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

[gwompki]

I always kept my DX340 at 80% limit while charging.

I have noticed that the DX340 drops from 80% to 40% by 3 hours mark of continuous listening (not hooked up to any external AMPs, volume at 70%).

Is this normal?

@DVision44 Exactly why I'm witholding from purchasing from them until now. Heard after service is horrible. Seems like they respond faster if you speak to them in Mandarin.
I can help if you need - what's your order number?

Using IEMs with high amp gain and low dac gain > volume between 25-30 - I get about 10%-12% drain per hour while streaming Tidal on UAPP. I charge my battery to 100% though. I'm curious how closely the battery indicator tracks with actual battery usage.

 

[lairpost]

I always kept my DX340 at 80% limit while charging.

Since the battery is easily replaceable there is less incentive to only charge to 80% especially if you need longer run time for your use. Just don't leave it plugged in at 100% and/or leave it sit at 100%, simply use it to bring the battery down from the stressful edge and it will live nearly as long as only charging to ~80%.

Over time the estimate of charge will drift but can be 'relearned' by charging to 100% and then use until the unit shuts off. This won't hurt the battery but don't leave it in this state for days or weeks. Charge it back up to 100%, this calibrates the capacity estimate. Some do this every few months but it's really not necessary save for the very anal. Just use it and replace the battery when it loses real capacity in 2-3 years.

The capacity is estimated by the battery voltage. It tracks the ever decreasing voltage curve through the discharge cycle. The voltage does not drop in a linear fashion i.e. it's not a flat slope from 100%-0%, rather a curve. That's why the % remaining is only and can ever be an estimate. Here's an easy to digest white paper on lithium polymer characteristics. It's important to not lump on lithium batteries together. Different chemistry behave differently. For example, lithium iron phosphate, LiPo, has an even flatter discharge curve making remaining capacity estimates even less accurate.

https://www.jauch.com/downloadfile/...o_the_design_of_lipo_batteries_02-2019_en.pdf

 

[gwompki]

Since the battery is easily replaceable there is less incentive to only charge to 80% especially if you need longer run time for your use. Just don't leave it plugged in at 100% and/or leave it sit at 100%, simply use it to bring the battery down from the stressful edge and it will live nearly as long as only charging to ~80%.

Over time the estimate of charge will drift but can be 'relearned' by charging to 100% and then use until the unit shuts off. This won't hurt the battery but don't leave it in this state for days or weeks. Charge it back up to 100%, this calibrates the capacity estimate. Some do this every few months but it's really not necessary save for the very anal. Just use it and replace the battery when it loses real capacity in 2-3 years.

The capacity is estimated by the battery voltage. It tracks the ever decreasing voltage curve through the discharge cycle. The voltage does not drop in a linear fashion i.e. it's not a flat slope from 100%-0%, rather a curve. That's why the % remaining is only and can ever be an estimate. Here's an easy to digest white paper on lithium polymer characteristics. It's important to not lump on lithium batteries together. Different chemistry behave differently. For example, lithium iron phosphate, LiPo, has an even flatter discharge curve making remaining capacity estimates even less accurate.

https://www.jauch.com/downloadfile/...o_the_design_of_lipo_batteries_02-2019_en.pdf

Great write-up!

 

[mattclarke18]

Remember the DX340 has battery By-Pass mode. This means except for booting it can be powered off a battery bank. Just plug into battery bank with DAP powered off. I use a 36 watt port and have no issues. Its almost like a laptop plugged into AC except battery is needed to boot DAP. It is the only iBasso that has the feature and I LOVE it. No one seems to talk much about it.

 

[sparty09]

Remember the DX340 has battery By-Pass mode. This means except for booting it can be powered off a battery bank. Just plug into battery bank with DAP powered off. I use a 36 watt port and have no issues. Its almost like a laptop plugged into AC except battery is needed to boot DAP. It is the only iBasso that has the feature and I LOVE it. No one seems to talk much about it.

