PCM: Up to 32bit/768kHz
DSD: Native DSD up to 512x
Size: 2.32″ x 0.93″ x .49″
Weight: 23g
4.4mm Balanced Output Power:,
510mW+510mW @16Ω, THD+N <0.1%
430mW+430mW @32Ω, THD+N <0.1%
THD+N: -120.2dB (0.000098%) @1kHz 300Ω load
Frequency Response: 10Hz-80kHz -0.5dB
3.5mm Single-ended Output Power:
210mW+210mW @16Ω, THD+N <0.1%
118mW+118mW @32Ω, THD+N <0.1%
THD+N: -116dB (0.00017%) @1kHz 300Ω load
(details in review, keep reading)
Total Score
Introduction
Nowadays, the performance of products is exponentially increasing relative to their price. Over the years, efficiency has been growing along with the competition. Today I am here with the review of iBasso DC07Pro, a product that we will observe this.
I acquired the product myself to write an independent review, I used it for about 100 hours before writing it.
Build & Design
DC07pro is a product that iBasso has created in recent years and does not depart from the now classic design line. It is not lost on me that Chinese companies are now the envy of westerners in terms of design, there is a serious progress since the design of DC06.
The iBasso DC07Pro has a tiny (0.96″) display with many settings and a 100-stage rotary pot.
Package
Our beautiful dongle DC07Pro comes in a compact cardboard box with all the essentials. I’m actually happy that they changed from the old transparent plastic box to this one. Here’s what comes out of the box:
- DC07Pro
- USB-C to C cable
- USB-C to Lightning cable
- USB-C to A converter
- User manual + warranty card
Although Iphone has been releasing phones with type c for 2 years, they didn’t forget to put a ligthning cable in the box.
Technology & Full Specs
The iBasso DC07Pro is a very powerful dongle that uses a set of 4 CS43131 dacs with no background noise. It has app support on Android and has filters that can be set on the device itself. Moreover, these filters include NOS. The iBasso DC07Pro is a good example of the use of NOS in a good delta-sigma dac, which has become increasingly common with the popularization of R2R devices.
Full Specs
Before we talk about the details in the sound part, here are all the specs:
| Output | 4.4mm Balanced | 3.5mm Single-Ended |
| Power (16Ω, THD+N < 0.1%) | 510mW + 510mW | 210mW + 210mW |
| Power (32Ω, THD+N < 0.1%) | 430mW + 430mW | 118mW + 118mW |
| Voltage (Selectable Gain) | Low: 2.8 Vrms, Mid: 3.5 Vrms, High: 4.0 Vrms | Low: 1.4 Vrms, Mid: 1.73 Vrms, High: 2.0 Vrms |
| THD+N (1kHz, 300Ω load) | -120.2 dB (0.000098%) | -116 dB (0.00017%) |
| SNR + Dynamic Range | 134 dBA | 129 dBA |
| Crosstalk | 142 dB | 136 dB |
| Noise Floor | 0.85 μV | 0.76 μV |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz-80kHz (-0.5 dB) | 10Hz-75kHz (-0.5 dB) |
You can visit iBasso to learn more.
Synergy
iBasso DC07pro With Yanyin Moonlight Ultra
The iBasso DC07Pro has a very similar sound to the DX180, but while I find the DX180 better from a technical point of view, I prefer the DC07Pro in terms of tonality. Because it’s calmer and not as bright. So the DC07Pro fits better with the Yanyin Moonligth Ultra, of course this is my personal opinion. But other than that, it’s clear that this pairing produces a slightly warm and quite technical sound, close to the neutral line. This pairing is at least as good as the FC6-Moonlight Ultra pairing. Especially when the DC07Pro is in Nos mode, a wonderfully warm guitar timbre is added to the sound of this duo. Just like this, Gary Moore – Still Got The Blues is a very pleasant listen. Everything is well separated and natural.
iBasso DC07Pro With Dita Project M
The resulting sound is a bit cold and a little bit tinny. In fact, it’s still pleasant to listen to, but the FC6-Project M pairing is much better. The technical factors are very good in this pairing. However, friends with iems such as Project M or Blessing 3 may preferably prefer sources with a warmer character. Still, the DC07Pro and Dita Project M pairing suits my personal tastes. Because this pairing has distant cymbals even though they are prominent. It’s all a matter of taste, jazz and acoustic recordings are wonderful with this pairing. But when I want to listen to metal, I plug my Project M into my FC6.
Sound
The iBasso DC07pro plays almost neutral. It has a very slightly warm timbre with very little coloration and is predominantly neutral. It has an analytical character in all filters but sounds warmer and more full bodied in Nos mode. In other filters, it has a tone closer to neutral character and supports analytical-dynamism. Overall, it has good technical performance and accurate frequency response across the entire spectrum.
When we take a detailed look at the technical framework, the iBasso dc07pro has a very inclusive sound for its size and price. Resolution and detail retrieval are quite high. However, the microdetail reproduction is not good enough to give all the nuances the texture they should have. I can’t complain about this because it’s something we expect from much more expensive devices. The DC07Pro gets along well with almost all types of music, except for overly complex tracks. However, I think it reaches its layering limit on many instrument tracks. Otherwise it has good imaging, positioning is consistent. Soundtage width and extensional size are adequate, but depth is average.
When I consider all this in the context of the price tag, I have a small smile on my face, this is quite a 4/4 sound performance for $200! It’s tonally stable, has good technique, is powerful and offers different timbres with filters. I plug my Yanyin Moonlight Ultra into the DC07Pro and hear a satisfying performance.
iBasso DC07Pro vs Hiby FC6
In this comparison, FC6 was always used in OS mode and DC07pro in NOS-Slow-LL/S filter modes. In this way the optimal states of both devices were compared.
Two dongles with very close performance, the iBasso DC07Pro is by far the more powerful. Both are technically similar, in terms of tonality the Hiby FC6 is warmer and more analog-like. Both dongles have similar microdetail reproduction, with the FC6 having the advantage in terms of texture and positioning. The stage is slightly wider and by far deeper on the FC6. If your ears are used to a warmer and more bodied source device like the FC6, you may find the DC07Pro’s sound a bit thin. There is also the other side of the coin. If your ears are used to a neutral-analytical sound like the DC07Pro, you may find the FC6 a bit too thick and overwhelming. Both devices sound close to natural. The FC6 has more volume and fullness in the lower frequencies. The FC6 is a device where vocals are relatively a little more prominent. The highs are slightly more prominent on the DC07Pro. Overall, the DC07Pro offers a more sterile sound while the FC6 is more exciting.
Last Words
What can I say, I thank iBasso for offering such a sound at such an accessible level. iBasso DC07Pro seems unbeatable in its price band at today’s date. I also don’t know how they made such a sound with CS43131s, which I’m tired of seeing everywhere. I can say that iBasso is a company that advances the industry in the dongle field.
