iBasso IT00 Entry-Level IEMs Review – Full Experience
IT00 is an entry-level IEM / Earphone designed by iBasso. They are priced neatly at 70 USD, making them one of the most affordable high-quality IEMs out there. The main comparisons / dangerous enemies of the IT00 will be 1Custom Junior, iBasso IT01S, and FiiO FH3. It will also get paired with HIDIZS AP80 PRO, Centrance DACport HD, and FiiO M3 PRO.
Introduction
iBasso’s a great company and their pitch for IT00 is creating the best IEM they could on a budget, and making it as enjoyable as possible. They managed to keep a great presence within the audiophile community by always providing excellent service, warranty, and good products. They don’t release a lot of products, but the ones they release are always interesting and have an excellent price / performance ratio.
That being said, it should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with iBasso. I’d like to thank iBasso for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in iBasso IT00 find their next music companion.
Product Link
You can always purchase IT00 from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/iBasso-IT00-Audiophile-Monitor-Earbuds/dp/B08B6DFSNZ?
Packaging
First things first, let’s get the packaging out of the way:
The package for IT00 is good, as it comes with a nice high-quality carrying case, a good number of extra tips. A high-quality dable should be mentioned, although this one is less interesting than the one that usually comes with iBasso IT series of IEMs.
To be more precise, you can expect the following in the package:
- IT00 IEMs
- 9 pairs of silicone eartips
- Storage Case
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
Given the really pocket-friendly price of 70 USD, I am really happy to see the case included, and the package is pretty much perfect.
Technical Data
Type – Dynamic IEM (10 mm Graphene Driver)
Frequency Response – 10 Hz – 35 kHz
Sensitivity – 106 dB
Impedance – 16 OHM
Noise Attenuation – -26dB
Rated Power – 10mW
THD – <1% at 1kHz / 1mW
Plug Type – 3.5mm TRS Single Ended Plug Plated
Cable – 1.2m MMCX OFC Cable
Weight – 8g without the cable
Youtube Video
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
IT00 looks pretty cool, and I always loved iBasso’s attention to details. It is glued and matched perfectly, and that fine high-definition font used to write on their products always makes them feel really well made.
The comfort of IT00 is perfect, with no driver flex, no microphonic noise from the cable, but with a good shape / ergonomic for the IEMs. In fact, I would say that it should fit every ear out there, as it is small and nicely designed. There’s a ventilation hole as they do use a 10 mm dynamic driver, based on Graphene with dual HelmHolts Resonators (same as what Sennheiser uses in their Ie800S IEMs).
The cable is actually of good quality, but it is the least interesting part of IT00, it looks and feels considerably less premium than other iBasso IEMs, but the price is also more affordable for IT00, so it all evens out.
Despite the shell being a pretty white color, it doesn’t dirty easily, it doesn’t get scratched easily, and IT00 does actually deliver on the promised 25 dB of passive noise isolation, making them close to a proper Etymotic IEM.
The drive factor is ok, they have a low impedance and are slightly sensitive to hiss, and a somewhat low SPL for IEMs, of 106dB, so you may find yourself pumping a bit more volume than in IEMs with a higher SPL.
Sound Quality
The bass of IT00 is well-articulated, clean and clear. The bass is deep and goes low, with good impact. It is also fairly tip-dependent, and you will get much better bass with foamies, but you lose a bit in the highs and in the clarity. It has a nice thump to it, and fills the entire listening space. Especially with Dubstep songs, you can hear the rumble going through your head if you dial in enough volume, but this is an advantage if you’re looking for a fun signature.
The midrange is actually pretty clear and slightly recessed, free from extra thickness or veil. IT00 dips the male voices in particular a bit, and tends to increase the intensity and emotion for female voices, making Jazz and Pop sound really impressive. The upper midrange is pretty enhanced and has a good amount of presence, making the entire sound fairly V-Shaped. The soundstage is pretty deep, and has more depth than it has width. For the 70 USD price, it is more than most competitors offer, with most of the action going on at the edge of my head, not too far, but not quite inside either.
The treble is fairly smooth in texture, but detailed and crisp. Rock and Metal sounds interesting, there’s enough air and extension to keep things lively. IT00 tends to be easy for those sensitive to stronger treble, so you won’t ever feel like taking them off, even if listening to aggressive metal, despite there being quite a bit of energy in the highs.