Is there any notification to let you know it's running in bypass mode? I have been starting mine up plugged in after powered off and battery still charges. Would assume that it wouldn't if it was bypassing it, but maybe that's normal.

 

[mattclarke18]

Is there any notification to let you know it's running in bypass mode? I have been starting mine up plugged in after powered off and battery still charges. Would assume that it wouldn't if it was bypassing it, but maybe that's normal.

No icon to show it's bypassed. Would be great if there was one. Mine always says charged and at 100%. Because I am rooted SmartPack shows discharge rate. I am sure there is a adb to pull up that info. Dumpsys battery does not give it.

 

[jstuart83]

This is from Paul

I have my doubts it works like its suppose to after the issues I found with some chargers and battery packs but being there is no visual representation, theres no way to actually prove it without getting fancy. Matt may have already figured out a way to actually tell if its in bypass, he seems to be very knowledgeable about it. Ive been taking his advice and just running the usbc off of the usba port in my anker 737 which is IQ port and making sure its going into charging rapidly on the lock screen telling you that your at max voltage of 9v 1.67amps and I'm running the pd port on the 737 through a pd usbc to 1.35mm 12v cable turning on super gain. I cant get the 340 to charge off the PD port on most Anker battery packs and chargers I have unless there less than 35 watts. There are some issues with some PD chargers and packs so keep that in mind. Try to stay around 35 watts to charge the 340 and QC standards. I ran it today for 8 hours utilizing the line out setting and the amp 15 to my bose sound link max. The Anker 737 is at 41 percent battery left, this is my go to set up now. I also not sure if Paul ment DC input as in the usbc in or the actual DC in for the amp card. Im assuming he ment the usbc dc input but I just power both at all time so it should meet the requirements to bypass. Hopefully they will get us a firmware update soon to address some of these little quality of life issues.

 

[mattclarke18]

This is from Paul
I have my doubts it works like its suppose to after the issues I found with some chargers and battery packs but being there is no visual representation, theres no way to actually prove it without getting fancy. Matt may have already figured out a way to actually tell if its in bypass, he seems to be very knowledgeable about it. Ive been taking his advice and just running the usbc off of the usba port in my anker 737 which is IQ port and making sure its going into charging rapidly on the lock screen telling you that your at max voltage of 9v 1.67amps and I'm running the pd port on the 737 through a pd usbc to 1.35mm 12v cable turning on super gain. I cant get the 340 to charge off the PD port on most Anker battery packs and chargers I have unless there less than 35 watts. There are some issues with some PD chargers and packs so keep that in mind. Try to stay around 35 watts to charge the 340 and QC standards. I ran it today for 8 hours utilizing the line out setting and the amp 15 to my bose sound link max. The Anker 737 is at 41 percent battery left, this is my go to set up now. I also not sure if Paul ment DC input as in the usbc in or the actual DC in for the amp card. Im assuming he ment the usbc dc input but I just power both at all time so it should meet the requirements to bypass. Hopefully they will get us a firmware update soon to address some of these little quality of life issues.

Another clue is if you unplug the battery bank if in bypass the music will stop for a second like it does not seamlessly goto internal battery for power. Same happens if you unplug 12V DC. I am using USB C to C into 36 watt port. The higher watt port gives me issues so use that for 12V DC In.

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

My Initial impressions of the AMP14 and AMP16

Testing the tube amps now, AMP14 all the way for the true Analoge Smoothness extends that Smoothness up to the clean treble that doesn't get too rounded over in the notes.

AMP16 Hybrid amp in Tube mode is a compromise between the Class A/B mode and the Somewhat more Tubey goodness of AMP14 , Tube mode for those not wanting to fully commit to a vinyl like presentation.

AMP16 seems to only color the tonality in only the lower 1/2 of the frequency spectrum, and AMP14 adds in the much softer presentation up until the treble while keeping the amazing stage and technical performance we have come to love from the DX340


I would caution those looking for a seriously warm and Analoge sound to consider the AMP14 over 16 , as the latter might not be as organic in the very resolving DX340 as you were hoping for.

