iBasso DX320 Review

Sound performance

For the purpose of this review, I used the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, the  Sennheiser HD800S, and the mighty Shanling MG600. All files were streamed from Spotify and Apple Music, in Hi-Res when available, and my own catalog.

Overall signature

Soooo, is the new iBasso DX320, better than the DX300? Honestly, not so much… but that also means that this player is one of the best-sounding DAP on the market!

Not only that, but it’s also one of the best players I had the chance to try in this price range, and above. The overall sound quality of the DX320 is excellent, with wondrous textures, superb layering, and, all-in-all, the same level of refinement found on my sAstell&Kern SE180. In fact,  it’s a lot closer to A&K than FiiO, in terms of detail retrieval, with sharp highs and flat mids.

Compared to the DX300, the new model put a little more emphasis on the bass and tuned down the highs by just a tiny bit. It’s not much, but in the long run, it gives a more relaxed sound, appearing a bit less dry than before – even if this isn’t a mellow player, by all means. Overall, you keep the same TOTL render, and with the right track and the right headphone, the result can be astounding.

Dynamic is superb, even more, if you use the 4.4mm output, but through my listening, I found that iBasso clearly narrowed the gap between the single-ended and balanced outputs. While the 4.4mm Pentaconn remains king in terms of spaciousness, on my HD800S, the voices were equally natural, poised, and well-controlled, on the 3.5mm plug. I could easily pinpoint each voice or instrument and thanks to the massive power reserve, the headphone exhibited solid lows through and through. 

My usual test-track, Milosh from Infected Mushroom, gave me the expected level of punch I expected to get, and, in my opinion, those two ROHM chip sound equally good to the quadruple one found on the previous generation: it’s refined, with sharp highs, good extension, and pitch black background.

Every nuance, every sensation is there, heightened by the sharpness of the sound. And, compared to my FiiO M11 Plus ESS or my Shanling M6 Pro 21, the iBasso seems to offer that little bit of magic you’d expect for a plus $1000 player. That said, with my favorite headphone, the DT 900 Pro X, the Shanling appeared to offer a better matching, with faster transients and sharper mids. Funny!

If like me, you favor streaming apps though, you’ll be happy to know that the iBasso DX320, with its new software, completely cuts any of Android’s usual sound treatments. While I listened to some Dolby Atmos tracks on the player, head-to-head with the previous model, the new version seems closer to the original recording.

I listened to Gorgy Porgy from Toto, going back and forth with the two players, with the same headphone, and the same source (Apple Music), and each time, the DX320 seemed more natural, less congested. It’s not massively different, but it’s still better.

Finally, I compared the previous AMP 11 MK2 and the new AMP11 MK2S, as switching between both only takes a few minutes to do. In all honesty, I couldn’t find a real difference in balanced mode, but in single-ended mode, the new amp is a definitive improvement – a good news for those who prefer the classic headphone port.

So, long story short: it’s awesome!

Tonality

Highs: sharp and distinctive. There is a lesser emphasis on highs and high-mids, compared to the DX300 but I think that’s a good thing. Those sharp tones magnify every detail of your songs, but that also make bad recordings absolutely painful to listen to. The DX320 is a bit more forgiving this way, and seeing as precise it’s by default, that’s a really good thing.

Good test track : Bernard’s Song – Veronique Sanson

Mids: flat and linear. Wide soundstage and clean voices, a delightful cocktail for your ears. In my opinion, this is the DX320 forte with its airy presentation and super-wide soundstage. Even through the single-ended port, the player managed to convince me.

Good test track:  Obama – Dombrance

Lows: deep and solid. The player isn’t shy anymore in this regard, and as soon I heard the first notes of Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, I was completely immersed in the music. The DX320 was able to reach deep notes and sub rumble, with ease, and the solid amp section, combined with the new MUS-IC DACs gives a great experience, with full, impressive, bass. 

Good test track : Flight of the cosmic Hippo – Bela Flack and the Fleckstone

Power and noise

The iBasso DX320 is powerful, but that was no surprise. Bundled with the AMP11 MK2S, the player had no issue driving all my headphones, and with three levels of gain, you can easily find the right volume.

I tried it with my Onkyo CIEM, the Fiio FD7, and the BGVP DM8, but none picked up more noise than I could hear on other high-end players. In fact, once more, I’d put iBasso above FiiO and below A&K on this aspect. A massive improvement from before! In high and mid gain, in very very quiet moments, you can hear a very tiny buzz, but on most setup, you won’t hear anything.

In terms of power, the player drove my Audeze LCD-X with ease, as long as I remained in Balanced mode. Yet, I found the difference between the 3.5mm and 4.4mm narrower than before, at least in terms of raw performances.

Even with my old, but mighty, Sennheiser HD800S, the player managed to deliver powerful kicks and solid lows. Sure, turning on the high-gain knob helps, but even before that, I could already feel how strong the player was.

Conclusion

Once again: the iBasso becomes my go-to reference for anyone seeking a TOTL player, at premium prices. The brand did the same as they do for the DX300, just polishing a few aspects of his player, and fixing the rare issues found on the previous model. It’s insanely fast, magic to use, and fantastic to listen to, even with big cans like my old Sennheiser HD800S, or even the Meze Empyrean.

At $1599, the DX320 is definitely not cheap – that’s a $400 price increase –  but it’s still a no-brainer, outperforming many players, sometimes much more expensive. The only drawback? It’s a big player, like two iPhone Max blended together, but that’s the only caveat I could point out.

So yes, this player goes directly in my recommendation listt, and if you’re out for a TOTL player, you should definitely try this one first, or at least add it to your list. 

Page 1: about the brand

Page 2: Design, bundle

Page 3: UI, Usage

Page 4: Technical specifications