Opus #3 - The Brilliant and Excellent DAP!
Opus #3
is one of the most brilliant DAPs (Digital Audio Players) of this moment,
created by new company The Bit. Opus #3 promises to deliver a total solution
for audiophiles in terms of sound quality and overall performance.
Introduction
Opus
DAPs are quite new to the market, especially when compared to older and
established companies, but they already managed to gain a lot of interest from
music lovers all over the world with their excellent build quality and with
their sound. Although Opus doesn't seem to purchase a lot of advertising space
and doesn't seem to be quite that intrusive in the eyes of their fans, their
products have been loved by virtually everyone who heard one.
I have
been slightly skeptical about #3 before testing it, but it has been almost two
months since I owned one now, and my feelings towards it have gone from
skepticism to curiosity, then to feelings of love and ultimately to enjoyment.
I have
absolutely no affiliation with Opus, Thebit or other partner companies at this
moment, I am not receiving any kind of incentive to sweeten things out or
change my opinions about the product. My review will be as objective as it is
humanly possible and it is a description of my general experience with Opus #3,
every opinion expressed here is mine and I firmly stand by it.
About
me
My name is George
Dobrescu and I am the Director of the Seventh Heart Studios game studio. I work
as one of the main programmers for the company, and I am the writer for Quantum
Magica and Falsetto Memories projects. I spend eight – twelve hours a day
working on a computer, writing and sometimes drawing. I also take care of
administrative work which means that I require a portable setup so I'll be testing
the portability of iDSD as well.
Music is present all
around me for a big part of that time as working with music is always more fun.
With all the devices I own, I need great sound, comfort and ease of usage, not
to mention that my listening volume ranges from "please stop that, it's
far too loud" to "I can't even tell that you're listening to
music".
My collection includes
everything from Classical to Metal, from Rap to Pop, from Punk to Cabaret and absolutely
everything in between. There are great artists from every type of music, and
I'm one to collect their albums, and keep a tidy order for my files.
You can
check out more about our games on our pages https://www.facebook.com/seventh.heart.studios/ and https://twitter.com/7heartstudios .
At
Seventh Heart Studios, we all love music and this has had an impact on our
games as we hold the music close to our hearts and we are committed to only use
ogg -q10 as the encoding format for our music since it offers the best disk
space to sound quality ratio, OGG -q10 being closest to audibly transparent
when compared to FLAC encoding.
Personal
philosophy: Music is more than a hobby or sound. Music is inspiration. Music is
life. Music has meaning by itself, being the one thing that can define one's
life while shaping one's imagination and creativity. Music can open doors to
new plains and music can change one's mood. Music can rest the mind better than
days of sleep or can give one energy better than a thousand cups of coffee.
Music can be anything we want it to be and the music we experience using
professional audition tools is more but at the same time it is nothing more
than our way of enhancing the emotion we get from music. Love is a concept too
shallow, unable to encompass what music really means to a music lover.
First
Impression
I've been using quite a
few DAPs through time, from the first iteration of FiiO X5, up to the second
generation of X5 (X5ii), FiiO X7, FiiO X3ii, Hidizs AP200, iBasso DX200, and a
few others. I had many hours of fun with many DAPs, and when I saw that a newcomer
DAP proposes to sweeten audiophile's experience even more, I instantly became
curious about their offering.
I contacted Thebit with
questions and typical audiophile quandaries and they have answered them well,
providing lots of help through the process of installing and using Opus #3. Friendly
and helpful, the service and PR departments of Opus can only be commended, and
I'm sure that they provide a similarly good experience for the customers who
bought their #1 and #2 DAPs.
I should note that the
way most people describe Opus DAPs is #1<#3<#2, it seems that they number
doesn't define which DAP is their Top Of The Line.
It has been almost a
week since I discussed with Thebit about their Opus #3 and their #3 was sent
through UPS, with package tracking and all details. Given that the package
arrived in great condition, in just about a week, I can only say that I am
happy with their flawless services, quite impressed by the punctuality offered.
The package featured a
lot of bubble wrap, to protect the #3 package, thing which helped a lot since
UPS might sometime handle some packages without all the care necessary.
