iBasso D17 Atheris R2R + 1 Bit DAC And Tube AMP Review – Complete Music Experience Systema Win
FiiO D17 Atheris is a $1699 USD / Euro Portable DAC and Headphone Amplifier with multiple unique technologies inside, including a unique In-house developed R2R + 1Bit Dual Discrete DAC and a Tube Amplifier featuring Dual Korg 6PI NuTubes. This makes D17 the most complete portable DAC and Headphone Amplifier we ever reviewed, from a technological standpoint, so today we will compare D17 with other DAC AMPs including iBasso DX340 (1699 USD), Lotoo PAW GT2 (3200 USD), Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000T (2299 USD).
Introduction
iBasso decided to make the final, end-game, perfect portable DAC AMP, so D17 Atheris goes for being complete, for offering a bit of everything, and everything it can offer is magic when you think about how it is so darn complete. iBasso products can be found often on Amazon, Aliexporess and I recommend purchasing from either authorized resellers or directly from iBasso, from their website for the best aftersales and support services.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4pXea4p
Official Website – https://ibasso-shop.eu/product/ibasso-d17-atheris-r2r-1bit-dual-discrete-dac-tube-amp-portable-hi-res-audio
Build Quality – Design
If you haven’t already, I highly suggest reading my review and take on the iBasso D16 Taipan, which was a personal favorite, as D17 will get compared at every single crossroad with the previous one, one of the most requested comparisons in my entire reviewing career. There are some key differences that eventually lead to vastly different listening experiences, but starting from the beginning, iBassso d17 Atheris is a fusion of Discrete R2R and 1-Bit DACs, with Dual Korg NuTube Amplifiers, offering desktop power in a portable shape. Everything is developed in-house, both DACs, and this unique 1-Bit and R2R combo creates a special mode. The R2R chip is a four-channel fully balanced symmetrical R2R DAC, using a total of 284 high-precision film resistors, with an accuracy of 0.01%, while the in-house developed 1Bit DAC employs 8 sets of 8E DACs, totalling 64 PWM-DACs, delivering the experience iBAsso is lately known for.
There are three sonic modes in D17, NOS Mode, which allows the PCM to render music via the R2R DAC path, while DSD will render through the 1Bit DAC, All to R2R, or OS mode, which renders all music to PCM, through the R2R DAC chip, and then through an OS or oversampling filter. Lastly, there is the SD mode, which converts all formats to DSD, and plays all music through the 1Bit DAC chip.
iBasso managed to offer a complete, -104 dB THD+N rating for the R2R DAC, which is over 10 dB better than many mainstream DACs, while delivering a warm, detailed sound. With Two NuTube 6P1 Tubes, D17 has a unique character and charm, offering a warm, mellow yet dynamic sound, as the anode is powered by a 24V high-voltage supply, and paired with the TI Buffer Amplifier BUF634A. This whole AMP setup allows D17 to produce and deliver over 1200 mW + 1200 mW of power for a 32 OHM impedance.
If you’re using 1Bit Mode, you’re basically listening to DSD at all times, and in this mode, each channel, L+ , L-, R+, R- will have 16E DACs, totalling 64 PWM-DACs working together to produce the sound of the D17, leading to a uniquely high -114dB THD+N rating for D17. D17 features a Three-Layer Composite Seismic isolation system, which combines double-layer PCBs and DAmping materials to disperse stress, cut down on resonance and keep microphonics below audible levels. To be honest, I will insert this observation, but for a Tube AMP, D17 has ZERO handling and microphonic noise, which is brilliant.
Topping things with a Dual Battery, D17 powers the DAC and the AMP using different batteries, and it isolates digital interference, maintaining a stable current even under heavy loads, and it is equipped with an in-house developed FPGA-Master 3.0 architecture, deeply integrated with two Accusolcon ultra-low phase noise femtosecond oscillators to produce a pure, unified single clock source. This design delivers real-time clock regeneration that can simultaneously compensate for R2R and 1Bit decoding jitter and distortion to incredibly low levels.
At the bottom, D17 has dual Analog and Digital volume controls, offering a compact 24-Position stepped attenuator, with ultra precise channel matching and DSP-Based Digital control for more control and fine tuning gain vs tube character vs voltage vs power.
