theBIT unveil their flagship Hi-Res Player – Audio Opus#2
theBit Opus#2
Pros
- Top tier high spec signature
- Very easy to use and fast boot times
- Competitive Pricing
Cons
- Only has 1 Micro SD Card Slot
- Volume Dial Lock on software would be nice
Features
The Opus #2 has a number of interesting and useful features, as would be expected for a top tier DAP.
3.5mm balanced and separate unbalanced output.*
Although unable to give my opinion on whether this bird soars with the balanced , as per the RHA D1 Dacamp, the 3.5mm had no problems accepting any of the IEMs or adaptors I threw at it.
*Soon I will provide comparisons of Balanced and Unbalanced differences, I am waiting on my balanced cable to be fixed. Watch this space for updates
Optical Out
Extremely useful for me to use as an A/B tool for comparisons between the Chord Mojo and the RHA Dacamp 1.
The DSD files will be down sampled to the max allowed through the cable of 24 192.
A great way to marry the DAP to your home kit, in the same way as a MacBook 3.5mm jack doubles as optical out and works flawlessly.
USB file transfer
The Opus#2 software is built using a streamline Android OS, so most users will be familiar with the drop down settings interface which allows the Opus#2 to switch between USB for file transfer, charging only and there’s the added extra feature – USB DAC.
File transfer on a Macbook – the plugging in of the Opus opens up the Android File Transfer Window.
The Opus 2 does not show in the Mac’s version of Windows Explorer (Finder). You can drag and drop to and from Finder by keeping both windows away from each other on your screen.
It’s a simple process with the bonus that you can unplug the Opus after you’ve finished – no need to eject on your Mac or do anything on your Opus screen.
USB Dac
Works instantly on the Mac. Plug the USB in , look on your sound preferences drop down list on the top toolbar and Opus 2 is there.
Just select it from there and you’re off. MacBooks are notorious for there lack of USB ports, my Pro Retina has 2 .
A USB Hub works fine with the Opus, recognising it as a DAC immediately.
The DAC sounds absolutely great , indistinguishable from what is hard stored on the DAP to my ears.
USB OTG
With the appropriate cable (not supplied) the Opus will run certain smartphones with certain software dependent on the Android Version that you are running.
Sorry for the vagueness but there are still many phones out there that don’t do OTG at all well , some have no support for it.
It is quite difficult to get info from the manufacturers – they don’t want to commit because they don’t want returns or phone calls for a niche use that is changing all the time.
I have a Motorola Moto G4 which I purchased in September 2016, it runs Marshmallow (Android Version 6).
The G4 supports apps like the usual USB Audio Player, Onkyo HD player, Hiby player but also natively plays Youtube and Deezer, Spotify and the like.
The Opus ran it all no problems and again the sound was really good. The sound through Direct Mode (selectable on USB Audio Player Pro) was again close enough to the DAP itself to be pretty darn good indeed.
Distortion is prevalent on OTG. EMI interference from the cellular and data signals can grossly effect your enjoyment of the uniqueness of this musical experience.
Thankfully , EMI seemed very low between my Moto G4 and the Opus, and I am feeling this is a better match than my Chord Mojo.
Line Out
I used the line out to connect the Opus 2 to my 50 WPC custom and fully modded First Watt F6 Power Amp.
I use this to listen to music at it’s most revealing , with my most revealing phones (HiFiMan HE-6 , Sennheiser HD800, AKG K1000 Bass Heavy). With the least sensitive AKG I plugged in tentatively to the balanced cable that come directly from the speaker taps of the amp. The volume tried it’s best to blow the top of my head off….
After I plugged my head back onto my shoulders I realised line out was not going to work for me. I plugged the RCA to 3.5mm into the headphone jack on the Opus. That worked extremely well and I was able to enjoy Disturbed’s 2016 release ‘Immortalized’ and assure myself of the differences I had heard through my IEMs were not simply my ears playing tricks on me.
The volume was switched up around the 115 mark , which astonished me . I really didn’t think the Opus would have enough power to act as a preamp for the power amp.
It had too much! I would encourage any portable lovers to try this just – just , at least once. I had the Opus 2 for a precious week but no way was I going to let this opportunity pass me by.
The AKG K1000 has drivers that pivot away from the ears, so the focus can be more or less intimate as the listener wishes. The soundstage can be manually adjusted. For each song if you want. The sound can be described as having some of the natural qualities of a loudspeaker with some , if not most , of the micro details and stereo effects of a headphone.
The Opus did not let me down here and Disturbed were at their blistering best , despite the attempts to brickwall some of the tracks as much as the mixing desk can take.
Wow really looking forward to this review, as the Opus #1 is really good.