Seems to be too much hype on just how vinyl like thoose Ratheon Jan tubes are sounding, not just on this AMP16, but other sources as well including the Shanling M8T.

Don't get me wrong it's definitely a warmer sound than AMP15 and AMP16 in A/B mode.

Very reminiscent of the Nunchaku, Cayin N3Ultra and the other sources I have with the same tubes, that also are performing on a high level as well.

It's clear iBasso put some thought and engineering into all thier AMP cards, and each has thier own unique sound signature.

The KORG, NUTUBE elements are truly excellent, boast a way longer 30,000 hours life and much better energy efficiency.

Ultimately you have to weigh what features you need and the sound your looking for.

Looking forward to sharing more in my upcoming video.

 

[bflat]

Strange.....

Got Amp 16 today and using the same power bank as I did for Amp 15 for SG mode. Power banks turns off if current draw is less than 50 mA. Amp 15 had no issues but 16 appears to draw less power even in tube mode. My power bank turns off on Amp 16 even at higher volume than Amp 15.

Edit - AB mode seems to work fine as well in terms of power draw. I would have thought tube mode required mode current?

Also, there doesn't appear to be line out for Amp 16?

 

[Ichos]

My Initial impressions of the AMP14 and AMP16

Testing the tube amps now, AMP14 all the way for the true Analoge Smoothness extends that Smoothness up to the clean treble that doesn't get too rounded over in the notes.

AMP16 Hybrid amp in Tube mode is a compromise between the Class A/B mode and the Somewhat more Tubey goodness of AMP14 , Tube mode for those not wanting to fully commit to a vinyl like presentation.

AMP16 seems to only color the tonality in only the lower 1/2 of the frequency spectrum, and AMP14 adds in the much softer presentation up until the treble while keeping the amazing stage and technical performance we have come to love from the DX340


I would caution those looking for a seriously warm and Analoge sound to consider the AMP14 over 16 , as the latter might not be as organic in the very resolving DX340 as you were hoping for.

Seems to be too much hype on just how vinyl like thoose Ratheon Jan tubes are sounding, not just on this AMP16, but other sources as well including the Shanling M8T.

Don't get me wrong it's definitely a warmer sound than AMP15 and AMP16 in A/B mode.

Very reminiscent of the Nunchaku, Cayin N3Ultra and the other sources I have with the same tubes, that also are performing on a high level as well.

It's clear iBasso put some thought and engineering into all thier AMP cards, and each has thier own unique sound signature.

The KORG, NUTUBE elements are truly excellent, boast a way longer 30,000 hours life and much better energy efficiency.

Ultimately you have to weigh what features you need and the sound your looking for.

Looking forward to sharing more in my upcoming video.

Please allow me a different perspective. The Nunchaku and the N3 Ultra have very different sound signatures. The Nunchaku is the warmer sounding by a fair margin while the N3 Ultra is definitely brighter in both tube modes. Actually I find the solid state mode of the N3 Ultra as warmer sounding than its tube modes. At least for my hearing.

 

[PhenixS1970]

Time to start the weekend .

 

[jstuart83]

Strange.....

Got Amp 16 today and using the same power bank as I did for Amp 15 for SG mode. Power banks turns off if current draw is less than 50 mA. Amp 15 had no issues but 16 appears to draw less power even in tube mode. My power bank turns off on Amp 16 even at higher volume than Amp 15.

Edit - AB mode seems to work fine as well in terms of power draw. I would have thought tube mode required mode current?

Also, there doesn't appear to be line out for Amp

I ran into this as well. Some PD delivery devices are finicky. Also you are correct there is no line out with the 16.

 

[Menkau-ra]

Time to start the weekend .

I just got a PB5 too But I can’t figure out the battery status. When I turn it on, there is a blue LED light for a few seconds and then it goes away. Shouldn’t it be always on?

 

[shimigg]

How much time are you getting from the DX340 playing iems and streaming ?