iBasso CF01 Bluetooth Adapter Review – Jim Carrey Has Become The Cable(less) Guy
Pros
Comfortable, light, good build.
Neutralish sound – doesn’t colour frequencies, and potrays the connected IEM as it is.
Excellent sound quality.
Charging case can fit large IEM inside, has airbags to cushion precious IEMs and magnet to secure them.
Up to 24h playback with charging case. Supports wireless charging.
Dedicated amp for better headroom, dynamics.
Strong and easy BT connectivity and range. No dropouts for BT.
Has a mic to take calls.
IPX5 water resistance.
Cons:
No volume control.
No LDAC or aptX LL/HD.
Hisses with highly sensitive IEMs (generally not noticeable when music starts).
MMCX only (but u can use 2 pin to MMCX adapters with no issue).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The iBasso CF01 is a really nifty bluetooth wireless adapter that allows one to bring their favourite detachable IEMs on the go. Its sound quality is superb, coupled with an innovative charging case, good BT connectivity and headroom, and up to 24 hours playback, this is one wireless gear that didn’t make me miss my cables too much.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0 (Qualcomm QCC3020)
- Bluetooth coding: SBC, AAC, aptX
- Wireless range: 10 meters
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Output power: 9 mW @ 32 ohm
- SNR > 98dB
- Audio decoding: 24 bit 192 kHz
- THD + N < 1% (20 Hz – 10 kHz 1mW)
- Playtime: 4.5 hours (adapter) + 20 hours (charging case)
- Charging time: 1.5 hours (adapter) + 2.5 hours (charging case)
- Waterproof level: IPX5 (sweat and rain resistant)
- Tested at $149 USD
ACCESSORIES
In addition to the BT adapter, it comes with:
1) Charging case, which incorporates many innovative ideas:
- It is very roomy and can fit big IEMs.
- It has a well designed upper and lower “airbag” to provide cushioning and extra protection for your precious IEMs.
- The charging case has magnets to accept the iBasso CF01, so even if one holds the charging case upside down or at an angle, the iBasso CF01 (and connected IEM) remains securely stashed inside.
- The charging case can be charged via wireless devices/pads or via USB-C.
2) USB-C charging cable
BUILD/COMFORT
The iBasso CF01 is very comfortable, light and ergonomic, no issues using it for hours, you even forget sometimes it’s in use. The wire guides are quite flexible (neither too stiff nor too floppy) and build quality is sturdy. The buttons are found on the top of the iBasso CF01 when it is worn in the ear.
The iBasso CF01 has IPX5 water resistance rating, and that potentially means it may be used for exercise or in the gym.
Unfortunately, the iBasso CF01 only comes with MMCX connectors, but I managed to use some aftermarket 2 pin-MMCX adapters with no issues, when pairing it with 2 pin only IEMs. They cost around 2 bucks from places like Aliexpress and don’t really degrade the sound quality, so worth a shot if you wanna try 2 pin IEMs on the iBasso CF01.
FUNCTION
The iBasso CF01 powers on when taking it out of the charging case. The left and right sides pair up automatically when taken out of the case, and I had no issues with pairing it with multiple BT devices, all devices recognized the iBasso CF01 on the spot.
Putting them back inside the charging case switches them off and starts charging them. Pressing the power button on either side of the iBasso CF01 for 3 seconds can also turn on or off the iBasso CF01 on their respective sides. Pretty foolproof in terms of function.
The iBasso CF01 has a mic and can take calls, with very good sound quality for calls. To answer calls, short press the power button. To reject the call, press the power button for 1 second. There’s an option to use a smartphone voice assistant (if your phone has such as function), by pressing the power button 3 times consecutively.
When playing music, pressing the power button pauses it. When music is paused, pressing the power button restarts it. Double pressing the right side power button skips to the next song, while double pressing the left side power button goes back to the previous song.
There’s no volume controller on the iBasso CF01 unfortunately, but I guess one can always change the volume at the source, though that limits convenience somewhat.
Connectivity is excellent, I have not a single drop out whatsoever in the past 1 month that I’ve been using them. The BT range is about 10 meters or so, assuming no walls/obstructions are in the path.
