iBasso DX180

DX180- A VERSATILE WONDERFUL SOUNDING DAP

IBASSO has been a well-known brand in the music industry and has been making great iems, DAPs etc which are very well known throughout the world. Founded in 2006, it had been gaining ground with their superior DAPS and DAC AMPS, dongle at most of the price segments. Today I am getting a chance to try their DAP DX180.

DISCLAIMER-

The IBASSO DX180 DAP is part of a review tour organized by A.G. and IBASSO AND SANDEEP in my country. The sample belongs to the brand. I had the opportunity to listen to it for 7 days for this review. This review is completely based on my experience with it, and all opinions, positive or negative, are my own and no one else’s. No external factors influence my review; only internal factors like my brain and heart influence it . Please try it yourself, if possible, since we all hear things differently. If you want to purchase it, you can buy it from the official product website from the link: IBASSO DX180

PACKAGING-
This is what I call a premium package. The entire thing is packed in a secure package inside a hard foam package which I am pretty sure wont harm the DAP even if you throw it (but please don’t). The top of the package has the warranty and documents in a small black envelope, I would love to see a bit of foam on the top too so as to protect it during shipping. But aside that, Ibasso has given everything that you would need to start using it the moment you unpackage it which I love and want others to follow.



CONTENTS-
The DAP (if it’s missing please contact the seller )
DAP case
DAP screen guard
USB C to C cable (no charging brick included use your phone one please)

SPECIFICATION-
Screen: 5.0 inch, 1080*1920 P, quite sharp but not much usable in sunlight.
USB C: USB 3.1
Output Port: 4.4mm balanced phone out/ 3.5mm single ended phone out/ 4.4mm line out/ 3.5mm line out/ 3.5mm coaxial output / USB OTG output
WiFi: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4Ghz/5Ghz), Bluetooth: V5.0
RAM+ROM: 3G+32G/4G+128G- 2 options , Battery: 3200mAh
Charging Time: 1.5 hours, Size: 123mm*75mm*16mm, Weight: 206g
Price- 529$


4.4mm Balanced Phone Port:
Maximum Output Level: 4Vrms (Low Gain)
6Vrms(High Gain)
Output Power: 690mW + 690mW@32ohm, THD+N<0.1%
Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
S/N: 133dB
Dynamic Range: 133dB
THD+N: -121dB (A-wt, 600ohm load)
Crosstalk: -144dB
Noise Floor: < 1.1pV (High Gain)
Output impedance: 1.1ohm

3.5mm Single Ended Phone Out:
Maximum Output Level: 2Vrms (Low Gain),
3Vrms(High Gain)
Output Power: 281mW + 281mW@32ohm, THD+N< 0.1%, 525mW + 525mW@16ohm, THD+N<0.1%
Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
S/N: 127dB
Dynamic Range: 127dB
THD+N: -116dB (A-wt, 600ohm load)
Crosstalk: -118dB
Noise floor: 1.1uV (High Gain)
Output impedance: 0.6ohm

4.4mm Balanced Line Out:
Maximum Output Level: 4Vrms
Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
S/N: 133dB
Dynamic Range: 133dB
THD+N: -121dB
Crosstalk: -130dB

3.5mm Single Ended Line Out:
Maximum Output Level: 2Vrms
Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
S/N: 125dB
Dynamic Range: 125dB
THD+N: -112dB
Crosstalk: -115dB


BUILD:-
Well it’s Ibasso so what do you expect, strong corners built like a tank and shiny all around. Jokes aside looks and feels wonderful to hold and use, instills confidence to hold. The plugs were all snug fitting and I loved that. The only thing is that thee volume scroll missing a few volume markers but small problems, but reaching it was a slightly more higher problem . The buttons were quite tactile and easy to use expect that I kept on pressing the wrong button

NOTE : please note that the entire impression is based on the my culmination of impressions while using various headphones like tygr 300, Hifiman Deva, Focal clears, Zmf aeuteur and then on iems like penon fan, blon bl03, TSMR shock etc

SOUND IMPRESSIONS:-
This DAP is great in almost every genre of music. It’s has an accurate detailed presentation but smooth in it’s delivery more in the treble region. The stage is wide but more like placement of instruments is such nicely done with great precision that it feels wider. Plus the presentation is mostly around you and the depth is quite good too especially with bass guitars and big drums. You can hear the bass coming from underneath your head in most songs. Of course not every iem/headphone will change depending on the source but then many will benefit from the clarity and accurate presentation. The mids were quite beautifully presented even my clinical sounding iems like fan, tygr300 sounded more neutral to slightly warm. But dark sounding products also do love the increased accurate clarity in tone and the enhanced impact of bass. Vocals and nuances in the vocalist voices were wonderful to listen to and the male voices roughness were also maintained which added flavour to the song. Treble even though energetic, have been smoothened and was very pleasant to listen to. You know those days where you just want to relax and have fun but you have a treble heavy iem well this is your companion for that day for sure. Air was present but subtle. The zeal of the song though remained like the trumpets in skyfall song still jumpscares you but not with the ghost from the nun but more from the scary movie types ( if you know what I mean ).



SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE:-
I ain’t much of a software guy but neither did I feel a hiccup nor did I have any trouble with settings. The dap is entirely android so easy for me to find around as I am an Android user. The sound setting were a few more steps to go into which I would rather like to become similar to oneplus have one side for notifications and other for sound options. The mangoplayer took a bit of time to read all the files but then it’s given for every dap. Downloading qobuz and using it with wifi and downloaded songs was great. I would love to though see adaptive brightness which I felt didn’t work as well as I had hoped for. But rest was buttery smooth and wonderful to listen to.

CHARGING: 1hour 30mins to 1 hour 45mins depending on whether you have wifi on screen on and listening to music while charging through BT (took 2 hours )

LISTENING TIME – Quite good for me around 12.5 hours using my blon 03 on high gain and volume around 15-20 and wifi ON all the time streaming from qobuz

SUMMARY –
This is a wonderful DAP and obviously worth it in the long run and given Ibasso provides battery replacement, you can use it for years. Plus the software and Android experience makes it quite good along with long battery life. This highly recommended if you got some treble heavy iems and want to tame it while on the go.

The iBasso DX180 is a run-of-the-mill high-of-the-line DAP glued together into a strong performance, striking looks, and ease of use. It promises an enticing combo of both technical perfection and musicality, hence promising the best blend of high-fidelity sound combined with great build quality.

Disclaimer​

I received the iBasso DX180 from iBasso for review purposes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, and iBasso has no influence over my evaluation. This review is unbiased and reflects my honest experience with the product. I am not affiliated with iBasso in any way, and I have not received any compensation beyond the product itself.

Note: I am into warm, analog sound that can produce rich and cozy tones, with enhanced bass and midrange frequencies to smoothly render it full-bodied. This captures the organic warmth of music with depth and intimacy, much like the soft texture of vinyl. Natural-sounding, relaxed, and emotionally engaging, this is perfect for immersive soothing listening. Based on my sound preference, I am writing this review.

Gears Used​

• Dac Dongle: ddHifi tc44c, tc44pro e2, Fosi audio Ds1,
• Phone: LG V60.
• Desktop Dac & Amp: Xduoo XD05 Basic with (BB OPA2132p, N5532p, JRC5532DD, OPA07CP) op amps, Kaei tap 2, Zen dac V2, Earman ST-Amp.
• Some IEMS.

Specification​

Just Take a look at the picture below.


Picture from Ibasso.com

Box Content​

• DX180 Dap
• Silicon Case
• Some Screen Protector
• USB to USB-C cable
• Some Paper Works.

Design and Build​

The body of the DX180 is classily finished: a back of frosted glass and an outer frame of heavy-gauge metal; its ergonomic design fits great in the hand, while a modern high-resolution touchscreen offers an intuitive interface. Equipped with Android 13, it’s happy to run streaming apps without breaking a sweat-though owners can also sideload APK files.

It also supports balanced and single-ended outputs via 4.4mm and 3.5mm, correspondingly, hence this makes it fit for a wide variety of headphones and IEMs. Clicky responsive hardware buttons further enrich the user experience. also, it is designed for users to change the battery by themself.

Sound Performance​

The DX180 uses quad Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips. It has a neutral-slightly warm sound signature, which is very detailed and with good transparency. Herewith is the breakdown of its sound characteristics:


Bass: tight, fast, controlled deep, and extended, with some real good natural reverb and weight in it-never overweighted or booming-quite engaging.

Mids: midrange is very wide and natural. The timbre sounds just like life, marvelously articulate. Vocals and instruments are clear with a slight lushness, really driving across the point of the emotional depth.

Treble: The highs are light and smooth, offering openness that does not come out as harshly bright. Therefore, it makes the DX180 suited to extended listening.

Soundstage: Wide, immersion-like soundstage on the DX180, instruments are well-placed where their locations can be heard. It can carry complex arrangements with ease through its separation clarity.

Power and Compatibility​

The DX180 is capable of outputting a maximum 690mW at 32Ω from the balanced port. it can drive everything from sensitive IEMs right through to power-hungry full-sized cans. Impressively silent, the background makes it a perfect match for even the most sensitive of monitors. Coupled Impressions It makes for one heck of a source for a wide array of IEMs and headphones courtesy of its tuning and power capability.

Some pairings​

QOA Mimosa: Compared to the DX180, the Mimosa is softer and more transparent and full while maintaining bass-mid oriented character; it’s perfectly suitable for pop and genres having heavy bass notes. The midrange sounds more open, the treble comes out smooth.

Sennheiser IE 200: Naturally tuned and a bit warm, it married very well with the transparency of the DX180. Bass extends to lower and better-defined mids and treble retains smooth and clear character. That will probably delight acoustic and vocal-heavy tracks a lot more.

Ikko OH10s: Perhaps for their V-shaped signature, but just as the refinement from the DX180 is in control, it never truly overstays its welcome – bass hits hard without stepping on the articulate mid-range, and the sparkle in the treble is there rather than sharp. The soundstage does feel wider.

Aful Performer 5+2: Balanced signature that’s enjoyable even scales relatively well with the DX180. Bass punches and extends nicely, mid-range is lush and textured while the treble sparkles with its detailing without coming off too aggressive. The resolution added by the DX180 enhances the already decent layering and separation present on the Performer 5+2.


TinHifi Dudu: The Dudu, being neutral in signature, picks up extra warmth on the DX180, making it far more engaging. The midrange comes across as clear and lavish in presentation, while the treble retains its air without hitting hard. This combination actually works very nicely for listeners who enjoy a well-balanced signature but with just the right amount of richness.

Hidizs MP145: The MP145 really lets the planar driver get alive with the power output of the DX180, and then the bass goes much tighter while the mids remain lush with space. The treble gains refinement and has very little or no sibilance. The expansive soundstage and good imaging make it ideal for orchestral or complex genres.

Rose Technics QT-X: Swift, detailed sound; DX180 brought much-needed natural warmth. Just rounding the mid-presentation of QT-X a bit and smoothing out those peaks of treble made this combo so much more engaging and far from being clinical.

It’s the user experience.​

Operating system: Impressions of the Android 13 OS in operation-most smooth and fluid with absolutely no lag anywhere. The DX180 also supports high-resolution audio formats such as DSD and PCM, including NOS (non-oversampling) mode, and a choice of FIR filter options these are sure to establish the exact sound one wants. Some will find the FIR filter a tad too clinical.

Battery Life: The battery life of the DX180 is quite respectable, up to 9 hours with one charge, in high gain mode, which should be enough for most people, well above average. Its USB-C port provides support for fast charging, which is nice.

Conclusion​

The iBasso DX180 strikes a great balance between technical capability and musicality, naturally and in great detail, engaging and genre-versatile. Be it power, clarity, or even user experience DX180 is indeed one strong candidate within its bracket and is overall worth the estimated value of about $550.

iBasso DX180 is one of the perfect devices for audiophiles, as it’s a highly performing DAP with inclusions for modernity and fantastic sound.

You Can Read Other Reviews here.

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**iBasso DX180 Review:**
I recently had the opportunity to test the iBasso DX180, a tour unit received through the Audio Geek Brotherhood group of India. My sincere thanks to Sandeep Agarwal for arranging tours for the Indian audiophile community.

I was very excited to receive a dap after a long long gap. My last dap was Shanling M2s which I sold almost 5 years back. Since then I have used LG G7 and am currently using Aful Snowynight on Realme GT2 Pro. Also never tried a dap in the $500 category. Plus the earlier daps I used had their proprietary UI system. So a lot of things were different this time.

**Design & Build:**
The DX180 has a modern and sleek design. It has that industrial look that many will adore. The back has a lovely matt finish with a color shifting effect. The chassis has a brushed metal texture which gives a premium look overall.
The edges of DX180 are really very sharp. It can be uncomfortable without a cover. Luckily iBasso has provided a silicon case. I personally like using mobile devices without the covers especially when not travelling. But that's just my preference,it may not be troubling to other users.

- **User Interface:**
Coming from Poweramp & USB Player Pro, the **Mango player** isn’t very user-friendly and takes time to get used to. For example simple tasks like finding songs can be difficult.
It doesn’t show song lengths in the list, which could be inconvenient especially if you have similar named songs.
You need to manually scan the memory card once inserted for files to appear in the player. Somehow the file explorer also didn't show the files from the sd card.
There’s no fade in/fade out option between tracks. You pause a song and play again, it will blast your ears if you are on a high volume.
There's a graphic equaliser and parametric equaliser. When you turn on the graphic equaliser the sound suddenly becomes lifeless even if you are on flat preset. I didn't try much of parametric equaliser as I don't have expertise to modify it.

- **Connectivity:**
The WiFi connectivity was really weak on the device I received as confirmed with fellow reviewers. Many others mentioned they never faced any problem with WiFi connectivity.

- **Performance:**
The DX180 is fast and responsive for a digital audio player. As mentioned earlier none of my daps in the past were Android based. So the experience on DX180 was pleasing compared to all daps that I have tried.

- **Sound Quality:**
The DX180 delivers excellent sound overall.
Deep bass that’s rich and full. It has the punch and doesn't sound slow.
Mids are clear, they stand distinctly separate from rest of the frequencies. Although they can sometimes feel a bit overly tuned and slightly thinner compared to the Aful Snowynight.
The highs are very crisp,detailed and sharp.
The imaging is holographic,it creates a strong sense of depth and space.
The space between instruments is perfectly silent. This was very evident coming from Snowynight.
The soundstage is wider & taller than the cheaper options.
The filters make a noticeable difference in sound, offering customization for different iems. Although my impressions are based on no filter setting.

To conclude DX180 is a fantastic sounding dap, I can recommend this to anyone who is looking for dynamic & musical sounding dap in $500 range.

Disclaimer:

The iBasso DX180 DAP is part of a review tour organized by A.G. and iBasso in my country. The tour unit belongs to the brand. This review reflects my unbiased, subjective, and honest opinion of this DAP.

IEMs Used:

1. Penon Quattro
2. Tripowin Olina
3. Sony MH755
4. QKZ x HBB

Introduction:

iBasso is a well-regarded audio brand that has made a name for itself in the audiophile community. Known for its DAPs, DACs, portable amplifiers, and IEMs, the company focuses on delivering exceptional sound performance paired with innovative features. With a strong emphasis on build quality, user experience, and sound tuning, iBasso caters to both seasoned and beginner audiophiles.





Sound Impressions:

Introduction

DAP holds a very crucial corner of this hobby. Most of the audiophiles I know don’t use a DAP for their personal use, but they do appreciate the compatibility and form factor of the DAP. There are certain things in DAPs that take away from the experience a bit, like the affordability and form-factor. Ibasso DX180 seems to solve the problem in this area, but how does it stack up its sound-quality in the overall experience? This is something that I am going to discuss in this review.

My experience with Digital Audio Players

I was not into portable music until 2024 when I got introduced to a device named Quloos MUB1, it is a Bluetooth DAC & AMP. MUB1 is not a full-fledged experience but it gave me the taste of how enjoyable portable music can be. In train rides and transportation, it became my primary device to play music. Then comes the Hiby R4 and I got used to the android system in music players which changed how I listen to the music, since R4 acted like a portable music station, where I used it’s LO port to connect it to my desktop AMPs and controlled it from there. But I was not super impressed with the HO port since I was using IEMs that are few folds expensive than the R4 itself.

Then the time came when DX180 into my hand. It had the SQ I was missing with a full-fledged fast android experience. I listened to this DAP for a very long time with a few very high-quality IEMs like Eminent Ears Ruby, Nostalgia Camelot, ThieAudio Hype 4, ThieAudio Oracle MK3 and so on.



