Review headphone iBasso IT01 — a bright beginning of the year

For what it's matter come from iBasso engineers, you can be sure that they fit him very, very carefully. Not always, of course, this provides the perfect result, but the company is clearly on top form, releasing one successful product after another. It's time to look at their budget headphones, to get the index IT01.

iBasso have shown that they can create effective solutions in this foreign field headphones. To the budget model approach proved to be even bigger, judge for yourself: patinirovannoy the thickness of the diaphragm of a multilayer graphene, a powerful magnet system with a force of nearly 1 Tesla, the resonator Hemholtz to improve bass response and reduce standing waves on HF... And it's all in the headphones cost about $ 100. If we add to this package (slightly ahead) and to consider the interests of distributors, it is unclear how this General can make. Although, of course, it's not our problem? and the manufacturer is unlikely to run at a loss. By the way, the upcoming release IT04 (still no date, but the headphones are already shown on the show), I suspect that «unity» produce run-future bass driver flagship model.

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specifications

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• Beam: 10 mm dynamic, with the diaphragm of multilayered graphene
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• frequency Range: 10 Hz – 42 kHz
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• Sensitivity: 108±2 dB
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• Impedance: 16Ω
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• Noise reduction: - 26dB
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• rated capacity: 10 mW
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: <1% @ (1 kHz, 1 mW)
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• Cable: interchangeable with MMCX connectors, oxygen-free copper
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• Plug: 3.5 mm
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• Weight (without cable): 8 g

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Packing and delivery

Even the box is surprise a qualitative approach is an unusual color dust jacket, nice printing, inner box with magnetic flap — it looks «the more expensive its price». Inside are the headphones, cable and an extensive set of accessories:

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• round metal storage container
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• three sets of three different pairs of silicone ear tips (sizes range), plus another pair, just put on the headphones
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• two pairs of foam tips

Very good container, then replacing the cover, from the outside it is metal and inside covered with soft material that protects the headphones from damage.

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Design and usability

Earphones continue vector design, given their older brother IT03, but, fortunately, take into account his flaws. The shape is still reminiscent of the «custome», but this time no protrusions abutting on the inside in the ear, no. The earphone housing is made of plastic, the outer part has the shape of a triangle with rounded edges, inner narrows to metal sound channel, providing a perfect fit. I assume that someone IT01 can not sit down, but it must be the owner of a rather unique ears.

The Earphones are designed to be worn behind the ear, sit them cable down is unrealistic. Soundproofing is slightly better average for the form factor.

IT01 available in two colour options — radical black and blue and red, after a close acquaintance with the latter, I would probably recommend the classic color named Henry Ford.

And, of course, what makes the strongest impression in this model, the wire. I already told you about that , but what they use is a kung fu in the budget model of course, I did not expect. Included cable IT01 in appearance, characteristics and design are quite able to compete with «tops» tablestate. It is made of copper purification 4N, using twisted design with a split to the plug ground. The netting is made of not very dense, according to the iBasso engineers, this improves the electrical characteristics of the wire. Very cool metal block splitter with a slider adjustment and plug. The wire itself is very soft, in the cold does not harden and is not prone to microphonic effect.

The model uses MMCX connectors, and just say disconnect it will be very difficult, although, perhaps, it should be considered more of a virtue.

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Sound

To listen To the following equipment was used.

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• and the role of the DAC and amplifier
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• Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
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• the role player
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• , and Astell&Kern A&ultima SP1000 and the other in the role of portable players
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• Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)

Before listening headphones were heated for 96 hours. The developers recommend to heat them at about 200 hours, but the actual changes in the sound stopped after 10 hours, the rest I «gogrial» soon to clear my conscience.

Like many headphones, IT01 very dependent on planting and selection tips, by varying the density of the insulation auditory canal, the sound can be changed in very wide ranges. In General, as with IT03, with a fit younger model, you may have to Tinker, but for my taste, the result is worth it. General feed «units» music, with a properly designed V-shaped frequency response and a slightly accentuated bass.

Bass headphone raised, and the lift is not made in the midbass region, as is often done by other manufacturers, and comes with the «depth», which adds more bass massiveness. Fortunately, a good high-speed characteristics of the emitters IT01 save them from stalling in a muddy bass sound here is fine textured and has good separation, but sometimes still in force physics dominates the lower part of midrange, but this can be attributed to the nature of the presentation of the model.

In strict accordance with the curves of the sound perception of people, mid then a little left (or rather, the bass, and «top» raised), but not to excess. In some cases it is possible to reproach some lack of expressiveness in the lower part of midrange, due to the dominance of the bass, but this can be offset by the source without emphasis on bass. The rest of the middle there is a good — detailed, with fine resolution, without the extra monitor dryness. Imaginary scene a little more average in width and slightly less than average depth, but the division plans, manages headphones well, as well as positioning tools.

Treble just a little accented, so very very notebooks RF-foby should skip this model, to my taste, «top» there is just as much as necessary to compensate for basovitoj. Resolution treble good, though not perfect, the attack worked well, the damping — medium, but overall — for its price range everything is fine.

As it would be desirable to dispense with the comparisons, this unfortunately will not work. Of course, to compare IT01 with all the good models in this price segment I can not, therefore, presented only some of them.

iBasso IT03. Overall, despite the difference in «level», headphones similar. Aside from the obvious difference in the resolution of MF/HF due to the emitters, IT03 emphasize bass a little less, offer less push back midrange and more «layered» tweeter with the best study attacks and damping.

Ostry KC09. It's simple, «basi» — V-shaped frequency response, «Ostry» — dark, so they have less treble, and almost all the rest of the difference is built from this. Also 09 a little more cohesive in the midrange and have a smaller amount of deep bass.

Simgot EN700 Pro. Another model, the difference of perception which is built from SC and HF bands, the Pro version 700 key in this part of the range is milder will enjoy the HF-fobov. Plus Simgot overall slightly «spagina», offering a supply of less analytic.

FiiO F9 Pro. Of course, the regular version of F9 would have been closer in price, but the difference overall is not as great as «Proshka» was closer in the box. FiiO hybrids are somewhere halfway from 01 to 03: a more detailed midrange, treble a little sharper, in General the difference is quite obvious even just with the technology.

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Compatibility

Of Course, to use these headphones with different phones and tablets little sense (although in General), they need to pick up a player, and at least beginner-intermediate level, giving preference to models with a neutral sounding (Yes even the same iBasso DX80 or Cayin N5-II).

Stylistically, the model is quite universal, of course adjusted for personal tastes, though the styles «live» tools manage her particularly well. Critical to the quality of the recording I would rate somewhere in the 6 out of 10.

Traditional tracks-examples

. How not to start a list of examples for these headphones good for jazz? IT01 offer all to immerse in the atmosphere of a jazz club: warm Foundation of bass, good treble accented, deep down. add to this high-quality recording from the Blue Note — and get the expected excellent results.

. If to the male vocals in IT01 if you want you can find fault with (although for this price — stupid), the female are able them, and this track serve proof of that. A bit of additional warmth and extended treble serve as a light seasoning, beneficial shielding «the taste».

. Well, another example of a great female vocal line decorated deep shock, I think, no surprise that IT01 do just fine in this case.

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Insights

Even if you evaluate the headphones do not listen to IT01 you can buy it for the sake of one wire, jars and accessories, but iBasso has managed to make a good sound (of course, not for everyone, but when it was not?). You can say...