A review of the musical pair: DB1 Boomslang DAC and PB1 Toucan amplifier

The sound of the pair iBasso DB1 Boomslang/PB1 Toucan – comfortable midrange, a lot of bass with good depth and decent focus, a lot of power to work with different headphones. The lack of mobility can be referred to disadvantages of iBasso DB1+PB1 set – as you still need some signal source to two devices: a player or a smartphone. So you get three devices in your pockets, not much of an audio system for the street. The iBasso tandem looks much more appealing as a semi-permanent, easy to carry in a briefcase or backpack option for a player, tablet or laptop and high-quality headphones.

Portable iBasso devices: DB1 Boomslang DAC and PB1 Toucan amplifier

CONSTRUCTION

This review is dedicated to two portable devices iBasso, one of them is a D/A converter

DB1 Boomslang

, The second is a headphone amplifier

PB1 Toucan.

The devices are made in identical, pocket-sized metal cases weighing 120 grams converter and 140 grams amplifier . The devices are available in two colors: black or silver. Both devices are self-contained, ie, equipped with built-in battery and need the mains power only for recharging.

Each of the devices is quite independent, but a number of features make them an ideal pair: both are equipped with balanced analog stages, and the DAC DB1 is also equipped with a unique for portable equipment balanced output. The trick is that this output is the only one and it is implemented on an exotic connector – a round, six-pin Hirose socket. The Toucan amp has the same input plus we included a matching cable with the units.

But in order to connect Boomslang with something other than Tukan, you will need to look for an adapter. So it is the creators will that the “snake” Boomslang and the “bird” Toucan are destined to be friends, at least in their electronic incarnation. Note that in the next version, in the updated DB2 portable converter iBasso developers eliminated the noted lack of “connectivity” by adding to a balanced Hirose output common unbalanced output mini-jack 3.5 mm.

So,

DB1 Boomslang.

The converter front panel has only on/off toggle switch and mentioned symmetric Herose output. On the reverse side the picture is more cheerful: two digital inputs SPDIF with coaxial RCA and optical Toslink connectors and next to USB port which is used both as a digital data input and as a socket for charging. The nice thing is that the power line can be deactivated while listening, for this purpose there is a special toggle switch on the back panel.

Boomslang digital signal path operates data streams with up to 24 bits/96 kHz resolution 16 bits/48 kHz via USB . The circuit is based on the PCM2906B USB receiver/converter and Cirrus Logic CS8614 SPDIF receiver, the main one in digital-to-analog conversion is the famous Wolfson WM8740 chip. The power supply unit has a lithium-polymer battery providing up to 24 hours of battery life.

As we said, the main advantage of the amplifier

PB1 Toucan

– Balanced input to output circuitry. However, besides the balanced Hirose jacks, the amplifier is also equipped with traditional unbalanced jacks 3.5 mm. Thanks to its architecture, Tukan’s circuitry is distinguished by a high output voltage level for portable electronics – a sweep of 25.2V and solid power – 1.4 W with 32-ohm load . As a result the amplifier can even work with high impedance headphones with an impedance of 300-600 ohms.

Components specialized for audio applications are used in the design of the amplifier: for example the volume control is made on the ALPS potentiometer, Vishay resistors and capacitors are used in the signal path. The PB1 Toucan is equipped with a +6/+15dB gain switch to better match the output stage with headphones of different impedance. The power supply uses a 12.6-volt lithium-polymer battery.

EXAMPLE

The claimed high output power of the PB1 Toucan seems to be true: even with the less sensitive asymmetrical output the amplifier was pushing 300 ohm Sennheiser HD650 headphones with plenty of reserve in volume. Here it is appropriate to make one remark: reading the expression “with reserve … rocks”, you should understand its relativity.

Say, a 4-watt High-End DAC/headphone amplifier Burson Audio Conductor, which visited the author of the article at the same time, reveals dynamic resources of HD650 sound much, much, much more fully. However, this device costs more than a pair of Boomslang + Toucan in the same degrees of “much. Tukan adequately powers high impedance headphones in a class of portable amplifiers and sound cards of similar price, among which not all devices are capable of this feat.

In sounding of iBasso tandem the solid bass made a favorable impression, it is the case when both quantity and control are satisfactory. Once the drive and rhythm are on the level, rock music and other energetic genres start right away. One can of course see some slowed down mid-bass and roughened relief, but only if you pick on it and compare it with more expensive and, as a rule, stationary equipment: there are other power units line and another bass.

The midrange is transmitted with a slight, but comfortable, touch of warmth. Fine details and articulation are slightly foggy, but the display of basic timbres retains clarity and natural sound. So acoustic themes are reproduced quite naturally, vocals are intelligible, there is emotion in the music. The top is neat, although it could be a little brighter.

The iBasso pair is able to build a fairly wide musical scene with several echelons in depth, but the musical space, airiness and separation of images are conveyed moderately, the image comes out darkened.

The above impressions refer to the SPDIF inputs of the PB1 Boomslang, the converter work via USB was not to my liking. And it’s not just about the technical limitations of the USB DAC in terms of maximum bit rate and sampling of input data compared to SPDIF. The same songs in CD-quality are performed differently on USB: you can feel the clip of the dynamics, more noticeable at the edges of the frequency spectrum, the musical scene is formed worse, clamoring between the ears.

PRICE

: 7,970 +8,290 RUB.

SUMMARY

The sound of the pair iBasso DB1 Boomslang/PB1 Toucan – comfortable midrange, a lot of bass with good depth and decent focus, a lot of power to work with different headphones. The lack of mobility is one of the disadvantages of the iBasso DB1+PB1 speaker set, since you still need a signal source for both devices: a player or a smartphone.

So you get three devices in your pockets – not much of an audio system for the street. The iBasso tandem looks much more attractive as a semi-permanent, easy to carry in a briefcase or backpack option for a player, tablet or laptop and high-quality headphones.