iBasso Audio iT01s Review
IT01s
$199
Pros
- Amazing Value, Fun musical signature
- Great Selection of Accessories, Case, Cables and Adaptors
- Awesome Design Style and Easy Fit
Cons
- No 2 pin connector option
Sound Signature:
As always the most important part of any earphone review is the sound signature. The tips selection provided is okay but for my ear shape and signature preferences I used Sony Hybrid tips, these helped with a more secure snug fit and good seal. We run these in for 150 hours before using them.
What will instantly hit you about this signature is the sheer speed and dynamic nature of the signature. Exhibiting a breathtaking pace, the energy is impressive. You certainly feel these can compete with higher priced IEMs, the signature is musical and very versatile able to adapt to many different musical styles.
Bass is tight and snappy but with a dynamic character, I would have preferred a longer decay to help with body as these really are quick sounding. The lower end bass has decent texture but make sure you have a good tip with a secure seal. Inline with the overall dynamic nature the bass is quite distinct in terms of its separation. It is not the smoothest style but does kick in its tight style where needed but this headphone is certainly not for the heavy bass head crowd.
Make no mistake these are not the most technically proficient earphones but are very musical and adaptable. Don’t expect a reference style signature with refined micro detail or precise imaging but expect a much more fun lively style, these really are a daily usage, go to set of earphones.
Extremely accessible for many musical genres and very easy to drive , with a price that is a drop in the ocean in relative audiophile terms. The iT01s sounds and looks like is should cost a lot more. For my preferences I would have liked a little more signature body and a slower style at times but this earphone does have a well balanced level of tuning for this style of fast signature.
The layering and separation of details is clean, with an airy style and spacious aspect helping everything to breath. Vocals are very well portrayed, feeling close and raspy where needed, Tom Waits gravelly unique style represented well. Female vocals are also a pleasure, sounding natural and with a live realism, pulling you into the music.
Acoustic and string instruments have a very realistic organic type sound especially acoustic guitars, harps and pianos. The string plucks, resonance and notes having excellent natural character.
With a good tip fit seal, staging is close but with an even panned range, it is not holographic or too wide but quite close keeping everything more realistic but with a range to certainly drop you into that musical immersive space we all love to fall into.
Transitioning is clean throughout the full frequency range and the mid to upper regions have a good balanced synergy. The pace of these is exceptional so don’t expect a laid back style. The upper range results again in a very energetic feel and has excellent attack, this is ideal for certain fast percussive tracks, rock and certain styles of EDM.
Treble detail is tight and well controlled with quick decays, hi hats very natural sounding and extremely quick to recover making live Jazz recordings a pleasure.
Even with their energetic style I expected to feel fatigue for longer listening sessions but this was not the case, it was quite the opposite as these are so forgiving for nearly all the tracks and input sources used.
With the ease of listening these offer, the iT01s is becoming my daily commute earphones due to its musicality and versatile nature.
Overall I think for this price point iBasso Audio have produced an excellent package, with decent build quality, awesome design style, great stock cable and a versatile sound signature with very energetic presence and wide musical appeal.
