iBasso DX320

The DX320 is the flagship DAP from Ibasso. Unlike the usual top DAPs, no chip from AKM or ESS is installed here, but two chips from ROHM (BD34301EKV) provide for the digital-analog conversion. This chip has extremely good measuring values like e.g. a dynamic range of 130dBA! Ibasso itself presents this new DAC as „the pinnacle of audio ICs". More about how it sounds later.

When I opened the extremely elegant packing a massive player from CNC milled aluminum offered itself to me! When I hold my Shanling M8 next to it, it seems almost tiny against the DX320. My model is black. It is also available in dark blue. As with almost all Ibasso DAPs you can change the amp module. Included is the Amp11Mk2s, which offers all the important connections, like 4.4mm, 3.5mm and 2.5mm. Later on, I will discuss the differences to the Amp12, which I also tested with the Ibasso.

The package also includes a USB-C cable, a coaxial cable, a burn-in cable, screen protectors, a manual, a warranty card and a leather case.





The screen of the DX320 is fantastic! Rich colors, great contrast and very large! This is a 6.5-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 2340x1080. It hardly gets any better than that.

The system is Android version 11, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 with 6GB of RAM, and you can feel it. Smooth transitions and a very fast UI are the result. That's how it has to be! My Shanling M8 cannot come close to keeping up here with the display and performance

Besides the pure Android mode, which also allows installing any apps, you can also switch to the Mango OS from Ibasso. This is a very slimmed-down system that only contains the Mango Player and nothing else. However, I prefer the Android mode, since the Mango Player has a few more functionalities, such as a parametric equalizer. I do not notice any difference in battery consumption or sound quality between the two modes.

Internally, there is a total of 128GB of storage space available. That should be more than enough for many. If you need even more, you can insert a micro SD card with up to 2 TB of storage.

The DX320 supports the Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery 2.0 fast charging methods. The DAP is charged in about 2.5 hours with such a charger. You already have 80% capacity after 1.5 hours. The highlight of the DX320 is that it uses a total of two batteries! One each for the analog range (2000mAh) and one for the digital (4000mAh). Through this separation, measured values are driven to an optimum. In the Balanced mode 125dB Dynamic range are reached and a THD+N of -110dB as well as a Crosstalk of -120dB! The included Amp11MK2s delivers a lot of power (1.2W@32Ohm) and can also drive power-hungry headphones. The Amp12 is even a bit more powerful (8.3V instead of 7.1V!) and offers even better readings (126dB Dynamic range, 113dB THD+N, 126dB Crosstalk). It also has a "real" linout output coming directly from the DAC without going through the amp section. A rarity with today's DAPs.





For the sonic evaluation, I used 64 Audio's Fourte Blanc and U4s IEMs, as well as the Focal Utopia 2022, all with use of the Amp11Mk2s because I like it best overall. I'll get to the differences between the Amp11 and Amp12 at the end.

Tonally, the DX320 plays up neither warm nor bright, but absolutely neutral. I would say the ROHM DAC plays somewhere in the middle between ESS (rather bright) and AKM (minimally warm). Until now I could not do anything with the name ROHM. But the DX320 plays really well! Technically, we are dealing with a DAP of the very highest class. Resolution and separation are world class!

There is no emphasis in the bass or treble here. In a direct comparison with a Shanling M8, you notice that it is more warmly tuned, but does not offer the resolution of the DX320 and has a more focused presentation. As a result, everything seems wider on the DX320. On the Shanling M8, the mids are a bit more recessed and come across with more depth and the bass is more detached from the rest of the action. On the DX320, everything from the bass to the mids forms a single unit. However, both DAPs seem natural and homogeneous. There are recordings where I prefer one and some where I find the other better. But the tuning of the DX320 is safer, as the M8 sometimes seems too warm. The rather brightly tuned U4s harmonizes with an M8 like a glove, the Blanc and Utopia 2022 I like a tad better with the DX320.

From the Blanc to the Utopia, the low gain is absolutely sufficient. The DX320 has so much power that is more than sufficient for these. Even a 1266 TC and Susvara can be driven on high gain with sufficient volume, although not with the quality of a very potent stationary amp in the style of a Niimbus US4. With the IEMs, the DX320 remains absolutely silent without noise in the background.

The bass goes down deep and offers enough punch. This is really fun with the Utopia 2022! Here, the dynamic refinements of the Utopia come into their own. Tight, rich and with a proper body come the bass attacks. In addition, never overlapping into other areas.

The mids sound natural, detailed, very clean and always with enough texture. It's no different in the highs, where we're dealing with reference level. The result is a rich resolution and the finest nuances. In direct comparison, an M8 seems more polished and doesn't reveal details as effortlessly as the DX320 does. I'd have to get out my Niimbus US4 to take it up a notch here.

The DX320's sound signature is more like that of a reference than that of the M8. My stationary combo of Topping D90SE and Niimbus US4 sounds quite similar to the DX320, while the M8 is a bit out of character with its warmer timbre.

