Honestly, ibasso is in my ban list of audio makers due to experiences like yours. Every ibasso i had, had issues. Just my luck, no fate or luck with the brand. Good on those who never had any such problems.
I'm currently on Dethonray DTR1 Prelude, FiiO M11 pro stainless steel limited edition, Sony A55 and Fiio M3 pro players.
Owned a few HiFimans, AKs, iBassos, Cayin, and Sonys. Problem free brands, i can only say one ... Sony. The rest, at least a little niggles to some pretty nasty but "able to live with" issues.
At the moment, other than the aging Sony WM1A/Z, the rest are mainly Chi-Fi players.
Shanling M8 seems to be the favorite, barring the resolution of its software.
We have the upcoming FiiO M17, and the incoming Cayin N6ii Titanium to look forward to.
Anything else i've not mention are likely due to them either in my ban list, or waiting for them to prove they've put their QC issues behind them.
Personally, I'm awaiting the Dethonray DTR1 Plus player in June and FiiO M17, in later 2021.
I think in many electronics maker, a product that was launched over a year and a half ago, would have seen most if not all the possible sales in its cycle. Meaning anyone who wanted to buy the M11/M11pro, likely would have bought so by now.
And there has been many new player launched since the M11/M1pro. With electronics, consumers would gravitate to "new is better" and "old are not so good" thoughts. What do electronic makers do? Take existing inventory and repackage to a new product, and put on the market. That way, the company can keep cost lower, while clearing existing inventory and still have a "new" product on the market.
FiiO are not the only ones doing it, ALL the rest of the audio makers are doing it.
