shimigg
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2014
- Posts
- 391
- Likes
- 145
Can I use a multiport USB charger to power both the player (battery bypass) and super gain ?
DX340 iBasso developed Discret DAC, Easily replaceable batteries, Amp Modules! ***New firmware on 1st page. v1.03 local update. AMP16 NOS Tube amp. Review on the 1st page! 4/6/25
- Thread starter Paul - iBasso
- Start date
-
- Tags
- ibasso ibasso dx340
If it can support enough power I do not see why not. I use same USB power bank for bypass and 12VDc in. You will know if you are in bypass if you unplug the cable and music play pauses while it switches over to internal battery.
Wow, that sounds like a dream setup! Loving how the DX340 handles both audio and video so smoothly. How’s the AMP 16 pairing treating you so far?
The bass on mine is great. I jumped on a out of box from Bloom Audio, before they sold out and rhe new ones will have tariff prices. Just a hot tip. When you push in the case pay attention to the bottom inside of the leather case, where there is a small fold. It can catch on the screen protector and won't sit on the bottom making it hard to pull the screen down for settings. Once fully seated, the pull down is perfect and normal. Installed the Amp 16 with no issues.
Also, just fyi I tried using the Cayin plug inserts to keep dust out of the SPDIF and it wont work. If you insert the plug, the SPDIF automatically activates.
slim.a
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
- Posts
- 1,239
- Likes
- 61
Hello,
I have had the DX340 for a few days, still burning it in. Here is my experience so far:
Preliminary impressions: DX340 + AMP16 vs AMP15 – A Surprising Shift in Perspective
Introduction: Revisiting Digital Sources After 17+ Years on R2R
Over the past 2 decades years, I have mostly listened through open-back headphones: first the HD650, Beyer T1, and HD800. My source preferences have historically leaned toward R2R DACs, especially those based on the PCM1704 (Audio-GD DAC19mk3 and Dac19DSP), Metrum Octave mkII, and later the Schiit Yggdrasil A1, which has remained one of my reference sources. With these DACs, acoustic instruments — particularly violins and pianos — gain a level of realism that none of the delta-sigma implementations I listened to have been able to match.
My exploration of IEMs is more recent: I began with the FiiO FH3, then moved to the FD7, and finally the Final A8000, which recalibrated my expectations for portable audio.
On the portable side, I’ve used various devices — iFi iDSD Signature, L&P W2, FiiO BTR7 — and last year, the DX260. While functional, none of these devices offered a listening experience I would consider satisfying for critical or immersive classical listening.
That changed with the DX340, and the upgrade from DX260 to DX340 was far more significant than expected. At this price point, one typically expects diminishing returns. Yet the DX340 delivered a jump in quality well beyond the price delta — more than doubling my enjoyment. The DX260 was, for me, unusable for high-quality classical music, except perhaps in very specific configurations (NOS + x8 upsampling via Neutron Player). The DX340, by contrast, brought tonal accuracy, spatial resolution, and filtering finesse to a level I had not encountered before in a portable source.
1. Perceiving Instrumental Differences – AMP16 and the Vivaldi Revelation
While listening to Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Violins (Carmignola/Mullova), one detail stood out sharply with AMP16: the two violins are clearly playing at different tunings, with the left instrument having a slightly lower pitch than the right. This may reflect either setup differences (e.g., gut vs metal strings) or intentional historical tuning — in any case, the effect was obvious with AMP16, but barely noticeable with AMP15.
The tonal structure, overtones, and instrument interaction rendered by AMP16 made that contrast come alive. With AMP15, though the stage was wider and the imaging possibly more holographic, the subtle timbral and pitch cues were less distinctly conveyed.
2. From R2R to PWM: A Paradigm Shift?
Historically, I’ve never found delta-sigma/ non-R2R DACs particularly compelling for classical music. They often lacked the harmonic layering and body necessary for violins, pianos, and vocal nuance. The DX340, however, breaks that pattern.
