[Lurker0]

As it was mentioned above, official firmware version 1.02.109 is available via OTA, and compatible add-on v.1.24 was just published. If you use DX160 with a previous firmware version with the add-on, you have to perform the following steps:

1. Revert back to the official firmware. I just published the packages for 1.01.084.
2. Perform OTA update via Android's Settings.
3. Apply add-on v.1.24.

As I see, early birds are already doing it while I'm writing this

Packages to revert back to official 1.02.109 are available as well.

 

[zeguym]

As it was mentioned above, official firmware version 1.02.109 is available via OTA, and compatible add-on v.1.24 was just published. If you use DX160 with a previous firmware version with the add-on, you have to perform the following steps:

1. Revert back to the official firmware. I just published the packages for 1.01.084.
2. Perform OTA update via Android's Settings.
3. Apply add-on v.1.24.

As I see, early birds are already doing it while I'm writing this

Packages to revert back to official 1.02.109 are available as well.

Wow that fast. Just flash v1.23 this morning . Thank you sir, will update it

 

[dharmasteve]

@Paul - iBasso

Whilst I realise that minor problems can be attended to by Firmware Updates but there are one or two problems that need to be addressed, and could be deal breakers for some. Bluetooth on the DX160 is very poor although it is supposed to be Bluetooth 5. Even in full line of sight, during real world usage, the connection has no real integrity and cuts in and out if the DX160 is is moved. That's close by in line of sight. That though is not even the worst problem, as it's Bluetooth sound is really LoFi. The clarity and crisp highs my FiiO M9 gives to an APTX-HD or LDAC receiver, and to speakers, is really nice. Crystal clear, crisp and full of timbre and tone. On the DX160 It sounds dull LoFi and is not good.....dull is the word. The sound with earphones is exceptional though. That is where this DAP punches above it's weight. It sounds wonderful through my IEMs. Those that get this as a review DAP will move on to other DAPs if there are fundamental problems. But many of us need this DAP to do everything right as we will be using it for some years because we have paid $399 for it.

 

[slashkid]

As it was mentioned above, official firmware version 1.02.109 is available via OTA, and compatible add-on v.1.24 was just published. If you use DX160 with a previous firmware version with the add-on, you have to perform the following steps:

1. Revert back to the official firmware. I just published the packages for 1.01.084.
2. Perform OTA update via Android's Settings.
3. Apply add-on v.1.24.

As I see, early birds are already doing it while I'm writing this

Packages to revert back to official 1.02.109 are available as well.

Nice job lurker

 

[frapp2latte]

I can confirm experiencing the same noise issues with what's been mentioned by the others here when using the Solaris. With my Oriolus MK2, which isn't as sensitive, I'm not getting this problem. It's as the others have described, it's not the same hissing you get with other DAPs but a light scratching noise. Imagine the light whirring/scratching sound your portable hard drive makes when you connect it to your PC but not as loud. LOL

@zeguym , the "hissing" or "screen noise" is hard to explain on my device, as well. I heard that pop sound a few times also where the hissing / scratching noise suddenly stops and it becomes dead silent.

Because after i close spotify, wait several minutes, there is some pop sound occurred than those noise is gone (or significantly drop)

For those who have used both unbalanced and balanced out, is the noise about the same or is one better than the other?

 

[zeguym]

I can confirm experiencing the same noise issues with what's been mentioned by the others here when using the Solaris. With my Oriolus MK2, which isn't as sensitive, I'm not getting this problem. It's as the others have described, it's not the same hissing you get with other DAPs but a light scratching noise. Imagine the light whirring/scratching sound your portable hard drive makes when you connect it to your PC but not as loud. LOL

@zeguym , the "hissing" or "screen noise" is hard to explain on my device, as well. I heard that pop sound a few times also where the hissing / scratching noise suddenly stops and it becomes dead silent.



For those who have used both unbalanced and balanced out, is the noise about the same or is one better than the other?

Yes, it's not hissing, its noise is weird, sometime very low, sometime very noticeable, like you said, like scratching or buzzer (sound like seerrrrrrrrr). Also yes, when there is pop sound, than those noise will stop and it becomes dead silent, just like it's switch off.

 

[frapp2latte]

Yes, it's not hissing, its noise is weird, sometime very low, sometime very noticeable, like you said, like scratching or buzzer (sound like seerrrrrrrrr). Also yes, when there is pop sound, than those noise will stop and it becomes dead silent, just like it's switch off.

That's exactly it. I don't know if there's anything they can do to resolve this, would be great if there was. It's not too much of a bother for me as it's not really noticeable anymore when playing music but, of course, no one buys a DAP expecting to get that noise in the first place.

 

[Dazzert318]

Another extremely positive experience here regarding the DX160. I'm fortunate to own this, the Hiby R5, Fiio M11 and the Shanling M6 and in terms of pure sound quality and transparency it competes head to head with the M6. The other two are some way behind although I accept it's very subjective depending on your preferences. One thing I've noticed on my unit is that the hardware play/pause, fwd and rwd buttons do not work once the screen turns off after the set delay. I have this problem both with Mango player and HibyMusic player even with the Android audio control buttons setting set to always on. Has anyone experienced the same problem and found a workaround or have I got a faulty unit?

 

[monsieurfromag3]

That's exactly it. I don't know if there's anything they can do to resolve this, would be great if there was. It's not too much of a bother for me as it's not really noticeable anymore when playing music but, of course, no one buys a DAP expecting to get that noise in the first place.

Mmmh that sounds like RF interference from inside the case, possibly a badly-placed magnet or an electronic component working too close to the amplification (or it’s not shielded enough). If so it comes down to fundamental layout, there’s probably not much that can be done. Although maybe it can be tweaked on individual units so it’s decreased.

 

[Lurker0]

hardware play/pause, fwd and rwd buttons do not work once the screen turns off after the set delay

This is normal behavior for iBasso DAPs. Android suspends the device, and these buttons don't wake it up.

Spoiler: Technical details

The buttons are implemented via ADC. The kernel driver shall periodically poll the ADC level to detect key presses. Only Power and Volume buttons are implemented via GPIO and may wake up the deivce, and only Power button is configured to wake it up actually.

 

[Dazzert318]

Thanks for confirming Lurker. It's the first time I've encountered this behaviour. Is there any workaround other than keeping the screen permanently on?

 

[dharmasteve]

Is anybody using their DX160 with either a Radsone ES100 or a FiiO BTR3? How is the signal and the sound? How does the sound using them compare when used with other DAPs? At the moment, with the new firmware, for me, the signal is poor, the sound is poor and of very limited volume. Have I got a faulty unit or are the problems empirical to the DX160?

 

[frapp2latte]

Mmmh that sounds like RF interference from inside the case, possibly a badly-placed magnet or an electronic component working too close to the amplification (or it’s not shielded enough). If so it comes down to fundamental layout, there’s probably not much that can be done. Although maybe it can be tweaked on individual units so it’s decreased.

That's too bad. It's something to consider then for their future releases.

 

[Lurker0]

Is there any workaround other than keeping the screen permanently on?

Android goes into sleep mode in a minute (sometimes even less) of inactivity. In my add-on, Android is prevented from sleeping during a period of time after music was played. It is configurable, and by default it is set to 5 minutes. So, if you put music on pause, you have 5 (or more) minutes to resume playback by pressing Pause button, or to switch tracks.

 

[852HK]

does any one have problem that using the usb dac function when connect to computer? as usb dac connected to computer, will have some clicking/cracking noise when playing music, and usually cannot be recognize by computer if connect to the front usb port of computer.