How does the Amp12 sound? This one, in my opinion, loses some of the technical qualities for a warmer tuning with minimally more bass pressure. I like this module a little better with the U4s. For everything else, I think the Amp11MK2s tuning is better. I also tested the Amp12 via "real" lineout on my Niimbus US4 and I have to say that doesn't have to hide from a stationary DAC. The Shanling M8 with its lineout that also passes through the amp section, on the other hand, sounds more uncontrolled and not with the sophistication of a DX320.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the DX320. From the fabulous display and buttery smooth operation to the sound quality. If you're looking for a reference DAP with neutral tuning, the DX320 will put that to rest once and for all.




Update 23th April 2023 – Amp14:

Now that I've had a chance to test the Amp14 in detail, I'd like to describe the differences between it and the Amp11Mk2s and Amp12.

The Amp14 uses the improved 6th generation KORG triode vacuum tube. This is not a "true" tube, but it does produce the same characteristic harmonics found only in a triode tube. I will now describe how this captivating, unique tube sound sounds.

In addition to a 4.4mm connection for headphones and IEMs, the Amp14 also has a 4.4mm lineout output, which just like the Amp12 is a "true" lineout that skips the amp section and provides only the pure signal from the ROHM DAC. And just as enchanting as the Amp12, the Amp14 sounds on my Niimbus US4 headphone amplifier. Here I can't make out any appreciable sonic difference between the two lineouts. So if you want to run the DX320 via lineout to your amp, you can easily go for Amp12 or Amp14, there is no difference here in this mode.

What is noticeable is that the Amp14 "sucks" the analog battery faster. Where I had before with Amp11Mk2s in low gain after empty digital battery still about 80% full analog battery it is now 60% or less. Still more than enough! The digital battery, which also supplies the CPU, is drained much faster.

When I run my Susvara in high gain it shows that all 3 amps can run it sufficiently, but the Amp12 is able to deliver the highest power.

Who now expects a very warm tube sound from the Amp14 will perhaps be disappointed. The Amp12 plays quite a bit warmer than the Amp14, and the latter minimally warmer than the Amp11Mk2s. The Amp11Mk2s is the amp that pushes the attributes of "speed" and "resolution" on the ROHM DAC to the extreme, i.e. tickles everything out of it.

The Amp12 plays with more punch, much warmer mids and slightly recessed highs. This combo may be suitable for very bright headphones or IEMs, but the Amp12 is not an all-rounder like the Amp11MK2s! The Amp14, on the other hand, is just as much of an all-rounder and sounds great with all my headphones and IEMs! With the Utopia 2022 downright magical! This additional tube character over the frequency response gives voices and especially acoustic instruments more naturalness.

The bass range seems tight and always has enough punch. Here it plays on par with the Amp11MK2s. Only the Amp12 has more bass. The treble on the Amp14 is just as expansive and resolving as the Amp11MK2s, but achieves this with a smoother presentation. Now for the Amp14's very best attribute, soundstage. Where the Amp11MK2s already conjures a very large stage thanks to the ROHM DAC, the Amp14 makes it seem even deeper and more holographic! I have yet to experience the Utopia 2022 and my two 64 Audio IEMS U4s as well as Blanc with this level of depth. This is definitely a characteristic of the KORG tubes, because directly via lineout on the Niimbus US4 I do not have this depth. There it settles on Amp11Mk2s level.

In summary, I can say that I will now prefer to use the Amp14 in my DX320.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't received monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don't use affiliate links.
The price of the iBasso DX320 is $1600 and you can order it from here.

iBasso

iBasso is a well known manufacturer of audio gear like earphones, DAPs and USB DAC dongles.
They started almost ten years ago to become one of the most beloved brands among audiophiles thanks to the excellent sound quality and price to performance ratio of their products.

The DX300 was their multi-awarded flagship DAP combining high end sound, flagship smartphone-like performance and swappable amplifier modules.
It used four pieces of the Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chip that was soon discontinued as Cirrus Logic couldn't meet the increased demand.
Thankfully, iBasso were fast enough to adopt another brand DAC chip and they have released a successor DAP named DX320.
The DX320 builds on the legacy of the DX300 with the new DAC chip, even faster operation, the latest Android version and the same swappable AMP card system but it comes with a $400 price increase.



iBasso DX320 - Technical highlights

The DX320 is visually identical to the DX300 but inside it packs two pieces of the BD34301EKV DAC chip, developed as a part of ROHM’s high-grade MUS-IC series representing the pinnacle of audio ICs.

Brand new is also the default AMP card, the AMP11 MK2s which is based on AMP8’s discrete circuit and is equipped with 3.5mm single ended, 2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced outputs ports (all ports can also be changed to line outputs).
A +/-18V power supply provides sufficient and stable energy for the AMP section.
The maximum voltage output of DX320 reaches 7.1Vrms, and thanks to the independent battery power supply, the maximum output power at 32Ω load is as high as 1200mW.
In order to have the best match with the DX320, the AMP11 MK2s was tuned with some electrolytic and film capacitors, including the new custom iBasso premium AI foil audio capacitor.



