Introduction

We have covered a lot of different audio brands operating out of China, with Shenzhen being a particular hotspot of activity owing to its manufacturing capabilities. These brands tend to start off as OEM/ODM offerings that then take on their own identity for local sales before aiming to go global, meeting varying degrees of success in this regard. iBasso Audio is also a Chinese brand but took a weird route in that it was more known outside China for a long time before it began sales in the domestic market. Indeed, the company started in 2006 and made a name for itself in the digital music player and portable DAC/amp market, having to resort to a sub-brand called Mini Audio to enter the Chinese market before going all in with "iBasso" in 2016. In the meantime, the global audiophile community came to acknowledge iBasso DAPs (digital audio players) as among the very best you could buy, these continue to be the company's bread and butter.


It took me until late 2022 to even realize iBasso sold more than just audio players and portable DAC/amps. Sure, there were accessories including cables and adapters of various kinds, but knowing there were both IEMs and headphones under the iBasso brand was a revelation. Today we debut iBasso to the TechPowerUp review database and begin with coverage of its latest headphones called SR3. This is, as the name suggests, the successor to the iBasso SR1 and SR2 that came before. All three share being open-back, over-ear dynamic driver headphones but the new SR3 shifts gears thereafter with the use of a rarely implemented bio-cellulose diaphragm that has me quite excited. The company also teased the inclusion of two sets of ear pads and a new tuning altogether to where my interest was piqued. Thanks to iBasso for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp as we begin with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The iBasso SR3 shipped in a large gray cardboard box that doesn't have a lot on the outside. Indeed, we see iBasso Audio written on the front along with the product name and salient features, with certification info and a retail SKU sticker on the back. There is no render of the headphones, no product specifications or further marketing features, not even contact information for the company. Instead we see a double flap on the side that keeps this box closed. Open the box to reveal a thicker cardboard accessory box that gets the full company name on it again with the rest of the contents found underneath.


The accessory box contains paperwork in the form of a multi-language quick start guide (online copy here) that contains a lot more useful information about the headphones and is worth going through. There is also a warranty card with the date of purchase—even if it's for a review—hand-written on it so you can keep track of whether there's still warranty left on the SR3. More relevant for new customers would be the spare set of ear pads for the iBasso SR3. These are lightly perforated on the outside and inside, feel like genuine leather on the outside, are contoured for a more ergonomic fit over and around the ears, and even have a protective screen over the more fragile drivers.


The carry case provided is larger than some entire headphones product boxes are and iBasso doesn't help by using a straightforward rectangular cuboid form factor either as opposed to something more form-fitting such as what you get with Sivga headphones. This means it's harder to fit the iBasso SR3 case inside your backpack, but does make it easier to store with other boxes as well as helps ensure ample protection courtesy the hard surface all around. It's black with a smooth finish and we see a metal badge with iBasso Audio engraved on the front. The zipper mechanism feels reliable enough and opening the case reveals the headphones, with the cable in a separate compartment.