That day… It was one of
these damp summer days when I went to pick up the package. The sun was slyly
gazing at us, from its throne, thinking probably nothing of the humans under it
as they'd go on about their lives. One would at some point stop and think:
"What if the sun feels lonely?" It is providing us all joys, summer
and going to the beaches, winter and its snow, but what about the ball of light
from the sky? Is it happy? Does it feel that it'd want us to notice it more?
The blazing heat was
probably getting to my head, when, in the middle of the day when I received a
call from the UPS to meet with them to pick up a package. Quite unfortunately,
this was just my second meet with UPS, and it was a new employee who had to
deliver it, so I couldn't call to get a better schedule for everything. On the
bright side, even though I couldn't live my location, I already had iDSD BL and
a selection of headphones and IEMs to enjoy. This, and I always have a lot of
work to do, so there were no chances of having any seconds wasted on waiting.
I took a trip outside
and met with the deliver guy who was not particularly nice or haughty. He
handled me the package and I quickly got back inside, to stop the blazing star
that brings us day from burning my skin any further.
Inside the package was a
box, a strange looking box. Compared to all the other packages I received and
opened, #3 was clearly packaged to look differently, not necessarily more
stylish, not more edgy either. It was almost as if The Bit wanted to have a
completely original look with their Opus line of DAPs and created a new color
theme just for them.
The DAP itself smiled at
me as I was unpacking it, tickling my curiosity as it was packaged in a pretty
premium cloth.
I turned it on, plugged
a microSD card with music, plugged in Etymotic ER4-XR and went on a walk to
hear how it sounds. By the time I got out of my place, the evening was already
starting to slowly lower its crimson wings over the landscapes of Bucharest,
but this only made my walk more emotional, more romantic. I learned how to use
Opus #3 in less than a few moves, enjoying it for all my trip.
Packaging:
First things
first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
Opus #3 comes packaged
in an entirely different flavor of packaging than I was used to seeing with
most audio products in general, the typical black box being replaced by a
marine-blue box, wrapped in a gray paper with information about the DAP this
time.
There are a few extras
in the package, but this time the unit wasn't new, so I'll talk about the most
important highlight, which is the leather case included with #3. It seems that
Opus includes a genuine leather case with their #3, the leather case feeling
excellent in the hand, and leaving a really nice feeling to the user.
Like with all premium
devices, there is a screen protector installed on #3, and after using it for
more than a month, I found that it does an amazing job at protecting this
ingenious DAP's screen.
What I
look in for a DAC/AMP
When
buying a DAP unit, there are a few things that a buyer should be looking at and
considering, as sooner or later those will come in foresight:
-
Sound quality – Like
with every audio-related purchase, this is the most important aspect of your
investment
-
Battery
life – at least 8 hours of battery life, at high volume on high gain, with
effects engaged. Anything above this number will come in handy down the road,
but this should be a minimum
-
Intuitive
/ ergonomic build – Buttons arrangement, robust build, no creaking noises,
resistance to pressure for when it's a pocket, robust headphone jacks, no
wearing issues after long term usage
-
Good Value – It'd be good for everything one
owns to perform well for its price
-
Interesting
design – The device must look modern / elegant / luxurious and fit in with both
street usage and a business environment
-
Driving
ability – To work well with both IEMs and over the ear headphones
-
USB DAC
function – Always good to have!
-
Enough
I/O ports – To satisfy all devices and current usage patterns
-
Firmware
Support – Fluent, Fast, stable Firmware
Build
Quality/Aesthetics
Opus #3 is truly a
beautiful device that has been built on a bleeding edge sense of fashion. The
edges, or at least the corners, are quite sharp, but they aren't uncomfortable
for me to use while on-the-go, while the back of the device features an
interesting pattern texture along with an Opus #3 white text.
On the back of the
device, you can notice the volume wheel, which I have to add, looks quite nice.
The volume wheel is very well built, and after having used #3 daily for more
than a month, the volume wheel feels just as it did when I opened the package.
The travel distance between two clicks is not exactly small, and it has some
play, but this works well with both making fine adjustments and with making
large adjustments to the listening volume.
The bottom of #3 has a
microSD slot and a microUSB port. The microSD slot is a plug and push type, and
it works very well. I haven't tested the transfer speed since I always transfer
my music using a mSD to SD adapter, but I never had a track skip or stutter, so
I'm entirely satisfied with it.