Disclaimer

This IEM is provided to me by AG India. They haven’t asked me to write anything after the audition, let alone good or bad. All thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to my findings. I am not benefited by anything I say in this Review.

Package

DX180 comes in a very small box, which is sturdy enough to withstand any damage it can get while transporting. The box contains the DAP itself covered in a foam casing, a USB C cable which is not much in length, a TPU case which is OK in quality, screen protectors, warranty card and quick start guide. Although the package was simple, and I was impressed by the screen protectors and presentation. But I would’ve liked a better TPU case since it would eliminate the need of buying a separate one in the future. I am nitpicking here, but all in all the case serves the purpose of protecting the DAP from scathes and dents.

Design

The design of this DAP is one of the coolest designs I have seen in the market. It looks like it got inspiration from Astell and Kern and it’s older sibling DX260. I like the design of this DAP more than the DX260 and on top of that it retains the much-loved volume wheel, which I will discuss a bit more later.

On the right side it houses the volume wheel, and three buttons to navigate your library without turning on the device. For me this decision worked very nicely. Whenever I travel with this DAP, I don’t take it out of my pocket much. I can simply adjust the volume with the knob and can simply navigate through the library while keeping it in my pockets. The volume wheel might seem like a problem, but it doesn’t budge even a bit while putting it in or out from the pocket.

On the bottom DX180 houses its 3.5mm-out and 4.4mm-out ports, which I think is more natural way to carry a DAP since, whenever it pulls the DAP out of the pocket it will face the right direction. Although there is a lot of empty space.

On the top of the DX180, it houses a microSD card slot and USB C charging port. I think it is in an odd place. Not that it disturbs the usage in any way or form, but it can be a bit risky to use it outside.

The left side of the DAP is totally blank.

The front of the device houses a 5-inch 1080P touch screen which is beautiful to look at.

The back of DX180 comes with a frosted finished glass and a shroud to remove it by only removing two screws, and this is where DX180 takes the cake.



Easy Battery Replacement

DX180 is designed in such a way that users can open the back panel by removing just two screws and they can replace the battery whenever they need to. This option is so important in the current DAP market that I think all DAP manufacturers need to implement this in their devices.

Lithium-Ion batteries can only support 500-1000 charge cycles before they hit their 80% capacity which indicates how confident ibasso is with this DAP that they are willing to provide right-to-repair without budging out from anything.

Build

The build quality of this DAP is as you can expect by looking at pictures online. It’s sleek, feels sharp in hand and screams quality. Although I am not sure about the back-glass panel and how it would survive a drop.

The TPU in this case is a pretty necessary accessory in my opinion. Not that it smooths out the sharp edges in the DAP, but it also provides an extra bit of peace of mind.

The slab of glass and metal do provide something that feels premium in hand and feels like it is way pricier than the asking price. Which is not something that would amaze an audiophile, but it is what it is.



Android Experience

DX180 uses QUALCOMM Snapdragon 665 which might seem a bit dated, but it is a staple in DAP making. Since Ibasso uses a highly modified version of Android which bypasses the resampling and removes extra junk that would cause you any disturbance.

At the end you get a very snappy DAP with good animation and speed. The apps like Apple Music, Qobuz, Spotify run very smoothly. I haven’t tried to do a lot of multitasking since I didn't need it to enjoy music.

There are a few features that did impress me a lot like the 80% charging cap.

It also has 128GB of memory internally, so I didn’t have to get any SD Card for downloads.

Battery

The best thing about the battery in this device is the user-replaceable option, where just by removing the two screws you can access the battery.

If we talk about charging, it has the QUALCOMM fast charging but there is a slight catch. While charging the device you have to keep the 80% cap on, using quick charging. Otherwise, the device gets too hot to touch.

The battery life also is on the average side of things. I did get me a day without any worry but on high-gain and networking on, it didn’t give me more than 1 day of battery life. It was somewhere around 8-9 hours including a lot of screen usage in the middle to search and shuffle.



Experience with Headphones

DX180 is a pretty powerful device since on paper it shows 690mw output on balanced connection. Talking to a few friends they can run their easy to drive planars on DX180 with zero problems as well as few DD headphones like Meze.

But it is not enough to drive something like HD600, and running high impedance dynamic drivers on portable that too in budget was never possible and it still is not.

Experience with IEMs

I had pretty hard to drive IEMs which sounded absolutely beautiful with this device. Off course I can’t comment on something like Symphonium Titan, since those species of IEMs are outliers. But normally hard to drive IEMs run beautifully with DX180.

Eminent Ears Ruby is pretty hard to carry with low powered devices. It can’t produce bass unless you give it a solid power. And Ruby fortunately ran very well with DX180.



Sound

The sound of DX180 I would like to describe is as Natural (Not to be confused with neutral) with a tilt towards low-end, and a greater focus towards lower midrange.

This might sum up the total sonic experience with DX180 generally. But where this DAP shines are the way; it handles synergy with think sounding IEMs which are borderline peaky.

To explain this, I need to take help of the ThieAudio Oracle MKIII.

Oracle is a great tech focused IEM to start with. I had a bit of issues with the lower midrange and the 8Khz region. DX180 took care of each and every problem I had with this IEM and gave it a more organic, rich presentation without masking out any detail or treble frequencies.

Then, I plugged Ruby into DX180. Point to be noted here, I am using JDS ATOM 2 as my primary source so that I can compare it to absolute neutrality.

It made the Ruby sound normal. The bass was there, the lower-mids were a bit richer. The only thing that it missed was the detail retrieval.

DX180 is priced at $500 in the international market, and I can’t think of a better A-Z Complete package other than this.

Technicalities

Technicalities on this DAP is not something that can blow your shocks off. It sounds like a mid-fi dongle DAC which costs around $250 and if we consider it as an overall package, it sounds apt for the price.

Although I think the stage could’ve been a bit more spacious. Few IEMs that sound inherently closed feels somewhat ‘in your face’ a bit.

FIR Filters and their Effects

Filters on this DAP are quite useful. Where you can select the multiples of the filter setting up to 2X. The different filters do provide a substantial difference in the sound.

Due to its run, I used the last filter [Can’t remember the name] for its added width and spaciousness. But other filters also do project some characteristics like Vocal Warmth, Relaxed Treble and Added Low-end in the music.



LO Output

When I plugged the DX180 through the LO port on my amp, I came to realize that the amp section of this DAC is pretty on point even though it can’t drive high-impedance dynamic drivers (No portable device till now drove them properly for me).

The features I noticed in the Headphone out are present in the Line Out too. Which indicated how well the amps are calibrated.

Conclusion

Although I never used DAPs before, I enjoyed my time with DX180 quite a lot. It powered few hard to drive IEMs and lasted a day long without any worry.

thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This product was provided by iBasso for a tour through the Audio Geek group. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Letshuoer DT03
●Onix Alpha XI1
●Dunu DTC480
●Various IEMs

Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD as well as local FLAC files.


Introduction:
iBasso is a Chinese company that was founded way back in 2006. They are a well-known manufacturer of digital audio players (DAPs), as well as IEMs and DAC/amps. They offer a wide range of DAPs, from the entry-level DX170 to the TOTL multi-kilobuck DX320. The DX180 is one of iBasso's newest and more budget-friendly releases, coming in at $499, and there are three color options available: green, blue, and black. This will be my first attempt at a DAP review, so let's break down the DX180 and see what it has to offer.

Tech specs:
• Quad (x4) Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips + capable 690mW @32Ω driving power
• Noticeably smoother and quicker user interface
• Dedicated USB receiver for low latency USB-DAC mode
• New aesthetic design, new UI, and removable back cover with battery access and serviceability
• Android 13 OS
• 5.0" 1080x1920P screen, BT v5.0, and 802.11b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi
• 3.5mm SE + 4.4mm BAL outputs (headphone / line-outs shared)

Further specifications can be found here: https://bloomaudio.com/products/ibasso-dx180?variant=40774862143563


Build, fit, ergonomics:
The DX180 comes in a nice little blue box and includes a silicone case and charging cord. The unit itself is well-built and heavier than you might expect. It feels very premium in the hand and has a luxurious build quality. It's a bit thicker and smaller than most smartphones today, so its ergonomics do take some getting used to. The body is made of CNC-machined aluminum, and the color is quite striking. The green variant has a sort of teal undertone and is dark and rich. The scroll wheel functions well, and adjusting it feels good. There is an option in the system to disable the wheel when the screen is off. This is a thoughtful feature as the wheel could be bumped when putting it in and out of your pocket or just by accident in general. There are also three buttons on the same side, located underneath the wheel, that can be used for pause/play, next, and the previous track. The top of the unit features an input for SD cards and the USB-C charging port. The bottom houses the 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs. Placing the USB-C port on the top of the unit and the headphone jacks on the bottom is certainly one way to go, but coming from daily smartphone use, it can be a bit jarring. I'm not sure how common this configuration is with other DAPs, but it makes charging the DX180 while in use a bit bothersome for me. Also, when I put the DAP in my pocket, I would prefer the headphone jack to be on the top so that I don't have to place it upside down. The included silicone case is very handy. It helps protect the fantastic aluminum chassis and keeps it looking clean and scratch-free. It also makes the DX180 more comfortable to hold, as the edges can be a bit sharp, especially near the scroll wheel. The screen has good resolution, but it's not quite up to the same standards as today's smartphones, which is fine, really. I don't need a DAP to have the best screen as long as it's clear and well-lit.


System and features:
The DX180 has a plethora of built-in features, and the Android 13 operating system unlocks even more possibilities from the Google Play Store. There are seriously so many different ways to use and enjoy this device that it would be impossible to cover in this review. Therefore, I will only discuss the options that work best for me, given that I am coming from a smartphone-only environment. I primarily use my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to stream and download Amazon Music and also listen to some local FLAC files. The DX180 can also be used to access the Amazon Music app as well as many others, such as Qobuz, Spotify, Roon, Tidal, and just about any app you can think of through the Play Store. I also utilized the built-in iBasso Mango music player for local FLAC files. This player is impressive due to the number of features packed into it. There are both EQ and PEQ options available, which offer a great deal of customization, and that's not even considering the DX180's five filter options that can be easily accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen at any time. In this drop-down menu, the gain, output, and FIR modes can also be changed. The overall speed at which the system operates is quite good, but I was slightly disappointed by the touch controls. In my experience, the accuracy is inferior to that of most smartphones, and I would have preferred it to be more responsive.


Battery life:
iBasso's marketing materials claim that the DX180 is capable of getting an average of 15.5 hours at low gain, 13 hours at high gain, and 30 hours through line out. Now, they do preface those numbers with a disclaimer that the playtime will vary depending on file resolution, volume, and headphone/IEM loads. I was able to get over 9 hours of continuous use through the 4.4mm port on high gain mode at a moderate/high volume level, which is definitely lower than the 13 that iBasso claims. This was also without Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabled and with minimal interaction with the screen and system. So, my results were a little disappointing, but I do listen at high volumes and to higher bitrate files, so it does make sense. And to be honest, 9 hours is still a lot—in fact, it's more than enough for me and my needs. Obviously, use cases will vary, so some will get more out of the DX180's battery life than I did. I will also add that it does charge very quickly, and just a short 30-minute charging stint will have you back up and running with a substantial amount of battery.


Sound impressions:
I would characterize the DX180's sound as energetic and revealing yet smooth with a decent bass boost and extension. The overall effect is simply a deeper, fuller, more luxurious, and enjoyable sound than before. It's hard to put into words exactly. It can be like going from 1080p to 4k resolution. The differences may not be obvious and apparent at first glance, but they are there, and the longer you listen, the more you discover. Everything sounds just a bit cleaner and crisper. It seems to take everything up a notch regarding technicalities and resolution. I found it very impressive, and it's a noticeable increase in quality over my usual dongles. The first obvious improvement is the expansive and deeper sub-bass. Also, the midbass has more impact and weight. In fact, the bass is just overall better with every IEM I tested. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Pairing the DX180 with an already bright or energetic set can push it even further, becoming quite troublesome to my ears. Also, with sets that already feature a lot of bass, the DX180 might add even more, which can skew the tuning too much toward the low end. Don't get me wrong, I love me some bass, but not every headphone/IEM will benefit from it.


Comparisons:
●Letshuoer DT03 - The soundstage is noticeably wider and deeper on the DX180, with a bigger bass impact and slam. Vocals are a bit more forward on the DT03, but they sound more natural on the DX180. The DT03 seems to focus more on the midrange, specifically vocals, while the DX180 accentuates the bass energy and extension. However, the DX180 is also more resolving and has better detail. The soundstage is the most noticeable improvement on the DX180; it completely opens up each track and improves the separation. This comparison is not entirely fair, as the DX180 is over five times more expensive. Ultimately, these are different devices for different needs.

●Onix Alpha XI1 - The bass hits deeper and harder with more reverberation and weight on the DX180. The soundstage is similar on these two, but the DX180 has a distinct advantage in depth. The Onix does well to compete in width, though. Vocals are again more forward with the Onix, whereas the DX180 emphasizes the bass. The DX180 offers a more natural, organic, and overall cleaner sound, whereas the Onix can sound a little more processed or digital in comparison. The Onix is the closest dongle of the ones I had for testing in terms of overall performance and features, with its four filter options, but the DX180 is still simply better across the board.

●Dunu DTC480 - It's no surprise at this point that the bass sounds bigger and more full with better extension on the DX180. The vocals are a bit more forward on the DTC480, but the guitar strums are better defined and more resolving with the DX180. The DX180 also offers a thicker note weight, a more natural timbre, and a deeper soundstage, but it is slightly more energetic, so it might not be as great of a match with already energetic IEMs or headphones as the DTC480. The DX180 definitely offers superior sound quality here, but the Dunu DTC480 does well to hold its own. For less than a fifth of the price, the DTC480 is a decent little dongle that can easily be paired with a smartphone or other sources, but function-wise, it's about as barebones as it can be. To my ears, this is the closest dongle that I tested to matching the DX180's tuning, but it's still far from being competitive in quality or features.

●Hiby FC4 - Again, this one has a bit less bass authority and extension than the DX180. However, the FC4 is actually on par when it comes to timbre and resolution. The DX180 is still smoother and less energetic in the midrange and treble, which might be a better fit for some headphones/IEMs. Overall, it has a more musical presentation and offers a better soundstage and separation. Even if the bass elevation of the DX180 is not always welcome, it's hard to argue with the smoother and more musical presentation of the DX180.

●LG V30+ (using built in quad DAC) - The DX180 offers a more expansive soundstage in both width and depth. It's also a bit more revealing, smoother, has a bigger bass presence and rumble, and a bit more sparkly treble, specifically with things like cymbals. The LG is a bit less dynamic and energetic, but vocals are better separated. The DX180 offers a more refined sound and is quite a lot more powerful, especially through the balanced output. Even though the LG only has Android 9, it is still quick and snappy with more responsive touch controls. The battery life of the DX180 is leagues better, but the LG is old and used, so it's not a great direct comparison. The DX180's battery can also be replaced if needed, which gives it a leg up on most smartphones nowadays. Honestly, the LG sounds pretty close to the DX180, and it only cost me $35 on the used market. Sure, it's not a dedicated audio-first device, but it works really well for my needs and serves as a fantastic little DAP in its own right. It can be loaded with a ton of streaming apps and music players, offering a lot of customizable features like EQ and PEQ. It even has three built-in filters of its own. The differences between these two are fairly subtle unless it's an especially power-hungry set or a TOTL transducer like the AME Mousa that I used in testing. With more budget friendly sets, the differences in sound quality and performance are less distinguishable.


In conclusion:
I think I would really like to own a DAP someday, but for now, I'm enjoying the freedom and versatility offered by smartphones. Anytime I want to hear a specific song, I can simply look it up without worrying about my proximity to Wi-Fi. The built-in amp of the DX180 means I could bid farewell to dongles, but I'm not sure if I want to just yet. Of course, a DAP is more convenient for plug-and-play use on the go, but I personally rarely listen to my devices while moving about anyway, so a dongle doesn't really bother me. What you're essentially paying for in a DAP is an all-in-one audio device that is easily transportable and offers sound quality far superior to that of today's smartphones. And what you get with the DX180 is a quality device packed full of features. From the five easily togglable filter options to the EQ and PEQ options of the iBasso player app, you have a full range of options to cater to the sound exactly the way you like it. And because it's an Android-based system with access to the Play Store, there are a plethora of apps at your disposal. I love that this hobby has so many choices in how you can access and transport your music, and I do believe the iBasso DX180 to be a fantastic DAP that holds great value at its current price. Though for me personally, I'm not sure I can justify spending $500 on an all-in-one device when I can get a similar enough experience and sound quality (at least to my ears) with a 5-year-old LG that cost me only $35. Sure, the DX180 absolutely destroys my old device in terms of battery life, and it has a ton of audio-related functions that the LG does not. But for my personal enjoyment, I am plenty happy with it at this time in my journey. While I do believe a DAP is not essential for enjoying your music, and they may be somewhat of a niche product in an already niche hobby, there is much to gain by having one like the DX180 that offers so much versatility. There is something to be said about having a separate device from your phone for audio enjoyment, and I believe the DX180 to be a fantastic device for that purpose. When my little LG V30 finally decides to kick the bucket, I will have to seriously consider picking up the DX180 as a replacement. I recommend it to anyone looking for an entry-level DAP, and iBasso can be proud of the quality of this latest release.