The Nutube AMPs are rated for 30.000 hours of operation, and you can read all about the menus and operation of D17 using the 1.3″ OLED display which shows everything you may need to know. With a charging time of 3 hours, and a play time of up to 15 hours, D17 is brilliant for semi-portable, transportable and even pure portable listening. The only drawback might be the 470 grams weight, but honestly I travel with far heavier equipment in my backpack on a daily basis.
USB DAC – Subjective Usage
We finally arrive at the subjective part of the review, where I can actually expand a bit on how D17 feels like in person, and the only thing I can say is WOW. While I always liked D16 and felt it was darn brilliant, D17 is a hybrid that basically can do everything D16 could, but expands on its features in every direction, except for the 1-Bit DAC performance, which is still theoretically higher for D16. The trick here is that to keep D17 reasonably sized and priced, the 1-Bit DAC part is a bit less exciting as D17 has only 64 PWM-DACs, while D16 hads 128 PWm-DACs.
That being said, D17 improves on the battery life, and quite significantly so, but it still has separate charge and data ports, and with many companies recently producing some power delivery options with extremely low THD, you can totally take advantage of D17 in desktop mode much better. Not only this, but the Tube AMP reduces the need for an AMP like PB5 if your headphones and IEMs are relatively easy to drive, but that’s something to be explored, as iBasso created an even more powerful amplifier, a match for D17.
Having two volume wheels allows me to play a bit with gain vs power, and there is no simple rule to keep one at 100% and the other for control, each headphone and IEM will like a certain combo of volume digital and analogue.
Most will sound best with analogue volume set at max, and if you use the digital volume to actually control the volume. This way, the sound is not overdriven with a high voltage and low power, and instead it will have high power and sufficient voltage. The two headphone outputs do an excellent job, and there’s no microphonic and handling noise if taking D17 for a walk, or if knocking on its case.
While the display is really small, at 1.3″, unless you are setting the volume, or browsing the menus of D17, there is nothing to look at on the display. It is basically a standalone DAC AMP that you can simply use. While it seems and feels simple, this is brilliant, you don’t charge it more often than once or twice per week max, it works with all devices, android, windows or mac and it simply works well.
Another interesting chapter is the separate power port, as you can use an external power supply and use D17 continuously, and I found that a high wattage power supply like UGreen 500W can deliver exceptional performance for D17 lowering noise and tightening the sound compared to a USB port of my pc computer, so you might want to invest in the power too.
Sound Quality
Pairings – To test the new iBAsso D17, I have paired it with multiple headphones and IEMs, including Kiwi Ears x Z Serene, Sivga M300, AFUL Performer 5+2, ZiiGaat Crescent, Lily Audio Genesis One, Dita Prelude, ZiiGaat Horizon, Letshuoer S12 Ultra, Raptgo LEAF D01, Palma DHS-1, KBEar Cepheus, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, Erzetich Thalia, Erzetich Mania V2024, TinHIFI T7, FiiO FT13, NFAudio NE4, Sivga Peng, Moritz Dragon, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, Sendy Audio AIVA 2, Tangzu TianPeng, Soundz Flame, YanYin Canon PRO, Dunu Vulkan 2, Letshuoer Mystic 8, and HIFIMAN Isvarna.
You will have more than enough power for most planar headphones, except for a few cases like Susvara. What is more surprising is the control D17 has with IEMS and what a low background noise level it has. Basically, you can increase the analogue volume (bigger wheel) up to 90% without any audible background hissing or noise, and use the digital volume with IEMs, with everything set on high. For headphones, you can increase the volume of that large wheel up to 100% and still get a noise-free sound.
Overall Signature – iBasso D17 has multiple sonic signatures for the DAC, and you can explore either its relaxed and laidback R2R signature, or the more refined, detailed and more dynamic 1-Bit DAC performance. Both are played through the Tube Headphone AMP, but you can influence its gain and character by using either the analogue volume or the digital volume. It generally sounds incredibly detailed, uniquely more dynamic than anything else on the market including D16 and PB5, but also more silent background noise – wise, it is uniquely playful, organic and musical while rendering all the details it can for classical, orchestral, yet having punch and kick for rock and metal.