On the left side of Opus
#3, you will find 3 buttons, a FFWD button, a BKWD button, and a Play/Pause
button. They feel quite high quality and they are clicky, and while I can't
guarantee this, they also feel like they are made out of metal. Sliding your
fingers towards the top side of #3, you will find the 3.5mm Headphone out, the 2.5mm
Balanced out, and the power button. The plugs and ports are sturdy and they
feel like they will hold for a good while. The click when the plug is fully
inserted is really nice.
On the right side of #3,
there are no buttons, but this is where the volume wheel is placed, on the back
of #3.
The screen of #3 is much nicer than I expected, it presents color with good contrast, and the music list is easily readable even in the middle of the day in Bucharest, with the sun blazing off right into the screen. There is a bezel around the actual screen, and it is thicker above and under the screen than on the sides, but it actually provided a really good feedback for my touch usage, there were no mistypes / mis-touches or such, where bezel - less phones would sometime register a touch where it wasn't the case.
Although there are a few
sharp corners on #3, Opus thought about it and they included a premium
real-leather case with #3. The case is very functional, looks amazing, and most
important, it feels really nice to the touch. #3 might get slightly warmer
while it is used from within the case, but it will be fine for most people. I
personally used #3 without any case since I like touching the metal parts of
it, and I like feeling the texture on the back of it, but I think that the
inclusion of the leather case means that everybody will have a good time from
the get-go.
The design itself is
fairly industrial and goes for a rather edgy presentation, Opus #3 being a DAP
I'd recommend for a metal music listener, with the strong silvery color, the
textured sides, and back presence.
With every button
feeling nice and clicky, with the ports feeling secured and clicking right in
place, I'd say that Opus #3 is a really well built and it is an edgy looking
DAP that is sure to impress and won't go unnoticed if left on a table.
Testing
I have tested #3 with
many headphones, Ultrasone Signature Studio, Meze 99 Classics, HiFiMAN RE-2000,
Etymotic ER4-XR, Sennheiser ie800, Dunu DK-3001, and a few others. I have also
tested #3 against other DAPs, like DX200 and AP200, and even against a full
desktop quality DAC/AMP like iDSD BL.
Opus #3 works as a USB
DAC, and it does so flawlessly, there is no noise, and the connection is fairly
easy, after the driver is installed for windows. Sadly, I don't have a Linux
PC, or a MAC to test for those, but I'd expect it to work just as well.
Opus #3 also offers
Streaming abilities, along with Android Apps install options. All Android Apps
can be installed from settings -> streaming -> and click on + for
installing a new App or click on the installed app to run it.
I am running with great
success the following apps:
-
Aida64
-
APK Pure
-
CPU-Z
-
Foobar2000
-
Navigation Bar
-
SoundCloud
-
VLC
-
Neutron
-
PowerAMP
-
Etc.
The Android found on #3
is not exactly a default Android configuration, but a stripped down and
optimized version of Android, that offers the best of both worlds, Android, and
High-Resolution Music Playback. I feel that the Android found on #3 is fairly
mature, the built-in music app is really good and offers anything I need,
recognizes all my tags (Japanese, Chinese, Romanian, English and Russian
characters), and most apps for music will work as well. The GUI is rather
elegant and looks luxurious, making the usage of #3 a delightful experience.
Since to get access to the
bar that offers access to the back button you have to swipe up from the bottom
of the screen, I highly recommend installing Navigation Bar, which will place a
little tool on the screen, that gives you access to all basic Android buttons.
This little tool can be placed on the right side of the screen, near the top
and it can expand down from there, feeling quite "At Home" for MIUI
users.
After installing this
little tool, I have to admit that a large part of my usage has been done with
#3's native music app, it sounds and works flawlessly for my usage patterns.
By pulling down the top
area, you will get access to Wifi, Bluetooth, Line Out setting (which will
basically set the volume of the HO to max), Equalizer, Sleep, Repeat Mode and
Shuffle.
By going to Audio, you
can select whether to enable or disable the EQ function, along with creating
your own custom EQ profiles and choosing one of the 5 user-defined profiles. In
Audio settings, you will also find the option to enable Gapless playback.