The DX320 shares the same technical invocations introduced with the DX300 but with carefully re-designed circuitry and implementation to allow all the quality of the BD34301EKV to shine through.
In the DX320, iBasso adopted an in-house developed FPGA-Master technology.
The FPGA-Master, as the audio system controller, directly requests audio data from the SoC, and plays a major role in signal reproduction and maintaining signal integrity.
It synchronizes and generates all audio clocks at the same time utilizing two Accusilicon femtosecond oscillators, to achieve a fully synchronized single clock source. The FPGA and oscillators also reduce jitter to an extremely low level, building an exceptionally clean digital audio signal.
Android audio processing does not have high system priority. The addition of FPGA-Master technology raises audio scheduling to the system’s highest priority processing sequence, creating a stable and interference-free digital audio system for the DX320.



The patented Dual Battery Power Supply Structure that was introduced with the DX300 is also used in the DX320.
When a single battery is powering the entire system, a large demand of current by the digital section and the analog section can affect each other, which can cause distortion degrading the sound quality.
The DX320 utilizes a patented dual battery structure with the AMP and digital section being powered by independent batteries.
The independent battery provides a sufficient power supply to ensure the stability of the AMP section and it isolates the digital section interference to achieve better overall sound quality.
This ensures that the analog section is receiving extremely clean DC, allowing the AMP section of the player to evolve to its full potential.



Except for the audio circuitry, a modern era DAP should have a powerful CPU and sufficient RAM to allow for a smooth operation.
The DX320 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 as the SoC.
With the powerful performance of this 14-nanometer 8-core processor, the operation is outstanding while with 6GB of RAM there is ample memory for a consistent and fast response while the 128GB of onboard storage space allows for the convenience of installing more Apps and Music.
Of course there is also a micro SD card slot for expanding the storage up to 2TB.

The DX320 supports bidirectional Bluetooth 5.0, with an enhanced antenna that gives longer transmission distance and a stronger signal.



Full specifications and more information are available here.

Screen

The DX320 adopts an IPD 6.5" screen with a very narrow bezel, covering almost all the front panel.
The screen resolution is 2340x1080 pixels and it has excellent visibility.
Web pages, cover art, videos and everything else are displayed with the most vibrant and bright colors.
There is also an indicator light on the top of the screen, which allows for the working status of the DX320 at a glance as long as you don't use the protection case which covers the light.

Design and build quality

The chassis is made from a single piece of CNC-machined aluminum, the construction is durable with excellent craftsmanship and the DX320 is available in two colors, black and blue.
The DX320 is a luxurious looking player with a neat and modern design totally worthy of the flagship status.
With a size of 162x77x17mm and a weight of 310g, it is not the most compact sized player and not that pocketable but still, it can be used with one hand and you can carry it around in a small pouch.



Layout

The DX320 adopts a simple and minimalistic design without too many buttons and ports.
With the default Amp11, you get 4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced outputs along with a 3.5mm single-ended output that are housed at the bottom of the player.
At the top you will find the USB type C port and a 3.5mm digital coax output.
The on/off - volume scroll wheel is located at the top of the right side along with three, discreet, buttons that are used for controlling the playback and their working sequence can be altered through the main menu.
The SD card slot is located at the left side and allows for changing the card on the go.
At the bottom side of the back plate, there is a tiny semi transparent rectangular window that will glow green when the AMP13, Nutube, amplifier module is used.

Android User experience

The DX320 runs the latest Android 11 OS so you can freely install most apps and enjoy online streaming with your favorite services.
The system runs lightning fast, the DX320 is very responsive and smooth like a flagship smartphone, you can easily multitask while listening to music without any single trace of lag.
Thanks for the 5G WiFi MIMO antenna, the DX320 boasts an ultra fast and stable wireless reception so you can stream or download high resolution files at lightning fast speeds.



Mango OS

The DX320 has also a Linux-based system specifically developed for pure audio playback, the famous iBasso Mango OS.
With the powerful GPU acceleration of the Qualcomm 660, the fluency of the Mango system is close to that of the Android.
This version of the Mango OS has accumulated a lot of optimization results for music decoding and underlying driver algorithms.
The Mango OS disables Bluetooth and WiFi to reduce EMI interference while it also minimizes CPU and RAM usage to maintain the system purity to achieve the best possible sound quality.
The in-house developed Mango player APK brings together the EQ algorithm accumulated by iBasso for many years.
In addition to the graphic equalizer, the DX320 adds a more professional parametric equalizer, providing 6-band with 7 types of high-precision filters of all types. Each section of the filter can be individually adjusted to adjust the F value, Q value and gain, with detailed visual adjustment capabilities. It can achieve fine adjustment with almost no distortion, and freely defines EQ for different listening situations, bringing a more professional and advanced gameplay than graphic EQ.
The Mango OS with the embedded player has an excellent sound quality and a well designed and responsive UI so I suggest that it should be your primary choice if you are listening to music files stored in the SD card.