Surprisingly for a non-R2R DAC, the DX340 presents acoustic instruments with remarkable fidelity. With AMP16, string instruments exhibit not just their fundamental tone, but also the resonances of their wooden bodies, bow texture, and even subtle mechanical noises — all rendered without sounding analytical or etched. It is the first non-R2R system I’ve enjoyed for classical music without needing software upsampling.
The digital filtering on the DX340 deserves special mention. With 44.1kHz and 48kHz material — typically the most challenging for DACs — the DX340 performs at a level that rivals the Yggdrasil A1 in tonal weight and temporal realism.
3. DC Power Input – A Case Study in Oversight
To benefit from the 12V option, I bought a LHY 12V battery power supply, to keep the system transportable around the house.
But during a recent listening session, I accidentally left the LHY 12V battery plugged in but switched off. The sound lacked engagement — the soundstage felt compressed, microdynamics flattened, and the overall tone had lost its glow. I attributed it to a burn-in swing and nearly removed AMP16 to reinstall AMP15.
Then I realized the LHY was off.
Turning it on brought the sound back to life in an instant: the stage expanded, resolution snapped into place, and dynamics regained their natural contrast. The improvement was not subtle. If I were to draw a visual analogy, in terms of resolution, it was like going from a washed-out 65" SDR LCD to a properly calibrated 77" OLED with HDR — better pixel density, dynamic range, and texture. On the soundstage side, it was a move from a layered 2.5D rendering to fully immersive 3D.
4. Real-World Recording: Jazz at the Pawnshop
This track served as a powerful demonstration of the system’s spatial realism and dynamic subtlety:
5. Headphone Synergy and Output Power
With the A8000 and FD7, both AMP15 and AMP16 offer some of the best synergy I’ve heard. Resolution is effortless, transients are clean, and tonal balance is preserved across genres.
The HD650, though acceptable, doesn’t reach the performance I’ve achieved with Audio-GD C2 or the Glenn OTL — both offer a more organic and weighty presentation.
As for the HD800, even with Super Gain, it isn’t well driven. I’m using a single-ended Forza Noire Hybrid cable, which may be part of the limitation. That said, the iFi iDSD Signature drives the HD800 with greater authority, despite having a notably weaker DAC. The Glenn OTL, unsurprisingly, still reigns supreme for the HD800 in terms of body, dimensionality, and flow.
That said, in overall musical engagement — especially with the A8000 and LHY battery — the DX340 setup outperforms even my reference Yggdrasil + Glenn OTL + HD800 chain in several aspects: Tonal blending, Resolution, Defined layering, Soundstage openness
Yes, the HD800 renders larger images, but the DX340 setup feels more coherent, more revealing, and above all, more alive.
I have yet to try the HD800 with a top-tier solid-state amplifier. This may change the equation.
6. AMP15 vs AMP16 – Sonic Profiles
Currently, I use the H1 filter on AMP16, which opens up the soundstage without compromising focus — a welcome tuning option when playing tube-era or dense acoustic recordings. I didn’t listen much to A/B mode on AMP16, but is sits closer to the tube mode than to amp15.
Preliminary Conclusion
The DX340, paired with AMP16 and powered by a proper 12V battery, is the first portable setup I’ve heard that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It bridges the gap between resolution and musicality, delivering a presentation that is coherent, dynamic, and emotionally persuasive — even with standard 44.1kHz material.
These are early impressions. A full review will follow once AMP15 and AMP16 are fully burned in, and once I’ve upgraded the DC cable (most likely a custom Lavri Grand).
