This really hits home the need for the iBasso IT01x to be paired with a clean well muscled source. Lesser sources, such as the surprisingly good Jcally JM20 were auditioned and just couldn't make the IT01x open up enough. "Inertia Creeps" by Massive Attack can sound too homogenous and closed in on lesser earphones. the "dialed in" iBasso really made this track a pleasure to listen to. Timbre is actually quite good on the IT01x and lends itself to that organic feel mentioned earlier.

VERSUS

- Hidizs Mermaid MS2

These two earphones present markedly different sonic characters. The MS2 is more bright/neutral compared to the bass/neutral IT01x. Bass output is easily superior on the IT01x but the MS2 has an easy win on quality, detail and definition. The MS2 is also tops in this comparison with respect to micro-details and overall speed including transient impact. In particular the leading edge of transients are more defined with the MS2. The iBasso is more organic sounding but falling behind the MS2 with respect to the presentation of texture in particular in the bass region. The IT01x can sound more intimate with the MS2 having it's mids just a touch pushed back in comparison. Imaging goes to the dialed in IT01x. The MS2 is no slouch, but the organic sonics and ample layering just wins the day here for the iBasso. I want to point out that the MS2 is not inferior with respect to layer separation at all and does excel in that regard. It's just the organic nature of the iBasso that really shines here.

- Kbear BElieve

Both have a very organic and mature presentation but there are definite differences. Bass is also elevated, though not as much, and more detailed with the BElieve. Neither is a texture & detail monster with respect to bass, but the BElieve takes a win here. Bass speed though is comparable. The sub-bass on the IT01x is also stronger than the BElieve, but with respect to overall bass quality, the BElieve takes the win. Both have an intimate yet not "in your face" midrange delivery with a touch of warmth. Both are mature and organic in how the midrange is offered. Note weight on either is also very good. If I'd have to split hairs, I'd give the nod to the BElieve. Midrange details are just more present with the BElieve and even though both are very engaging. With respect to the treble, the iBasso IT01x pulls ahead. Clarity is great on both but the iBasso's treble is just seem a hair more realistic and smoother while not sacrificing detail retrieval.

Conclusion

Initially I found it difficult to come to grips with the iBasso IT01x. It just sounds that much different than the slew of recent earphones that I've had the pleasure of experiencing. It took a few days to really dial in the performance which was time well spent. Interestingly enough a respected member of one of the Facebook groups I'm involved with noted how the iBasso IT01x was thought of as sounding much like the Blon 03. This hit me as I really understood and appreciated where that sentiment came from, with some serious caveats of course. The general tuning target is similar for sure but it's in the details where the iBasso IT01x really separates itself . It is an earphone that demands some quality time to really unlock its true potential. If you like an organic sounding presentation with strong bass and sweet treble the iBasso IT01x could be your joy.