In Output, you will find
the option to enable Line Out, change the Balance (L-R), DSP mode (I'm not
exactly sure what this does, I left it on 32 Bit X-MOS for most of my
listening), and Gain Control (Which was left on high for most of my tests).
For using #3 as a USB
DAC, you need to enable this option from the Settings -> USB.
Firmware updates can be
done from either offline memory, or after downloading the update using Wifi.
GUI wise, everything
feels fairly native to me and using the default music app is quite native,
after three hours it is possible to master and enjoy it to the fullest.
Sound
Quallity
Opus #3 has a unique
tonal signature, going for a neutral-ish sound, with an enthusiastic approach,
a sparkly top end, a sweet midrange, a very convincing 3D soundstage, vivid
presentation and amazing detail level. All in all, the refinement and detail
levels are on par with TOTL and End-Game devices, being very hard to tell those
apart, except for the signature, Opus #3 having a signature that I really
enjoy. #3 presents all music with energy, with life, and with vividness. It
manages to bring the details to the listener, without being shouty. It manages
to stay musical, while it is neutral and while it plays everything as a whole,
presenting every layer in a space of its own.
Little
disclaimer
For the sonic
impressions, I have used Ultrasone Dj One Pro, Sennheiser ie800, Meze 99
Classics, Ultrasone Signature Studio, HiFiMAN RE-2000, HiFiMAN RE-800, Etymotic
ER4-XR, Oriveti New Primacy, Dunu DK-3001, and a few other transducers. Each
headphone has a signature of its own, and will influence the sound impressions
to some extent.
Channel
balance
With the channel balance set to be equal from the settings, the channels are in perfect balance, even when the sound volume is set to 1-3 out of 150. The volume control wheel doesn't have any impact on the channel balance and #3 will be free of any channel imbalances for all users.
Bass
The bass is tight,
solid, quick but bears an amazing impact, leaving the listener dazzled by its
quality and by how crisp it feels. There is a very good sense of layering and
Opus #3 has enough power to bring even the lowest notes to life, being a DAP
that will satisfy both bass heads and people looking for a neutral / reference
sound. Bass guitars keep an amazing level of texture and detail, being
presented vividly and with very good speed.
With electronic music,
the bass has good weight, hits deep and hits hard, while with rock music, the
bass has a natural presentation, not being enhanced nor recessed, but being the
perfect bass to hear with rock and metal music.
Drums hit quickly, and
they feel natural, leading to a playful and generally lively presentation. All
in all, Opus #3 is not a relaxed DAP, but it is not dry either, having enough
Ooomph effect to dazzle every listener.
Haggard – All'inizio e la Morte – The song starts with great
impact, the bass being felt in its sweet spot, the voices and every other
instrument playing harmonically together. All strings bear an amazing texture
and a realistic timbre while the choirs feel real. It is easy to notice
multiple layers of instruments, each layer being well defined and being presented
vividly. Male voices sound musical, but can also scream well when they're
supposed to, guitars sound musical and romantic, and flutes also sound quite
musical. It is very easy to close your eyes and imagine the journey in the
story Haggard evokes, about Galileo Galilei and his tragedy. There is an
impressive level of detail evoked, every instrument of the orchestra being
audible and blending in to create a life-like presentation.
Dream Evil – The Book of Heavy Metal – The first scream of the song
comes through with good strength and bears a very realistic tone and texture. The
guitars that follow bear a very nice texture as well, along with a wide spatial
presentation. The first verse is played vividly and lively, the cymbals being
noticeable and making a great company to the other instruments. The voices are
well-textured and they feel sprinkled by a very good impact, the bass being
presented at the right spot for this song, everything feeling right in place
for an authentic Heavy Metal song. The rather tragic story of the man who
dedicates his entire life to Metal is presented with a good amount of details.
It is very easy to start headbanging and to emphasize with the protagonist
while listening to this song.
Eminem – We Made You – There is a good sense of space and instrumental resolution to the
whole song, and #3 has a very natural texture to voices and instruments. The
bass notes are deep and heavy, but aren't over-enhanced, while the mids are
clear, vivid and all stringed instruments are presented vividly. There is a nice sense of width to the whole song, leading to a very airy presentation. Voices sound natural, and the tonality is spot-on.