I have had the DX340 for a few days, still burning it in. Here is my experience so far:
Preliminary impressions: DX340 + AMP16 vs AMP15 – A Surprising Shift in Perspective
Introduction: Revisiting Digital Sources After 17+ Years on R2R
Over the past 2 decades years, I have mostly listened through open-back headphones: first the HD650, Beyer T1, and HD800. My source preferences have historically leaned toward R2R DACs, especially those based on the PCM1704 (Audio-GD DAC19mk3 and Dac19DSP), Metrum Octave mkII, and later the Schiit Yggdrasil A1, which has remained one of my reference sources. With these DACs, acoustic instruments — particularly violins and pianos — gain a level of realism that none of the delta-sigma implementations I listened to have been able to match.
My exploration of IEMs is more recent: I began with the FiiO FH3, then moved to the FD7, and finally the Final A8000, which recalibrated my expectations for portable audio.
On the portable side, I’ve used various devices — iFi iDSD Signature, L&P W2, FiiO BTR7 — and last year, the DX260. While functional, none of these devices offered a listening experience I would consider satisfying for critical or immersive classical listening.
That changed with the DX340, and the upgrade from DX260 to DX340 was far more significant than expected. At this price point, one typically expects diminishing returns. Yet the DX340 delivered a jump in quality well beyond the price delta — more than doubling my enjoyment. The DX260 was, for me, unusable for high-quality classical music, except perhaps in very specific configurations (NOS + x8 upsampling via Neutron Player). The DX340, by contrast, brought tonal accuracy, spatial resolution, and filtering finesse to a level I had not encountered before in a portable source.
1. Perceiving Instrumental Differences – AMP16 and the Vivaldi Revelation
While listening to Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Violins (Carmignola/Mullova), one detail stood out sharply with AMP16: the two violins are clearly playing at different tunings, with the left instrument having a slightly lower pitch than the right. This may reflect either setup differences (e.g., gut vs metal strings) or intentional historical tuning — in any case, the effect was obvious with AMP16, but barely noticeable with AMP15.
The tonal structure, overtones, and instrument interaction rendered by AMP16 made that contrast come alive. With AMP15, though the stage was wider and the imaging possibly more holographic, the subtle timbral and pitch cues were less distinctly conveyed.
2. From R2R to PWM: A Paradigm Shift?
Historically, I’ve never found delta-sigma/ non-R2R DACs particularly compelling for classical music. They often lacked the harmonic layering and body necessary for violins, pianos, and vocal nuance. The DX340, however, breaks that pattern.
Surprisingly for a non-R2R DAC, the DX340 presents acoustic instruments with remarkable fidelity. With AMP16, string instruments exhibit not just their fundamental tone, but also the resonances of their wooden bodies, bow texture, and even subtle mechanical noises — all rendered without sounding analytical or etched. It is the first non-R2R system I’ve enjoyed for classical music without needing software upsampling.
The digital filtering on the DX340 deserves special mention. With 44.1kHz and 48kHz material — typically the most challenging for DACs — the DX340 performs at a level that rivals the Yggdrasil A1 in tonal weight and temporal realism.
3. DC Power Input – A Case Study in Oversight
To benefit from the 12V option, I bought a LHY 12V battery power supply, to keep the system transportable around the house.
But during a recent listening session, I accidentally left the LHY 12V battery plugged in but switched off. The sound lacked engagement — the soundstage felt compressed, microdynamics flattened, and the overall tone had lost its glow. I attributed it to a burn-in swing and nearly removed AMP16 to reinstall AMP15.
Then I realized the LHY was off.
Turning it on brought the sound back to life in an instant: the stage expanded, resolution snapped into place, and dynamics regained their natural contrast. The improvement was not subtle. If I were to draw a visual analogy, in terms of resolution, it was like going from a washed-out 65" SDR LCD to a properly calibrated 77" OLED with HDR — better pixel density, dynamic range, and texture. On the soundstage side, it was a move from a layered 2.5D rendering to fully immersive 3D.
4. Real-World Recording: Jazz at the Pawnshop
This track served as a powerful demonstration of the system’s spatial realism and dynamic subtlety:
- The instruments and the audience share the same acoustic space — there's no artificial separation or layering.