SRC bypass

The DX320 bypasses the SRC from the system level, whether it is the built-in Mango player or the third-party steaming APK, you can enjoy the system-level “Non-SRC” feature.

USB DAC and digital transport

You can use the DX320 as a USB DAC connected to a PC or any other platform through the USB type C port.
You can also use the DX320 as a digital transport to an external DAC through the same USB type C port or the 3.5mm coaxial output.

YouTube and Multimedia

The DX320 is very good for watching YouTube videos and enjoying other multimedia content thanks to the lag free performance, the excellent visual quality and the correct synchronization between sound and video.



Battery duration

The DX320 has the patented dual battery power supply structure where the digital section gets its own 4000mAh battery while the amp gets a 2000mAh one with separate charge indicators at the top information bar.
Both batteries support fast charging and need about 2.5 hours to get fully charged while they can provide about 10 to 11 hours of actual playing time from the balanced output and with the WiFi enabled.

Accessories

The DX320 comes packed in the familiar iBasso silver and blue box.
Open it up and you will find the player, a high quality leather case, two screen protectors, a USB cable, a coaxial adapter and the burn-in cable.
Strangely the carrying case is of green color rather than black or blue.



Associated gear

The DX320 was left playing music with the burn-in cable attached for more than 200 hours prior to listening tests.
Additionally both AMP12 and AMP13 were also fully burned.
I have used most of my headphones and earphones, like the Focal Clear Mg, HiFiMan Arya V3, Meze Audio Elite, FiiO FDX and others.
All headphone cables are of pure silver and made by Lavricables.



Power output and noise

The DX320 with the stock amp is very powerful for a DAP and from the balanced output it can run most headphones on the market minus some really hard to drive planar magnetic ones.
The same applies for the AMP12 which is even more powerful while the AMP13 might look less powerful on specs but it actually worked pretty well with all the above mentioned headphones.
The stock AMP11 is hiss free even with more sensitive IEMs while the AMP12 can get a little noisy when high gain is used but only with sensitive earphones.
With the Focal Clear Mg I couldn't detect any hiss or noise even at the high gain.
The AMP13 has two different outputs, one with a lower power that also yields lower background noise and works pretty well with sensitive earphones and one of higher power output which is a little noisier.
Still with headphones like the Focal Clear Mg or the Meze 109 PRO there was no audible noise.

Listening impressions (stock AMP11 MK2s)

The DX320 sound signature is perfectly neutral, linear, exceptionally transparent and very lively.
This is a true reference, high fidelity tuning with top tier technicalities.

Compared to the original DX300, the sound is a bit less warm and a touch more dry and lean, slightly sharper on the treble and less relaxed but with undeniably superior transparency, greater definition, faster transients and greater dynamics.

Bass is deep and extended while it remains exceptionally tight and controlled with strict timing and pace.
Layering and definition are exemplary while dynamic swings sound utterly contrasted and impactful.
Pair the player with a hard hitting headphone, like the Focal Clear Mg and you are going to be treated with an astounding bass performance no matter the music you throw at it.

Mid range is harmoniously intense and balanced with colorful overtones that are not excessively euphonic or lush.
Voices and instruments sound lifelike thanks for the correct tonality and the realistic timbre while articulation is of the finest quality with very clean intonation.
The DX320 sounds crystal clear and resolving with excellent definition between every single note but they don't sound detached from the whole.
The sound is very musical, not that organic or excessively analog but still very natural flowing without any imposed artificiality.

There is a certain treble focus and a sparkling liveliness in the higher end register presentation that nevertheless it should not be confused with any kind of brightens or hardness.
The sound is fast and agile but it manages to stay rather smooth and fatigue free, suitable for long term listening but in no way forgiving to lesser quality material.
The DX320 is not the kind of player that you are going to use in order to tame an aggressive sounding headphone or enhance the missing sub-bass.
This is the type of player that makes sure that your headphones will sound exactly as they were tuned by their manufacturer, no more - no less.

The texture continues to be on the lean - dry side but on par with the rest of the frequency range, so the end result is the great textural coherency despite not being that visceral.
The textural consistency combined with the balanced decay timing, that is not too fast or too loose, makes all instruments fade away with the same of intensity adding a lot to the overall realism while listening to symphonic music.

Micro-details retrieval and resolution are excellent and with the added benefit that they are presented as a well integrated part of the whole rather than being detached so the sound is not analytical or monotonously detailed.

The DX320 is by no means a clinical or boring sounding player, timbre is certainly not artificial, the tuning is enjoyable and musical but in the end it appears that the focus is more in raw fidelity and transparency than casual emotional engagement.

A most striking aspect about the DX320 is its unanimous ability to carefully reconstruct the all the spatial information and the ambience that is captured inside a recording.
The feeling is that the listener is transported in the recording venue.
Positioning is sharp and precise while the soundstage is not only wide and spacious but it is also deeply layered and well deployed around the listeners head in a holographic and grand scaled manner.
This is something that is well enjoyed with all types of music, be it studio or live productions, but they get particularly highlighted when listening to classical music performances recorded in a concert hall or a cathedral.



