DX320MAX Ti The musical event worth the wait. ROHM X 4. !! NEW Firmware: 2.03 !!

[Dobrescu George]

No it doesn’t need an external amp, at least for IEMs. The Max amp itself is plenty.

I would say it is plenty even for full sized headphones, like HE1000 V2 Stealth!

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I actually noticed this, the volume, at least for me, has a lot of space to get fine tuning for IEMs even at IV gain, while for HE1000 V2, if I go toward the right end of the spectrum, it has more than enough power, I think even better than most desktop amps I heard to date.

To my ears it sounds fuller and warmer than Violectric HPA V340, deeper too. I like it, the max driving power is about equal I would say, if you really push DX320 MAX TI to the max

 

[Lu88]

Quote from the first post:

DX320MAX Firmware update. Unzip initial download for the instructions and the firmware that is used.

DX320MAX new firmware download link. 2.01
http://www.ibasso.com/.../download/DX320MAX-fw-ota-v2.01.zip

Improvements with this firmware:
1. Added the digital volume control for PCM.
(The DAC volume control of the BD34301 only functions for PCM. The volume of each step is 0.5dB.)
2. Improved the USB digital output compatibility.
3. Improved the accuracy of the analog battery indicator.

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660 Tool and .img Firmware update. 660 Tool download has instructions. This is used to go to an older firmware and when issues arise that doing a factory reset will not help.

660 Tool with instructions:
http://www.ibasso.com/uploadfiles/download/660playerupgradetools.zip


.img Firmwares

DX320MAX original firmware image:
http://www.ibasso.com/uploadfiles/download/DX320MAX_20230330_2.00.286_128G_img.zip

DX320MAX 2.01.551 image:
http://www.ibasso.com/uploadfiles/download/DX320MAX_20230531_2.01.551_128G_img.zip

 

[boromcom]

@Paul - iBasso Thanks for the update!!!. Could we get digital volume adjust from notification or somewhere out of setting?

 

[ScornDefeat]

Now that digital volume has been added, is there any way to completely disable any/all digital volume or gain settings?

 

[DarginMahkum]

Now that digital volume has been added, is there any way to completely disable any/all digital volume or gain settings?

Just set it to max.

 

[Trance_Gott]

I really can not stop listening my Utopia 2022 with the MAX never believed we get one day this quality out of a DAP, simply stunning!

 

[decur]

I really can not stop listening my Utopia 2022 with the MAX never believed we get one day this quality out of a DAP, simply stunning!

very addictive with dca expanse and meze elite too....

 

[discord]

#121 checking in. Tough to compare to other DAPs since I sold all my other ones weeks ago, but it does remind me of N8ii for transparency and punchiness.

 

[gnahra]

I have a really dumb question...so my apologies in advance.
After the FW update, my volume level is stuck at 100, or whichever numerical value I choose in the "DAC Volume" setting under "Audio". I do not have PCM DSD Volume match enabled.
The volume functionally works - meaning, if I turn the volume wheel, it goes up and down. But the numerical value is fixed.
What have I done incorrectly?

 

[fiascogarcia]

I have a really dumb question...so my apologies in advance.
After the FW update, my volume level is stuck at 100, or whichever numerical value I choose in the "DAC Volume" setting under "Audio". I do not have PCM DSD Volume match enabled.
The volume functionally works - meaning, if I turn the volume wheel, it goes up and down. But the numerical value is fixed.
What have I done incorrectly?

I don't think you've done anything wrong. The reading on the screen in the upper left merely shows where your "DAC Volume" setting is. It doesn't actually change when you adjust the volume knob, therefore it doesn't really give you an actual amp volume level adjustment reading. In my mind, for that reason, it acts more like a fine tuning adjustment to the gain control. Someone please correct me if I'm off base on this!

 

[Whitigir]

Now that digital volume has been added, is there any way to completely disable any/all digital volume or gain settings?

Just set it to max.

It is better to rollback the firmware to the original that had the values calibrated as a mean to disable digital gains and volume. Setting it to max also works, but the DAC will still function as it is, which trades the calibrated values for those features

 

[Whitigir]

I don't think you've done anything wrong. The reading on the screen in the upper left merely shows where your "DAC Volume" setting is. It doesn't actually change when you adjust the volume knob, therefore it doesn't really give you an actual amp volume level adjustment reading. In my mind, for that reason, it acts more like a fine tuning adjustment to the gain control. Someone please correct me if I'm off base on this!

You are correct, as the analog volume knob is independent off from the chip digital controls

 

[Whitigir]

If the quality is there, which it is with the DX320MAX, less is better. Straight out really is excellent and very truthful to the music. If you want more euphoric then go with a tube amp etc., but better? No, IMO but it is fun to experiment and the 320MAX is an excellent source to an amp, just like it is excellent straight out with its own amp.

I am not trying to shake anyone trees but, The only amplifier that I found to have surpasses and better than the 320Max, is my external desktop amplifier. The 320Max amplifier has 2 unique aspects that no external amplifiers have, except the C9

1/ Direct batteries voltage rails. It draws and utilize the batteries voltage rail as raw and as close as possible from 7.5-8V per rails. Normally, each battery pack is rated around 3.7V, and if an amplifier have to regulate and raise it up into quadruple value such as 16V, then something will have to give, and it is physics.

2/ Stepped attenuation, by encoding volume digitally, it will alters the original signals. Virtually, every digitally controlled volume attenuations will affect and carry it own sound signatures. That is why desktop amp of high-end level don’t use it, unless motorized. Motorized volume attenuator has the controls directly related to the physical motor which manipulate the main shaft of the attenuator, and in turn adjusting the volume, this is not digitized controls. Even if an amplifier is using analog attenuations, it is inferior to the stepped attenuations on the 320Max, because of Long term reliability, and channel balances mismatching , normally about 5%, and anything less will be costing a hell lot of money, such as the RK50 in DMP z1

in most cases, the external amplifiers will serve as a mean to alter the 320Max performances, such as synergies and matching personal preferences, but technically could be a degrades instead. However, our hobby is subjective, and so anything that float one boat, is a blessing.

Sounds interesting. I like warmth and fullness. Very tempting to try that amp

IMO, the D2 is already carrying such characters

 

[McCheese]

It is better to rollback the firmware to the original that had the values calibrated as a mean to disable digital gains and volume. Setting it to max also works, but the DAC will still function as it is, which trades the calibrated values for those features

If you want to make sure you never get feature updates and bug fixes, listen to this guy. Otherwise you shouldn't be afraid that a digital volume control set to 100% is going to sound any different from how the DAC was before, without any evidence.

To be frank, you already had a means of reducing PCM gain on this DAP before the firmware update. You just couldn't adjust the amount of gain reduction. You can now. Leave it at 100% if you want the signal unaltered. It's that simple.

 

[Ojisan]

Checking in as well. Doing a Sunday morning rock seesion
320Max certainly has an excellent grip for a dap!

ps. Excuse my screen bubbles ... I figured I'd keep it for image fingerprinting