Marcus evaluations the iBasso PB6 MACAW, a quad-Raytheon JAN6418 tube moveable headphone amplifier delivering as much as 2.3W of output energy. It’s presently priced at $499.00.
Disclaimer: I acquired this pattern in trade for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank iBasso for this chance.
Click on right here to learn extra concerning the iBasso merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
iBasso PB6 MACAW Evaluation
Abstract
The iBasso PB6 MACAW moveable headphone tube amplifier is the ‘energy pack’ of amps at this value level. It has wonderful synergy with a variety of sources and loads of energy to drive demanding headphones. It additionally offers a really black background with wonderful quantity management for delicate IEMs.
Execs
Expansive and clean sounding tube mode.
Very black background and channel balancing at low volumes.
An excellent vary of options for a transportable analog amplifier.
Cons
Wants a leather-based case badly to stop inadvertent injury.
Dc enter variations is perhaps too refined for some head gear.
The iBasso PB6 MACAW moveable headphone amplifier feels prefer it ought to be the successor to 2024’s PB5 Osprey. The nomenclature is logical; the idea of a standalone moveable tube headphone amplifier is sustained.
And but, the brand new PB6 MACAW is $1000 cheaper than the older PB5. It nearly seems like a course correction. Nevertheless, whenever you embody the brand new D17 Atheris, the PB6 MACAW all of the sudden is smart.
The D16 Taipan‘s 1-bit DAC and a solid-state Class A amplifier had been changed by the D17’s dual-mode R2R/1-bit DAC and a Korg NuTube amplifier. It nearly felt as if the necessity for a PB5 or PB6 MACAW was redundant, apart from one key space: energy.
And that’s what the PB6 brings to the desk: energy and loads of it, with a smattering of tubes to maintain the tone extra analog than digital and at an reasonably priced value level.
Nonetheless, even at this new, lower cost, you could have some competitors, at the very least if heavy energy just isn’t your be-all and end-all. Built-in models such because the Cayin RU9 additionally provide a tube choice and a delta-sigma DAC at an analogous value.
How does the PB6 MACAW differ from the PB5 Osprey efficiency, and the way does it evaluate to similar-priced models such because the Cayin RU9? I discovered in my full evaluate beneath.
Options
The iBasso PB6 MACAW is a balanced, twin operational mode moveable analog headphone amplifier.
There is no such thing as a DAC inside, and it doesn’t strictly function as a preamp; you will have a line-level enter from a supply corresponding to a DAP or a DAC to drive IEMs and headphones.
Its dual-mode operation is break up between a solid-state op-amp/BUF headphone amplifier circuit with 4 BUF634As for present amplification working in Class AB, and 4 JAN6418 tubes that feed the BUF amplifier stage (Tube Mode).
Just like the latest AMP playing cards and the DX340, the PB6 MACAW makes use of a 12V DC enter, which boosts the output energy to a most of 9.5Vrms, past the 8.5Vrms restrict of the battery mode alone.
The utmost output energy of the PB6 MACAW doesn’t differ with the chosen operational mode. In balanced mode, you stand up to 2.5W in DC mode, dropping to 1.6W right into a 32Ω load. In SE mode, the output degree is similar for each battery and DC at 660 mW right into a 32 Ω load.
Design
The PB6 MACAW has a a lot smaller kind issue and is barely lighter than the PB5 Osprey, which feels extra at residence with the D16 and D17 moveable DAC/Amps.
As a substitute of the darkish, by some means hole really feel of the PB5 Osprey chassis, the PB6 MACAW’s silvery aluminum housing with a darkish glass panel end is extra harking back to the form and really feel of their DAP line.
It nonetheless has a slight DIY really feel, with seen screws on prime and rack-mount hinges to guard the dials. Nevertheless, I discover the traditional portal-window orange-tube glow from the highest panel and the refined etched branding extra refined than the PB5’s black-and-green glow.
Contemplating how less expensive the PB6 MACAW prices in comparison with the PB5, it truly turned out fairly nicely, with the one disadvantage being the dearth of symmetry with the far bulkier D17 Atheris in comparison with the D16/PB5 stack.
One factor that’s lacking is a few safety: both a case or 3M sticky toes could be best to stop scraps on the PB6 MACAW or the amp by accident scraping no matter you’re stacking it with.
It feels sturdy, although, with the rack-mount handles offering loads of safety for the dial and connectors, and a slight recess on the rear panel for the assorted switches and ports.
I/O
The entrance panel is straightforward sufficient, with balanced and SE LO/PO choices; nonetheless, iBasso has swapped out the PB5’s 4-wiper stepped attenuator for a 4-channel digital quantity management that additionally doubles as a power-on/off selector.
I’m not wholly satisfied that it’s a unhealthy factor. Many delicate gear or IEM customers felt the 24-step quantity management was slightly too aggressive.
Whereas a non-stepped model may give them extra granular management with out having to stability it out with one thing just like the D17 digital quantity to get their most well-liked listening degree.
Additionally, for the reason that PB5 Osprey lacks a 3.5mm SE line enter, there’s additional scope to pair the PB6 MACAW with extra sources that solely have SE line outputs.
On the rear panel, you could have the DC 12V enter, which makes use of the identical charger that got here with the DX340 and is appropriate with the DC socket on the AMP15/16/17/18 playing cards.
