iBasso D16 TAIPAN Delivers Incredible Performance with Ultra-low Distortion and Class A Amplification Unique 1bit Discrete DAC developed in-house by iBasso New FPGA-MASTER achieves a leap forward in sound quality & measurements Class A amplification section based on the flagship DX320MAX Cutting edge components and construction Bloom's Take iBasso’s MAX series players are unique DAPs that transform all-things-standard into full-on “Beast Mode.” The D16 Taipan DAC/Amp and the PB5 Osprey portable tube amp represent parsed-out, separate devices that capture elements of the MAX limited edition experience but with some flexibility. But the D16, while incredible paired with the Osprey, is a fully functional DAC/Amp in its own right with a fairly simple interface. It’s not pocketable, but it’s definitely transportable and surprisingly light given its size. It features an industrial-looking black chassis, smooth glass window, and stepped attenuator. You get USB-C and mini-coax/optical inputs, separate USB-C charging port, and both 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone/line-outs. Taipan leans into the more analytical end of iBasso’s sound with an extraordinarily high level of detail. It’s got enough juice to manage a decent range of over-ears, but if you’re looking for a high-end portable DAC with an ultra-clean, detailed reference sound without the need for a high wattage output, Taipan’s Class A amplification is excellent. Taipan and Osprey’s pure focus on sound quality matches or exceeds the competition. Together or apart, D16 Taipan and PB5 Osprey offer excellent portable experiences individually or combined for a truly TOTL flagship transportable duo. Check out our full review on the D16 paired up with the iBasso PB5 Osprey tube amp. New from iBasso D16 is a DAC that utilizes iBasso's in-house developed FPGA-Master 2.0 as the core and employs 16 sets of cascaded 8E PWM-DACs, with a total of 128 PWM-DACs (discrete) for 1bit D/A conversion. The measured THD+N is superior to 0.0001%, which is the best among current portable discrete DACs. The AMP section is a super class A transistor amplifier similar to the DX320MAX amp. FPGA-Master 2.0 D16's FPGA-Master 2.0 brings together iBasso's algorithm achievements from the past three years and is the reason we have been able to accomplish breakthroughs for iBasso portable discrete DAC. FPGA plays the role of signal reorganization and recoding which generates PWM signals that can be decoded by the subsequent PWM-DAC. With the precise control of FPGA-Master 2.0, 128 independent PWM-DACs operate in FIR mode and combine to form L+, L-, R+, R- outputs. Every DAC data bit undergoes careful delay and alignment through rigorous compensation. Cutting Edge Components 128pcs low-temperature drift 0.1% high-precision 25ppm thin film resistors 24 position 4 section stepped attenuator (channel tolerance less than +/-0.1dB) Dual Accusilicon ultra-low phase noise femtosecond oscillators (noise floor as low as -158dBc/Hz (@1kHz) Professional audio DSP chip, theoretical dynamic range up to 192dB, THD+N up to -174dB Ultra-low noise analog power supply with noise as low as 0.6μV 1.3" OLED display Hardware Analog FIR Filter With FPGA-Master 2.0’s picosecond-level precise control, 128 independent PWM-DACs operate in FIR mode and combine to form L+, L-, R+, R- outputs. Each channel has 32 PWM-DACs operating in "delay parallel" mode. This configuration enables the 32 DACs to work together as a hardware analog FIR filter. By averaging the differences between multiple DACs, distortion is minimized, resulting in enhanced sound detail and density. Super Class A Discrete Amplifier The D16 utilizes similar architecture to the DX320MAX, a super Class A discrete AMP circuit. It incorporates 20pcs of Low VCEsat (BISS) dual transistors and boasts an impressive output current capability of up to 2A, resulting in a robust output of 1125mW+1125mW@32Ω.
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