- Each percussive strike carries its own dynamic contour, pitch, and decay pattern. No two cymbal taps feel identical; each is anchored in physical space and time.
- The room breathes, capturing both intimacy and liveliness without collapsing into artificial reverb.
5. Headphone Synergy and Output Power
With the A8000 and FD7, both AMP15 and AMP16 offer some of the best synergy I’ve heard. Resolution is effortless, transients are clean, and tonal balance is preserved across genres.
The HD650, though acceptable, doesn’t reach the performance I’ve achieved with Audio-GD C2 or the Glenn OTL — both offer a more organic and weighty presentation.
As for the HD800, even with Super Gain, it isn’t well driven. I’m using a single-ended Forza Noire Hybrid cable, which may be part of the limitation. That said, the iFi iDSD Signature drives the HD800 with greater authority, despite having a notably weaker DAC. The Glenn OTL, unsurprisingly, still reigns supreme for the HD800 in terms of body, dimensionality, and flow.
That said, in overall musical engagement — especially with the A8000 and LHY battery — the DX340 setup outperforms even my reference Yggdrasil + Glenn OTL + HD800 chain in several aspects: Tonal blending, Resolution, Defined layering, Soundstage openness
Yes, the HD800 renders larger images, but the DX340 setup feels more coherent, more revealing, and above all, more alive.
I have yet to try the HD800 with a top-tier solid-state amplifier. This may change the equation.
6. AMP15 vs AMP16 – Sonic Profiles
Attribute | AMP15 | AMP16 (tube mode) |
Soundstage Width | Slightly wider | Slightly narrower, perhaps deeper |
Imaging/Holography | More spacious, airy | More grounded, yet layered |
Timbre | Neutral, clean | More body, realism, and presence |
Pitch Perception | Good | Clearly more revealing |
Dynamics | Explosive | Organic and pliant, needs the 12V to shine |
Filter Synergy | H1 and H2 | H1 as H2 sounds too thick at this stage of burn-in |
Currently, I use the H1 filter on AMP16, which opens up the soundstage without compromising focus — a welcome tuning option when playing tube-era or dense acoustic recordings. I didn’t listen much to A/B mode on AMP16, but is sits closer to the tube mode than to amp15.
Preliminary Conclusion
The DX340, paired with AMP16 and powered by a proper 12V battery, is the first portable setup I’ve heard that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It bridges the gap between resolution and musicality, delivering a presentation that is coherent, dynamic, and emotionally persuasive — even with standard 44.1kHz material.
These are early impressions. A full review will follow once AMP15 and AMP16 are fully burned in, and once I’ve upgraded the DC cable (most likely a custom Lavri Grand).
Praedo
New Head-Fier
Can you tell me what power bank you are using that provides 12V DC?Hello,
I have had the DX340 for a few days, still burning it in. Here is my experience so far:
Preliminary impressions: DX340 + AMP16 vs AMP15 – A Surprising Shift in Perspective
Introduction: Revisiting Digital Sources After 17+ Years on R2R
Over the past 2 decades years, I have mostly listened through open-back headphones: first the HD650, Beyer T1, and HD800. My source preferences have historically leaned toward R2R DACs, especially those based on the PCM1704 (Audio-GD DAC19mk3 and Dac19DSP), Metrum Octave mkII, and later the Schiit Yggdrasil A1, which has remained one of my reference sources. With these DACs, acoustic instruments — particularly violins and pianos — gain a level of realism that none of the delta-sigma implementations I listened to have been able to match.
My exploration of IEMs is more recent: I began with the FiiO FH3, then moved to the FD7, and finally the Final A8000, which recalibrated my expectations for portable audio.
On the portable side, I’ve used various devices — iFi iDSD Signature, L&P W2, FiiO BTR7 — and last year, the DX260. While functional, none of these devices offered a listening experience I would consider satisfying for critical or immersive classical listening.