Roll your favorite AMP card

What is particularly unique about the modular iBasso DAPs is that you can fine tune the sound by simply using a different amp module.
Like in the DX240 where you can make it sound more musical and less technical by just swapping the stock amplifier module for the AMP8 MK2.
A replaceable AMP card design provides for more variety, personalization, and enjoyment of your music.



Currently, there are three discrete AMP cards compatible with the DX320 (or the DX300).
The DX320 stock AMP11 MK2s, the super class A discrete balanced AMP12 and the single Nutube AMP13.
There is no need to replace the player, just replace the amp card and you can freely switch between the transistor sharpness to the vividness of the tube.
Let's have a closer look.


AMP11 MK2s

Listening impressions with AMP12

The AMP12 module brings a fully discrete balanced circuitry to the DX300 & DX320 with its dedicated 4.4mm headphone and 4.4mm line-out ports.
It offers an ultra-powerful output with a maximum voltage of 8.3V and low distortion ratings of -113dB.
AMP12 has every characteristic of a powerful Class A amplifier offering high-fidelity output with ultra-low distortion and high dynamic range.
The AMP12 comes together with a black leather case.
You can read a full review of the AMP12 here.


AMP12

While listening to the stock DX320 I couldn't help myself thinking that I would gladly exchange some of the supreme technicalities and transparency for a touch more colorful timbre and organic texture that better suit my listening habits.
This is where the AMP12 comes into play, filling the missing harmonies, adding weight and lushness to the sound, transforming the DX320 into a more analogue and emotionally engaging player.
Overall technicalities and fidelity remain, more or less, on the same level but they don't get that pronounced and take a step back allowing for a more relaxed sound.
The sound is not that crystal clear and well defined as with the stock amp but in exchange you get some extra warmth, greater dynamic impact and fuller sound.
Listening with the AMP12 yields a more convincingly realistic timbre with added harmonic variety and much colorful overtones.



The AMP12 is not that different sounding but rather a variation in the same theme and while it is perfectly suited for all types of listening habits it will be more valued by listeners who prefer musicality over technicalities while I can see many others sticking with the stock amp for its technical supremacy and fidelity.

The DX320 with the AMP12 could easily be my end game DAP, well if it wasn't for the AMP13…

Listening impressions with the AMP13

iBasso’s AMP13 features the 6th generation KORG Nutube for an engaging and unique vacuum tube sound.
The Nutube operates exactly as a conventional triode vacuum tube and creates the same characteristically rich overtones that are sought after in triode tubes.
Two stages of amplification are necessary to obtain higher output power.
To have both a more robust tube signature and a higher output power, the AMP13 adopts a dual 3.5mm single-ended output design, with low noise tube output and maximized output at the same time.


AMP13

The low noise tube output of AMP13 utilizes the Nutube 6P1 as a voltage amplifier.
This is followed by digital volume control and current amplification.
The low noise tube output is the output after the first amplification stage. Although the output is not high using this design, the Nutube has a more robust tube sound signature, and noise control is excellent. (2.5Vrms)
In the maximized output, the output passes through a first stage Nutube amplifier, followed by a secondary amplification.
With this, the AMP13 has a higher voltage and current output capability, resulting in better driving capability for headphones and IEMs. (4.1Vrms)

As much as I enjoy a musical sounding solid state amplifier, like the AMP12, my heart always belongs to tubes and their harmonious nature that gets eerily close to reality.
Switching to the AMP13 and you get this taste of tube magic or at least as much of it as a single Nutube can offer.
More harmonic variety and a greater wealth of natural sounding overtones but without sacrificing too much in overall technicalities.
The sound is still clear, transparent, controlled and precise albeit not to the extent of the AMP11 MK2s.
Resolution and overall transparency are not to the caliber of the stock AMP and the sound becomes more relaxed with slower transients, decay is loser but what you hear is got nothing to do with boominess or sluggishness.



The overall sound signature of the high power output, which is essentially a tube - solid state hybrid, resembles much that of the AMP12 but with a bit stepped down dynamics and a touch less of control.
In exchange you get more weighty bass, warmer and sweeter mid-range while treble is smoother and less sharp but without ending blunted.

The low power output sacrifices a little bit more of bass control and firmness for extra weight and viscerallity in the texture.
The sound is now a touch bloomy and loosely bonded, dynamic impact is softer but overtones become even richer, harmonic saturation is more dense and the timbre is in it's most analogue form.

Tubes are famous for their holographic soundstage and the AMP13 manages to value the fame despite being a miniaturized tube design.
An imposingly grand and dimensional presentation that extends the sound outside the listeners head making for a speaker like experience.
The low power output is a master at sculpturing a three dimensional relief with larger sized images but the higher one is more skilful in positioning accuracy and depth layering.