-Packaging and unboxing

The Ibasso DX180 comes with a simple but functional packaging, it feels solid and can hold the product safely, it is not the most attractive packaging but I don't see the need for more, if you have had other ibasso products previously it will be very familiar to you, on the top cover are the manuals and the warranty card, in the foreground is the DAP in a flap surrounded by foam and below you get all the accessories which are the following:

-TPU transparent case

- Charging and data cable

- Screen protectors

The transparent TPU case provided and the screen protectors are of a correct quality, the case is well finished and does its job, I think I remember that the DX300/320 ones are better finished but it is a decent case and it is appreciated that there is a protection included among the accessories, likewise the screen protectors are also of a decent quality, it is a plastic protector that can protect from minor scratches in use diary.



-Technical specifications:

I think putting the link with the full specifications is the best option but I will highlight the most important ones for me:

https://ibasso.com/product/dx180/

Battery life approx. 14h in balanced mode
Output impedance 1.1ohm Bal.
Output impedance 0.6 ohm SE
Amplifier power 690mW Bal.
Amplifier power 281mW SE
Design DAC Cirrus CS43131
Fir X2 filter
5'' 1080p Sharp screen
Android 13

As you can see, most of the specifications can be easily associated with a high-end DAP and Ibasso has made an effort to include it in a mid-range DAP with one of the best price-performance ratios on the market in my opinion.



-Setup, handling and system

Getting the Ibasso DX180 up and running is quick and easy. In just a few steps and in just a minute you can start the system by entering your Google account and in this case, the Play Store is included by default so in just a few minutes you can have all your favourite apps downloaded and the DAP ready to use.

Using DX180 becomes an absolute pleasure when you discover how exceptionally fast and fluid it navigates through all the menus, it is without a doubt the smoothest DAP I have ever owned and tested, I also want to mention the total absence of bugs, so far I have not had a single bug or app crash, unexpected, the Snapdragon 665 processor and 4GB of RAM have been used excellently without any apparent delay.

I also like to explain that whenever I install Nova Launcher, Power AMP, USB Audio Player Pro, Opera browser, Tidal and some other Apps, DX180 handles all the apps perfectly, free of crashes and sistem hangs.



Newer versions of Android offer complete control of playback/streaming apps from the notification bar, so having complete control over your music while multitasking with the rest of the apps is a fluid experience without any interruptions or app changes, it's just great.



But the excellent user experience doesn't end here, the DX180 feels light but sturdy, can be operated with one hand perfectly, and is generally very well built, this is especially relevant considering that it is a DAP that you can change the battery yourself which gives it even more value, it is worth mentioning that the back cover to access the battery is made of plastic but it feels really well built and of quality so you shouldn't have to worry about it.

The buttons feel sturdy and well integrated, the multifunction wheel to control the volume and turn on/off the screen finally feels solid, without any looseness, the volume clicks can be easily felt, the only thing that could be slightly improved is that the volume wheel is closer to the chassis of the device but it is not something especially relevant.



It's time to talk about battery, another strong point of the device. In my tests with the screen off and local playback, I was able to easily reach the 13/14 hours announced by ibasso. This number of hours will be reduced with extensive use of the screen and WiFi, but even so, you still get excellent numbers. I'm not usually a very intensive user of streaming apps, but you'll hardly go below 10 hours of intensive use, which still seems like very good numbers to me. The fact that the playback hours are reduced with intensive use is a characteristic shared by all DAPs. Longer use the WiFi and screen , less autonomy, logically.

I've left the screen for last, the DX180 screen is at a very high level in all aspects, it is a screen that responds very quickly and effectively to touches and scrolling, it has vivid colors and for indoor use conditions, it has a high level of brightness, likewise we are talking about a 5'' and 1080p panel which translates into a high pixel density on the screen making the content displayed sharply and clearly, it is an excellent screen.





Taking advantage of the mention of the Software and the screen, in this section I would like to talk about the only two real weaknesses or rather absences of this device in my opinion, which although I have not considered them in the negative points I think they deserve to be mentioned, the first and perhaps the least important is the absence of the Double tap to wake the screen, this has a reason to be, to maintain the costs of the device Ibasso had to decide between a quality screen with excellent color sharpness and resolution or sacrifice some of those aspects in favor of the screen having the ability to have the double tap to wake, at this point we already know which path it chose and honestly I feel good with that decision, one of the reasons why I install Nova Launcher is because of the fact that you can program a widget or use the double tap to turn off the screen with which you can at least save at least 50% of the presses on the wheel to maintain its functionality over time.





The other important absence in my opinion, has to do with a software deficiency, specifically, the absence of global PEQ in the system, ibasso includes PEQ but only in its own music player, honestly I never use the player integrated by the brands themselves in favor of the ones already mentioned, so for many of us it is a real deficiency, I consider that the absence of global PEQ is the only real and important weakness compared to my Cayin N7 that I recently integrated and the Hiby DAPs, in my opinion, Ibasso should focus some of its efforts in that area since it is a function that is increasingly in demand, Ibasso has pleasantly surprised me with an excellent integration of Android 13, I hope it does not stop there and integrating a global PEQ is one of its priorities.

To summarize, we have a compact, lightweight but robust device, a clear, bright screen with a high response capacity, optimized, fast and error-free software, a firm and well-integrated wheel, excellent battery life. Taking into account all these features and its price range, I would classify the user experience with this DAP as exceptional.



-Sound

In general terms, I would define the sound signature as perfectly neutral, not boring, with a very slight emphasis on treble, just a touch, and a powerful sub-bass extension. I think that is right. It is a signature made to please the general public and the greatest number of users possible. It is positioned very strongly in the mid-range and sometimes even dangerously close to the high-end. It has the excellent clarity that Ibasso is known for but still manages to maintain a natural and realistic sound.

-TREBLE

DX180 has a very decent treble extension, I don't think it's an overly analytical DAP so if you're one of those users who wants to hear even the tiniest detail you might want to look elsewhere, the Dx260 is more suited for that, however I feel that's not the goal of the tuning and I don't think anyone would expect that kind of sound form in a mid-fi device, however with DX180 you'll still get a high level of detail and in particular, the Tribird IEM equipped with EST can show ethereal and not fatiguing but well extended highs and a very decent level of detail with DX180, the micro details are not very advanced but they show up well in the mix, going into the slightly lower highs there's still a good extension and everything is there well presented and effortless, I don't notice an excessive boost in the upper frequencies but I don't feel that it's lacking either, as in the general signature of the DAP I feel that it's a safe tuning but of Tasteful, made to appeal to the masses, perceived clarity as well as definition and separation are above average, there are no signs of harshness whatsoever and no trace of metallic timbre either, also mentioning female vocals, they feel natural and realistic and never scream.

To put it into context I will make brief comparisons with Cayin N7, in the case of N7 there is a slightly better treble extension and a greater amount of perceived detail, it can also add a bit more note weight and I would say that the sound feels somewhat more natural and realistic, it is not night and day, they are rather subtle but audible improvements.



-MIDS

I feel like mids is where Ibasso usually pays the most attention and DX180 is no exception, not in vain it is the frequency range where a greater number of things happen so it makes sense, mids continue with a clear neutral approach but have the right note weight and timbre to sound natural and detailed at the same time, different textures are represented correctly and one of the most important things for me, instruments and voices feel credible and realistic, again, without any sign of metallic timbre.

DX180 has the ability to present the sound in layers with very good height and depth, in fact so far and based on all the mid-fi devices I have tested, ibasso is the only one that adds enough height and depth to make the soundstage feel truly holographic, something usually reserved for high-end devices, male vocals have excellent texture and note weight successfully capturing the different nuances, ultimately I would like to add that in other DAPs ibasso tends to push the mids too far forward giving them some emphasis and standing out or moving them forward a few steps in the mix, thus sending vocals and certain instruments to the foreground making them sound 'inside your head', luckily this is not the case and I hope ibasso continues to maintain a more neutral and in my opinion more correct approach to the mids, this way achieving a more uniform sound and the feeling of a larger perceived soundstage.

Overall it holds its own pretty well against Cayin N7 when it comes to the mids, again Cayin N7 feels a bit more natural and thick with more note weight and slightly better realism, N7 can space out and separate different sounds better on complex tracks, I’m not too fond of describing tracks in reviews but this fantastic track in particular I discovered on head fi can really help me explain the differences, if you listen at the minute or so shown in the screenshot the track starts adding more and more percussion instruments that appear on the sides until it forms a wide sound passage, each of the new sounds that appear has its own placement with a different height and depth, well DX180 offers decent separation but feels flatter, N7 on the other hand is more defined, with better separation and feels a bit more holographic along with improved placement, it’s one of the tracks where I’ve noticed the biggest difference, in others the difference is smaller.



-LOWS

I've mentioned on more than one occasion that the DX180 offers a high fidelity signature but made to please the masses and the approach taken with the bass follows the same line, the bass has a punch and control that is more than remarkable in this price range, one of the best bass I've heard in mid-fi, really very well textured and can hit hard and fast when called upon, this is not a signature oriented towards excessive warmth or with a purely bass-based approach, there is a certain emphasis but it is not exaggerated, just to add a touch of warmth, it is more about offering the right amount at the right time, which means that it will not add too much to what is recorded on the track but your bass songs will be played just as you expect, firm and forceful hits, excellent speed and texture, again it manages to capture the different timbres and nuances with ease, it is an excellent DAP on which to enjoy your favorite bass tracks, it is a no-brainer when it comes to ibasso but It is worth mentioning that they will never dominate the signature or muddy the rest of the frequencies, it is a constant in Ibasso's signatures and here it is respected without a doubt, despite the excellent quantity and texture it he behaves very well on busy tracks, it has a very good speed and decay, it will delight bass fans as it resolves very well the IEMs with a strong emphasis on the low frequencies.

Compared to N7, it has a very different bass presentation, in Cayin N7 you have the perception that there is slightly less presence and prominence since it is a more W-shaped signature compared to the linearity of DX180, N7's bass is a bit slower, more rounded, perhaps a bit more textured due to its presentation, DX180 hits you with more force, more speed and presence, this is actually the point where I can prefer DX180 over N7 most of the time since I really enjoy its presentation.



-Soundstage & Technicalities

The soundstage of the DX180 is surprisingly wide considering its price, and it also offers an excellent sense of height and depth, again, unusual at these prices. The level of detail and texture it can offer is high, the separation is more than correct, the timbre is natural and satisfactory. I cannot criticize anything remarkable, especially in the range to which it belongs. Although diminishing returns are real and the DX180 is an excellent example of this. It is true that it does not reach the levels of refinement that the higher ranges can offer, since these have some differential factors to offer, but you already know how it works. To clearly surpass the sound of the DX180 you will have to invest at least twice as much money and probably more, so I cannot be more satisfied with its overall performance at all levels. Finally, I will mention in this section that the entire review is done in Fir X2 mode and the Slow Roll Off/Short Delay Slow Roll Off filter, although the differences are subtle with respect to the mode. In normal mode, I have the feeling that it offers a slightly more lively, dynamic sound with a slightly improved note weight, and I also have the feeling that I perceive details and textures a little better, in normal mode I would consider it very slightly more analytical and neutral in this regard, the changes mentioned in the Fir X2 are applied in the first 4 filters see:

- Fast Roll Off
- Short Delay Slow Roll Off
- Short Delay Fast Roll Off
- Slow Roll Off



The general consensus seems to be oriented towards the NOS (No Over Sampling) filter as the preferred one, it is also a filter that I use often and curiously I will say that with the NOS filter I am not able to perceive a single difference between the Normal mode and Fir X2, for some reason the slight differences of the X2 mode can only be appreciated in the first 4 filters mentioned, even so you do not expect very significant changes between different filters / modes.



- Conclusion

If your search for a DAP that includes having excellent sound quality, a really great screen, (Responsive, sharp and bright) a device with fast and intuitive handling free of errors, good battery life, last but not least: not emptying your bank account, this is the device you should have in mind when choosing your new music player.

I am aware that there are cheaper DAPs but they are somehow cut back either in power, probably in screen size and quality or cuts on precious system resources such as ROM or RAM, their shortcomings are really few, if you can live without a global PEQ and without the double tap to wake the screen, I doubt there is a better device to recommend in this price range, thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: - I am a bass head and prefer a wide sound with natural timbre, excellent imaging and thumpy mid-bass with moderate decay and clinical precision when it comes to instrument separation. I am highly averse to bright-sounding transducers and sibilance in my music.

Also, I prefer the Ibasso house sound. I own a DX320 along with all the amps, so I believe I have a certain bias towards this kind of sound.







This unit was sent to me by Audio Geek India as part of the Ibasso Dx180 tour. I thank Audio Geek India & Ibasso for this opportunity to listen and review Flip Ears - Aurora. My views aren’t influenced either by Audio Geek/Ibasso in any way.



Overview:-

Loaded with 4 CS43131 chips it outputs 690mW @ 32ohms which is enough for an entry-level DAP but I expected CS43198 in the latest iteration of this device.

Internal storage is 128 GB and you can add your SD card to keep your library handy.

It offers Bluetooth but I prefer wired connection whenever I can and I did just that. After charging once it never died on me and I managed to listen to it for 10-plus hours in a couple of days; and still, I had 15% juice left. I recharged it to 80% again and seemingly if not 15.5 hours it definitely gives more than 12 hours.

The screen is 5 inches tall and 1080*1920 P. Not the best by today’s standards but does its job without any aberration.

The UI is a clean, vanilla Android with volume control and ‘prev, pause next’ buttons alongside it. It also offers a coaxial out. Balanced 4.4mm and 3.5mm ports which also work as line-out ports. Those wanting a digital source for their Ibasso stack – here here.

I loved the size. All daps should not exceed this size. Please. Whenever I turned on the device it felt so neat in my hands. I have read people complaining about its edges but I used it in the case provided with it and never had a blemish anywhere.

It offers the latest FPGA – Master 2.0, Ibasso’s proprietary audio controller. It makes special adjustments to the DAC clock and data with picosecond precision. Minimizes discrete distortion while FIR 2x mode enables independent adjustment of DAC data. The DACs form a hardware analogue FIR filter with ‘delay parallel’ processing which improves sound quality. (Didn’t understand a word of this para but kept it for the aficionados)

In the box, you get:

1) USB-C Cable

2) TPU Case

3) Screen protector

4) Warranty Card

5) Quick Start Guide

There are 5 digital filters. I mostly stick to D1 as I feel the decay is quick in this one.

The second tweak I did was with the FIR filter. I chose 2X, maybe a placebo or maybe I did feel the technicalities benefitting a little from it.


Coaxial Cable that works with Desktop Dacs. I tried it with the K7, and it worked as intended.



So, when I say it has the Inhouse ibasso sound what I mean is:-

The soundstage spans wide. Every instrument and sound cue gets ample space to render themselves. The tonality is mostly balanced/neutral with nothing too emphasized. I especially enjoy the Ibasso dx320 with amp14 and I am dead sure I can recognize an Ibasso DAP in a blind test. It's that nuanced. When I heard the ibasso sound for the first time it felt a tad unnatural as I wasn’t used to such a wide 3D soundstage but now I intend to keep one ibasso device in my stack always for the novel sound it offers.

The overall presentation is engaging. Highly engaging and captivating it never lets you doze off but will make your foot tap due to all the details it offers.



Lows: Mostly neutral in its presentation I still feel mid-bass is a tad emphasized. Mid-bass definitely slams deeper than its old elder brother – dx320. Its not more about the difference in quantity but a difference in rendition wherein the mid-bass attack feels to hit a little closer to my ears. I tried the Hanumankind – Big Dawgs on it and boy oh boy did it turn on the party. It felt very engaging and did justice to the recording

Mids: Male vocals feel a tad emphasized as compared to female vocals. The warmth carries over a little from the mid bass to the lower mids but instead of sounding muddy or anything remotely close to that; it sounds musical, lush and organic. Everything melds together pretty well. I would have loved a little more bite on female vocals but they are also delivered cleanly if not too lush.

