Both are solid setups, but I’d lean toward Option 2—D16 + PB5 off the iPad—for sheer simplicity and that clean, transparent R2R sound. Unless you’re really chasing that DX340 flavor or need the swappable amps, the D16 stack feels more “set it and forget it” for home use with no compromises.
DX340 iBasso developed Discret DAC, Easily replaceable batteries, Amp Modules! ***New firmware on 1st page. v1.04 local update. ***
- Thread starter Paul - iBasso
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piglet
500+ Head-Fier
Hi @Psychonaut71
While I've no doubt removing bloatware etc from the iBasso DX340 brings benefits, you don't have to do this. On this thread there are hugely helpful people and I'm very glad they are there, I know that if I have problems with the DX340 then this is a great place to get advice and that actually was a major plus for me in favour of buying it. However you will see people in the thread doing very clever things that no doubt have benefits, but you don't need to do them yourself.
I've had my DX340 for a bit over a fortnight now actually, so I am a total noob. I haven't removed any bloatware or done any customisation. I'm using mine just as it came out of the box, I'm only doing firmware updates, that's all.
In fact this DX340 is the first Android device I've used, apart from spending a week with one a year ago. I've used Apple devices since 1992 when I bought my first Mac. The first digital audio player I used was actually the original first generation iPad Touch. In the 80s and 90s I used Sony Walkmans with cassettes.
With the DX340 you can use either the Mango OS or Android. The Mango app is better to use on Android than it is on Mango OS, so although I used the Mango OS for the first ten days of ownership I've now switched to booting up Android.
You don't need to get very involved with Android. I have spent, probably, just a few hours googling to find out how I do a few basic things, but that's all that's been required.
I created a Gmail account specifically for this DX340 and I've used that to set everything up. I did this for security reasons, there's no facial recognition or anything like that as I have on my iPhone, so I didn't want someone who got hold of this DX340 to have access to anything.
For a lot of years I have used iPhones and iPads with DAC/amps, I think that you can get excellent quality by that route, but I haven't personally heard a portable audio system as good as the iBasso DX340. When I say that, remember, I haven't done any customisation of the DX340.
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I agreed with your solution. Especially when using MagLoc strips, it brings the conveniences to the next level.
Also having the full stacks of Ibasso stuff, I can confirm that the DX340+Coax+D16+Pb5 is the ultimate stack. They sized about the same footprints and the performances is next tier good!!
In the meanwhile, all 3 pieces can be separated under it own usage
Psychonaut71
Head-Fier
That’s exactly what I needed to hear, thanks. I’ve always been Apple as well, but knowing that without any clever hacks and the like, that you have just got on with the device and enjoyed it. From what I have gathered - fw updates are not OTA and you have to be plugged in to a computer.
piglet
500+ Head-Fier
I think you can update firmware OTA and I am pretty sure I did that in the first day I had it.
My firmware is 1.03.408 at present. In fact there is a new firmware update available at the iBasso web-site to download. I don't know if that will become available for OTA or not.
iBasso DX340 manual describes how to do the OTA updates. You can download the manual from the web-site.
Some say that it is better to "flash" the updates, I am no expert, I'm a total noob. I'm just saying what I think is available.
I don't have anything on the DX340, I have installed Apple Music and I will soon install Apple Music Classical, but I think that will be it for apps. I use mine primarily for digital files (mostly ripped CDs) on a micro SD card. So, if there is a problem with the software of the DX340 it is no problem for me to just reset everything and reinstall from scratch.
Please let us know how those Apple apps function on the 340….been reading on other sites that Apple apps running on Android are buggy…
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piglet
500+ Head-Fier
Actually I've hardly used Apple Music so far on the DX340. I've been enjoying listening to my CD collection as digital files. If/when I do start using the Apple apps I will update with experiences.
bflat
Headphoneus Supremus
All of my personal computers and phone are Apple. The only Android devices I've owned with full Google Play store (Fiio, iBasso, Hiby) have no issues with Apple Music and it works seamless with all of my Apple devices in terms of syncing music. In the distant past where I had to side load Apple Music, yes there were problems mostly around authentication and updating apps. Those are non issues in my experience as long as you have official Google Play store support. I have around 800 GB of downloaded Apple Music files that are all lossless and I estimate more than 50% are hi res.
I've also used both Wavelet and PowerAmp EQ and both work with Apple Music. System wide EQ is not available on iOS so in some ways, Apple Music in Android works better than iOS.
Sorry, I don’t want to further hijack this thread, but how does Android get around DRM with Apple Music files to be able to run wavelet and power amp eq on the streaming audio? Are you downloading the ALAC files, then stripping DRM from them before you can use eq on them?
I can PM you to keep this thread focused on the 340..
bflat
Headphoneus Supremus
Both PowerAmp EQ and Wavelet processes after the Apple Music app decodes into PCM so you don't have to do anything special. No DAC can process Apple Music native DRM files so the app has to decode to PCM.
Ok thanks! That’s good to know…so as long as we stay in Apple Music to play our downloaded music files, Apple Music handles the conversion to PCM…..but if I take those downloaded files and copied them to an SD drive, I’d have to remove DRM on those files before playing them back with another audio app?
This is my last inquiry about this…thank you!
bflat
Headphoneus Supremus
Correct, except I would remind you that extracting DRM files into PCM format is a violation of Apple's license since you are only paying to access the music, not owning it. All iTunes purchased music are provided to you in PCM (ALAC) so you can play on whatever app you want. Even Roon has not figured out how to legally integrate Apple Music into their player so there are no plans for support until Apple changes their policies (not likely imho).Ok thanks! That’s good to know…so as long as we stay in Apple Music to play our downloaded music files, Apple Music handles the conversion to PCM…..but if I take those downloaded files and copied them to an SD drive, I’d have to remove DRM on those files before playing them back with another audio app?
This is my last inquiry about this…thank you!
VishnuKare
100+ Head-Fier
Has anyone tried AK SP4K and plan to buy? How does it compare with dx340?
Dixter
Headphoneus Supremus
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just putting this out here.... with the DX340 having such a nice screen it just seems a waste not to use it during music playback... and with the landscape mode available the DX340 begs to have a couple of nice VU meters.... anyone know of a android VU meter app that would playback during music listening... also just incase you would like to experience the nice screen with a single VU meter in portrait mode only then the Fiio Music app works well... I'm looking for a Left/right vintage type VU meter in landscape mode... if its available...would be cool to have....
I tried using Amazon Music on the player but it always shows 192, why?