Rings of Saturn – Utopia – The song starts quick and strong, with a combination of melodic
guitar tones entwined with a quick and precise drum pattern. Rings of Saturn
are known for their extremely aggressive music that can go faster than a race
car, but which also features extremely melodic bridges and choruses. There is a
very good sense of space and a very good sense of texture throughout the whole
song. The listener can feel the guitars moving throughout the sonic scape and
can actually touch certain notes that are skillfully played by Rings of Saturn.
Although the song doesn't have any lyrics and is an instrumental song, there is
a story to be heard here, a vivid yet sad story, about the utopia that's
enriched by feelings of nostalgia.
Midrange
Opus #3 brings an
amazingly detailed and wide midrange, with a very vivid presentation of
textures and a very good resolution. At times, I had to stop the music while
taking a walk, because I had the sensation that someone told me something, but
it was just an effect in certain songs.
The vocal tone is
spot-on for both male and female voices, Opus #3 being enjoyable with both
sweet female vocals and rock songs, even metal songs.
The details in strings
and in electronic instruments are amazing, Opus #3 being an experience one has
to feel personally before understanding how many details were in each song.
Spoken – Through It All – The song starts with a juicy set of guitars and with a crispy
drum pattern sprinkled over them. The voices come through with amazing clarity
and emotional impact, the soundstage is expansive and it is very deep, and the
sound is very well layered. The bass is strong and precise, the top end is
sparkly and the midrange is sweet and natural. Spoken are taking us in an
adventure of the jaded protagonist, who has been burned by fate, rising back
from the ashes, led by his love. The whole song is extremely involving and the
experience on Opus #3 and RE2000 is indeed amazing.
Skillet – Comatose – The song starts with a clear
and well-textured set of strings that entwine deeply with the other
instruments, drums and guitars. The piano plays musically in its layer, and the
voices come through with great strength and with an incredible naturalness. The
story of the man who suffers from the absence of his dream in his reality is presented
vividly, and Skillet's song feels tangible and the drama / emotional pain of
the singer can be felt, being easy to start singing along while listening to
this song.
Infected Mushroom – Becoming Insane – The song's start is marked by
a crispy and natural sounding set of guitar notes. The electronic part of the
song that follows presents amazing bass depth and impact. The highs are well
pronounced and clear, and the whole sound is ethereal and crystalline. There is
a clear and vivid texture with every single instrument that is played. The
voices have a very natural resonance and tone to them, along with a great,
believable texture. All acoustic guitar notes are vivid and come through with
the right amount of bite to sound natural and believable. The story of the
song, the story of the man who becomes insane can be felt, and the most active
part of the song is just as vividly and lively presented. One can't just listen
to this song without moving his feet and softly singing along.
Treble
Opus #3 has a forward or
semi forward treble that has great impact and adds a sparkle to the sound.
There is an amazing level of detail in the treble, but I didn't feel it getting
hot or harsh with ie800, RE-2000 or Signature Studio, even though all of them
are treble-happy transducers. The layering and airiness of the treble
presentation are amazing, and they are sure to satisfy those who crave the last
bit of detail that is to be revealed.
Opus #3 will make
trumpets truly shine, will mark cymbal hits with a great impression, will give
electronic effects an edge, and will make the whole sound energetic,
enthusiastic, happy and lively. There is very little to fault with this
presentation, but it should be noted that #3 is not made for smooth signatures
lovers, it is intended for neutral type of sound or for treble lovers.
Icon For Hire – Hope Of Morning – The song starts with a very melodic and playful
combination of electronic instruments. Female voices are liquid, vivid, playful
and melodic, with a spot-on tonality to them. Guitar notes that are played
along have the right texture to them to feel tangible, you can visualize the
strings of the guitar being touched and played. The whole song has a quick and
musical bass that presents itself with good impact. There is a tendency for
this song to be melodic, but Opus #3 makes the experience even sweeter. The story
of the song is presented with a good amount of details and clues of all types,
one can imagine the crazy landscapes painted in this song.
Age of Days – I Did it for Love – The song starts with a playful tune of guitar
notes and a crispy pattern of drums. There is a good separation between
instrument layers, and there is a very good sense of space throughout the song.
All details are presented vividly, and the different guitar layers help create
a very good exposition of the song's mood and landscape painted. The solo is
juicy and guitar tonalities are once again spot-on. The story of this song is
presented nicely vivid, and although it is not a happy story, it is still fun
to listen to.