Treble: Here I guess I personally find the inkling to tame down the treble. Whilst mostly balanced/neutral at higher volumes sometimes I did feel the need to eq and reduce the treble but not with all pairings. Objectively I will say its mostly neutral and not emphasized but my subjective dream DAP would roll off the highs a little more. The details in the highs were more enjoyable to me at lower volumes. Still, it was never even borderline harsh or shrill by any means.



Technicalities: This player leans heavily towards providing a musical, lush and engaging sound rather than an analytical sound that focuses on micro details. Carries all the hallmarks of the House Ibasso.

Details are not something that dx180 is here to wow you with. This presentation is unhinged towards offering a lush, fun and melodic sound. The highs, the mids and the lows sound coherent and I tend to lose myself in the music more often than not.



Pairings:-

Thieaudio Monarch Mk3: This is the pairing I spend the most time on. I could easily feel the mid-bass thump going deeper and felt great. The already wide-sounding MK3 combined with the musical-sounding dx180 filled the ample soundstage with soundcues and it felt more coherent than separated. Not too technical but highly enjoyable. \

HD6xx: A hard-to-drive pair of headphones which sounded great with dx180. The soundstage benefitted from the HD6xx and Male vocals, especially in Bryan Adams numbers came alive. Husky voices like John Mayer also sounded fantabulous. It didn’t do as much justice(neither did I expect it to) to ATH-R70X as much as it did to HD6xx.

Flip Ears Aurora XXIV: So here I get a different sauce altogether. The sound is musical yet highly detailed. I could switch my attention to critical listening and simply enjoy the music without wondering about texture and other details. Aurora benefitted from the wide musical sound that dx180 offers and it was a fun pairing. For my preference, this pairing does get a tad fatiguing due to the V-shaped tuning on the Aurora.



Conclusion: With 2 minor gripes, not being able to search music via typing the song name in Mango player and not including the latest iteration of CS43198, this player does everything right in my opinion. It's great value for money. I wouldn’t mind paying more for better chips but maybe ibasso wanted to keep the price more affordable. I get it.

I can clearly see some people getting it just for that coax out it offers from its 3.5mm Port. At 499$ it’s a compelling buy if you want an entry-level DAP from a top-tier DAP manufacturer.

This hobby is an escapist's dream. Escape from daily routine and distress that's causing you via something as sincere and everlasting as listening to music. I believe that the power of music is still not fully understood since it works in mysterious ways. Allow it to do its magic on you and let your worries dissolve in melody.

What follows is my first ever Digital Audio Player (DAP) review. This will need a completely different approach than my usual IEM reviews, nonetheless, I am up for the challenge! But first ...

Quick Intermezzo About Me

I won't bore you for too long with personal trivia, however my quick & short background resume goes as follows. Currently I am 27 years old and more in awe of sheer power of music by the day. I have always been moved by music just that slight bit more than average, I'd say. My spending started with a roughly 200€ Bose bluetooth speaker back in my first grade of highschool. What an extraterrestrial thing that was in early 2010s. And it keeps on playing to this day – a true testament of quality. Also sounded fantastic back then, nowadays … yeah, not so much. Lots of BT speakers, TWS, car audio speakers, IEMs, etc., later bring me to this day when I truly consider myself an audiophile. What brings me the most joy beside listening to music is singing, so I am currently participating in a choir and challenging myself with solo vocal covers (check the links in my signature to hear my projects). Unsure where all this leads, but the journey itself is marvelous and life is nothing but a journey.

My preferences lie somewhere in the neutral camp with just an ever so slight bass boost, but I try to keep an open mind and truly appreciate any outliers that dare do it differently. Our ears vary, so do our brain and tastes. I am an advocate for respectful discourse, especially in topics that don't even have many objective undeniable truths. Audio is one of those.

My most listened genres are, in no particular order: jazz, singer/songwriter, slow-paced electronica, ambient, rock, metal, blues, trance, techno & pop.






Without Further Ado

What makes a DAP either nice to use or an absolute pain are the following criteria:
size, weight, quality feel, battery, user interface, responsiveness, sound quality and possible sound tweaks it allows.
So let's get through these one by one and let me describe why – spoiler alert – I feel the DX180 is well worth its asking price.

To remain fully transparent, I have received the DX180 from iBasso at a discount in exchange for my review.
This does not affect my views and I am not afraid to mention the negatives – please refer to some of my other reviews which were not only sunshine and rainbows for confirmation.

Should you be interested to grab your own, here is a non-affiliated link to their website: https://www.ibasso.com/

Since I have not heard as many DAPs or other sources as I have IEMs this limits my scope on whether the DX180 competes well with others in this price segment, however, I have had the FiiO M15S before this one and despite costing twice as much, I feel the DX180 absolutely takes first place in every single category besides power output. A small price to pay. Every other aspect is much better implemented and a nicer user experience than the M15S was. This in itself is a major achievement however you look at it. To try and explain just why that is, we need to delve deeper into individual aspects of the DX180.


Unboxing & First Impressions

To start off where we all start off. Unboxing. I am an advocate for simplistic and non-wasteful packaging. Most of us just throw the box away or store it somewhere hidden from the light. In either case, while it sure is sweet to marvel at the lengths manufacturers go to to present their product in best possible light even before we as consumers start using it, going overboard on stuff like that screams worthless luxury to me. This is why I believe the budget should rather be focused on improving the product further instead of pretty boxes. But I digress, here is how it went with the DX180.


I have also received the CB18 and CB19 interconnects which do not come included!



Pulling the unit out I was so impressed by its build quality and its size is just about perfect too. The thickness is roughly twice the size of any modern phone. The height and width allow for a large screen while comfortably fitting in any reasonably sized pocket – even right alongside the phone if the other pocket has keys and wallet to carry. Its weight is right on that limit of feeling highly solid and not annoying to carry around or pulling down on your pants. Then the search for an turn ON button was on! Of course I was way too excited to get this thing going and see what it's like to bother reading any quick start guides or what the buttons do. Finally figuring out that the volume knob can be pressed too, I manage to awaken the blue beast!

I am very sensitive to how buttons respond and their feel. Another non-issue for the DX180, but if I were to nitpick, I would prefer the volume knob to provide some more resistance to turning and a more satisfying click. It's far from bad, but not quite perfect. Other three buttons which serve the duties of skipping to next/previous track or playing/pausing respectively, are very tactile and feel unbreakable. What is a slight negative regarding these three is that they don't provide any real feedback nor feel when you press them with the case on. That's not too annoying because they take care of their job quickly enough and that itself lets you know whether you pressed it effectively or not.

Since I have not heard as many DAPs or other sources as I have IEMs this limits my scope on whether the DX180 competes well with others in this price segment, however, I have had the FiiO M15S before this one and despite costing twice as much, I feel the DX180 absolutely takes first place in every single category besides power output. A small price to pay, unless all you use is very hard-to-drive gear. Every other aspect is much better implemented and a nicer user experience than the M15S was. This in itself is a major achievement whichever way you look at it.

To try and explain just why that is, we need to delve deeper into individual aspects of the DX180. Seeing the iBasso logo pop up on the screen, I knew immediately this screen has very decent graphics – unlike the FiiO M15S, but let's not get too carried away.



Turn on procedure is rather quick. So was the initial setup, and off I went to searching my Tidal playlists and deciding which song to choose for the ever important first listen. I went back to my favourites and gave the Creep by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart a listen via my current favourite set – the AüR Audio Aure. Yes, this is good. It did not take long to appreciate how effortless and resolving it felt. But more on its sound later.

I was immediately impressed. And equipped with that positive first impression I was very intrigued to find out how it does with all my other favourite head gear.



What's Included

The accessories are well thought out. All the basics for stress-free usage of your new DAP are there. A well fitting case that still allows for your chosen colour to shine through, and many screen protectors, which, despite being on the flimsier side and loving to bubble, do their job sufficiently well. I have managed to make a complete bubbly mess upon first application, so having multiple tries is a nice touch. It's like iBasso know some of us are simply not as handy.

Since this is a low-midrange priced DAP, expecting a wild unboxing experience would be foolish. Instead, you get a sweet normal-sized box with no less and no more than the bare necessities. No, it's actually better than that. You don't have to worry about getting the case nor the screen protector on the aftermarket since they come included - unless you end up wanting to upgrade them after you fall in love with the DX180 and find out you might be keeping it for loooong. The only other thing that's there is a thick USB-A to USB-C charging cable.



Specs

These have certainly had something to do with me deciding to go for the DX180. It offers ample power and is bang up to date in many of the most important aspects in my opinion. Being able to change the battery is a big one – very thoughtful of iBasso. Throwing a decent chunk of money into something that is inevitably going to lose most of its value in two years because of its dying battery is a tough pill to swallow. Thankfully, here we avoid swallowing that one.

As for all other specs, here they are and I will not pretend to have an ear skilled enough to hear those numbers in function. What I will do instead, is tell you how it performs with my head gear I have at hand.



Usability

I have had the DX180 with me and used it regularly for more than a month now. To put this into perspective, in this same time period, I had already decided the FiiO M15S just was not up to my standards and was looking to get rid of it. That's a good sign for the iBasso. I have had no major lags, it never really felt too big for my use case, it continues impressing me with its sound as well. It offers a very open soundscape with all elements present but never overly excited. It's a serious step up from the dongles I have heard, though admittedly, those were in a much lower price category. Therefore, I can only really compare it to my trusted Venture Electronics RA2B-FE + Prime DAC combo (short, VE Stack) which is, ... hah, yeah well, ... transportable at best.




Sound characteristics

I am glad to disclose that this is a very uncoloured and refined-sounding DAP. While most of my other sources provide at least some colour that can either end up working well or not, depending on the IEM/HP/earbud I use, here it's simply a clean sheet of paper that lets the gear sound as its true self. It allows a slight play with the digital filters which can actually make a bigger difference than I had imagined. They won't completely transform your bassless IEM into a basshead monster, of course, but they can serve to refine or polish the sound to perfection should you find it maybe just a tad boomy, or sibilant, or slugish, or digital, or … It essentially balances out your favourite IEM with your mood to that last couple of percent.

I'll deploy three different variants to truly give the DX180 a good shake up.
In the Headphones camp, the Meze 109 Pro. In the earbud camp, the Yincrow RW2000. In the IEM camp, the AüR Audio Aurora.



So let's start making our way through some songs to describe how the DX180 colours, or rather does not colour the sound much at all.


Soldier of fortune, Deep Purple

This is a gorgeous song that sounds tremendous on the Meze 109 Pro. The neutrality of the DX180 is welcome to keep the character of the 109 Pro untouched for this song which requires the spaciousness and not too much additional warmth. Low end stays very full but not boosted at all. Smaller dongles usually try to trick us into sounding larger than they are precisely by boosting midbass and hence bloating the lower midrange too. I was hoping this won't be the case for the DX180 and it most certainly isn't. 109 Pro are not the bassiest pair of HPs, but that's not why I bought them in the first place. I knew all too well these are meant more for acoustic music instead. This pairing with the DX180 is therefore wonderful. DX180's technicalities are very much worthy of its price tag. It manages to separate individual performers and yet keeps the whole story uniform. This is where lesser dongles will struggle too, often sounding congested, especially on more revealing gear, like the 109 Pro's.

To see whether my opinion changes on earbuds, next I swapped to the Yincrow RW2000 earbud. Wild how revealing and technically incredible these are in an earbud form. What is the most noticeable difference to the 109 Pro is the lesser warmth and even sharper transients and upper midrange. So, the DX180 has a different role to play – keep the glare that may arise in the upper mids to a minimum or at least balance it well into the rest. Does it succeed? Indeed it does. It's a smooth but bright listen. No trouble handling the 's' sounds. This sort of brightness I am okay with.

As for the IEM's let's choose something different again – AüR Audio Aurora. A 2DD + 6BA hybrid that is very relaxed in the treble, but requires ample power to make that bass textured and full. The iBasso is up to the task yet again on the balanced output. This song gets a new take via the Aurora. His voice is the center of attention with bass and treble merely accompanying it. Wonderfully done.



For the purpose of comparison, the Venture Electronics Stack offers a significantly warmer take, that noticeably boosts bass. But while doing so it never muddies the lower midrange or feels overbearing. On top of that, it's a very revealing source too. It simply sounds right despite adding some colour to the low end. Better than the DX180? No, I'd actually say they play at the same level, while differing in their signatures.



Creep, Postmodern Jukebox feat. Haley Reinhart

Aurora is that sort of weird set that can sound congested and rather intimate on certain sources while it expands more freely on others. The DX180 gives her this intriguing balance of both worlds – it's still a smaller perceived soundstage but individual performers always have lots of blackness or empty space around them. This allows for a more focused listen too should you wish. Female vocal is just a little reserved since the upper midrange is tuned more calmly, but nonetheless Haley sounds very full and playful.

The RW2000 are very different to Aurora yet DX180 seems to suit both just fine. It manages to keep the RW2000's energy, yet never go overboard – at normal (70-80dB) listening volumes. Sure, higher up in volume it does get less controlled, but it's down to the RW2000's tuning. Haley is much more present and all minute details are peeled out sweetly.

The bassy 109 Pro – in comparison to the other two – is like a mix of both. And once more, the DX180's skillfully tuned neutrality is welcoming to that as well. There's a recurring theme forming. DX180 is a jack of all trades. A master of none? Perhaps, but in its price range there are no real substitutes that cover more ground as effectively.

On the VE Stack, the low end gets more grunt and perhaps she sounds slightly thicker and makes up a larger bubble of sound. Still, all performers are very nicely separated and nuanced.



Cannon in D Minor (Live), Two steps from Hell

109 Pro to start us off. Being open-backed we are expecing great things about the soundstage. This song really requires openness and precise placement to avoid sounding congested and simply unenjoyable. The DX180 manages to let the 109 Pro's breathe sufficiently well, but there is a bit of that unclear focus which then makes the song feel less epic. For a completely different take I then reached for the RW2000. Despite missing the low end to add a layer of heft, it replays the song with a different take, supported by the DX180. Treble is on the verge of splashiness but held at bay just enough. This would not be my first suggestion for this genre, but knowing it can be handled acceptably well is reassuring. Aurora to come last and show its lushness, especially after the RW2000. Yet again, the DX180 simply delivers the powers and untangles the data in a way so it does not affect the earphone's natural sound and lends a helping hand to make them sound their best. In the case of Aurora any additional warmth would completely make this song unlistenable, so remaining neutral is the best bet.

The VE Stack does do better in bass texture here. It's also the impression it leaves because of the slight boost it provides which either ends up working or not, primarily depending on the song. Then I'm reminded that the DX180 is very pocketable while this monstrosity is absolutely not – a win for the DX180.



Kuwait, Mazde

An interesting song for sure. One full of nuance and mystery. The elements that feel disorderly yet somehow form a whole in this captivating way. So, to extract the most, the source needs to possess a fair share of resolution, imaging, and layering capabilities. To keep things short and sweet, the DX180 yet again provides all the necessary ingredients for this recipe to come to life. No matter the transducer I used, they are all great in their own regard. Needing the low end, the RW2000 earbuds are the least pleasant here, but by no means an unpleasant listen.




How To Sum Up The iBasso DX180
I can't remember the last time I had so little trouble recommending any piece of gear. The DX180 makes life easier. This is what it's all about in this hobby of ours - forget your daily worries and allow music teleport you to a different, calmer world just for an hour or two. Dealing with lag, poor sound, awfully handling gear is not on the agenda for that hour or two. DX180 just likes to be at service. Thank you, iBasso, for improving our lives - if only for that hour or two.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.

iBasso DX180 Review​

​

IBasso DX180 Review ​

Intro​

This review and feature is covering one of iBasso Audio‘s latest digital audio players which goes by the name of… iBasso DX180. I was sent this dap from iBasso as part of the Audio Geeks United States Tour. So, thank you to Audio Geeks and thank you to iBasso. I have somewhat of a history with iBasso daps and audio devices as I’ve purchased a few of them over the years. However, I’ve never actually reviewed any of their products, oddly enough. So, I am very pleased to be doing that now and thankful for the opportunity.