Comparisons
The main comparisons will be with 1Custom Junior, iBasso It01S and FiiO FH3. The reason I went with those, despite them being a bit more pricey, is that you need to know what you could get for more money, and it helps establish whether IT00 is a good value or not.
Since there are so many IEMs out there in this price range, please let me know if you want me to compare IT00 with any other IEM, and I’ll be happy to help.
iBasso IT00 vs FiiO FH3 (70 USD vs 130 USD) – The overall bass is more in quantity and depth on FH3. The midrange tends to be more colorful, and have a slightly better detail on IT00. There’s even a slightly better treble on IT00, which has a bit more air and sparkle, where FH3 feel smoother.
iBasso IT00 vs iBasso IT01S (70 USD vs 200 USD) – Comparing iBasso’s better IEM to IT00, I toptally hear a much better clarity and improved soundstage. The higher price totally leads to a much better experience, and IT01S is better indeed, but I brought up this comparison because IT00 sounds like a downsized IT01S. It has the same overall tuning, similar sound, but in a mini mode. If you can’t afford IT01S, you can totally go for IT00, it has some of the same DNA, at a much lower price.
iBasso IT00 vs 1Custom Junior (70 USD vs 140 USD) – The best part about this comparison is that despite the many configurations of the 1Custom Junior, IT00 still ends up being interesting and worthy to mention. Not only worthy to mention, but it wins in terms of detail and how engaging it is, although the Junior has slightly better control and a larger soundstage.
Pairing
The main pairings will be with FiiO M3 PRO, Centrance DACport HD, and HIDIZS AP80 PRO.
IT00 also pairs nicely with iBasso DAPs like the DX120, but I wanted to explore how it pairs with even less pricey sources, since if you’re going for IT00, you’re most likely to have an entry-level source too. It is not very picky with the source, so you could easily use a smartphone, with the note that my Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S is almost at maximum volume to sound ok in terms of loudness.
iBasso IT00 + HIDIZS AP80 PRO (70 USD + 170 USD) – With AP80 PRO, the sound is really lively, detailed and clear, but you can dial in a bit more midrange or a bit more bass if you wanted to. The MSEB feature of AP80PRO sure comes in handy, and using it revealed that IT00 can take quite a bit of EQ without distorting.
iBasso IT00 + Centrance DACport HD (70 USD + 170 USD) – I really enjoyed the aggressive and forward presentation of mids and bass with the DACportHD. Especially when it comes to the overall detail and clarity, this DAP is a master, but please be careful with the switch and the volume, as IT00 is really easy to drive, and you may end up giving a bit too much if you’re not careful. There was no major hissing either, so I was able to enjoy IT00 on a punchy, full Class-A amp, all while taking in the delight of their wide soundstage.
iBasso IT00 + FiiO M3 PRO (70 USD + 70 USD) – M3 PRO is the best way to make IT00 more neutral and flat, if you want to experience the maximum detail you can pump out of them on a budget. It gives them a really clear sound, but with a flatter presentation, more emphasis on detail and less on dynamics. I can totally appreciate it with technical death metal and math metal, but for classical and rock, I prefer FiiO M6 or iBasso DX120.
Value and Conclusion
Value will always be strong for IEMs and products priced below the 100 USD mark, and IT00 is no exception. It is a tiny IEM, made well, and priced nicely, comes with a ton of accessories, so value is really strong for it.
The build quality and the default cable are excellent for the price paid, and it is an IEM that looks as good as it works. In fact, it even has a place in Audiophile-Heaven’s Hall Of Fame, for the ergonomics, package and sound it is able to deliver at 70 USD.
The overall sound can be described as mildly V-Shaped, but with good detail and clarity for the price paid. I’m not exactly easy on it either, as I’ve been dealing mostly with flagships lately, so I’m coming from having reviewed some better IEMs.
At the end of today’s review, if you have 70 USD and want to get yourself an awesome IEM with a V-Shaped sound, IT00 should be perfect for you. It comes with excellent build quality, a nice default cable, and an engaging, lively V-shaped sound that defies its price point considerably.
Product Link
You can always purchase IT00 from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/iBasso-IT00-Audiophile-Monitor-Earbuds/dp/B08B6DFSNZ?
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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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