IBASSO IT00 REVIEW
A Wonderfully Musical and Talented IEM!
The Good: Outstanding price to performance ratio, natural musicality, very good detail and bass extension, a clear, engaging midrange, a sweet, non-fatiguing treble, and top to bottom coherency of the single driver variety.
The Bad: MMXC connectors tend to be tight, cable memory.
I have had the recent opportunity to both experience and review several of iBASSO’s products, from its Top-of-the-Line (TOTL) DAPs to its amplifier modules to its IEMs. To date, the experience has been eye-opening and quite good from a number of perspectives—engineering, design, and sound.
This brings us to the review of iBASSO IT00 an entry-level IEM in terms of its cost $79, but a musical performer, that would, doubtless, be taken as a much higher priced IEM. And it has been rather fascinating to take it through its paces with much more expensive DAPs—Cayin N6 II, iBASSO DX220—to the less costly—DragonFlys Cobalt, Red, and Black—to one’s smartphone and computer. And in each case the little IEM that could, did!
REFRAIN: Unlike most reviews, this review will be non-sequential, as it will start with how the headphones actually sound and not the process of physically “undressing” them and/or laying out their various parts, specifications, etc. Think of this review then, as a non-linear movie—Memento, Kill Bill, Arrival, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Terminator, etc—that, likewise, starts at the end and winds its way to the beginning.
The Sound
The IT00 was paired with the DragonFlys Cobalt and Red, the Spectra X, and the Samsung S10. The review was conducted using the single-ended headphone output across all devices.
The IT00s renders a very coherent tuning from top to bottom with good air on top, a clear, engaging midrange. and a taunt, impactful bass. There is a warmth that wells up from the bass the nicely textures the midrange and vocals without smearing or obscuring detail.
The iBASSO IT00’s volumetric cube—its soundstage—has good width and good depth as well, while positioning, layering, and separation are also very good and especially so for a $79 IEM!
Bass
The IT00’s bass is taunt, impactful, and detailed via Massive Attacks’ Angel (MEZZANINE, Virgin) the current arbiter of bass quality for reviews. True to iBASSO’s product specifications and marketing materials the graphene drivers/Helmholtz Resonators are most assuredly driving a “powerful, deep,” taunt, and naturally resolved bass response.
Midrange
Sarah, Jarosh’s Back of My Mind (Undercurrent, Concord) plays and the words and phrases that immediately come to mind are enveloping, clear, natural, full bodied, coherent. Sarah’s voice is forward, nicely so, rich and well articulated. This is to say that the midrange via the iBASSO IT00 and the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt ($299) is beautifully engaging, warm, yet detailed. There is not the hint of sibilance or harshness or grain. The iBASSO IT00’s graphene coated driver also does a superb job across the midrange providing musicality, transparency, natural tonality, and speed bringing together a beautiful collage of sound.
Treble+
Harriet Krijgh’s No. 2 Les Larmes de Jacqueline (Elegie, CapriccioNR) now plays and the movement is musical, detailed, sweet, nicely extended, and highly engaging. And yes, there is that warmth that travels the full range and imbues, while not detracting in the least from transparency—microdynamics, detail, staging. The rendering of the iBASSO IT00 simply draws one into the music and for a moment the note taking stops. And a smile forms, as the thought that a $79 IEM coupled to a $299 (DragonFly Cobalt), a $199 (DragonFly Red), and a $99 (DragonFly Black) DAC can render this much connection to and enjoyment of the music. The movement El cant dels ocells (Song of the Birds) follows from Harriet’s Elegie and one simply has to listen. Beautiful.
The Wrappings and Accessories
The iBASSO IT00’s comes in a rectangular box that is protected by a white printed sleeve. The sleeve freed, the blue box within, opens much like a jewel box to expose the IT00s embedded in foam and their hard leather, discus-like, carrying case, also embedded in foam.The leather case holds the following contents minus the IT00s and the warranty card:
1 x detachable cable with MMCX connector and 3.5mm headphone jack
9 x pairs of silicone ear tips (inclusive of foam tips)
1 x pair of screw on filters
1 quick start guide
The IT00’s wrappings represent a very clean, well constructed, minimalist affair, that, like its more costly sibling is efficient and quite attractive.