IBasso​

IBasso has been around since 2006 and so they’ve been around the block for quite some time. In fact, I’d say that is a very telling sign that they’ve been such a fixture in the audio community for as long as they have. IBasso has specialized in audio devices like amps, dac/amps, daps, dongle dacs, and even quite a few iems over the years. This is a brand that has made its mark on the industry and is embedded in the Audioverse as a solid brand to turn to for audio enthusiasts like me. Truly a very nice outfit, one that I’m always excited to see what they are doing next and what new product will come to market bearing their name.

I’ve had a few​

I personally have owned a number of iBasso in ear monitors and have purchased the iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2, as well as the iBasso DX160 back in the day and even spent good quality time with their older DX90 model. All very good devices for their time. Now, I still adore my DX240 even to this day and conduct many reviews using it. Also, the DX160 was a very nice budget-oriented dap at the time. I’ve purchased many of their older iems like the IT01, IT00, etc. I can’t even remember them all now, but the point is that they were all well done. Usually bass heavy, clean sounding, fun. So, I do have some understanding of their devices and products. Usually very well made, usually built like tanks, usually very sleek in design. I have to give it to the people at iBasso for staying relevant for all of these years, keeping their brand fresh and never losing public interest.

Daps​

I’ve always been a fan of the digital audio player. I’ve always loved the idea of having my whole collection inside of one music making device. When I was younger, I had a new mp3 player every couple months. Panasonic, Sony Walkman, Creative Zen players, JBL, iPods. Really it was anything I could get my hands on. A total geek over the whole idea of a music player. Turns out nothing has changed. However, it wasn’t until the full-blown dap revelation came upon me that I was hooked on some of what many Americans would think of as obscure brands. The Fiio’s, Shanlings, iBasso’s, Hiby, Hidizs and any other eastern brands which we (in the States) wouldn’t consider big market brands. Well, turns out some of the best audio gear on the planet comes out of those regions. I fell in love with my old Fiio M11, iBasso DX160, Hiby R6, and the list goes on and on. Just like the old days I’m purchasing daps like it’s going out of style. So, this review holds a very special place within me. I love that I can have a whole terabyte of music, full albums, album art and all the tools that come with a dap right at my fingertips. Just press the screen and my whole library, every Playlist, the entirety of my collection that I’ve spent years compiling right in front of my eyes. I think many audio enthusiasts feel the same way.

Ready to check it out…​

Now, the DX180 comes in at right around $479 for the lesser memory version (3/32) or at $529 for the larger memory capacity (4/128). This puts the DX180 squarely in the middle of some very nice devices. I suppose my one question would be if the DX180 has what it takes to peel some attention away from some other brands mid-tier devices? There is competition everywhere ladies and gents. No doubt about it, nowadays competition is at an all-time high within the audio world. At any rate, I’m ready to check out the DX180. The iBasso DX180 everyone….

Non-Affiliated Purchasing:​

–iBasso.com
–Bloom Audio
–HiFiGo

Disclaimer:​

I received the iBasso DX180 from iBasso as a United States Audio Geeks tour review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. iBasso has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Audio Geeks & iBasso, and thanks for reading.

Gear used for testing ​

-Fiio FH9

-Simgot EA1000

-Dunu X-Gizaudio DaVinci

-Softears Studio 4

Packaging / Accessories ​

Unboxing​

Well, being that this was a tour unit, I have zero idea if I actually have all of the accessories in the packaging so forgive me if I miss some things. Also, I have no idea if the order of unboxing is correct as it appeared not everything came to me in the correct placement within the box. Oh well, anyways, the iBasso DX180 came to me in a good-sized box with a light blue sleeve covering. On the sleeve is the name “DX180” and some specs on the back. Take off the sleeve and you are presented with a dark blue box. Take off the box lid and the 1st thing you see is the awesome looking DX180 sitting pretty in foam cut-outs. Underneath the DX180 you’ll find the silicone case, the type-c charging cable, a bunch of screen protectors and manuals. Like any unboxing of an actual audio device, there isn’t much to it. However, it isn’t bad at all and hey, at least they offer a case.

Carrying case​

Inside the packaging iBasso was good enough and thoughtful enough to supply an actual case. Of course, they provide them with all of their daps but not every dap maker does this, trust me. Usually, you’ll have to spend an extra $35 to $60 for a case which fits. Nobody wants their brand-new dap naked. At least I don’t. Anyways, the case that comes with the DX180 is a clear silicone case. Perfectly fitted, hard to get on, hard to take off, fits like a glove. Not the best case in the world as I’m sure a leather case would look better but at least it’s something to protect the DX180. I’m not complaining.

Specifications​

• Screen: Sharp 5.0″ | 1080×1920 P | on-cell capacitive touch panel
• Audio Format: APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, ACC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3, DFF, DSF, DXD, and DST
• USB: Type C (3.1)
• Outputs
  • 4.4mm balanced phone out (+ line out)
  • 3.5mm SE phone out (+ line out)
  • 3.5mm coaxial output
  • USB OTG
• WiFi: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4Ghz/5Ghz)
• Bluetooth:v5.0
  • Transmitter Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC
  • Receiver Codecs (DAC Mode): AAC, SBC
• RAM+ROM: 128GB + 4GB
• Clock: Dual NDK Femtosecond Oscillators
• Battery: 3200mAh 3.8V li-polymer battery
• Charge Time: 1.5 hours
• Average Play Time: 15.5 hours (Low), 13 hours (High), 30 hours (Line Out)
• Size: 4.8″ x 2.9″ x 0.6″
• Weight: 7.3 oz
• iBasso 1 Year Product Warranty

4.4mm BAL Headphone Out:

• Max Output Level: 6Vrms
  * Low Gain: 4Vrms
• Output Power: 690mW + 690mW @32Ω, THD+N＜0.1%
  * Low Gain: 500mW + 500mW @32Ω)
• Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
• SNR: 133dB
• Dynamic Range: 133dB
• THD+N: -121dB (A-wt, 600Ω)
• Crosstalk: -144dB
• Noise Floor: <1.1μV (High Gain)
• Output Impedance: 1.1Ω

3.5mm SE Headphone Out:

• Max Output Level: 3Vrms
• Output Power: 281mW + 281mW@32Ω, THD＜0.1%
• Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
• SNR: 127dB
• Dynamic Range: 127dB
• THD+N: -116dB (A-wt, 600Ω)
• Crosstalk: -118dB
• Noise Floor: <1.1μV (High Gain)
• Output Impedance: 0.6Ω

4.4mm BAL Line Out:

• Max Output Level: 4Vrms
• Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
• SNR: 133dB
• Dynamic Range: 133dB
• THD+N: -121dB
• Crosstalk: -130dB

3.5mm SE Line Out:

• Max Output Level: 2Vrms
• Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
• SNR: 125dB
• Dynamic Range: 125dB
• THD+N: -112dB
• Crosstalk: -115dB

In the Box​

• DX180 Player
• USB-C cable
• TPU case
• Screen protector
• Warranty card
• Quick start guide

Build / Aesthetic / Internals ​

Build Quality​

One thing you don’t have to wonder is if iBasso is going to give the $500 dap you just paid for a good build quality or not. Folks, they are all built well. My DX240 is so robust and streamlined and the DX180 isn’t very far behind. Anyways, the DX180 is made 100% from CNC machined/milled aluminum. In fact, it was milled from one single block of aluminum. Weighing in at only 206 grams it is actually not too heavy on the hand. So, the build is exquisite to my eyes and actually looks very similar to their latest line of daps. One cool feature about the DX180 is that you can take off the back panel and get to the battery to swap it out if your battery dies. I thought that was a cool feature. I’m telling you right now, the DX180 looks and feels like it should cost much more. I’ve had my fair share of daps in my hands, and I was especially impressed by the DX180 and most notably the build. Truly a tank which doesn’t weigh like a tank. The DX180 is just small enough for. Most people can use it with one hand as it isn’t large. Roughly the same size as the DX240. So, it isn’t big which makes the DX180 just about perfectly sized.

Buttons / Ports​

Okay so on the right side is the volume wheel which also acts as an all-purpose button in which you can obviously turn the volume both up and down. But also, it can be used to play/pause, scroll up and down on some apps. It’s a nice wheel, good finger grip, corrugated so you can easily turn it and colored gold which contrasts the color very well. On the same side as the wheel are the three buttons which help you to play/pause, track forward and track backward too. Somewhat indiscrete. You’ll notice that on the bottom side is the 3.5 single handed and 4.4 balanced ports while on top is the usb-c charging port and micro-sd card holder. I’m sure some of you will take issue with where these ports are located but I can assure you that you get used to them. Usually, I prefer all headphone ports on the top but, oh well. And that’s about it. This is not some crazy complicated piece of technology folks. IBasso makes everything very simple to use which to me is a feature in and of itself. Now, besides the 3.5 & 4.4 phone out iBasso also gives you both 3.5 & 4.4 line-out, 3.5 coaxial-out, and usb-otg output as well. Each of these can be changed in the settings.

Design​

I won’t talk much about the design because in truth it’s kind of vanilla in this dap. I’m not saying it isn’t super dope either because I definitely feel it is. The DX180 actually comes in many different colorways in black, blue, and green. Obviously the one I have with me is the green version, which I am partial to anyways. This is a slick device folks. IBasso knows a few things and they’ve collected some knowledge along the way and in my eyes, I feel that design is one thing they’ve mastered. The straight lines, sleek, slightly diagonal lines running the side, the soft green back panel creating a slight differential in color tone. Just very nice folks and you see that when it’s in your hands and you’re twisting it around. So yes, the design may be vanilla, but also, I wouldn’t want anything different. This dap looks awesome.

Screen​

One thing you can count on is that iBasso will provide their daps with the best screen in the business. I’m convinced of that. The DX180 has a Sharp 1080P LCD 5.0” inch screen and I’m telling you folks… the colors absolutely POP! No screens get brighter, no other daps have more contrast and visually appealing colors. My DX240 is stunning and so I expected something less stunning on its little bro. Boy was I wrong. There’s nothing like looking at your album colors on a good screen. Let’s put it this way, use a dap with dull colors, faded, not as crisp and then use this dap and tell me how much better that is. You don’t even know you need it until you have to use something inferior. The DX180’s screen is a selling point! All of their screens are. Also, they used an actual Sharp branded screen. Hello! One of the best in the business for handheld devices. Really a beauty.

Under the Hood​

So, what is a dap without some good Internals? I’ll answer that, it’s not good. IBasso knew they had to compete against the Fiio’s, & the Shanling’s of the mid-tier scene and they knew they had to BRING IT. What did they do? Well, they first decided to use some of the most well regarded and widely used dac chips available in the Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. However, they didn’t just use one, no sir. They instead decided upon a four dac array using four CS43131 dac chips. There is so much advantage to using more than one chip, let alone four. These chips allow the DX180 to reach audio nirvana that much easier. Also, the audio world has mastered these chips by now. I mean, five out of ten dongle dacs from the last 2-3 years have the CS43131 chip inside. I made that up, but the sentiment remains. Also, using the FPGA Master 2.0 algorithm in tandem with the iBasso DX180 truly enhances this little beast to truly exceed my expectations. This is able to make each dac chip independently adjustable giving perfect control and ability to adjust on the fly for each dac clock.

It’s a beast​

To further explain the beauty of the setup that the DX180 has I should also add that the DX180 is quite literally ranked second, out of all daps, in THD+N measurements. With a 133db SNR and – 121 dB THD+N it is truly a game changer at the $500 price point. Add to that the .079uV noise floor and what that translates to is an impressively black background for the price. The balanced port on high gain still only has a noise floor rating of 1.1uV. Go ahead and check other players and see where theirs are rated at. Check the $500 price point. The DX180 is a true contender. On top of that, the dynamic range is up to 130 dbs. Ya know, it may seem like this is a commercial or an add, but I am very impressed. Do you know how many +$500 daps I’ve had? Well, of course you don’t, but it’s a lot. I noticed right away the quality of the sound I was getting in this dap. However, I’m getting ahead of myself. I tend to do that when I get excited.

Output Power​

Another selling point is the actual power under the hood. The iBasso DX180 has some good measurements with a 3.5 single ended headphone out max of 3vrns & 280 mw as well as through the balanced port which provides a max of 6 vrms and 690mw on high gain and a cool 500mw on low gain. This device is a very capable performer. Basically, you can run any iem with relative ease. Even hard to drive over ears is easy enough. Obviously, there are some that only want that huge/mammoth desktop power, but for the most part there isn’t anything the DX180 cannot drive. I wish I had more difficult iems to drive on hand, but I honestly do not. However, 690mw on high gain is no joke type of performance for iems. The DX180 has more max output than many of its competitors. Namely the Fiio M11S which is a highly regarded dap. The M11S maxes out at 670mw. The Hiby R6 III maxes out at 429 mw. Of course, power isn’t everything, but I felt that was something worthy of pointing out. Now, there are devices like the Shanling M6 Ultra which max out at almost twice what the DX180 does at 1100mw but again, power isn’t everything and also, the M5 Ultra is also $60 more in price. So, there is quite a bit under the hood, and I was very happy to see that.

SOC Chipset ​

I was pleased to see that iBasso decided to go with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SOC for the DX180. Truthfully, there are only a few different SOC Chipset used regularly in these daps anymore. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 is used a lot. Many devices have it. However, I haven’t seen many using it at this price point. For instance, the Fiio M11S uses the slightly less powerful Qualcomm 660. In fact, there’s daps much more expensive using older SOC Chipsets. Then again, we are beginning to see mid-tier daps begin to roll out with the 665 instead so it isn’t so crazy. Anyways, this is a very good chipset folks. Phones are still using this chipset. Granted they aren’t the best phones on earth, but they are still using it. Also, you really don’t need much better than this chipset for a dap anyways. I’ll explain a little bit later in the UI section how scrolling, functionality, etc works because of this chipset. The 665 is an 8-core chip with fairly good Antutu 10 scores, along with decent GeekBench6 scores, and even 3DMark scores. They are middle of the road for a smartphone but very good for a dap. For instance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T uses this chip. Basically, you can do just about everything on this device, and it’ll do it smoothly. Changing screens, and everyday functions will be smooth, no hiccups, no jumping. It’s a nice chip to have on the DX180 and I’m glad to see they went this route. Nice one iBasso.

USB Reciever​

IBasso announced that with the DX180 they will also provide a dedicated USB receiver for USB dac mode. On top of that the DX180 comes equipped with USB 3.1 which is a very nice thing to see. Beyond that, the USB dac mode will incorporate a low latency usb dac which is great for videos, movies, games (if you play them and a whole host of use cases. It has support for both ASIO and Wasapi output. Very nice.

Bluetooth ​

IBasso states that the DX180 operates using Bluetooth 5.0 which isn’t the latest Bluetooth that’s out there, but I found that the Bluetooth range was actually quite good. As far as Bluetooth audio codecs they have SBC, AAC, Aptx, Aptx Adaptive and LDAC on tap. This device can also be used as a transmitter of Bluetooth or a receiver. Which is very nice to have. Now, I don’t know how often you’ll use Bluetooth with your dap but if you plan to then iBasso has you covered.

Battery​

Once again, the battery is actually removable which harkens back to the days of old when daps came with this ability. How nice is it to be able to extend the life expectancy of your prized dap by simply swapping batteries? It’s literally everything. Always it’s the battery that dies out on us folks. It’s the battery which doesn’t stand the test of time as easily as other parts and pieces. Now, the actual battery itself is 3200 mah with what iBasso states will give you roughly 13 hours of battery life on 3.5 single ended listening and about 13 hours using low gain and around 13 hours on high gain. These are some great numbers. However, they also report that you can get upwards of 30 hours using line-out. Now, I have zero idea how true this is and it’s very difficult to quantify this. You literally have to just let the thing play and leave it alone. You can’t go checking the device constantly or leaving Bluetooth on, screen on, volume super high, streaming constantly. There’s a ton of variables to how long the battery will “actually” last.

Long enough for me​

That said, I did notice the battery didn’t drain as fast as my Fiio M11 Plus ESS did, or as fast as my Shanling M6 Ultra, iBasso DX240 as well. These are the ways I quantify it. I watch my battery. It’s a habit I will always be plagued with, and I most certainly noticed that the DX180 didn’t drop in battery as much as these devices that I know like the back of my hand. So, there ya go, its Chris Love’s battery checking at its finest. Lol. Also, the DX180 does have fast charging using either PD 3.0 or QC 3.0. Friends, I can tell you that without question, battery life is phenomenal on this device.