That changed with the DX340, and the upgrade from DX260 to DX340 was far more significant than expected. At this price point, one typically expects diminishing returns. Yet the DX340 delivered a jump in quality well beyond the price delta — more than doubling my enjoyment. The DX260 was, for me, unusable for high-quality classical music, except perhaps in very specific configurations (NOS + x8 upsampling via Neutron Player). The DX340, by contrast, brought tonal accuracy, spatial resolution, and filtering finesse to a level I had not encountered before in a portable source.
1. Perceiving Instrumental Differences – AMP16 and the Vivaldi Revelation
While listening to Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Violins (Carmignola/Mullova), one detail stood out sharply with AMP16: the two violins are clearly playing at different tunings, with the left instrument having a slightly lower pitch than the right. This may reflect either setup differences (e.g., gut vs metal strings) or intentional historical tuning — in any case, the effect was obvious with AMP16, but barely noticeable with AMP15.
The tonal structure, overtones, and instrument interaction rendered by AMP16 made that contrast come alive. With AMP15, though the stage was wider and the imaging possibly more holographic, the subtle timbral and pitch cues were less distinctly conveyed.
2. From R2R to PWM: A Paradigm Shift?
Historically, I’ve never found delta-sigma/ non-R2R DACs particularly compelling for classical music. They often lacked the harmonic layering and body necessary for violins, pianos, and vocal nuance. The DX340, however, breaks that pattern.
Surprisingly for a non-R2R DAC, the DX340 presents acoustic instruments with remarkable fidelity. With AMP16, string instruments exhibit not just their fundamental tone, but also the resonances of their wooden bodies, bow texture, and even subtle mechanical noises — all rendered without sounding analytical or etched. It is the first non-R2R system I’ve enjoyed for classical music without needing software upsampling.
The digital filtering on the DX340 deserves special mention. With 44.1kHz and 48kHz material — typically the most challenging for DACs — the DX340 performs at a level that rivals the Yggdrasil A1 in tonal weight and temporal realism.
3. DC Power Input – A Case Study in Oversight
To benefit from the 12V option, I bought a LHY 12V battery power supply, to keep the system transportable around the house.
But during a recent listening session, I accidentally left the LHY 12V battery plugged in but switched off. The sound lacked engagement — the soundstage felt compressed, microdynamics flattened, and the overall tone had lost its glow. I attributed it to a burn-in swing and nearly removed AMP16 to reinstall AMP15.
Then I realized the LHY was off.
Turning it on brought the sound back to life in an instant: the stage expanded, resolution snapped into place, and dynamics regained their natural contrast. The improvement was not subtle. If I were to draw a visual analogy, in terms of resolution, it was like going from a washed-out 65" SDR LCD to a properly calibrated 77" OLED with HDR — better pixel density, dynamic range, and texture. On the soundstage side, it was a move from a layered 2.5D rendering to fully immersive 3D.
4. Real-World Recording: Jazz at the Pawnshop
This track served as a powerful demonstration of the system’s spatial realism and dynamic subtlety:
- The instruments and the audience share the same acoustic space — there's no artificial separation or layering.
- Each percussive strike carries its own dynamic contour, pitch, and decay pattern. No two cymbal taps feel identical; each is anchored in physical space and time.
- The room breathes, capturing both intimacy and liveliness without collapsing into artificial reverb.
5. Headphone Synergy and Output Power
With the A8000 and FD7, both AMP15 and AMP16 offer some of the best synergy I’ve heard. Resolution is effortless, transients are clean, and tonal balance is preserved across genres.
The HD650, though acceptable, doesn’t reach the performance I’ve achieved with Audio-GD C2 or the Glenn OTL — both offer a more organic and weighty presentation.
As for the HD800, even with Super Gain, it isn’t well driven. I’m using a single-ended Forza Noire Hybrid cable, which may be part of the limitation. That said, the iFi iDSD Signature drives the HD800 with greater authority, despite having a notably weaker DAC. The Glenn OTL, unsurprisingly, still reigns supreme for the HD800 in terms of body, dimensionality, and flow.