Design—Look and Feel and Fit
The iBASSO IT00 IEMs are small, white, beautifully molded, acrylic IEMs, with short aluminum stems, that fit one’s ear easily, form a good seal, and wear well over extended listening sessions.
The IT00 utilize one (1) dynamic drivers that is graphene—a carbon like material—coated and possessed of a breaking strength 100 times that of steel. Additionally, its dual Helmholtz Resonators as iBASSO states:
“Helps to provide deep and powerful bass that prohibits standing waves and ensures full and natural sound.”
The IT00’s cable is comprised of a “high-purity copper” cable dressed in black wire with black MMCX type connectors, and terminates with a 3.5mm, gold-plated, single-ended connector. The IT00’s cable also incorporates a chin slider.
The iBASSO IT00 is of a minimalist design, that is clean, well constructed, weighs very little (8g), and fits as if it were custom designed for one’s ear.
The Specifications
Driver Type: 1 Dynamic Drivers (10mm)
Freq. Res.: 10Hz-35 kHz
Sensitivity: 106±2dB (@1kHz)
Impedance: 16 ohm
Pass. Noise reduction: -26dB
Rated power: 10mW
Distortion: <1%(at 1kHz/1mW)
Plug Size: 3.5mm gold-plated
Core length: 1.2m
Weight: 8g without cable
Drivability
The iBASSO IT00 have a low impedance (16Ω -Ohms) and a relatively high sensitivity (106dB).They are, as a result, easy to drive and they worked very well with numerous devices ranging from smartphones to computers to iPADs to DAPs to desktop systems. The IT00 do, however, scale well with higher powered, more apt equipment, as witnessed via our review.
Comparisons
FiiO FH5:
The FH5 and the IT00 are alike in many ways—bass response, midrange, treble, staging. It’s just that the FH5 exceeds the IT00 across the board providing a more extensive, taunt, and articulate bass response, a more transparent and engaging midrange, and a more resolved and extended treble. At nearly four times the cost this seems reasonable, but the iBASSO IT00 should not be dismissed as it still measures up exceptionally well given its relative pricing. And, in truth, may be a starting and stopping point for many.
iBASSO AM05:
The AM05 brings far greater resolution to the treble region, which translates to brushes across drums being much better resolved, voices free from sibilance, harshness, etc. The IT00 while warmer across the midrange, brings a very engaging experience, the IT00 does not bring the kind of transparency/clarity or resolving power of its AM05 sibling. Nonetheless, the IT00 is quite good and at its price point, represents an entry level must have, especially so for those just starting out (review coming soon). The AM05 brings a broader soundstage and a the black-quiet background above that of its of its IT00 sibling.
Synergy
iBASSO DX220 AMP1 Mk II
The IT00 synergy with its kith/kin like its AM05 sibling is also quite good. Here the one driver implementation brings a natural coherency and musicality, that quickly dismisses any analysis and simply lets one “hear” the music. And yes, the IT00 scales beautifully picking up the detail, nuance, and microdynamics that its DX220 big brother brings to bear across all musical genres. Perhaps an unlikely pairing relative to cost, suffice to say that the IT00 will not be embarrassed.
AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT
The combination of the IT00 with the Cobalt is, indeed, natural and rich and sweet and wonderfully engaging. The midrange with this combination is quite sweet and smooth and warm, with more than enough detail to engage and, in fact, capture one away from one’s primary task—reviewing. Vocals, Shelly’s Wild Indifference (Joan Shelley, No Quarter) in essence simply draws you in with detail and musicality and the naturalness very much associated to the Cobalt. Massive Attacks’ Angel (MEZZANINE, Virgin) will absolutely deliver a taunt, impactful, and driving bass via this combination, with the Cobalt pushing deeper toward the sub bass depths than its Red sibling. This is truly an optimal combination despite the 3 to 1 price disparity.
AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY RED
While the IT00 and Cobalt bring a sublime naturalness and musicality, the Red in alignment may not afford the level of naturalness as its sibling, but it still commands one’s attention for its beauty and its no-holds-barred musicality. Joan Shelly’s Wild Indifference (Joan Shelley, No Quarter) is nuanced, textured, musical, and well detailed. And yes, at the one minute and forty-five second mark the tambourine makes its appearance in the middle of the room. There is good bass weight with this combination, though it will not shake the foundation, nor journey to the stygian depths of the Holy-Bass-Head-Grail. But for most it will suffice.
Conclusion
The iBASSO IT00 ($79) is quite the impressive entry level IEM for what it brings to the table relative to its price point. It is well constructed, its graphene-coated dynamic drivers handle the frequency spectrum exceptionally well and coherently, from bass extension to treble extension. And the IT00 also plays well with smartphones, entry level DACs, and scales with a couple of the best DAPs on the market, though quite impressive synergies were had with the AudioQuest DragonFly line.
The IT00 is both detailed and musical and it brings weight across the frequency spectrum, that will find no region lacking or impoverished of musicality or thin. Though at the highest treble frequencies resolution is quite good, but not great. It bass response, though, is very impressive. And the IT00 will project a good-sized soundstage with quite good depth, imaging, and layering.
Its match will not be found within its price range, but at, perhaps a three to four multiple of its retail price. This, of course, speaks to the fact that there is quite a lot packed within these tiny shells. This IEM should absolutely be on the short list of all those looking for a great starting point to begin enjoying their music free of the limitations of those “free buds” or those iconic white IEMs. Highly recommended and doubtless that it will go on next year’s list of Best Products under $100.
MUSIC—Qobuz, TIDAL EXCLUSIVELY
Alexander Tharaud—Tharaud Plays Rachmaninoff
Omar Sosa—Ballads, Calma
Patricia Barber—Verse
Rickie Lee Jones—Pop Pop
Sade—Lovers Live
Sheku Kannah Mason—Inspiration
Tracey Chapman—Where You Live
Olafur Arnalds—Island Songs
Olafur Arnalds—The Chopin Project
Melody Gardot—My One and Only Thrill
Melody Gardot—My Worrisome Heart
Eiji Oue—Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Hilary Hahn—Tchaikovsky
Mechell Ndegeocello—Bitter
Jordi Savall—Tous les Matins du MondeMaxwell—Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite
Sarah Jarosh—Undercurrent
Igor Stravinsky—Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
Annie-Sophie Mutter—Mendelssohn, Brahms: Violin Concertos
London Grammar—If You Wait
Stevie Wonder—Innervisions
Miles Davis—Kind of Blue
Jóhann Jóhannsson—Orphée
Alexis Ffrench—Evolution
Dave Holland—Emerald Tears
Kremer, Trifonov, Dirvanauskaite—Preghiera/Rachmaninov Piano Trios
Joan Shelly—Joan Shelly
Magdalena Kožená—French Arias
Andy Bey—American Song
Erykah Badu—Baduism
Kronos Quartet—Kronos Caravan
Massive Attack—Mezzanine
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
Cayin N6ii/A01
Cayin N6ii/E01
Rosson Audio Design-RAD-0
iBASSO DX220-AMP1/MK II
iFi Pro iDSD
Meze Empyrean
OBravo EAMT-2C IEMs
Final Sonorous III
FiiO FH5
AudioQuest Cobalt
AudioQuest Red
AudioQuest Dragon Tail
Samsung S10
Apple X iPhone
THE COMPANY
IBASSO
paul@ibasso.com
distributor (U.S.)
Urban HiFi/Linear Tube Audio (LTA)
sales@urbanhifi.com