Memory / Storage​

Another selling point is the on-board storage capacity. Now, there’s a couple options that you have here. You can purchase the lesser model with 3gb of ram and 32 gb of storage space for $479. Or you can spend a hair more and get the 4gb of ram and 128 gb of onboard storage for $529. Can I be frank with you? Folks, between 3 and 4 gigs of ram, there is almost no difference when we are talking about daps. Yes, for smartphones there’s a slightly more noticeable difference. However, these are music listening devices. You’ll only really ever be doing one or two things at once. 3 or 4 gbs aren’t going to be monumental differences. That’s random-access memory which the cpu uses to run apps and keep other functions running smoothly. Sure, the extra gig will help, but it isn’t world changing.

Onboard storage​

Also, they offer you 32 gbs or 128 of onboard usable storage space. Now, I store all my music on an SD card. All of it. I use about 16 gbs for apps on every dap I own. So, what in the world would I need 112 more gbs for? I have 1tb SD cards which hold all of my music, and even some apps too. So, I don’t know how important it is to get the more expensive unit for you. Perhaps if you stream music from different apps, you’d need a bit more. Some of those apps get very large. You may watch videos, go on social media, I don’t know. Maybe in your mind… the extra $50 is a no brainer. I’m just trying to talk you through it. I wouldn’t need the bigger memory unit. It would make no sense and it’s a waste of cash. Having said that, (this is where I get weird) I guarantee I would buy the more expensive unit. Yes, I make zero sense. It’s like dangling fruit. Also, 32 gb to 128 gb! Why such a huge chasm of a difference? They should’ve gone with 64 gb for the lesser model and 128 for the more expensive. There, I gave you my two cents, and yes, I realize I make ridiculous choices.

UI Functionality / Software ​

Android 13​

I was very surprised to see that iBasso went with such a new Android platform for this dap. Android 13 is one of the latest Android OS and to have it in my dap is better than it isn’t. Couple that Android 13 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and you have a fine running machine. Having said that, Android 13 issues improvements in many areas like better wifi, more privacy, and a slew of other features and abilities too boring to list here which makes little to no difference for a dap. Honestly, it’s simply the latest OS for Android and it’s pretty polished. IBasso has a slightly altered version that is very close to straight up Android 13 which is also pretty cool. You can do all the things on your dap as you would with a smartphone. Having 8-cores working simultaneously to keep your device running smoothly as well as allow you to modify your home screens to your liking is nice to have. That said, you have everything that comes with a full. Android experience and the Google Play Store comes already loaded on the device. This is not the same as other iBasso daps in the past where you can go from the Mango player and back to Android OS. This is 100% Android, and they do bypass the SRC at the system level. Which is great in my opinion.

Bypass SRC​

Real quick, one thing that iBasso made sure to feature on the DX180 is the system wide bypass of the Android SRC. It used to only be Mango Player which bypassed the Android SRC. Now Android typically will sample everything to 48kHz which has always been a problem for audiophiles or audio fans in general. There are a few apps which have this capability but how nice is it to have a system-wide bypass. This is a nice luxury to have for us audio Geeks who want the best possible audio as the non-SRC is equivalent to bit-perfect.

UI​

I find the actual UI (user interface) to be very fluid on the DX180. Really, it’s very much comparable to the DX240 in this sense. Like any recent Android interface, the DX180 also uses drop down menus and everything else you are used to. To be honest, there really isn’t much to explain here. If you’ve used an Android, then you know what to expect. Nothing is different. Now, the Mango Player looks very sharp on this device, but I mainly use my favorite UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) by downloading from the Google Play app store. However, I did use Mango Player quite a bit as well and without question iBasso freshened up the look. Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve used Mango Player. Anyways, the interface is just the same as any other Android smartphone, for the most part. Very fluid in my opinion folks. That Snapdragon 665 is putting in good work.

It’s an Android… ​

Using the swipe-down on the home screen will pull down the notification bar which has many options including PO/LO toggle, Internet source (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Gain toggle, SPDIF on/off, digital filters, the new Fir settings, as well as the light or dark theme. Of course, like any Android you can change what you see in this notification bar using the edit button. In the settings menu you have all the usual settings which any Android device would plus the Audio settings which includes many of the same features that the pull-down notification bar has. Once again there is gain toggle, SPDIF on/off, LO or PO output, Digital sound filters, volume limitation etc. I won’t go through every setting as that is a little cumbersome, but I will say that the DX180 isn’t missing anything from the regular Android experience. My whole point is to tell you that if you’ve spent any time with an Android device then the IBasso DX180 will be very comfortable for you.

​

Sound Impressions ​

Now we get to the part that I want to talk about the most. Now, it isn’t the easiest thing for a reviewer to describe the sound of a digital audio player. After all, so much has to do with the earphones that I’m listening through. The only real thing I can tell you is how a certain iem or set of headphones sounds attached to the device. Or how they sound in relation to other daps in the market. I can tell you this, the DX180 sounds to me like it’s about as transparent as daps come. Especially at the price listed. I used too many iems to name here during my time, but I used a handful the majority of the time critical listening. Nights spent chilling in my bed or favorite chair just jamming out, eyes closed, trying to explain to myself what I hear. It’s not as easy as it seems. I can’t exactly go through “bass”, “mids”, and “treble” as I would with an iem for instance. Though I will try. I go through this with every source device review. However, I will try my best at explaining what I hear and hopefully that resonates with you.

How does it sound? ​

So, friends please hear me out. I’ve reviewed or owned too many audio dac/amps, dongle dacs & daps to list here, and one thing I can say about this $529 mid-tier dap is that it is flat-out excellent. I don’t need you to believe me as I know for myself, I heard it, spent good quality time with too. That time spent has caused a solid conclusion for me… that I am utterly impressed by the DX180. So much so that I do want to own one soon. So much so that I dread sending it on its way to the next in line of the tour. The DX180 to me is a mostly neutral and transparent sounding device with just a touch of added warmth. Just a hair. Just enough to be a light blanket for each note. A little low-end energy in an otherwise neutral world. There’s a smoothness to the sound that doesn’t forget to be crisp when needed. The DX180 also has this air about it, this organic flavoring, yet doused in controlled dynamism. I hear extra warmth, but I don’t hear it changing the complexion of the entire tuning. Just a very vivid sounding unit. Who would’ve known that iBasso could take four of the most common dac chips and truly make them shine. In fact, I’ve never heard the CS43131 sound so good. Something I didn’t expect to say.

I wanted to know… ​

I wanted to know, will the DX180 bring a hair more low-end muscle to the Softears Studio 4’s? How about the Dunu X-Gizaudio DaVinci, will the DX180 pronounce the highs a bit more adding zest and vigor to an amazing set? The answer to both of those questions is… Yes. Yes, the Studio 4 sounded a hair puncher, slightly more impactful, and weighted. Also, the DaVinci had that subtle lift up top, that pinch of vibrance which made this a wonderful pairing for me. I could go down my list of notes and a similar storyline will begin to appear. One after the other I felt compelled to listen longer no matter what set I had in my ears. Knowing full well that I have to listen to as many as I can & get as many notes as I can because I have to send the damn thing away in a week. It’s a troubling place to be and very difficult on a reviewer. Especially me, who needs at least 3 weeks to properly analyze any audio device. Couple that with the vast amount of sets I have to review, backlogs for days. Yet here I am struggling to take the Simgot EA1000 out of my ears, or the Fiio FH9 (actually I never want the FH9 out of my ears), the Penon 10th. All of them were crisp yet smooth, low-end was tight yet full, dense, and punchy in relation to some other source devices. They were all a hair more forward in the mids, notes had better presence against similarly priced daps. At any rate, I’ll do my best to go through the bass, mids, and treble in the coming sections.

Bass Region ​

For me, the low-end can be characterized as being punchy first. What does it take to be punchy? And what is “punchy”? To have punch, you need a bit of muscle, some snap, you need some quick blunt force, some actual palpable texture, some density, it’s punchy. I liken it to that fast-twitch muscle reflex. If you hear me calling anything punchy, I mean these things. In fact, “punchy” is a true compliment. It’s quick, not slow. Yet with that punchiness, I’d also say there is some definite sub-bass elevation, some depth. However, I don’t feel that the mid-bass is lifted in the same way. It’s definitely a very precise and more direct sound. Mid-bass comes across clean, not stuffy in the slightest, fast, textured. But it’s the sub-bass which tailors this sound. The EA1000 for instance most certainly had an added low droning pitch to the sound over something like the Fiio M11 Plus ESS. It’s slightly deeper than with other sources. Not much, but enough to add to the EA1000’s overall tuning. The bass is quick too. You won’t hear your iems or headphones with laghing resonance down low. It’s quicker, tighter, yet punchier and slightly more robust. Remember, just a pinch over neutral. I find it addicting because even a set like the DaVinci, which is bass heavy, didn’t come across more emphasized. This is the beauty of the DX180. Its sub-bass focused and so the DaVinci rather came across tighter and more rigid, more dense, deeper. I truly hope this makes sense to you. It does to my ears and in my notes. All of it makes perfect sense. Without question this is a snappy bass region, but also a slightly emphasized bass region. It’s fun yet mature, it slams yet never muddies. Nicely done iBasso.

Midrange​

You cannot have a good sounding… well… anything… without a good midrange. Unless you’re a treble head or basshead, but I digress. Midrange is key. How does the midrange incorporate itself into the overarching sound as a whole on the DX180? So, the DX180 has this almost moist layer added to the mids of my iems. There’s this added edge, this tackiness, it’s something you can almost feel. The mids aren’t dry or analytical in the least, nothing papery. Instead, there’s some humidity, slightly damp, but tactile. The mids have body, they have a skim milk style note solidity and density that doesn’t clog the air between instruments. Rather I feel there’s even more separation. Notes are tighter than any other CS43131 dac I’ve heard. They are also more bodied, and there is actual texture to the outline of each note. Of course, different tracks will possibly make me a liar, but generally speaking the DX180 adds this neutral, very transparent, black background and note tackiness, which is rendered smooth like glass, not smooth like velvet. If that makes no sense to you then I’m sorry. Basically, the DX180 midrange is very clean yet at the same time it isn’t clean as in “dry” and “clinical”. It’s clean with some all-natural sounding vibrance. Which brings me to vibrance. The DX180 has just enough upper-mids energy added to give a sense of sparkle, a touch of glitter, some forwardness. Listening to a vocal centric iem with the DX180 is wonderful. Listening to a recessed midrange iem with the DX180 improves the sound of that recessed iem. Also, separation is improved, detail retrieval is improved, and there is a stage depth that does provide some layering. The mids are nice.

Treble Region ​

This brings us to the treble. One thing I needed was for a touch more energy in the DaVinci. I love that set quite a lot. But if I had my way, I’d want just a titch more in the highs. Well, that is exactly what the DX180 affords a set like the DaVinci. I’m not saying world changing, and it doesn’t change the overall tuning. But it does give a spritz of clean and airy shimmer and sparkle which does give a grander sense of space to the sound as a whole. Again, we aren’t talking mega tons of treble vivaciousness here. It’s just enough. Another thing, the DX180 treble is actually quite smooth. It isn’t some crunchy style treble. Yes, it has some edge to it and yes there’s some crispness, but it isn’t a treble-head crunch fest. Let’s put it this way, the Simgot EA1000 went from somewhat shouty at times to slightly more palatable and just smoother to my ears. It didn’t lose any energy; it just produced that energy differently. To add to that, the DX180 has good extension in the upper treble region. There is a sense of air that does expand the stage to a degree. Beyond that, detail retrieval does seem to get better with some sets. A set like the FH9 does come across a bit more technically proficient. Again, this isn’t going to change your life folks. However, the sound is very good for the price point and against what I’ve heard in the price point.

Technicalities ​

It’s difficult to truly get a gauge on how well a source device performs technically. Especially when it’s the iems/headphones that do the brunt of the sound detail, transparency, separation, transient response, the little micro-dynamics. No doubt that the source device can and will alter how that sound is perceived. Tonal changes, warm, cool, bright, dark. Also, emphasis in different regions like more bass, less bass, forward mids, rolled-off treble etc. However, the fine-lined detail and articulate note definition, the clarity and space provided by the subtle micro-dynamic transient shifts and any other descriptor alluding to the technical aspect of my music isn’t perfectly cut n’ dry. Still, all source devices absolutely have their own flavor, and without question they aren’t all created equal. I know some folks who oddly don’t believe in this. I know, it’s weird. Anyways, without question source devices will tug the sound in a certain direction. It may be a little tug, a subtle difference, or a full-on change. It depends on the dac, the implementation of that dac as well as all of the other Internals and how those pieces and parts react with the sound tuning of your iems. Having said that, I also feel that it’s pretty easy to tell what effect a source device has when you compare between devices. Thankfully I’ve been able to listen to a few in my time. Of course, I’m not the end-all-be-all of source device knowledge and understanding. But I tell it like I see it, and I’ve heard a few. So, what actual differences does the iBasso DX180 really make when we are talking about Technicalities? I’d actually say… a lot.

Black background helps​

One thing which really helps the DX180 to come across very clean is the pitch-black background. Nothing helps right away more than not hearing the faint white noise clouding the sound field. However, i definitely also hear good detail retrieval for the DX180. Good technical sets remained good technical sets. For instance, the EA1000 didn’t lose any of its ability to resolve details. Furthermore, sets not known for amazing detail retrieval actually became a bit more transparent. Now, the DX180 isn’t going to turn the Aful Explorer into a detail monster. That won’t happen. But there is improved clarity and edge detail. Less stuffy, compressed and congested. Like I said, the iems and headphones mostly determine the level of transparency. Though the DX180 really does have a silent background which is very evident and very nice for the price.

More precise… ​

Having said all of that, let me be frank, when you hear a cleaner sounding dap or source device, it will jump out at you and there is a difference between devices. Some sources will take that cleaner sound all the way down to that fine-lined note definition. The DX180 is definitely in the clean sounding camp. There is a level of transparency that the DX180 has that some other sources in that $500 range don’t necessarily have… to the degree that the DX180 has it. Another thing which is fairly noticeable with the DX180 on a few of my iems is transient speed and on/off note recovery, or the ability to formulate the stop and go dynamic fluctuations of each note with better than average note contour. Basically, those fluctuations don’t come across blurred or compressed like some source devices can. Also, the spacing, separation, the additional bite to notes, the overall compactness of those notes, airiness, layering ability, and the stereoscopic dimension of the stage elements. These attributes all serve to help make a source seem better resolved and basically more articulate. Depending on your iem this can make a large difference. I feel the DX180 does a fantastic job for the price at promoting a cleaner and more precise sound.

Soundstage ​

So, we know that the DX180 is a cleaner sounding source but another thing the DX180 excels in is the soundstage. Please remember that I haven’t heard every dap out there, not even close actually, so do keep that in mind. Also, so much of the “soundstage” comes from the iems I was using. Once again, it is very difficult to pin down where the dap comes into play when referring to something like the soundstage. It really all comes down to… does the source device expound upon the stage? Or does the source device congest the sound field further? There are multiple levels here and nailing down how much is contributed from the source isn’t always the easiest thing to do. However, with all of that said, the DX180 does seem to promote a larger field of sound than other daps that I’ve used near this price point. The DX180 seems to have a more 3d, more rounded and dimensional stage, with a sense of depth. I’d say that width and height are roughly average, but the depth does bring another element to my music. That much I am absolutely sold on.

Is it worth the asking price? ​

Now this is where I wish I could hear every dap within the “under $600” price point. Granted, I’ve owned or spent a good long while with many of them. In fact, for about two years I was stuck in the $500 price point for my daps. However, the tech has evolved since then and getting a gauge for how well a device is worth its asking price is very difficult for me to do in a way that helps you. That’s what this whole review is about after all. Helping you. So please hear me out, I speak for me right now. Folks, there is no world that I could imagine me not taking the plunge and spending $529 on this device if I already didn’t own a few daps. Let me reword that… I think the DX180 is well worth the asking price. There are only so many different devices to choose from anymore. You have your Hiby’s, the Shanling’s, the Fiio’s and some older daps from a few years ago which are now marked down. However, the DX180 is so stacked with tech that it’s almost future proof for quite a while and hopefully iBasso keeps up with firmware updates. Beyond that, you can swap batteries which further extends its life expectancy. At any rate, not only do I feel the DX180 is well worth the price, but I also feel that it may just be the best you can get in that price range.

