iBasso SR3

The sturdy, high-quality construction with generous ear padding and leather headband makes for a positive first impression. The combination of silver housing and black protective grill looks very attractive and is very similar to the iBasso SR2 (review).

The round ear cups can be swivelled and rotated, and the headband can be adjusted in length using screws. The headphones come with a soft carrying case and a pair of alternative ear pads with a slightly different sound. The 1.6 metre long, interchangeable, balanced cable has silver and copper conductors and is double ended. It runs down the side of the front of the earcups and terminates in a 4.4mm plug. An adapter for the standard 6.35 mm format is included.

Technically, the dynamic design is based on a large full-range driver with a bio-cellulose diaphragm, silicone suspension and Tesla magnet drive.

The iBasso SR3 in practice

The iBasso SR3 is designed for wired sound enjoyment and does not have any special features. Due to its size, it is most likely to be used at home, but its strengths can also be used in a DAP, for example in a hotel.

The large, round, generously padded, leatherette-covered ear cups adapt well to the shape of the head and are comfortable to wear. In my case, I had to widen the headband a little with a Torx screwdriver to be able to wear the SR3 for long periods without feeling any pressure. I would rate the replacement of the pads as ‘fiddly’.

The sound of the iBasso SR3

As is often the case with high quality wired headphones, an equally high quality headphone amplifier or DAP has a positive effect on the sound quality. In my case, I listened to the iBasso SR3 in combination with the RME ADI-2 Pro FS R (test) amp and the Shanling M3X DAP (review). With an impedance of 150 ohms, the test device can be used with smartphones, but it still benefits from a powerful drive. The SR3 is also very stable. So you can really let it rip if you want to.

The iBasso SR3 sounds pleasantly balanced with the factory pads, tending towards warmth and sonority. The alternative, slightly narrower and coarser perforated pads sound a little tighter and a little more restrained in the bass, with a dash of increased linearity and finer resolution, but also a little more harshness.

I wouldn’t describe the SR3 as explicitly analytical in terms of detail resolution, but rather as a mixture of high resolution and naturalness that flatters acoustic instruments and vocals in particular.

The SR3’s bass is powerful, but also warm. With the standard cushions, I found this area a little too full-bodied. In both cases, the semi-open construction covers the low bass well without being too prominent.

The mid-range is reproduced reliably. Instruments and vocals of all kinds sound detailed, with realistic timbres and good definition. Electronic instruments and distorted guitars show a good blend of warmth and speed. Myles Kennedy’s ‘The Ides of March’ is an example of this, with an intimate intro that builds into a full-bodied rock number. Fire your Guns’ by AC/DC brings the Australian quintet’s irresistible groove to your ears. Even Meshuggah’s critical ‘Bleed’, which tends to sound tinny on some monitoring systems, conveys the aggressiveness and intent of the distorted guitar sound. Slayer’s ‘Repentless’, on the other hand, seems a little too tame and lacklustre. Alice in Chains’ ‘Check My Brain’ once again shows how full a well-produced distorted electric guitar can sound.

In the upper frequencies the iBasso SR3 is open and lively. There is no harshness, no sharpness, no emphasis. You won’t find the ‘transparency’ of a Sennheiser HD 800 S (test) or the fast response of magnetostatic systems, but you will find a resolution and impulsiveness that improves the reproduction of space, the stereo panorama and the timing of the players involved in the mix, for example when doubling. The clean separation of the stereo panorama in Yello’s ‘Pan Blue’ is easy to understand, but not in Überbreite. It’s also nice to see how the room opens up in the first chorus of ‘Moonpeople’ by Devin Townsend.

My Love is Your Love’ shows that the iBasso SR3 is also at home in the urban pop genre. Here, Whitney Houston’s extraordinary voice is brought into focus in all its detail, while the pulsating bass adds depth and the drums provide a point-by-point groove.

Finally, the beautiful dynamics of ‘Strange Place for Snow’ by the Esbjörn Svensson Trio are also pleasing, placing the acoustic jazz sound almost directly in the club. Piano, buzzing upright bass and brushed drums testify to the harmonious interplay of the musicians. Roy Orbison’s ‘The Comedians’ also scores with a dynamic marching snare, accentuated guitar parts and, last but not least, the incomparable voice of the singer.

In a nutshell

With the SR3, iBasso have created a pair of headphones that sound absolutely appealing and, at a current retail price of 499 euros, are really good value for money. They have been designed with the audiophile in mind and are of high quality, placing them at the top end of the market in terms of quality. High resolution, full frequency range, fast response, dynamics and spaciousness are all on a par with the competition at this price.