DX340 iBasso developed Discret DAC, Easily replaceable batteries, Amp Modules! ***New firmware on 1st page. v1.04 local update. ***

[piglet]

I've owned/listened to the Kann MAX and some of the previous Kann series DAPs and I always felt they were too neutral tuned and boring despite having good amp juice to drive headphones

The only other high end DAP that I've tried was the Astell&Kern Kann Ultra which in fact I bought in March 2024. I bought it from a dealer with a 30 day no-questions-asked returns policy, this is something I nearly always do actually. I was glad that I did that because I had to return that Kann Ultra. My experience was that while there was a huge amount of detail and resolution with the Kann Ultra, it wasn't playing the music. In fact I had a surprisingly negative reaction. However I want to emphasise that this was my subjective experience, there is no doubt that the Kann Ultra is a remarkably capable DAP, it just wasn't working for me.

That experience put me off high end DAPs for a year. I thought they were all like that and in fact the way they are discussed kind of reinforced that belief a bit. Then I started reading about the DX340 and what people were saying had a very different feel, I knew these people were listening to music with this DAP.

So I've had it for a fortnight now and it is remarkable how good it is at capturing the spirit of performances, it will get the excitement of jazz trumpeters pushing the edge, or the sense of exploration in ambient/electronica, or the eyes-wide-open vivid encounter of impressionists.

I'm using the DX340 with the Grado GS3000x 90% of the time because I think it sounds absolutely great with them. The GS3000x cans, in my experience, will only really perform if they have a great source but with that great source they are remarkable cans, the DX340 is that great source which is just working so well with these cans.

 

[Psychonaut71]

Can anyone comment on how lossless or high res Apple Music sounds natively from the AM app from Google store. Thanks.

 

[RedCurry]

Do You really think super gain should be used for 64a iems? Won't it damage iems?
I compare DAPs with the same conditions, gain level, as I told, was the same - middle - on both.
I didn't make for now any optimizations, I think at the beggining it's fair to make comparison DAPs from the box.

"Cable does not matter with your 64A as it has LID" - please clarify what do You mean?

Regarding "friend... did not like" AK - sorry, I do not really understand what is it for?
I personally not AK fan (as I'm not a fan of any other brand), but I like how AK Kann Max sounds. SE300 liked even more, but I do not have enough time to describe it in details.

I think this thread should be useful for people who do not have option to hear dx340.
Because if You have - no meaning to read something.
And someone can think reading info in this thread that dx340 is something extraordinary regarding SQ on the market, no any DAP with the same price range would give that.
Again - it's priliminary impressions and sound from the box (anyway after heating) - but in my feeling dx340 is just good as others with the same price range, but it's not something outstanding with some unbelieveble SQ.
It's not bad, but it's good as others in this price range - at least for now for my ears.

Sorry if my impressions are far from enthusiastic impressions of this thread members.

80 hours burn in time doesn't get the DX340 to optimal level. I found that instrument separation, soundstage and imaging doesn't fully open up until 150 hours so keep going and it'll sound better. The filters also sound more distinct.

 

[danielgregori]

Guys, this has definitely already been talked about, but maybe someone can say the bottom line: if I have an ibasso320max as a source and a d16 as a DAC, if I buy a 340 as a device in 1 box, will I get the same sound quality? I have an external amplifier anyway, so I only care about the source and DAC in one box without losing the quality that I already have (3 boxes for portable setup it too much for me)

 

[Dixter]

Can anyone comment on how lossless or high res Apple Music sounds natively from the AM app from Google store. Thanks.

the AM app sounds fine... it seems noticeable that the output volume is slightly lower than other apps... I'm assuming that would be due to how it handles auto leveling of the songs... not really an issue but I do notice it when switching to other music apps...

 

[Peekayoh]

I have read here on these pages that the DX340 and current FW will not rapid charge when using C to C. This is not true. I use C to C all the time, Ravpower, and my DX340 rapid charges. I tested it on the DX170 and it Rapid charges C to C. I don't know why some can't but it does work.

+1 works fine for me.

 

[mattclarke18]

"Cable does not matter with your 64A as it has LID" - please clarify what do You mean?

I have owned several 64 Audio IEMs in past. None of them should have issue with Super Gain. You just want to set volume at very low level to start and then increase to reasonable listening level. I use the global volume setting to set max volume to avoid any accidents. Yes if you were to put volume at MAX with SG you could blow out the BAs. I know some CFA IEMs may have hissing at higher gains but this is in my view a design flaw in the IEMs. High gain bypasses resistor network allowing you to hear what directly is coming off AMP. You may or may not love the sound change. Keep in mind you can use DC12V In with any gain setting and even LO (you don't have to use Super Gain). This means AMP is powered by 12V source instead of internal battery which if I recall is lower voltage than 12V.