Bass – Starting from the bottom, it actually took a bit of burn-in, matching and understanding the signature of D17 to get the bass going. It has more bass, more kick and more punch in 1Bit mode and if you engage the analogue volume at max and use the digital volume to control the sound. This way, you allow the DAc AMP to feed the most power, have the highest headroom and most impact, it delivers a truly thunderous bass, it can pack the highest punch, but if you don’t engage all of those steps, it is fast, rhythmic and precise, with zero bloat and outstanding control. Even in this mode, you notice the control and speed, it is control over quantity, and blow over bloat.
Midrange – D17 is uniquely dynamic, organic, and musical. This entwines both male and female voices, it sounds real, it sounds alive and immediate. D17 renders all vocals rather close to the listener, with an engaging presentation, it brings background instruments in a decor around the vocals and lead instruments, which play as if highlighted by a strong spotlight, definition, separation reigns supreme in the sound of D17. It is the only DAC AMP I have in this price range that can make violins play in your brain, real, every single time I listen to it. This is an effect that never wears off, it is amazing time and time again, a sound that you simply cannot learn, or get bored of. It is pure music playing live in your ears. With both IEMs and Headphones, it has the same color, same signature, vivid, real, alive.
Treble – At the top end and at its height, D17 sounds white, open, it has a non-fatiguing presentation that tones down on the metallic tinge of most headphones and IEMs. Even with hot sounding IEMs and Headphones, it sounds open, airy and joyful. Treble extends above 20 kHz, but it doesn’t ever sound too aggro, even with bands like killwhitneydead or infant annihilator or wintersun, D17 is just enjoyable and renders the air without the hot tinge. This is true for both the 1-Bit and R2R DACs, both have the same signature, although 1Bit has more energy, more life and more power in the treble, while R2R is a bit less dynamic, more laidback and more relaxed.
Dynamic Range And Textures – The one thing that defines D17 is its dynamic range, infinitely more dynamic, more punchy, colorful and more vivid than most alternative DAC AMPs in the same price range. It is a straight comparison do DX340 Max Ti, but at the same time, it is different, it has a more vocal presentation, the R2R DAC is more relaxed, which has a less dynamic presentation, while 1bit DAC is more punchy, more colorful, it simply renders music as if it were live, which is exactly what I desire from most sources, to render music as if it is live. Textures are vastly different between the two DACs, R2R is relaxed, smoother, a bit waxy, and soft, while 1Bit sounds more solid, renders every single micro detail, but both are dampened and made organic, rounded by the Headphone Tube AMP inside, which gives them a juicy, organic texture and both sound similar, in how they both sound realistic and emotional without a strong focus on sounding rounded at the edges, never dry.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – D17 has a different signature and gain depending on whether you’re using the digital or analogue volume control more. Basically, it will sound more drive, more dynamic and more punchy, more colorful and the whole signature I describe above if you set the analogue volume to max, which causes it to overdrive the tube amp and deliver the highest voltage, most power through the tubes, but control the actual volume and saturation of loudness in the digital stage. This creates a sound that literally punches far above the price point, while if you use the digital volume at max, and use the analogue control, the sound is more laid-back, less saturated, less dynamic, far more relaxed and a bit more intimate.
Soundstage – iBasso D17 has a natural soundstage, rounded to be as wide as it is deep, with good extension, but a unique presentation that draws vocals and lead instruments right in the center of the stage, close to the listener, with a vivid, well-defined presentation and strong separation. Compared to D16, it sounds quite a bit wider, but compared to PB5, it is more intimate and more personal. It is great for classical and orchestral, it doesn’t spread the instrumentals too much and allows for very precise definition, control and obvious highlight of each instrument. It basically prioritizes instrument separation and layering over raw size, which creates a very fine tuned presentation.