The AMP13 is the timbre realism master and the undisputed King of holography offering the most analogue-like and organic sounding listening experience especially suited for classical music.



A note about power output and noise with AMP13

With full sized headphones I wasn't able to detect any background noise or any short of interference from both outputs even while streaming music over WiFi.
There is an initial microphonic noise when you plug your headphones which then immediately disappears.
With more sensitive earphones you will find out that there is a faint noise floor and you will hear microphonic noise every time you touch the volume control or tap the chassis.
I don't own super sensitive IEMs so I cannot add any further information.
The lower power output can drive a variety of full sized headphones but there is always the risk of pushing the volume into its upper limits and then the amplifier will start clipping.

Take your time

The AMP13 definitely benefits from some warming time and feels at its best state after about half an hour of music playing.
So the best thing you can do is to power on the DX320 and then let it play some music while you fix a drink or warm your milk.



The beauty and the beast - A brief comparison with the FiiO M17 ($1700)

Let's start from the obvious, the FiiO M17 is huge, not that larger than the DX320 but considerably bigger and heavier.
Measuring 156.4x88.5x28mm and weighing a whole 610g, it is a real beast and not what we call a portable player.
It is almost double the weight and the thickness of the DX320 but it comes with a slightly smaller 5.9" screen.
Design language is also completely different, it is the minimal and classy looking DX320 against the futuristic and industrial M17 with the shiny flashing LEDs at both sides and the oversized volume wheel.
The M17 has a multitude of extra digital and analog inputs/outputs that are not present in the DX320.
And the famous DC mode that bypasses the internal battery to power the output stage directly from an external AC adapter offering a near desktop performance of 1.5W/16Ω, 3W/32Ω and 500mW/300Ω, a power output double than that of the DX320.
Battery capacity is also enormous, with 9200mAh on tap you can have the beast running for about 8 hours at full throttle.



Leaving everything else aside and talking sound only impressions, the truth is that the two of them sound more alike than different. (DX320 with the stock amp)
They are ultra clean, transparent and technical with supreme fidelity while offering the listener plenty of musicality, engagement and timbre realism.

One difference is that the M17 is the more open sounding player with wider soundstage and more precise imaging.
It feels like the listener is placed second to third row where the DX320 is more intimate sounding with close to the performers positioning.
The M17 is also just a touch more refined and clean sounding although a bit more drier than the DX320, especially in the mids.
Bass is more controlled and tight in the M17 with superior authority when it comes to dynamics and impact while it offers more headroom with difficult loads when set to DC mode.
The impressions are related to the stock DX320 amplifier and of course you can fine tune the stock sound by simply using another amp module.



Truth is that both players are of flagship caliber and absolutely excellent sounding despite their minor differences.
For a more portable friendly player and amp rolling fun you can choose the DX320 but if you need something more versatile regarding the inputs and outputs or very powerful to double as desktop gear then you should buy the M17.



In the end

Simply put, the iBasso DX320 is one of the best high end players available today with flagship level performance pushing the boundaries of what digital audio players can do in terms of sound quality and user experience.
It is an end game DAP with the pluses of the relatively compact size, the reasonable asking price and swappable amplifier card system which leads to further sound paths.
Be it with the stock amp or not, the iBasso DX320 is the apex of the digital audio players with an overall performance that is very hard to beat and a real challenge for iBasso to get it surpassed in the near future.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2022.

DX320 Edition X



Disclosure: This is personal purchases from both the original and edition X and my views is not influenced by Ibasso, or affiliated to Ibasso by any meanings.

After the release of Dx320, Ibasso followed with a special edition that is Edition X. This was to commemorate the 10th years anniversary of Ibasso into the portable market. This run is limited to only 500 units globally!



What is so special about this edition ? The chassis is made out of Liquid Metal Alloy that is based on Titanium metal. The specific procedures to produce the alloy gives the metal a much higher tensile strength, more resistive to scratches, and also easier to cast into design. Therefore, the Edition X will carry the liquid curves with beautiful edges. Fortunately, it also come with a leather case that has a specific curves and edges to match with it.



Usually, special edition from Ibasso has upgraded internal parts for the amp module for limited editions, and Ibasso runs these often. This time around, the only thing special about the player is only the chassis. With edition X Everything remaining the same from the main DAC to the Amp module.



Does the new chassis effect sound quality ? Yes, some people can distinct the differences, and some people may not pay enough attentions to take notes. Technically speaking, every time a whole circuit has a significant resistances in comparison to the same circuits, there would be differences. Unlike the typical tolerances of 5-20% on components. Titanium as a metal only have 3.1% conductivity VS Aluminum which is upto 64% using copper as 100% references. Therefore, the chassis do introduce a significant impedance to the whole circuit in comparison to Aluminum. How much does it effect sound quality ? It depends on the listener, but without additional differences, the chassis would be more for appearances rather than listening differences. I personally don’t think it is significant enough to warrant a “have to” desire to seek for Edition X instead of the regular Dx320. Unless you really love the Dx320 performances, and that you would love to find a unique edition, then yes! The edition X is worth seeking out.