The Why… ​

Because the iBasso DX180 has the build and form function of a much more expensive dap. Let’s not kid ourselves, iBasso pulls out all the stops as the DX180 is figuratively dressed to the nines. I said the same for the DX240 as well. The DX180 is outfitted nicely with not only a beautiful chassis but also outfitted with cutting edge technology housed within that chassis. It has Android 13, Fir 2X output, Snapdragon 665, quad CS43131 dac chips, FPGA Master 2.0, 1080p Sharp screen with vivid and deep coloration, excellent battery life (removable battery), 690mw of max power on tap as well as some of the best audio circuitry available at this price. However, as with anything it’s about the sound. What I love and so many others love about the DX180 is that all of that circuitry and pieces/parts are implemented in a way that brings upon some of the best sound that $529 can afford you. Punchy bass, deep and low droning when needed, snappy, and the low-end adds its own density to my earphones. The midrange is clean, transparent, with precise control over transients while keeping an organically neutral sound and a pitch-black background. The treble is extended, smooth, precise, with some added crispness. Also, the DX180 helps in the details department, helps with separation of instruments, helps to provide a more 3d experience. Just a very clean and very vivid sound from this device folks. Without a doubt in my mind the $529 that iBasso is asking for is worth every penny and it’s a very good buy.

Conclusion ​

To conclude my full written review of the iBasso DX180 I first must say a big thank you to iBasso Audio and to Audio Geek United States Tour for putting this together and allowing me the ability and fortune to test out the DX180. I greatly appreciate it. I’ve had an absolute blast discovering this device and have come away jealous of anyone who owns one. Ha. So, thank you to both outfits, from myself and from mobileaudiophile.com. Also, I want to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to click the link to get here and for spending time at the website. These two things mean everything to us. Thank you.

Different perspectives ​

This hobby is the single most subjective hobby on planet earth. I’m convinced of that. Moreover, the reviewer is equally subjective. We can try to be as objective as possible, but the truth is, there is no “objective truth” in this hobby. There is no right and there is no wrong. There’s no true north to gauge our reviews after and there’s no standard by which reviewers can objectively look towards to say, “this is good, and this is bad”. It’s all subjective. So, it is my request that you, the consumer, the audio fan, read, listen to, or watch other reviews on the iBasso DX180. This is all for you folks. Yes, I love writing and sharing but in the end these reviews are for you. At least if I’m involved in it, they are. I would suggest doing your due diligence and hearing some other people out. Maybe they will explain better, maybe they will speak in a more eloquent way than I do. The point is, we are all different and my greatest hope is that you find your own true north in this audio game. I also love to hear about it because I know all too well that perfect feeling you get when your music hits you just right. With that I’m done folks, I hope this helped. Take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!

Ibasso DX180 - Excellent price to performance

Disclaimer

I got DX180 for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want. Reviewing DAPs is really hard as the changes are smaller than comparing a set of headphones or IEMs, because of this the differences might be exaggerated throughout the review. This will not be an in-depth guide about the player, but you're welcome to come with questions and I will try to answer them.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.

Going to use the ranges here in review:








What is the iBasso DX180

This is the latest DAP or Digital Audio Player from the brand iBasso, it is priced at $529.

https://ibasso.com/product/dx180/



The DX180 uses 4 Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips for its DAC section, this provides a high dynamic range and low THD. This is the same chip as the more expensive DX260 but half the amount, using 4 is enough to make it exceed the single chip spec data in THD+N.

The audio system is driven by FPGA-MASTER 2.0 Controller, this takes data straight from the SoC to bypass the Android system. I am not going to explain this in detail as it's slightly out of my understanding.

It is also the FPGA-MASTER 2.0 that take in use FIR 2x mode that uses all the 4 DAC chip, and refuses discrete distortion as they explain on the product page.

When balanced the DX180 is able to deliver 690mW @ 32ohm, sufficient for most portable gear outside some hard to drive headphones. And running single ended drops down to 281mW @ 32ohm, this is also sufficient for almost every IEM out there.

As for the hardware side affecting how it is in use, it has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC paired with 4GB RAM. This is fast enough for it to run smoothly on all the audio apps I use, even running HD videos of streaming sites. The screen is a 5-0 inch SHARP Screen that is bright and clear, also has acceptable angle visibility.


The battery time is decent, I got 13 hours playback using the built in music app with local files. Tested this using Mest MKIII CF with 4.4mm balanced and 40% volume low gain.



Design

The backside of the player has a gray plate that I assume is plastic, with a nice design choice in the corner that goes over to the metal design of the frame. There are also two screws at the corner, this is for opening the player. They have made it possible to change out the battery with DX180, this is a huge future in today's market where all brands move away from this.



On the right side you have control buttons and a volume wheel. I must say I love to have a volume wheel back after having used DAPs for the past year. The wheel is soft and easy to turn, maybe too easy as you can by accident change it when you hold it or have it in your pockets. The wheel also functions as an on off button, this function is more safe and not too soft or hard to press. Same for the buttons on the side, the buttons are changeable in the settings.

There is also an option to make the buttons and wheel not work while the screen is off, this is how I use it.



At the top of the player you get the USB-C 3.1 port and the microSD slot, the USB-C port acts as both charging and data transport. When charging it can get a full charge in 84 minutes with quick charging, it can handle both PD3.0 and QC3.0.



At the bottom we have the headphone jacks in 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced, and on the side the famous Hi Res sticker.4



Accessories

The packaging is adequate and not overdone, the same for the included accessories.You get some screen protectors, none are applied from the factory. Then a USB cable and a transparent case.



The transparent case fits well with all the buttons, is easy to use, and have large enough cutouts to not get problems with larger cable jacks.



DX180 in use

The player is ready to go from iBasso with some stock Android apps and an extra app store, the iBasso music app is also installed. I used the google play store to download my preffered streaming apps and I was ready to go.

I changed some settings after my own preference, like changing to gestures instead of the bottom row buttons.



When you drag down from the top you get the Mango player showcasing the played track, and also the latest streaming app above. At the top you have the drag down menu, this is customizable so you can choose what you like easy access to.



Filters

If you drag down one extra time from the top you get more. The FIR button is to change from using 2X DAC chips to 4X, I let it be on all the time. The change is subtle, but on some recordings I do hear a better dynamic range and more resolving sound.

The digital filters can depend on music how noticeable they are, as they are supposed to not be hearable when listening to files that have higher bitrate than 19.2khz. But on 19.2kHz and under the change from D5 NOS being more natural over to D4 Slow Roll Filter you can notice it change and make it sound more analog and smooth. These are the two filters I change between, you get 5 filters in total.
D1 Fast Roll Off
D2 Short Delay Slow Roll Off
D3 Short Delay Fast Roll Off
D4 Slow Roll OFF
D5 NOS



The iBasso music app does a good job, and I felt no need changing it out for another app. Easy to use and is stable, design is also minimalistic and clean.



The main screen when playing music is MangoPlayer.

From the MangoPlayer you also have a cogwheel in the upper right corner where you can access some settings, here is the USB DAC and BT DAC mode. Both modes are excellent for me, with minimal latency.



Most of my time has been with streaming apps, Tidal here that have worked flawlessly. Same can be said for Bandcamp, it works as flawlessly as my Google Pixel 7 Pro phone. Same can be said for the Wi-FI and BT connection, the signal is strong and has no dropouts.



How does the DX180 sound like

The DX180 sounds very natural and clean, I would call this neutral tonality. Neutral dont mean boring in any way, just that it does not add anything extra to the sound. And for me it's remarkable with both entry level transducers or high end ones, my main listening for the review being with IEMs but also a very hard to drive earbud to test power.



I have tried both the ZMF Verite and Beyerdynamic T1 G2, they both get enough volume around 40-60% high gain but not the full sound they can have with more powerful amps. It was better to use the iBasso DX180 together with a desktop amp for this.



During my time with DX180 I got the UM MEST MKII CF, this is a high end IEM that is neutral warm. It's highly resolving and can be colored in sound with sources, so with the DX180 I hear it clean and musical without any coloration. Sounds very good together, and with the correct tips and cable it's a stellar combo. The soundstage is very holographic together, more so than with the HIBY R8 II.



Together with the Campfire Audio Fathom, an all BA IEM with warm tonality and extra focus on midrange. You can see this IEM as the successor to old Andromeda. Highly sensitive, the DX180 helps it be clean and not sound muddy.

I can hear some slight hissing noise from DX180 using Fathom, it's not loud but there. But this also happens with a flagship player like R8 II.



DX180 was also used as my main source for the Thieaudio Oracle MKIII review, also a superb pairing where Oracle can showcase its deep bass and clear wide sound. The Oracle MKIII has extra focus in the upper midrange to bring forth certain instruments and vocals, sources with too much warmth like Cayin N7 would push a set like Oracle to be fatiguing while DX180 keep the energy without being too sharp.



Transport and line out

The iBasso DX180 works excellent as transport for dongles, here with a R2R dongle to change the sound for extra warmth and analogue sound. This is a nice way to do it, own a neutral good DAP like DX180 and then get dongles like DC Elite to change the sound.

You can also use the SPDIF function for digital transport.

I also tried the line-out function, which works excellently together with my desktop amp Topping A90 Discrete. When used like this the sound is very transparent and resolving, without any obvious delta signal glare. I also paired it with an XD05 Plus amp, when used this way it sounds more analog and rich. The line out function is completely silent when I tested with both the amps.



Comparison with HIBY R8 II

The HIBY R8 II is my only other DAP now, it would be better to have something in the same price bracket as DX180 for the comparisons. R8 II is the current flagship DAP of HIBY and it costs $2000, it is a much larger and more heavy device.

If we compare the physical specs it is 206g vs 515g, 123mm*75mm*16mm vs 149mm*78mm*23mm. What's interesting is that they both deliver equally good SoC, the Snapdragon 665.

The screen is almost 1 inch larger at 5.9inch, but the quality of the screens are the same.



The R8 II has only buttons and no volume wheel, the buttons and build quality is slightly better than DX180.



The R8 II does have separate line out ports, while on DX180 you choose what the jack function on the settings to use line out.

The R8 II does have a little longer battery time than DX180, with the same test I got 13 hours on DX180 the R8 II got 18 hours.

When used as DAC with a PC the iBasso has almost no delay, the R8 II on the other hand has delay and is not workable with watching videos the same way as DX180.



Maybe most important is the sound comparison and power, the R8 II has a 710mW at 32ohm. This is slightly more than the DX180 at 690mW, but the R8 II also has more Vrms with 4.7Vrms vs the 4Vrms in DX180. This does affect how full they can sound using high impedance headphones or some low sensitive planars, while both can get close to the same loudness the R8 II has little extra fullness to the sound.
But DAPs like this are not meant for headphones like that, this is more for IEMs or more easy to drive headphones.

The main comparison being done with FIR 2X and NOS digital filters, and R8 II with Class AB amplification and Darwin Ultra filters.

When using them with a neutral IEM like UM MEST MKIII CF it is noticeable that R8 II is a more colored and analogue sounding source, the DX180 instead more clean and less colored. This can either be good or bad and depends on what transducer you use, on MEST the extra warmth makes it more easy to listen to. While Campfire Audio Fathom is nicer on DX180 as it matches the neutral tonality better.

Then if we look at resolving capability, if we use a set that gets enough power from both its hard to hear one being more resolving than the other.

The digital filters on R8 II does almost nothing, while on DX180 changing to Slow Roll Off filter makes it more analog and closer to the tonality of R8 II.

Soundstage is wider on R8 II, this is a future of R8 II that's special. DX180 sounds more normal instead, but I don't feel it lacks in the imaging compared to R8 II. Actually on MEST MKIII it sounds more holographic and 3D on DX180.

When looking at all this and going back and forth it's easy to see that DX180 delivers something that is indeed quite close to the flagship player R8 II, it doesn't feel as premium and is just a little shy of sounding as great. But the change is small and I bet many could like the more neutral sound of DX180 instead, and for around 1/4th of the cost. Then you can instead save money and buy a dongle or portable amp to change up the sound.



Music

Music used during the review, will just share some of the main albums used when comparing or testing for synergies. I will provide a link to Tidal, when you open the links it is the option to use other streaming services also.



https://tidal.com/browse/album/298421280?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/18119661?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/361808453?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/376613615?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/246219405?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/164678886?u



https://tidal.com/browse/album/362019512?u



Conclusion

I have really enjoyed my time with the iBasso DX180, I also understood how much i was missing to have a more portable DAP. This is a fabulous DAP, it feels like you get way more than the cost. The build quality is solid and looks good, and it's nice having a volume wheel. The size is perfect so it's easy to use with one hand, and just small enough so it fits into my jeans.

And best of all DX180 sounds great, the sound is natural and clean. This is very close to neutral tonality, and matches well with most IEMs and headphones. The DX180 is very resolving, be it micro detail or how good the imaging is.

And one very important thing about the DX180 is the option to open the DAP to change the battery if that is needed when it's getting old. This increases the lifespan of the player, and also helps that the player is delivered with Android 13 and a fast SoC.

There is not much negative to talk about with DX180, I could say that the screen or battery could be larger. But this would have added both size and weight, as it is I can get over 13 hours with a medium hard to drive IEM running balanced and streaming.

It's an awesome DAP for what you pay, also the reason why this gets my full recommendation.

Disclaimer:
I'd like to thank AudioGeek for including me on this tour and giving me the opportunity to review this wonderful DAP.

Introduction:
The DX180 is an affordable streaming DAP that has a lot going on in its favor. With a minimalist layout and bold angular design, the DAP definitely looks premium and is perhaps the only DAP in this price range that comes with not 1, not 2, but 4 CS43131 DAC chips, thus delivering premium sound at an affordable price.



I'm personally more of a DAP person than a smartphone with Dongle DAC kind of guy and own 2 DAPs, the FiiO M23 and Sony WM1AM2. Hence, I was pretty excited to try out the DX180, especially since I have heard great things about iBasso Audio but have never owned any of their DAPs. I had spent some time trying out the DX160 and DX300; both of those DAPs were mighty impressive in terms of SQ. The DX160 Android experience was terrible, and that's what made me go with the FiiO M11Pro back in the day.



Software and hardware:
Well, I'm glad to inform you that iBasso has worked on their Android experience. The Android experience on the DX180 is smooth and snappy, thanks to the Snapdragon 665 SOC and a generous 4GB of RAM.

There's a minor hiccup though; I personally found the mango player UI to be a confusing maze and felt that it was the opposite of user-friendly IMHO. Luckily, this is an Android device, with the latest Android 13 nonetheless. one can just install another Hi-Res music player app if needed and get done with it. However, personally, I felt that the UI of both Sony's Walkman app and FiiO's Music app were far more intuitive and user-friendly, but I digress.



The build quality of the DX180 is exceptional. The CNC machined aluminum body with a hardened glass back makes it look elegant and premium. The DAP is quite compact (123 x 75 x 16 mm) and lightweight (206 g).

Measurements and sound quality:
Moving onto measurements, the DAP has an SNR of 133 dB and a THD+N of -121 dB. The noise floor can go as low as -120 dBu, thus ensuring a pitch-black background and a vibrant music listening experience. And yes, the DAP has a dead silent background on any gain setting.



In terms of sound, the DX180 shines in terms of detail. With the FIR 2x filter enabled, everything sounds crystal clear with excellent detail and immersion. The bass is punchy and deep, the mids are distinctly clear, and the treble is crisp and detailed. The DX180 delivers holographic sound with a wide and deep soundstage on IEMs that are capable. There is no hissing on sensitive IEMs like the A&K Pathfinder, thanks to the OI of 1.1 ohms. The line-out function (tried balanced line-out only) is very good, and with Aroma A100TB as an amp, the true potential of the DAC is unveiled. It formed an excellent stack with excellent resolution and far better dynamics than the internal amp of the DX180.



Conclusion:
All in all, the DX180 is an excellent streaming DAP for the asking price.

iBasso has been very active lately, they are releasing one new product after the other as they are renewing their catalog. The iBasso DX240 was replaced by the DX260 and now time has come for the DX170 to be replaced by the DX180.

The DX180 is iBasso’s most affordable digital audio player (DAP) but it doesn't skip on hardware and software features. It is a slightly scaled down version of the DX260 but it still uses the same innovative DAC matrix array.



Technical highlights

Instead of utilizing eighth CS43198 DAC chips in a matrix array, the DX180 opts for four pieces of the CS43131. As far as I know, this is the only DAP of the category to use four DAC chips in a unison, an implementation that exceeds the theoretical technical limits of the CS43131 and offers an impressive dynamic range of 130dB and an incredibly low THD+N of -115dB.

After years of algorithm development, iBasso's FPGA-Master has entered generation 2.0. As the audio system controller, it 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 utilizing two NDK femtosecond oscillators to achieve a fully synchronized single clock source. The FPGA-Master 2.0 also has picosecond-level precise control and adjusts the DAC clock, data, and constructs the FIR filter. The FIR filter is a synchronous parallel output mode that reduces “discrete distortion” between DACs to improve overall performance. The iBasso DX180 uses four DAC chips so the FIR mode is limited to 2x instead of the 4x of the DX260. The FIR can be enabled or disabled from the audio settings or the drop down menu.