Veil Of
Maya – Unbreakable – The song starts with very good strength and impact.
There is a good sense of space and the drums sound crispy yet playful. The bass
notes go deep and hit the lowest notes very well. All guitars are well
textured, and Opus #3 is able to keep up very well with the speedy drum
patterns of this song. The top end is sparkly and well enhanced, while the mids
are sweet and playful, yet presented with a natural tonality. The story of this
song, which is mostly a motivational song that tells people to believe in
themselves, is sent through nicely and the song feels both uplifting and motivating
to listen to.
Soundstage
Opus #3 presents music
with a wide soundstage that has good depth, and very good layering and
instrument separation. It is amazing to notice so many layers and different
instruments / different musical notes in songs that you heard all over for more
than ten years. Songs that I think I knew, now entice me with even more
intrigue and even more small things that I can now notice.
It is amazing to hear
how far things can come from, and while Opus #3 is not a DAP intended for
in-your-face type of sound lovers, I think that anyone who hears it will want
to hear it more, Opus #3's soundstage having a WOW effect, just like a pair of
Sennheiser HD800.
ADSR/PRaT
The ADSR (Attack Decay
Sustain Release) and PRaT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing) are again excellent, feature
related to the high-quality Burr-Brown PCM1792A DAC found within Opus #3. Every
musical note has a very clear start, duration, end, and the peak of each
musical note is natural, without any trace of digital compression.
This helps music push
through with high resolution, excellent definition and a naturalness that's
otherwise lacking with lower end DAC chips. The decay of every note is
especially good with PCM1792A as it provides a natural, but clear bound to
every musical note. Textures feel enhanced, vivid and clear.
Portable Usage
Opus #3 is intended for
portable usage, being a DAP (Digital Audio Player), so its portable usage is
quite important. So far, I found it to be good in portability. The sound is
really good for a portable unit, the ergonomics are good, and it is not a very
heavy unit. Opus #3 has a very good grip due to its textured sides, so it
doesn't absolutely require a case to be used with it, the screen is bright,
vibrant and it is visible outdoors, the buttons and volume wheel making a good
pocket usage scenario. The power button on top works well with #3 due to its
size and thickness, and the touchscreen registers things properly almost every
time.
I can move quickly
through my library, find the songs I want to hear, and press play. I found that
even the library scanning process goes pretty quickly and Opus #3 is up to the
task of my rather hectic and chaotic usage.
The streaming abilities
of #3 are very good, the wifi receiver has a very good strength and I would
sometimes use my smartphone as a Personal Hotspot, place it in my pocket or my
bag, then connect Opus #3 to it, and stream music like this.
If I really had to find
a fault in #3's portable usage, that would probably be the lack of playing
through folders and maybe the rather sharp edges and corners, but then again, I
was able to use it in my pockets and hold it in my hands without hassle.
Opus #3 is thicker than
my daily smartphone, but it is far less tall and has less width, so the
thickness doesn't impede its usage. In fact, I think that the added thickness
improves my grip with it, as well as how easy it is to use the volume wheel.
The battery life is
estimated at around 8.5 hours of playback, and this is close to what I got,
which is great considering that my usage patterns include a lot of screen time,
and usage of loud volumes and Equalizer, so Opus #3 should last at least 8
hours even with the most serious usages out there.
Drive
factor
The
specification sheet of #3 doesn't include its power rating (Or it might, but it
is not in English). Even so, #3 has been able to drive every single headphone
and IEM I have to louder levels than I listen to, all while keeping an
excellent clarity and control over the sound. I don't have any headphones with
an impedance over 300 OHM right now, but based on the sonic results it provided
so far, I don't foresee #3 struggling with any headphone either way. Opus #3
has no hiss, and this is great for IEM users, providing a clear and
well-controlled sound even at low volumes.
EMI
Since
Opus #3 is a DAP, and since it features Wifi, it is very important to know
whether it has any kind of EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference), so it went
through a few more tests than IEMs and headphones do.
I
placed #3 on top of my wireless router while streaming music, and played it at
low volumes.