Is Edition X an improvement from the regular ? It is an improvement from the Metal being used, and the seamless integration of curves into the chassis. It is an improvement technically to the circuitry when “feedback networks” is taken into account. It may be an improvement to sound quality, or it may not. In my opinions, it is has an improvement in sound performances. The more advanced your module is, the more you will notice the differences.



Sporting Dual ROHM flagship DAC chips with discrete Class A output amplification right out of the box for sound performances. We know how seriously enthusiastic the machine is aiming toward. Removable amp modules allow for other amp modules, especially the single ended Korg tube amp13 to change up your taste buds.



Uniquely to Dx300/320 from Ibasso is the Dual Battery packs which is dedicatedly used per each Digital and analog amplifications. Due to this uniqueness, some people may feel odd seeing 2 different batteries % and charging or discharging un-evenly. It is all good because as a DAP, the player is more like a 2 systems smashed into one, a DAC with interfaces and touch screen together with a dedicated amplifier that has modular design and it own battery pack, then integrated together into one chassis and controlled by the UI as a whole



The SOC is Snap-Dragon 660 with plenty of 6Gb Ram and android 11 out of the box. The UI feels very snappy and modern. The sluggish interactions with your player such as the time of Dx200/220 and 220 Max is no longer a problem anymore. The speedy UI is pretty fluid that give the user a much better comfortable to even use the Chrome and browse around the internet, downloading .APK , installations…etc. It all feels comfortably fast. You can even watch movies, though not as HDR as if you were to use smartphones or IPad, but you get the audio quality . That was just a tease. Basically, for watching movies, I recommend you to get Ibasso DC-06. It is a wonderful dongles with Ibasso house sound, a bit warmer than typical references house sound. It has no battery to care for, and it can be plug and play. Using the Dx320 as an external DAC has a problem of syncing video and audio timing. There will be a lagging delay between video and audio.

Clocking in around 10-11 hours with charging that can be as fast as 2-1/2 hours. It is very impressive



Unlike the regular, the Edition X comes with additional Metal Card that has the series number, which is assigned to the player series number internally. This number goes from 001 to 500. It also comes with additional faceplates to match with your whole Silvery Titanium metal chassis. Amp11mk2S comes standard, with amp12 and amp13 faceplate. In order to swap out the faceplate, you only need to unscrews, pulling out the faceplate as the socket is inserted into the output slots. The Amp11 needs to have one to lift up the 3.5mm ribbon cables lock tab additionally, before pulling the pcb out.



Sound signatures: Dx320 sporting the ROHM chips, it is my favorite chips at the moment! Dynamic, natural and neutral. I loved ESS, but I always wanted a more blooming sub-bass textures, less glares and artificial high textures. The AKM has blooming bass textures and warmer signature overall but it lacks the sparkling up top. IMO, the ROHM is amazing. It is able to combine both ESS and AKM traits together while having an amazing reach for dynamic and the ability to deliver it.



In both of the portable players at the moment on the market that sport ROHM X2, Cayin N8ii and Dx320. I am able to confirm the unique ability to deliver the dynamic from this chip sets. The density, the stilled energy, the housing resonances, the energy burst of each notes and it variations for each instruments. You will not only be listening to the music, to the details, to the pitch and it accuracy anymore, but you will also be able to “feel” these energy. You will feel each slam of the drum to be a slightly different than the last when you pay attentions. It is pretty amazing. I have experimented with different systems, tweaking, modifying, but I can personally confirm to myself that I love ROHMs for this reason alone. While with N8ii, I couldn’t confirm the dynamic performances of where it is coming from, the amplification section ? Or the DAC ? With modular design, the 320 quickly have that confirmed to me. Following standard recommendations from ROHM engineerings specs, a great amplification stage, and you will be enjoying the unique dynamic delivery from ROHM.



Very different from Dx300, which using the same SOC combinations but with Cirrus DAC X4. Using the same modular designs and can be interchangeable between 300/320. The dynamic delivery from Dx300 is not as accurate, and or breathe taking as the Dx320, even when using Filter #4 on the Dx300 to get as close to the signature as the 320. The dynamic delivery will leave the 300 in the dust. It is that significant to me. If signature preferences is a factor, the Dx300 is warmer than the 320 which is more natural and neutral. It is not quite as neutral as the Dx200/220, because the delivery of the impacts, the emotions are more integrated to the signature as a whole. It is safe to say that Ibasso has Dx320 a worthy flagship on hand with Dx320, and the Edition X will bring up the luxurious feeling for it owner, whose has 1 out of 500 counts.



With DAC chips on the side, let’s talk about amplifications. If you have been skeptical about the old myth “all amplifiers sound the same, or should sound the same”, then you are technically is not only wrong, but you will also hear the differences between modules for yourself with the Dx320. Go ahead, swap out your stock module to the amp12 module. It will depend on how revealing and capable your headphones or earbuds are, but I am almost certain that you can hear the differences.