That said, in overall musical engagement — especially with the A8000 and LHY battery — the DX340 setup outperforms even my reference Yggdrasil + Glenn OTL + HD800 chain in several aspects: Tonal blending, Resolution, Defined layering, Soundstage openness
Yes, the HD800 renders larger images, but the DX340 setup feels more coherent, more revealing, and above all, more alive.
I have yet to try the HD800 with a top-tier solid-state amplifier. This may change the equation.
6. AMP15 vs AMP16 – Sonic Profiles
Attribute
AMP15
AMP16 (tube mode)
Soundstage Width
Slightly wider
Slightly narrower, perhaps deeper
Imaging/Holography
More spacious, airy
More grounded, yet layered
Timbre
Neutral, clean
More body, realism, and presence
Pitch Perception
Good
Clearly more revealing
Dynamics
Explosive
Organic and pliant, needs the 12V to shine
Filter Synergy
H1 and H2
H1 as H2 sounds too thick at this stage of burn-in
Currently, I use the H1 filter on AMP16, which opens up the soundstage without compromising focus — a welcome tuning option when playing tube-era or dense acoustic recordings. I didn’t listen much to A/B mode on AMP16, but is sits closer to the tube mode than to amp15.
Preliminary Conclusion
The DX340, paired with AMP16 and powered by a proper 12V battery, is the first portable setup I’ve heard that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It bridges the gap between resolution and musicality, delivering a presentation that is coherent, dynamic, and emotionally persuasive — even with standard 44.1kHz material.
These are early impressions. A full review will follow once AMP15 and AMP16 are fully burned in, and once I’ve upgraded the DC cable (most likely a custom Lavri Grand).
shimigg
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2014
- Posts
- 391
- Likes
- 145
What cable and adapter do I need to use usb c cable for super gain?
Praedo
New Head-Fier
As far as I know, the USB C connector in the ibasso is not designed to support super gain.
shimigg
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2014
- Posts
- 391
- Likes
- 145
An adapter for usb c cable to use a powerbank with super gain
slim.a
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
- Posts
- 1,239
- Likes
- 61
I am using this power supply: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi...r-power-supply-on-battery-12v-2a-p-18479.html
I chose it because it seems to be using good regulation. Here is a quote "ultra-low-noise LDO LT3042 linear voltage regulation chip with D45H11 PNP transistor".
However, you would need an adapter from 5.5mm/2.1mm to 3.5mm x 1.35mm to fit in the DC input of the DX340.
Praedo
New Head-Fier
Thank you very much, I wonder if a 12V DC battery would work
shimigg
Usb C to 3,5/1,35
https://a.co/d/eD74Ndd
The question is whether the power bank will work on 12V DC if there is no communication via USB C
Last edited:
Any noise between tracks with that LPSU? Yes DX340 is a huge jump from DX260. You should try to optimize the DX340. IT is very sensitive to changes and this improves SQ more. You will likely love D17 which will be out later this year. I have never heard a R2R before. Overall it seems the DX340 does well from what you wrote.
Praedo
New Head-Fier
What else can be optimized? I also put in amp16 today and I am delighted, even though I am listening without 13V DC, I connected kinera loki and there is magic
You can use my root required optimization or Stouthart's or maybe try both but do his first then mine. His does not require root and fast to deploy. You will have to flash to use mine before rooting. Tweaking the OS does improve SQ. Yesterday I did all this remotely on a friends DX340.What else can be optimized? I also put in amp16 today and I am delighted, even though I am listening without 13V DC, I connected kinera loki and there is magic
VishnuKare
100+ Head-Fier
Another glaring review for the beloved dx340 https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2...-dap-ibasso-dx340-reference-music-player.html
Users who are viewing this thread