I used
it under the high voltage power lines from the Politehnics area, and placed it
through all kinds of typical usage. As far as I can tell, there was't any trace
of EMI with #3 after it has been through all these tests, so it should be
fairly free of any EMI.
Comparisons
Opus #3 vs Xiaomi Mi Max – The comparison is quite unfair due to the price
difference, and the purpose of each device (Mi Max is a mid-end smartphone at
most, while Opus #3 is a high-end DAP), but it still is fun to know what you
gain when going from a smartphone to a dedicated DAP. Comparing them directly, Opus
#3 extends much more in the treble, has a much tighter and precise bass, has a
much more natural sound, has no digital glare, which is evident on Mi Max, #3
has a lot better body to the sound, much more impact, a considerably better
definition/resolution and considerably better textures. The soundstage also
extends in a very spatial way on #3, with much better width and depth, and the
ADSR sounds spot-on. There are also a lot more details in the sound of Opus #3,
Mi Max not being the best smartphone for music.
Opus #3 vs iDSD BL – This comparison is also slightly unfair since
#3 is a DAP, while iDSD BL is a dedicated DAC/AMP, but both of them are high
end devices, both rely on Burr-Brown DACs, and both have impressed many music
lovers with their sound. The first thing to notice when comparing them is that
iDSD BL has slightly more body and weight to its bass, while #3 is slightly
tighter. In the midrange, both are amazing devices, #3 enhancing textures
slightly more, while iDSD BL presents textures in a natural yet fun way. The
soundstage has more depth on iDSD BL, but it is presented with more width on
#3. There is a clear sense of space on both, and layering feels rather good on
both. The detail level is insane on both, but the way details are presented is
slightly different, #3 presenting details more "In-Your-Face" than
iDSD BL, at this point it being strictly a matter of preference. iDSD BL has
more driving power (4W peak power output to be more precise), and slightly more
control over the sound in general, but Opus #3 keeps up very well. All in all,
both iDSD BL and Opus #3 perform exemplary and you can say that both are
winners.
Opus #3 vs iBasso DX200 – This is where the fair comparisons begin, both Opus
#3 and DX200 being high end DAPs. There is a small difference, #3 being the
middle ground DAP from Opus (There is a #2 as well out there), while DX200 is
the Top-Of-The-Line, State-Of-Art DAP from iBasso. Starting with the build quality,
DX200 has a smoother body, #3 looking slightly more edgy, while DX200 goes for
an elegant approach. The displays are bright and easily readable outside on
both DAPs, the colors being somewhat warmer on DX200 (closer to ideal). General
smoothness of the system is slightly better on DX200, the display resolution
and warmer colors adding to this impression. The volume wheel works amazingly
well on both, and both offer a good headphone out, but it should be noted that
DX200 offers a dedicated SPDIF port, and every AMP module will bring some new
features, like the balanced LO on AMP3. After careful listening, the sound is
different more than it is similar, DX200 being less enhanced all around, while
#3 is slightly more vibrant in highs and in the lows. DX200 has the edge when
it comes to textures, presenting them extremely vivid, but #3 has quite a vivid
presentation as well. The soundstage is presented wider on Opus #3, while DX200
presents the soundstage with similar levels of width, and a tad more depth.
Instrument layering is similar, and midrange tonality is spot-on on both.
Opus #3 vs AP200 – AP200 is a high quality, Android, entry-level
DAP, that costs considerably less, so the comparison might be a bit unfair, but
still good to keep in mind. First, both devices are made out of metal and offer
a nice feel to the hand. #3 is larger and offers a more edgy design. The screen
surface is also larger, so the control is slightly better. Opus #3's display
has more brightness, but AP200 should be fairly easy to read outdoors as well. As
for the sonic differences, AP200 has more enhancement in the bass area, while
#3 is more neutral and tighter. The midrange is presented similarly, and the
treble is presented with more enhancement on Opus #3. AP200's level of detail
is fair for AP200's price, and keeping in mind that Opus #3 is much more
expensive, it performs as such, presenting music with more detail, vividness, and
resolution. The soundstage is wider on #3, and has a similar depth on both,
while the layering is more evident with #3. After careful consideration, it is
possible to say that AP200 is, in some ways, like a mini distant relative of #3.