While the N8ii can be heating up quiet a bit, that even the charging circuitry will have to be controlled to stop charging, you will not have similar issues with Dx320. Once again, both do have Class A amplifications, there is no question about it. The OS is more modern than N8ii, and with Neutron Player to be able to OverSampling upto 768KHz flawlessly at the moment, without heating up or exhibiting heat issues. The Dx320 is the only player on the market currently to have this features of 16X OverSampling turned on at all time as desired.



If you are not a fan of AndroidOS, you can opt for MangoOS, which is a Linux based OS developed by Ibasso alone for playing music and reading files. This is not a striped down AndroidOS like other brands, but it is a standalone OS by itself. You can press the power button to turn off the player, you will then see an option to switch to MangoOS in there.



Soundstage, separations will depend on the module you are using. Out of the box, the 320 have a worthy performances in these accounts. You will be greeted with a natural and neutral signature together with a very vivid layerings, immersive staging. It has 1200mW@32 Ohms just right out of the box. It is very powerful. If this isn’t enough, and you want even more expansive, immersive staging, layering and cues of imagines ? You can opt for Amp12. The only set back is that the stock amp modules will have a more engaging feelings. It makes for personal preferences here, and you are given the options to choose what you would want. But Ibasso made sure to have a wonderful, and powerful performances right out of the box that you don’t have to swap out, unless you want to. Unlike other players, even if you want to, you have no options. Here you do!



An additional note to take is that the stock amp module has Ibasso special film foils capacitors for input stage buffer. This marks the Dx320 to be the only player on the market to be sporting polypropylene film foiled capacitors on the market as of now.



Ibasso can be purchased from a recommended authorized dealers from the main website, or you can buy direct by simply sending the inquiries to Paul. After sales services are great with Ibasso dealing directly with the distributors, or you can also directly contact Paul when assistant is required.



I have an interesting conversations with my close friend in the recent days that Ibasso players to have worn out battery too early or too fast. Over the years, the observed battery degradation is as much as 40% over the course of 18 months. Well, I think this is the problems for many portable that consumes high power to output high power. One of the stark contrast in comparison is the Walkman from Sony, I still have it running for 24 hours of continuous play time after 6 years owning it. But then of course, it doesn’t have the output power the Ibasso has, neither does it sport Dual DAC of Flagship tier such as ROHM either…..nor does it have Class A discrete. You will have to compromise. Yes, you will need new batteries more often, but you will have high output, flagship DAC, and amazing performances in a pocketable player. The only grime I have with Dx320 is the usage of glues and Glass Back. It will almost always break when remove for battery replacement. Why could Ibasso not opt for a Metal Back with screws for easy battery replacement ? Because sending the player from and to China as a typical consumer is such a Pain! Allow me to repeat it….it is such a Pain! Fortunately, Ibasso and customer relations is top tier, and Ibasso will always find a way to work with you regardless of circumstances, unlike some other brands whom will restrict your services once modified, or transfers of warranty…etc… But I still wish for an easier removal of the back for battery swapping



*How about* a slide and lock mechanism for the back plate, with battery plugs and play ? Common !!



After the lengthy reviews, looking back at the edition X with it silvery appearances do give off a satisfying feeling.



My conclusion, if you are on the quest for high-end players. Please do give Ibasso Dx320 a chance, you may love it as much as I do. There are 3 modules to choose from at the moment, and they are a lot differences from one to another, non is a wrong choice, and you are greeted out of the box with an affordable flagship with an amazing amp module.



PS: additionally, one of the other issues I do have with many brands on the current market is the ability to get parts. Yes, you keep moving on and buying new players, then all is good. However, what about those existed players ? Sending it back to China for a trip in servicing is not only a lengthy, risky issues, but also expensive. Just take battery as an example. To be able to easily buy them or order them, is to have an additional options to have it replaced or repaired by a friend, a smartphone techies, a radio technician …etc… as an alternative to shipping from and back to China.



There is a huge decline on the used market in comparison to 5 years ago. It is due to two main reasons:



A/ flagship players are superseded in a year and when counting from other brands, it seems like a new flagship is out every other month or so. People get purchase fatigue and overwhelmed by the supplies.



B/ to keep and savior your flagship player is not easy, the inability to swap out batteries, and cares/services that requires a trip back and from out of the country for the course of 2 months is a huge hassle.



Anyways, one main reason why I still enjoy Ibasso products is because they have great price, great and powerful performances, with the ability for endless evolutions from modular designs. This is definitely fun to have. I give everything a 5/5 including sound performances, the best customer service out there with Paul by direct email Paul@Ibasso.com and you can almost send inquiries about anything or have your player serviced regardless of how old, how many owners it have exchanged hands to, there is always a solution to be found. However, the final overall 4.5/5 score is due to the one feature that I keep asking for and have not seen yet. This is not an isolated issues from Ibasso specifically, but for every other brands out there including but not limited to Cayin, AK, Hiby, Shanling…etc. In order to keep the player viable for many years, the battery replacement is such a hassle.