Comparisons
iBasso D17 Atheris vs Lotoo PAW GT2 (1699 USD vs 3200 USD) – Altough D17 is a DAC AMP while GT2 is a DAP, a lot of you have requested me toi make a comparisons between the sound of the two, so we should skip the form factor and battery life, the two are just far too different. In fact, we will skip right to the sound for each product from now on as it seems that for most people sound is the only factor they really need to know about when reading my reviews, so GT2 is a far gentler, more neutral sounding DAP, it brings less voices forward in the mix, it pushes the background less, and basically keeps a more constant, more consistent wall of sound that is neutral and crystal clear, while D17 is more dramatic, more punchy, has a higher level of naturalness and delivers a punchier sound in general. GT2 is great if you want a more relaxed sound, less drama, less bass, less exaggeration, and more neutrality, while D17 offers a more vivid, more dramatic, direct, live and lively sound.
iBasso D17 Atheris vs iBasso DX340 (1699 USD vs 1699 USD) – DX320 is a great comparison as it is also made by iBasso, so they clearly tuned both. In fact, DX320 is similar to D17 when using D17 in the 1bit mode and with the analogue volume turned to max. DX320 is lively, but a bit more restrictive, more neutral, even when using the tube amp for it, D17 sounds more dramatic, more personal, more lively and has more color in the sound. DX320 is more neutral, renders a bit more information and detail, but also is restrictive with the dynamic range, while D17 feels like it has more driving power and headroom, it sounds more central, more personal, yet can also spread the sound more with a stronger instrument separation. DX320 has a signature that changes significantly with each AMP module, and I am mostly comparing them with the default amp module, but DX320 has a certain DAC flavor that D17 handles differently.
iBasso D17 Atheris vs Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000T (1699 USD vs 2299 USD) – CA1000T has been a highlight at high-end munich this year, and it continues to be a stable for DAC AMPs, as most people don’t really see it as a DAP, but sonically it is much more dry, neutral, and lean than D17. Putting them side by side, D17 feels like an evolution in resolution, dynamics, impact and resolution. There’s just so much more information, so much more clarity and crispness that you can hear from D17, CA1000T does not have the same magic of tubes that iBasso put in D17, and CA1000T sounds a bit cold, a bit dry and a bit compressed compared to D17 which sounds so much more open, with a more organic midrange and more fun overall tuning.
Value and Conclusion
With an amazing build quality, and sonic quality that combines the strengths of both D16 and PB5, D17 is a more complete listening solution, does not cost more, and it is amazing for all music styles, most headphones and all IEMs, basically it can easily be an end-game solution that requires nothing else, so its value is actually higher than most other options you can get for high-end audio portability.
Award – Before the end of today’s review, D17 is like a combination of two of my favorite products of last year, PB5 and D16, so it has to win an award in our hall of fame, it draws advantages of booth, but offers more than either could alone, yet in a single device that’s just the size of one. Truly amazing, as it has a long battery life and high driving power too, so it is a worthy DAC AMP to be in our Hall Of Fame.
At the end of the day, iBasso managed to once gain redefine what you can do portably, this time implementing tube headphone amps, R2R and Special 1Bit DACs inside the same unit, offering a long battery life, strong driving power, all for the price that’s the same as what the older D16 was, but not necessarily replacing it, instead creating something different, uniquely good with D17. I totally love D17 and consider it to be my current favorite go-to DAC AMP that’s portable but powerful enough for all my usual headphones, yet quiet enough for IEMS.
PROs
- Long Battery Life
- Exceptional shape and design, loving the silver color
- Multiple sonic modes that route the sound through different DACs
- Tube AMP with no microphonic or handling noise
- OS and NOS modes for the R2R DAC
- Detailed, rich and natural sound
- Huge soundstage
- Can create a ton of power with very low distortion
- Exceptional build quality and support from iBasso
- MAgical, with the two types lighting up when it is turned on
- Superb performance in general, highly resolute but rich and organic
- Outstanding price performance ratio, even though it is a flagship DAC AMP
Cons
- 1Bit DAC mode is slightly below D16 technically (lower number of E PWM-DACs)
- Need to invest in a good desktop power supply if using it mostly desktop, to avoid introducing noise from a PC USB port
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4pXea4p
Official Website – https://ibasso-shop.eu/product/ibasso-d17-atheris-r2r-1bit-dual-discrete-dac-tube-amp-portable-hi-res-audio
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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