Opus #3 vs HiFiMAN Megamini – Megamini is a mini DAP, which has only the
basic features, and comes in a slim and small factor. #3 is larger, has a
larger screen, and a much more complex set of functions and usage scenarios. On
the sound, Megamini is actually quite good, being vivid, having a good amount
of impact and being fairly energetic in the treble. The resolution is better on
#3, but the price is also higher, so Megamini performs very well for its price
range. Opus #3 and Megamini have a similar width and depth for their stage,
Megamini having a really good performance for its price point and physical
size. All in all, if we talk about the sonic performance, Megamini feels like a
mini Opus #3, which is quite an impressive feature for it.
Opus #3 vs FiiO X5ii – FiiO X5ii has been one of my favorite devices
for a long time, but it has been replaced, right around the time I received
Opus #3. I am still considering bringing back FiiO X5ii by buying another one
from FiiO. FiiO X5ii servers its purpose well, while Opus #3 has a few more
functions inside. The display quality is commendable on both devices, X5ii
having a slightly and better colored display, and ease of usage is great on
both. When it comes to sonics, FiiO X5ii is slightly tiled towards a warm
signature, while #3 feels more neutral by comparison. The top end is also
slightly tilted towards a smoother presentation on X5ii, while #3 has a vivid
and energetic presentation of cymbals and highs in general. The midrange is
similarly presented, but #3 has a wider soundstage while X5ii has a deeper
soundstage. Instrument separation is great on both, X5ii being an absolute
steal for the price it goes on now, quite close to Opus #3 in most aspects.
Bonus
Photos
Value
Opus #3 is on sale with
many shops right now, so there isn't a precise value it sells for now, but it
costed about 900$ at the time of release, which is also the price it should be
judged for.
Opus #3 brings a good
feature set, with Wifi, Bluetooth, streaming support, Android and many other
features that will surely entice and enrichen every music lover's experience.
The sound alone may be very well worth the price, #3 having a sonic performance
that is fully commendable. The sound is vivid, it is full of energy and life, the
top end is lively, the bottom end has great impact, the mids are natural and
the textures are presented vividly.
TheBit and Opus included
a leather case in the package, and there is also a high-quality cable included
with it. Opus #3 can also replace your current soundcard as it offers support
to be used as a USB DAC, and it will work perfectly for both listening to
music, or watching movies and playing games. Besides its fantastic build
quality, Opus #3 comes with a single microSD card, and it also features 64GB of
internal memory.
All in all, the 900$
price tag is not exactly cheap, but Opus #3 is a premium device, coming in a
premium package, with premium accessories included. It is possible to say that
Opus #3 justifies its price by its sound quality, build quality and good
software support, and while it is not a budget king, it is good to keep in mind
that "you get what you pay for", Opus #3 being one of the best DAPs
the market has to offer at this point, performing fairly good for its price point.
Conclusion
Listening to Opus #3 has
been a great experience, and reviewing it has been an even better one.
Opus #3 is a high-end
DAP (Digital Audio Player) that features a natural and rich sound, a deep bass
with amazing impact, and a sparkly top end, along with an airy presentation and
a great resolution for its textures, and an amazing detail retrieval.
The typical battery
duration is pretty good, around 8.5 hours, and the usage outdoors is excellent,
maybe minus the sharp corners and edges, but Opus #3 comes with a genuine
leather case to alleviate this problem.
Opus #3 runs quite
smooth in general, and it has a pretty mature implementation of Android,
featuring support for third party apps, along with very good support for all
music files, resolutions and sample rates.
At its price point, Opus
#3 is not a budget DAP, but a premium offering, and it is well worth its asking
price. It is even possible to find a unit on sale right now.
It is easy to recommend
Opus #3 to the ones passionate about music and to those who want to seek the
last drops of quality and who love the house sound of the Burr-Brown DAC, along
with the Opus experience and presentation.
Thank you for reading! I hope that this review is of help to you! Stay safe, and please remember to have fun while listening to music!
Link to the review on Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/the-bit-opus-3.22369/reviews#review-19108
Link to the official Thread on Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/opus-3-hi-res-audio-player-w-wifi-and-streaming.842632/
Link to the official store (USA): https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/opus
Link to the official store (USA): https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/opus
Link to the writer’s head-fi page:
Audiophile Heaven:
Audiophile Heaven on Facebook:
0 Comments