iBasso DC04 PRO Dual DAC Converter

The iBasso DC04 PRO is a hi-res USB-C dongle DAC and amplifier with two Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs, two RT6863 amplifiers in a true balanced design and iBasso’s own FPGA with a KDS femtosecond clock. It adds a 3.5mm output to the original DC04’s 4.4mm balanced, gives 280mW into 32Ω balanced, and measures a 131dB signal-to-noise ratio with a noise floor of just 0.9µV, all in a 21g CNC aluminium and glass body.

Dual CS43131 with a pure power supply

The two Cirrus Logic CS43131 flagship DACs, with Master HIFI technology, decode PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit and native DSD256. An ultra-low-noise LDO regulator with a 100dB power-supply rejection ratio keeps their power pure, for a superbly black background: the noise floor is at nanovolt level. A synchronous DC-DC converter and fast, low-noise LDOs give the dongle plenty of clean power for a dynamic, powerful sound.

A true balanced amplifier

Two RT6863 chips form a four-way, fully balanced amplifier with ultra-low distortion. With up to 100mA output current and a 10V voltage swing it reaches 280mW into 32Ω, rendering music full-bodied and engaging, far from the thin, cold sound of a phone.

FPGA and femtosecond clock

The DC04 PRO was the first dongle to use iBasso’s in-house FPGA algorithm. With the KDS femtosecond oscillator it keeps jitter well controlled for cleaner, lower-distortion sound.

Easy on your phone’s battery

The balanced output draws 650mW in normal mode. The single-ended output switches off the unused half of the amplifier, cutting consumption to 550mW, and a power-saving mode bypasses the amplifier and uses the DAC’s own output, at just 410mW. Similar dongles can draw 700 to 800mW, so the DC04 PRO runs cooler and puts less load on your phone.

iBasso UAC app

On Android, the iBasso UAC app adds 100-step hardware volume, five digital filters, three gain levels, two output modes, a 20-step left/right balance and the power saver.

Built to last

The case is CNC-machined from high-grade aluminium, including the open structure around the volume buttons, with tempered glass panels. The USB-C cable is detachable: the supplied USB-C to USB-C cable and USB-A adapter cover most Android phones and computers, and an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning port needs a USB-C to Lightning cable, sold separately. The 4.4mm balanced socket is a Pentaconn, and a light shows red for standby, blue for DSD and green for PCM.

Good to know

• Plug-and-play on Android 5.1 or later (some phones need OTG switched on in settings), Mac and Windows 10. Windows XP, 7 and 8 need iBasso’s driver.
• An iPhone’s own volume has only 16 steps; the DC04 PRO’s buttons give 100, for finer control.
• Colours: black, blue or grey. In the box: DC04 PRO, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter and user manual.
• For more power and a screen see the iBasso DC07 Pro.