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

Jul 3, 2023 at 9:23 AM Post #736 of 1,736
A portable tube amp is coming from iBasso.

The prototype will be unvailed this weekend at Potafes summer 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.
https://musinltd.com/News/560.html
iBasso Analog Tube Amp Prototype.jpg
 
Jul 3, 2023 at 10:17 AM Post #739 of 1,736
The D320 Max finally arrived last Friday.

Had the weekend to listen.

Sound very good, as expected.

One thing which worries me, is the stepped volume dial. It is definitely a sort of a pain in (hmmmm let’s call it) the foot.... Sometimes I do have only tone on the left channel after raising / lowering volume (esp. below 11 O’clock, but also above) sometimes some small imbalances, so I need to fumble in micrometre steps on the dial to have a balanced sound on both ears, after adjusting the volume on the MAX. If you listen to your library randomly you are quite busy here ….

Not sure if this is a defect or all the DX320 Max behave like this? What I also recognized – My device was not sealed (not like the one sold here in the Classifieds as brand new and factory sealed, some time ago). Probably I got a used device, returned by someone also annoyed from the behaviour of the volume dial ?


Another thing I am wondering: The Gain Dial impacts the Line Out. In my ears I have the best audio quality when setting on High Gain (4) to feed my Paltauf HPA via DX320 MAXs Line Out. Problem is that the output level from the DX320 MAXs Line out then is too high, so I have only some millimeters on the Paltaufs Volume dial before it gets too loud. With Gain 3 it is too low, also compared to my other DAPS/ DACS with Line out. So I ended up using Gain 4 and deactivating the Line Out Option in the Mango setting. So I can adjust the volume of the “ Line out” via the DX320 MAXs volume dial to an adequate level. But really wondering why the gain impacts the MAXs Line out …
 
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Jul 3, 2023 at 10:24 AM Post #740 of 1,736
Klabauters said:
The D320 Max finally arrived last Friday.

Had the weekend to listen.

Sound very good, as expected.

One thing which worries me, is the stepped volume dial. It is definitely a sort of a pain in (hmmmm let’s call it) the foot.... Sometimes I do have only tone on the left channel after raising / lowering volume (esp. below 11 O’clock, but also above) sometimes some small imbalances, so I need to fumble in micrometre steps on the dial to have a balanced sound on both ears, after adjusting the volume on the MAX. If you listen to your library randomly you are quite busy here ….

Not sure if this is a defect or all the DX320 Max behave like this? What I also recognized – My device was not sealed (not like the one sold here in the Classifieds as brand new and factory sealed, some time ago). Probably I got a used device, returned by someone also annoyed from the behaviour of the volume dial ?
Click to expand...

According to iBasso, when adjusting the volume, 5%-10% of the time, there will be no sound in both channels and you need to gently turn the volume knob clockwise slightly more to restore the sound.
 
Jul 3, 2023 at 11:22 AM Post #741 of 1,736
Klabauters said:
The D320 Max finally arrived last Friday.

Had the weekend to listen.

Sound very good, as expected.

One thing which worries me, is the stepped volume dial. It is definitely a sort of a pain in (hmmmm let’s call it) the foot.... Sometimes I do have only tone on the left channel after raising / lowering volume (esp. below 11 O’clock, but also above) sometimes some small imbalances, so I need to fumble in micrometre steps on the dial to have a balanced sound on both ears, after adjusting the volume on the MAX. If you listen to your library randomly you are quite busy here ….

Not sure if this is a defect or all the DX320 Max behave like this? What I also recognized – My device was not sealed (not like the one sold here in the Classifieds as brand new and factory sealed, some time ago). Probably I got a used device, returned by someone also annoyed from the behaviour of the volume dial ?


Another thing I am wondering: The Gain Dial impacts the Line Out. In my ears I have the best audio quality when setting on High Gain (4) to feed my Paltauf HPA via DX320 MAXs Line Out. Problem is that the output level from the DX320 MAXs Line out then is too high, so I have only some millimeters on the Paltaufs Volume dial before it gets too loud. With Gain 3 it is too low, also compared to my other DAPS/ DACS with Line out. So I ended up using Gain 4 and deactivating the Line Out Option in the Mango setting. So I can adjust the volume of the “ Line out” via the DX320 MAXs volume dial to an adequate level. But really wondering why the gain impacts the MAXs Line out …
Click to expand...

About the volume, Yes, this is normal, also noticed it.

About the gain, not sure, but if it did not affect the line out, it would anyways always be set at 4 which is the highest gain, or 0dB. Most likely the gain function is implemented before the voltage amplif, so that it either cuts the signal before where the line out cuts off in the circuit.

I don't think using the variable volume would have a negative impact, usually tou would hear if it did
 
Jul 4, 2023 at 1:30 AM Post #742 of 1,736
iBasso Stay updated on iBasso at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
http://www.ibasso.com/ paul@ibasso.com
Jul 4, 2023 at 12:05 PM Post #743 of 1,736
Paul - iBasso said:
A Review for you to ponder on by Audiophile-heaven!