With DC mode activated, you bypass the PB6 MACAW’s battery, supplying you with countless ‘juice’ and serving to protect its long-term well being.
The PB6 MACAW is charged through a USB-C port on the rear panel. Inside is an 8.4V high-voltage polymer battery, considerably greater than a typical 3.7V battery. Peak cycles are as much as 13.5 hours in Class AB mode, dropping to 9.5 hours in Tube mode.
Past the facility provide, the PB6 MACAW has a two-gain-stage change (excessive and low) and an amplification mode that allows you to select between tube and SS.
The BW or ‘Bandwidth Mode’ selector is one thing new, and I’ll clarify this in additional element within the sound part as a result of it colours the output.
In brief, the low-bandwidth mode delivers a softer, hotter tone, and the high-bandwidth mode creates a cleaner, extra resolving presentation.
Packaging & Equipment
The PB6 MACAW makes use of packaging much like that of the D17 Atheris and the PB5 Osprey. Once more, at this value level, the white outer and leather-based field inside with velvet pouches is a really engaging ensemble, and also you get a good variety of equipment.
Aside from the necessary DC wall wart, you additionally get 2 braided IC cables, terminated in 3.5mm SE and balanced 4.4mm, in addition to a 1m USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable. The remainder are guarantee and use guideline playing cards.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the iBasso PB6 MACAW had been accomplished utilizing a mixture of the PLUSSOUND Allegro II, the Noble Audio Shogun, the Distinctive Melody Multiverse Mentor, the ABYSS JOAL, and the Austrian Audio The Composer.
Sources included the iBasso DX340/AMP17 balanced line-out and the DX340/D17 Atheris USB digital audio and balanced line-out, each utilizing balanced PO connections.
Abstract
The PB6 MACAW sound signature ranges from impartial and punchy, with wonderful separation, to lush and expansive, that includes clean vocals and glowing highs.
In Class AB mode, the PB6 sounds linear with managed however exact imaging, just about no bloom, and wonderful articulation and element retrieval.
With high-bandwidth mode, you possibly can inject extra air and top into the efficiency, or calm it down and soften it slightly with low-bandwidth mode.
I choose the Class AB/low-bandwidth mode for brighter headgear or for a forceful upper-mids vary, an space that the tube mode emphasizes extra.
Headphones such because the Composer, which might sound edgy within the higher mids and highs when paired poorly, sound wonderful with this setup, particularly with the D17’s OS Mode output.
I additionally discover a slight quantity discount when utilizing Class AB in comparison with tube mode, although that could possibly be as a consequence of how tube mode shapes the midrange, which sounds fuller and extra ahead to my ear.
The PB6 Macaw Tube mode is the place I are inclined to do about 90% of my listening. It sounds extra expansive, textured, and expressive than the extra conservative, managed AB mode.
It’s a fuller, hotter efficiency, and one which I take pleasure in with gear that may replicate that grandiose supply, such because the UM Multiverse Mentor.
On the technical aspect, the background could be very ‘black’, even with delicate IEMs in tube mode. iBasso has accomplished a terrific job right here, decreasing analog noise flooring to an absolute minimal with the digital quantity, making certain channel imbalance is nonexistent at low quantity ranges.
The dynamic vary can be wonderful, notably with much less environment friendly headphones such because the ABYSS JOAL. Utilizing the DC enter enhances the low-end dynamics, with a tighter, extra ‘pointed’ influence than the equal battery mode efficiency.
Supply Variations
Regardless of packing 4 tubes, the iBasso PB6 MACAW is pretty clear, i.e., your supply will have an effect on the ultimate coloration of your pairings.
I examined the PB6 with the ABYSS JOAL at a high-gain, high-bandwidth setting. The road enter was from the D17 Atheris, the D16 Taipan, the DX340/AMP17, the DX180, and HiBy’s RS8 II.
Essentially the most dynamic pairings had been the D17 and the D16; they felt made for the PB6. Out of those two pairings, I most well-liked the D17’s lineout. It sounded slightly firmer and extra outlined, with a smoother, weightier midrange.
The D16 output has shorter decay and a extra pressing, etched word supply, with stronger treble distinction.
The DX340/AMP17 lineout sounded slightly extra impartial through the PB6 than through the D17 and D16, which is comprehensible on condition that it makes use of a delta-sigma DAC slightly than a 1-bit or R2R DAC.
The PB6/JOAL pairing had wonderful dynamics, a barely cleaner however punchier sound, with extra upper-order harmonic affect within the mids-timbre of the JOAL.
Vocal imaging just isn’t as ahead or lush because the D17 in R2R/NOS mode; it’s extra similar to 1-Bit imaging, however it’s nonetheless barely extra clinical-sounding.
The RS8 II lineout doesn’t fairly convey the identical sense of energy and dynamism because the D17 and D16, however has a sweeter overtone, barely extra bass bias, and a extra laid-back vocal supply.
You’ll want to compensate the PB6 MACAW quantity slightly extra; the Vrms output feels barely decrease than that of iBasso’s DAC/Amps.
The DX180 pairing was commendable, however if you’re rocking a DX340, you’ll discover a slight loss in staging depth and micro-detail. The PB6/ABYSS output has a extra rounded, flatter tone, with barely much less air however nonetheless fairly impartial and refined-sounding.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