Optimization will improve SQ. DX340 is pretty sensitive to OS optimization. You likely can't do that with AK. Ibasso DAPs are open. This means they are not locked and can be rooted but by using adb root you don't have to - Stouthart method. If you ever want to make your 340 factory new software-wise it can be done. I have owned all current Ibasso line up except for Max and DX340 by far is a huge improvement in SQ etc. Like others have said put some more hours on DX340 and hear the changes. You also have options to get hardware modded. Since you are not in the US Steve at Npaudio can do this. He can mod more than just amp card too.

 

[Ichos]

People who own the AMP12, i recommend trying it with the DX340. Just use headphones of high impedance or low impedance and relatively low sensitivity. The noise floor is exceptionally low and inaudible during listening.

The sonic performance is absolutely stunning. Best bass of all the amp cards period, thick textures and exceptionally organic timbre among other benefits.

 

[DAPpower]

People who own the AMP12, i recommend trying it with the DX340. Just use headphones of high impedance or low impedance and relatively low sensitivity. The noise floor is exceptionally low and inaudible during listening.

The sonic performance is absolutely stunning. Best bass of all the amp cards period, thick textures and exceptionally organic timbre among other benefits.

It really is a fine combination, my AMP12EXN-S plays well with my DX340 as you can hear better dynamics than AMP15 but there still is just a little bit of hissing even at low AMP gain. Not so much with low DAC gain but I feel that low DAC gain can lose dynamics, what do you think?

 

[Alexander B]

I have owned several 64 Audio IEMs in past. None of them should have issue with Super Gain. You just want to set volume at very low level to start and then increase to reasonable listening level. I use the global volume setting to set max volume to avoid any accidents. Yes if you were to put volume at MAX with SG you could blow out the BAs. I know some CFA IEMs may have hissing at higher gains but this is in my view a design flaw in the IEMs. High gain bypasses resistor network allowing you to hear what directly is coming off AMP. You may or may not love the sound change. Keep in mind you can use DC12V In with any gain setting and even LO (you don't have to use Super Gain). This means AMP is powered by 12V source instead of internal battery which if I recall is lower voltage than 12V.

Optimization will improve SQ. DX340 is pretty sensitive to OS optimization. You likely can't do that with AK. Ibasso DAPs are open. This means they are not locked and can be rooted but by using adb root you don't have to - Stouthart method. If you ever want to make your 340 factory new software-wise it can be done. I have owned all current Ibasso line up except for Max and DX340 by far is a huge improvement in SQ etc. Like others have said put some more hours on DX340 and hear the changes. You also have options to get hardware modded. Since you are not in the US Steve at Npaudio can do this. He can mod more than just amp card too.

Thank You for the answer. Didn't really understand about LID, but it's ok) Anyway I used to use 4,4 balanced cable - as for iems, as to connect DAP to desktop amplifier, as for LCD-2.
So as I understand for iems high or even super gain should be fine, right?
I'll try!
What about connection to desktop amplifier? Should it use LO with low gain?

By the way, if there are some good pairing of iems or headphones with dx340 - please do share.

 

[mattclarke18]

What about connection to desktop amplifier? Should it use LO with low gain?

Select LO in audio menu and raise volume to 100. Gain setting makes no difference in this mode. You can use 4.4 or 3.5mm ports. The DAC has some some sort of amp function itself but this is not same as AMP gain. Just set to LO and put in your IEMs. You will hear the difference.

UM Maven II and Noble Audio Onyx both sound great on 340. Amp16 has NO LO so you would have to use low gain and be very careful with volume setting to avoid clipping.

 

[Ichos]

It really is a fine combination, my AMP12EXN-S plays well with my DX340 as you can hear better dynamics than AMP15 but there still is just a little bit of hissing even at low AMP gain. Not so much with low DAC gain but I feel that low DAC gain can lose dynamics, what do you think?

Right now I am using high amp gain with low DAC gain with the Meze Poet. Stunning dynamics and exceptionally low noise. I haven't tested low amp gain yet and the combinations with the DAC gain. Generally speaking I use low DAC gain.

Something else that I would like to add is that i think that all the legacy AMP cards sound much better in the DX340 than the previous player.

 

[shimigg]

the AM app sounds fine... it seems noticeable that the output volume is slightly lower than other apps... I'm assuming that would be due to how it handles auto leveling of the songs... not really an issue but I do notice it when switching to other music apps...

Are you using volume leveling in apps ?

 

[Dixter]

Are you using volume leveling in apps ?

@shimigg I don't normally use that option on other apps and the Apple App is in auto mode so you can't turn it off that I know of....

 

[shimigg]

@shimigg I don't normally use that option on other apps and the Apple App is in auto mode so you can't turn it off that I know of....

I think you just need to uncheck sound check option