The specs claim that the charging time is 1.5 hours (for adapter) and 2.5 hours (for charging case) and that playtime is 4.5 hours (adapter) per charge. I think it is thereabouts with my usage at moderate volumes. The specs also state a 20 hour playback with charging case and it seems correct, I’ve used it for about 3 days (6ish hours or so per day) before needing to charge it.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
The iBasso CF01 uses the Qualcomm QCC3020 TWS chipset, which is supposed to provide the most up to date wireless features (as of the time of writing). It has BT 5.0 with support for aptX, SBC and AAC, but unfortunately doesn’t support LDAC or aptX LL/HD.
For the purposes of this review, I paired the iBasso CF01 with the Audiosense T800, Blon Cardinal, iBasso IT00, Nicehck M6, Toneking Ninetails and Westone W30. The iBasso CF01 is quiet with lower sensitivity IEMs, but does have a slight hiss with highly sensitive IEMs, but this hiss is not apparent when music starts playing. The iBasso CF01 has a dedicated headphone amp and that provides good headroom for most IEMs. Other than power, this amp gives better dynamics too, though this might explain a slightly lower battery life (4.5 playtime on 1 charge) compared to say the TRN BT20S (at about 5 – 6 hours), when both are played at moderate volumes.
Soundwise, the iBasso CF01 is excellent, it provides a neutralish and transparent sound, with no colouration of frequencies, and as such this allows the IEM connected to it to paint its true sound signature without embellishments. I did note a very slight subbass and higher treble roll off, I don’t think these extremes of frequencies are too noticable on the go or outdoors TBH. Soundstage is slightly bigger with the iBasso CF01 compared to a lower powered source such as a smartphone.
I’m a hardcore cable guy, and this nifty little device has made me marvel at how far wireless gear has come in just a few years. With the iBasso CF01, I didn’t really miss my cables much to be honest, and the convenience it brings is very good in some situations, such as doing housework, exercising or for on the go use.
COMPARISONS
Even among wireless gear, I generally prefer BT adapters (like the TRN BT20S and TRN BT20), rather than TWS buds, as I’d like to use my favourite detachable IEMs (with famililar sound signatures) on the go, and hence these BT adapters allow me to reuse the IEM. Plus I think that TWS buds are limited sooner or later by the BT tech or battery life (with repeat charges), so at least the IEM can be kept even if the TWS bud dies/gets outdated.
So I previously bought the TRN BT20 and TRN BT20S for this purpose, they are cheaper than the iBasso CF01, but do not come with a charging case. There’s a newly released TRN BT20S Pro that has a charging case and swappable 2 pin/MMCX modules (though different modules are sold separately). I would very much like to buy the TRN BT20S Pro one day to compare with the iBasso CF01, as both have a charging case and I’ll gladly update this review thereafter if I get the TRN BT20S Pro.
However, do note that TRN’s QC is sometimes not the best and my TRN BT20 and TRN BT20S wireless sets are both dead after just a few months of use. As such, I would have really liked to have done a thorough A/B testing of these TRN gear vs the iBasso CF01, but off the top of my head, the TRN BT20 and TRN BT20S adapters lose to the iBasso CF01 in BT connectivity and slightly in sound quality. The TRN BT20S had a bad hiss with highly sensitive IEMs, worse than the iBasso CF01. Battery life is perhaps a bit longer on the TRN BT20S. Comfort and fit is better on the iBasso CF01 than the 2 TRN wireless gear. These 2 TRN models (not the TRN BT20S Pro) don’t come with a charging case too, and headroom and dynamics aint’ as good as in the iBasso CF01.
Of my other TWS earbuds, the TFZ BV2 has worse battery life, worse sound quality/connectivity, with frequent drop outs. The Tronsmart Apollo Bold has added ANC, but it has slightly worse sound quality/connectivity.
CONCLUSIONS
The best compliment I can give a wireless gear like the iBasso CF01 is that it didn’t make me miss my cables too much. Even Jim Carrey will become a cable(less) guy with this nifty set. The iBasso CF01 packs good sound in a good build, has a charging case with innovative ideas, doesn’t colour any frequencies, and has good BT connectivity and a dedicated amp inside. Having IPX5 rating for water resistance tops off the icing on this set, as it may potentially be used for exercise or in the gym, which is one of their better uses for a wireless gear compared to wired sets.
While I would have wished for a volume control and LDAC function, and a 2 pin option (though this can be easily fixed with a 2 pin to MMCX adapter), this is just nitpicking, and I am very happy with the iBasso CF01 for my wireless needs and the convenience it brings to the table.
MY VERDICT
You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Paul from iBasso for providing this review sample, my views are my own. It can be gotten at $149 USD at multiple sites/shops.
Our generic standard disclaimer.
You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
