iBasso DC-Elite | Hi-Res Balanced Portable DAC and Amp

iBasso DC-Elite Delivers the Flagship Power of the DX320MAX in an Affordable, Portable Package Flagship ROHM BD34301EKV DAC Highly efficient design provides maximum power and sound quality without killing the battery on your connected device Premium finish with Aerospace Titanium build Balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm outputs Bloom's Take DC-Elite is not a DAC for the faint of heart. It combines flagship technology with pocketable convenience for a one-of-a-kind listening experience. While the metal chassis and design hints at vintage HiFi gear, the inside blends state of the art mobile technology, like a highly efficient DAC, with components like a classic 24 postition stepped attenuator to improve the integrity of the signal chain. The technology is all well and good, but the most important question is "How does it sound?" And DC-Elite delivers best-in-class detail and resolution, with some of the best performance for over-ear headphones possible in the ultra-portable format. Read our full review. With DX320MAX as a Blueprint, a Superb Flagship Dongle Emerges In addition to the DX320MAX's ROHM BD34301EKV DAC chip, a 24 position 4 section stepped attenuator, current output DAC architecture, titanium exterior, and numerous cutting-edge technologies and materials, the DC-Elite exemplifies the MAX standard. Flagship Current Output DAC Chip: ROHM BD34391EKV A flagship current output DAC chip is being used tor the first time in a dongle with the DC-Elite, achieving a historic milestone. The BD34391EKV DAC by ROHM, along with meticulously engineered circuitry, improves the dynamic range, widens the soundstage, and boosts the high-fidelity audio capabilities of DC-Elite. 24 Position 4 Section Stepped Attenuator iBasso completely revamped the traditional 24 position, 4 section stepped attenuator by compressing the volume to one-tenth the size of the original attenuator, while ensuring that the channel imbalance tolerance is below 0.1dB. iBasso has pioneered the use of this attenuator specially built for DX320MAX on the DC-Elite. Say goodbye to bit reduction issues in digital volume adjustment. At normal volume with a 32Ω load, DC-Elite's SNR leads the way in dongle products. Complete Flagship Player Structure The DC-Elite adopts FPGA->DAC->I/V->LPF->VOL->AMP complete player architecture. Equipped with 6 dual OPAMPs and developed around the flagship BD34301EKV DAC chip, this compact device delivers exceptional playback performance. The DC-Elite's structure sets it apart from the competition. It pushes the boundaries of design and achieves a significant advancement in sound quality , demonstrating an unparalleled level of innovation and excellence. In-House Developed FPGA with NKD fs Oscillator The DC-Elite takes advantage of our in-house developed FPGA algorithm. Attaining an exceptionally low level of jitter is made possible by utilizing the NDK femtosecond oscillator, which leads to minimal distortion and a significant improvement in the quality of the musical sound. Luxurious Titanium Alloy Shell with Superb Finish DC-Elite is made of aero space grade titanium alloy to create an exquisite shell and paired with tempered glass on the top and bottom panels, bringing an unparalleled sense of elegance. Titanium has the best strength-to-weight ratio among all metals, being lighter than stainless steel and stronger than aluminum alloys. Specifications 4.4mm Balanced Output THD+N: 0.00022% (300Ω load) Output Voltage: 4.6Vrms Output Power: 280mW@32Ω 70mW@300Ω S/NR: 121 dBA Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz +/- 0.5dB Output Impedance: < 0.4Ω 3.5mm SE Output THD+N: 0.00028% (300Ω load) Output Voltage: 2.28Vrms Output Power: 162mW@32Ω S/NR: 117 dBA Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz +/- 0.5dB Output Impedance: < 0.2Ω General DAC Chipset: ROHM BD34301EKV PCM: Up to 32bit/768kHz DSD: Native DSD up to 512x Weight: 60.5g In the Box DC-Elite Protective Case USB-C to USB-C cable USB-C to USB-A adapter USB-C to Lightning Cable User Manual