iBasso DC04 Headphone AMP Review

Author：Andy.EF

DAC Chip: Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC (Dual)

PCM 32-384kHz DSD256, SNR: 133db , Power: 4 Vrms 195mW 32Ω, USB Type-C Female, 4.4mm BAL (Microphone: NO), Metal Chassis with SPC Cable

Firmware: 20210319_v1p0_EE_9302_R06_R15 (V1.1.0 April 2,2021)

Strengths:

• Neutral and natural smooth, crisp timbre, uncolored tonality
• Vibrant sparkly dynamics, well controlled articulation
• Reference grade coherence with pristine clarity all over, very transparent
• Balanced Mids with rich textures and definition, crisp Male/Female vocals
• Silky smooth Treble with matured finesse, depth, extension, and textures
• Punchy richly textured Mid-Bass with crisp decay
• Deep, richly textured Sub-Bass with great decay
• Excellent details retrieval, Macro and Micro. Well nuanced
• Realistic guitar, piano, cello, and bass guitar tones, vivid yet smooth
• Realistic sounding percussions (chimes, bells) and drums and taps
• Massive soundstage with great depth and spacing.
• Reference grade imaging, razor sharp precision with spacious spatial staging
• Reference grade speed and transients handling, no congestion
• Completely black background, zero floor noises
• Zero signs of coarseness or grainy edges, at any frequency
• Great sibilance resistance even on peaky songs
• VERY forgiving on Lo-Fi and lower quality sources
• The MOST Powerful drive at 45/100 for Monolith M565c & Tin HiFi P1 Magnetic Planars
• Flexible synergy with wide variety of IEMs and Headphones
• Beautiful, lightweight, and elegant metal construction
• Easy to update firmware: https://ibasso.com/dcseries2/

Weaknesses:

• No hardware volume adjuster
• May not appeal to those preferring warm timbre.
• Only with 4.4mm Balanced Jack, require Pentaconn cable replacement.

VERDICT:

iBasso DC04. This bigger sibling of the DC03 is about as similar sounding in every manner – and they both should because they are identical inside. Sparkly, resolving, transparent and vibrant. Now with HUGE driving power of 4 Vrms from the 4.4 Pentaconn port. It makes driving Magnetic Planars like a walk in the park, not even touching 60/100 even on the lowest volume recordings. With balanced circuit, the DC03 goodness now have an improvement with the soundstage being a bit more spacious and wider, even better spaced layers with great imaging (not that DC03 was lacking, but the improvements do help). As how I already noted for DC03, all these thanks for iBasso masterstroke of keeping the Firmware updated and thus keeping these two DC siblings highly relevant in present day contest. I am impressed and I liking what I am hearing from both of them. Oh yes, DC04 is the most POWERFUL dongle tested so far with that 4 Vrms.

DC04 vs Ovidius B1:

• Ovidius B1 exhibited slightly more audible micro details.
• Ovidius B1 has slightly thicker bodied timbre and bass decays
• DC04 has more pronounced treble sparkle
• DC04 has slightly spaced back Mids, B1 a bit more forward

OVERALL RATING: 98/100

Recommended Pairing: Anything up to 250Ω or above 94db sensitivity.

Relative articles

USB DAC/Amp Dongles, Reviewed and Rated