The DX180 also features a dedicated USB receiver for the USB DAC mode that guarantees low latency and supports decoding up to 768kHz/32bit PCM and DSD512. The USB DAC mode also supports ASIO and WASAPI output.



Non Audio stuff

With the DX260, iBasso introduced their new design pattern which is distinguished by a chassis that has angular and slightly aggressively shaped lines. A minimalistic and industrial looking appearance that steers to the opposite direction from their previous line of DAPs that had rounder and smoother edges.

The DX180 is almost identical looking to the DX260, they also share the same compact dimensions (123x75x16mm) but with a weight of 206g, the DX180 is 23g lighter. There is a minor cosmetic difference at the right side of the chassis where the volume control wheel is placed. The DX180 is a compact and lightweight DAP that can easily slip in your pocket and comfortably fit at the palm of your hand. The corners and the edges might feel a little sharp but you can always use the silicone protective case that is included in the package.

Build quality and finish are simply exceptional, the chassis is made from a single piece of CNC machined aluminum and the back cover is reinforced with a layer of hardened glass that looks very elegant. People not familiar with the iBasso volume wheel might think that it is fragile and prone to breaking but this is far from the truth as it is sturdy and durable. The iBasso DX180 is available in black, green and blue finishes.



Layout

The layout is typical iBasso, the two headphone outputs are located at the bottom of the chassis while the USB type-C port together with the micro SD card slot at the upper part. The 3.5mm output also doubles as the SPDIF jack. The multifunction volume wheel, together with the three playback control buttons are located at the right side. A simple and minimalistic arrangement that is handy and functional.

Hardware and software

Here comes the big surprise, the iBasso DX180 is one of the few DAPs to run the latest Android 13 OS out of the box. To ensure optimum performance, iBasso has equipped the DX180 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The DX180 features a 5” display by SHARP which has a 1080*1920 of resolution. It has vibrant colors, excellent visibility in the sunlight and is responsive but doesn't support double-tap action to wake.



User experience

With the iBasso DX180 you get the full Android experience as you can install all your favorite applications straight from the official Play Store that comes pre-installed. Unlike the DX170 that was a little slow and sluggish, the DX180 is super fast and smooth no matter what application you use. WiFi and Bluetooth reception are strong and stable. Gesture navigation is supported and you have access to all the usual Android menus plus the audio settings screen where you can set various audio parameters like digital filters, gain setting, max volume level, balance, line output fixed or variable etc. Most of these settings are also available from the drop down, shortcut menu which is user configurable. During music playback, the upper bar will display sampling rate, digital filter, gain and FIR mode at a glance. The DX180 is a user-friendly and very responsive DAP that is a real joy to use and operate.

For a purer listening experience you can use the iBasso Mango player that kills all unnecessary tasks and concentrates on sound quality while it features a powerful PEQ. Unlike the DX260, the DX180 doesn't support dual operating systems, the Mango is only the player application and not a second OS. The DX180 has a system-wide SRC bypass for a bit-perfect music playback.



User replaceable battery

The iBasso DX180 is the second player on the market, after the iBasso DX260, to feature a user replaceable battery. The procedure is very easy, the only thing you have to do is to unscrew the two screws at the back cover in order to remove it and gain access to the internal battery. The battery is attached with double sided adhesive tape and is connected to the main board with a small plug so you don't have to do any soldering. For a replacement battery you have to contact iBasso.



Battery duration

The 3200mAh battery supports PD3.0 and QC3.0 fast charge. The battery reaches 83% charge in just 60 minutes, and a full 100% charge is achieved in a mere 84 minutes. iBasso claims a battery life of up to 15.5 hours for the balanced phone output and an astonishing 30 hours for the line out. While these numbers might seem a little optimistic, I have actually managed to squeeze about 12 hours of playtime from the balanced output, streaming high resolution music. Pretty impressive battery duration for such a compact sized player.



Power output and noise

The maximum power output of the iBasso DX180 is 690mWpc/32Ω or 4Vrms (low gain) and 6Vrms (high gain). Not class leading, but still very good and on par with most of the competition. As an example the FiiO M11S ($499) is rated at 670mW/32Ω but the Shanling M5 Ultra ($589) can get as high as 1100mW/32Ω. Back to the DX180, it can easily drive earphones and a great variety of full sized headphones, like the iBasso SR3 or the Focal Clear Mg. The amplifier has two gain settings, low and high, maybe iBasso can also add a medium setting in a future firmware update.

The DX180 is literally dead silent without a hint of background noise or any kind of hiss from electromagnetic interference. This must be the most silent DAP in existence with a measured noise as low as 0.79μV or 1.1μV at the highest volume setting from the balanced output. Pretty impressive and the ideal partner for your most sensitive earphones.



Listening impressions

iBasso has great expertise with the CS43131 DAC chip but the truth is that in the DX180 they have managed a masterful implementation that has pushed the performance to its upper limits as no other manufacturer has ever done before.

The DX180 is one of the best sounding DAPs on the market, no matter the price. The sonic performance is truly exceptional to the point that someone will be hard pressed to believe that this is a $520 DAP. Honestly, this is one of the best sounding DAPs I have ever tested without any serious negatives worth mentioning. Believe me, I am not over-exaggerating, I never do.

The iBasso DX180 successfully combines exceptional technical performance, that far exceeds the norm of the category, with an engaging sound profile that manages to connect the listener with his favorite music. The sound is crystal clear and transparent with excellent fidelity and precision yet not clinical or sterile. The DX180 produces a sound that is quite melodious and rich, full of colorful harmonies and overtones. The timbre is realistic, especially the NOS filter adds an extra sense of natural flow to the music. And while the DX180 might not be the most organic and analog-like sounding player among the competition (you can check the Cayin N3Ultra for these properties), it still is one of the least digital and artificially sounding options out there. People who value timbre realism and tonal precision but don't want to sacrifice clarity and transparency, are going to love the DX180.

The overall tonal balance is neutral without shifting from linearity. The low-end is deep and extended, the bass is fast, tight and controlled with impressive physical impact and dynamic contrast. The presentation is crystal clear and well defined so the bass excels in layering and intricate detail retrieval even with the most demanding material. Play some large scale symphonic works with dozens of bass instruments playing together, like Mahler's 9th symphony, and you will be amazed by the separation and the layering of the DX180. The bass of the DX180 might not be too visceral in its textures but it is far from sounding dry and lean because it has a natural reverb and a touch of mild echo that makes it sound full bodied, weighty and realistic.

The mid-range is exceptionally spacious, well defined and highly articulated with some excellent definition and a strong presence. The DX180 is more resolving and refined than expected for the category, while it excels in producing music that is lifelike and tonally accurate. The sound is a bit lush and warm with very natural flow and plenty of harmonic saturation.

The treble is extended, vivid and energetic with plenty of luminosity and crystalline clarity but at the same time it manages to stay controlled without exhibiting any brightness or sharpness worth mentioning. The DX180 offers plenty of detail retrieval, down to the finest particles, but it doesn't sound analytical or clinical. The timbre is natural, absent of any metallic sheen or too much digital glare. The sound is very coherent and there is a texture consistency so higher pitched instruments sound as full bodied and weighty as lower pitched ones.

With four DAC chips working in perfect harmony, it doesn't come as a surprise that the iBasso DX180 produces a soundstage that is both spacious and extended with class leading separation and imaging. You can close your eyes and imagine the whole symphony orchestra blazing in front of you. The DX180 might not have the most holographic soundscape but it can sound grand and immersive whenever it is needed while it adapts very well in accordance with the size of the ensemble without producing any artificial expansion.



The FIR filter effect

Enabling the FIR filter will slightly improve clarity, separation, and imaging of the sound. However, you may notice a bit sterile and dry sound compared to having the filter deactivated. Still this is a nice option to have and useful for people who prefer a bit more pronounced technicallities and the best possible transparency.



Comparison with the iBasso DX170

The DX180 is a much improved version of the iBasso DX170 both in sound quality and hardware performance. It offers better user experience as it is considerably faster and more responsive, it has a more vibrant and colorful screen while the volume control wheel is far better implemented and offers more tactile feedback.

The sound is also of higher quality, more sophisticated and mature with far more natural timbre than the DX170, especially in the treble. The bass sounds fuller and weighter with better technicalities, there is more openness and harmonic variety in the mid-range and the overall sound presentation is considerably more realistic and lifelike.

You also get the user replaceable battery and honestly the only thing I miss from the DX170 is its slightly slimmer chassis. Undeniably and objectively, the iBasso DX180 is an evolution and a much better player than the DX170.



Comparison with the iBasso DX260

The DX180 is a scaled down version of the undeniably better but also much more expensive DX260. However, the DX180 shares the same DNA with the DX260 and with $520 only you get a clear taste of what its bigger brother is capable of doing while also enjoying a slightly more relaxed and forgiving sound signature. Not bad eh?

Comparison with the FiiO M11S

Both players share the same compact dimensions but the FiiO M11S is a whole 26g heavier than the DX180. The DX180 runs the latest Android 13 OS, instead of the outdated 10, it has more capable hardware, a higher resolution screen and the user replaceable battery. However, the FiiO M11S features a customizable multifunction button and supports AirPlay/DLNA wireless mode. Power output is the same on both players and so is the average battery duration.



Not surprisingly these two players have a different kind of sound signature. The DX180 has a fuller and more punchy low-end with a more natural reverb so it doesn't sound as dry as the FiiO M11S which on the other side does a little bit better in clarity, layering and definition. The mid-range has better liquidity and flow on the DX180 which resolves harmonies in a more varied and colorful way but the M11S sounds more spacious and airy. The timbre is a bit more realistic on the DX180 in comparison to the more clinical and sterile M11S. The treble is smoother and more controlled in the DX180, the FiiO M11S is a bit more energetic and clean but also a touch sharper and brighter. The M11S has faster and less relaxed manners than the DX180 but it also has some extra traces of digital artificiality. The M11S is a more technical player when the DX180 carefully balances technicalities with musicality.



Conclusion

Plain and simple, the iBasso DX180 is one of the best digital audio players you can buy to enjoy uncompromised, high quality sound without spending a fortune. The audio performance is really stellar without any negative points worth mentioning and far exceeds even the most optimistic expectations.

Compact and lightweight, with great battery duration and enough power to run a great variety of headphones, the iBasso DX180 is a portable DAP with a user replaceable battery and smoothly operates the latest Android 13 OS.

A clear winner for iBasso, a truly remarkable DAP that together with the exceptional DX260 makes me wonder what surprises the future holds when time comes to replace their DX320 flagship model.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. The price of the iBasso DX180 is $529 and you can buy it from here.

iBasso DX180


First off, I would like to thank Paul at iBasso for providing an excellent review sample of the iBasso DX180 as a loaner to the Audio Geek US tour 2! All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

I’m new to the DAP game. There are so many options, which is why I am grateful for the opportunity to relate my impressions of the iBasso DX189. It is an Android based DAP with wifi, bluetooth (including LDAC encoding), balanced and single ended circuitry. I only utilized the balanced 4.4mm jack on the DAP, and have no impressions of the 3.5mm jack, which is - I imagine - the most commonly used output. It has software switches to allow switching between headphone out and line out options. It features an SD slot for your own library, and indexing works quite well. Strangely, the USB-C charging port is on the top of the unit. I imagine that has to do with cutting down on EMF noise from the input transformer to the outputs, located on the bottom. Truly purpose built!

The unit sent for review was a light blue/teal color. I found it very attractive. Build quality is quite nice. Very angular and contemporary. I truly enjoyed the look and feel of the device.

It includes a Quad Cirrus Logic CS43131 array for audio decoding and high quality FPGA for preprocessing. And let me tell you what, if I hadn’t heard anything more expensive (read higher end engineering and closer attention to detail), I would not have known the sound could get better. The fact is that the sound is nothing short of spectacular on IEMs. I attempted to run my Diana V2 on the device, and it worked - at high gain and 85% volume. So, for on the go listening to the Dianas, I likely would need more power. Nonetheless, nothing sounded like it was lacking. Bass was detailed, punctuated, deep, full and enjoyable. Midrange may have leaned a tad thin by comparison to my Shanling M3 Ultra, but really what I experienced was greater texturing in the midrange. And treble was spectacular. Staging was phenomenal and contained excellent width, and when paired with the right IEM, excellent depth.

The interface was snappy enough for daily use. Screen large enough and clear enough. No complaints there at a ll.

I'm glad to sample this as my first exposure to iBasso!





Associated Equipment:
-Abyss Diana V2
-Focal Clear OG
-Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
-ISN Neo 5
-EPZ 530
-Hiby R8ii for reference (on loan)

I really like this player.
IBasso Audio congratulations on your latest player the DX180

This is certainly not just a evolution from the DX160 and DX170 but a serious just up in performance with the Snapdragon 665 SoC and full Android 13.

Comes in 3 Colors and 2 Flavors.
Minty Green - Mine
Ice Ice Baby Blue
And Batman Midnight Black ...my words

$479 3GB Ram 32GB user storage
$529 4GB Ram 128GB storage

If your on the hunt to upgrade your game then the iBasso name should be on your radar and the new DX180 on your shortlist.

In the DAP game the DX180 might be iBasso's entry level mid priced offering but that doesn't mean it's anywhere close to some other less expensive daps we have recently dropped so far in 2024. Actually far from it this DX180 performes and sounds like a ultra performer and will give some other brands higher end units a serious run for the .

Now a short History lesson.
In 2006 when iBasso dove into the Digital Audio forray it was stong minded to go big or go home and luckily for you and me they did just that, making inovative products and were pioneers in making the impossible - possible!

In 2011 iBasso was the first company to release a fully bypassed Android ALSA driver FAP and developing the world's first 24Bit/192kHz DAP called the DX100.

That really launched iBasso into a major player in the player game.
From there many of you may have had one of thier other players and still do like me.

I am still sporting and using a DX90
With new batteries this player still sounds great competes with its piers and is still going strong!


One of the things I also found really solid about iBasso is they are thinking of the little guy and the DX180 also gives you the ability to swap out the battery and of course extend the life of your player.


The DX160 was slow sluggies while sounding great had a few wrinkles.

The DX170 fixed alot of those issues but still suffered only mildly and continued the great sound performance.

Along comes the DX180 and its a clear upgrade in performance while changing the sound character slightly.

Gone is the slightly warm mids to be replaced with very natural and neutral performance. Not forward , not recessed and very well done.

Bass maintains its tight composure keeping the excellent dynamics and tight punch bass and not holding back from pulling down low.

But where the DX180 really shines and where I found its special sauce was how it presented the highs. Not in a pushed or colored way but just how the DX180 seemed to bring our the best in every IEM I tried, to enhance my IEMS like the Xenns Mangird UP and ThieAudio Oracle with the EST drivers really coming alive and giving them a shimmer boost.

This DX180 is packing some impressive techand even more impressive numbers with very low distortion and a very black S/N Ratio

Less jitter , less noise more music!.


The UI is blazing fast , zero lag and tonnes of fun.

Sporting quad Cirrus Logic DAC Chips with the use of thier flagship chip CS43131.

Everthing Digital is now controlled with iBasso's new controller the FPGA - Master 2.0


Here iBasso is flexible it's years of know how and experiences.

some of the highlights of this player included.
-Full Android 13 , Full Google Play Store
- The Fir x2 Filter really works as does the other digital filters on this player and work regardless of the Music played bieng used.
- Most of the do goes and DAP'S I test I can't hear a audible difference switching filters with the DX180 I can and it's noticeable. MASTER 2.0 Baby!

-Fully Customizable UI through 3rd Party apps.

-Install your own favorite music player or use the Mango Player - Quirky

I went further in my video review:
And did some comparisons to some other recently released DAP'S like the Shanling M5Ultra and the Cayin N3Ultra, Hiby R6iii as well.



To wrap this up:
The DX180 is a worthy successor to the DX170, The Processor the snappyness and the overall experience is wonderfull.

FYI this green color is a Chameleon. One minute it's Blue the dark green then minty!

The sound signature bieng very neutral yet extremely musical should appeal to pretty much everyone with all kinds of gear. It will work on thinner brighter sets, bring out the goodness in warmer gear and let revealing IEM'S sing!

Thank you to iBasso for the review unit for the Canuck Audioholics Anomomous Review Group.

Words of caution:
DON'T BUY FROM UNAUTHORIZED SELLERS FULL LIST AND INFORMATION LINK HERE:
https://ibasso.com/product/180/