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/07/ibasso-dx320-max-ti-dap-music-player-ultimate-portable-flagship-dream.html
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing this new review. I also got a chance to read the one from Headfonics, and both are good and detailed write-ups.

However, I feel these reviews do not serve my purpose, as they do not pit the DX320MAX against other players in its price bracket, the other TOTLs that everyone is talking about, such as the SP3000, the HiBy RS8, and the Cayin N8ii.

I'm hoping to decide on my first TOTL, and this DAP showed up and made me hold on on my decision, as I was hoping to get some perspectives on how it compares to the aforementioned. Not to mention that seeing so many listings for the DX320MAX in the classifieds makes me a little wary of even taking this one seriously. However, the specs seem solid, and the write-ups do paint it in a good light, just not against any on my list of contenders...
 
Jul 4, 2023 at 12:07 PM Post #744 of 1,736
kong08 said:
Thank you for sharing this new review. I also got a chance to read the one from Headfonics, and both are good and detailed write-ups.

However, I feel these reviews do not serve my purpose, as they do not pit the DX320MAX against other players in its price bracket, the other TOTLs that everyone is talking about, such as the SP3000, the HiBy RS8, and the Cayin N8ii.

I'm hoping to decide on my first TOTL, and this DAP showed up and made me hold on on my decision, as I was hoping to get some perspectives on how it compares to the aforementioned. Not to mention that seeing so many listings for the DX320MAX in the classifieds makes me a little wary of even taking this one seriously. However, the specs seem solid, and the write-ups do paint it in a good light, just not against any on my list of contenders...
Click to expand...
We'll have to wait for @twister6's review for that...
 
Jul 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM Post #745 of 1,736
kong08 said:
Thank you for sharing this new review. I also got a chance to read the one from Headfonics, and both are good and detailed write-ups.

However, I feel these reviews do not serve my purpose, as they do not pit the DX320MAX against other players in its price bracket, the other TOTLs that everyone is talking about, such as the SP3000, the HiBy RS8, and the Cayin N8ii.

I'm hoping to decide on my first TOTL, and this DAP showed up and made me hold on on my decision, as I was hoping to get some perspectives on how it compares to the aforementioned. Not to mention that seeing so many listings for the DX320MAX in the classifieds makes me a little wary of even taking this one seriously. However, the specs seem solid, and the write-ups do paint it in a good light, just not against any on my list of contenders...
Click to expand...
The review puts it up against the Hugo 2, which is very highly regarded and it betters it. I have heard the N8ii and compared it to the MAX. The MAX is at a different level higher.
 
Jul 4, 2023 at 12:51 PM Post #746 of 1,736
My personal perspective.

Having heard ALL the TOTL daps, AK SP3000, AK. SE300, Hiby RS8, Cayin N8ii and Shanling M9, none have convinced me enough to pay their asking price. And these daps, I’ve auditioned a few occasions, just to grasp their character and with many high res music of various genre. Despite multiple auditions, I walked away, less and less convinced they were worth their high price tag in 2023. As the sonic improvements were minimal, if not a change of presentation without any real improvement from their previous flagship iterations.

With the ibasso DX320 Max Ti, I sat down, plugged my usual music library used on all those flagship daps mention above.

Before the 5th track of my test tracks finished, I took out my wallet, passed the card to the shop staff, and asked that I not be disturbed further. Walked out the store, an extremely satisfied customer. The most expensive purchase ever made in this hobby. Utterly satisfied. The price tag didn’t even register in the head. Still doesn’t.

That was how shockingly good the DX320 Max Ti was to me. And still is.

Of course, everyone’s mileage will vary.
 
Jul 4, 2023 at 12:56 PM Post #747 of 1,736
kenz said:
My personal perspective.

Having heard ALL the TOTL daps, AK SP3000, AK. SE300, Hiby RS8, Cayin N8ii and Shanling M9, none have convinced me enough to pay their asking price. And these daps, I’ve auditioned a few occasions, just to grasp their character and with many high res music of various genre. Despite multiple auditions, I walked away, less and less convinced they were worth their high price tag in 2023. As the sonic improvements were minimal, if not a change of presentation without any real improvement from their previous flagship iterations.

With the ibasso DX320 Max Ti, I sat down, plugged my usual music library used on all those flagship daps mention above.

Before the 5th track of my test tracks finished, I took out my wallet, passed the card to the shop staff, and asked that I not be disturbed further. Walked out the store, an extremely satisfied customer. The most expensive purchase ever made in this hobby. Utterly satisfied. The price tag didn’t even register in the head. Still doesn’t.

That was how shockingly good the DX320 Max Ti was to me. And still is.

Of course, everyone’s mileage will vary.
Click to expand...
Well put. I am not sure, until someone hears the 320MAX, that they will understand the full scope of what it does and how it brings the enjoyment of hearing to an entirely new level.
 
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