iBasso's new flagship Digital Audio Player, the DX320, is a follow-up to its critically praised DX300 DAP. Digital audio players are a serious investment that will enhance your listening experience significantly. With a $1600 price tag and iBasso's lofty reputation on the line, I'm going to see if the DX320 can live up to the challenge.

What’s in the Box

• DX320 DAP
• Leather case
• Screen Protectors
• USB-C Charging Cable
• Coaxial Adaptors
• Quick Start Guide

Look and Feel

While not the largest DAP I've used, the DX320 is still pretty big. That being said, portability shouldn't be an issue, and the included screen protectors and carrying case ensures the DX320's safety (though I wouldn't go play catch with it). The screen has a nice clear resolution that can be adjusted accordingly in the system settings. The buttons are easy to navigate and the volume knob/wake button both feel incredibly solid. The amp card for the analog inputs on the bottom is swappable, with the default being iBasso's Amp11 MK2, which was released with the DX320. The Amp11 card gives you 4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced outputs and a 3.5mm single-end output. The levels can be switched between headphone and line in the system settings. The top of the DX320 has a USB and a 3.5mm digital coaxial port on the top end. Overall, this is one of the best feeling DAPs I've used, with a perfect balance between intuitive controls and complex customization.

Design

The DX320 runs on Android 11 and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. For organic sound representation, the DX320 uses iBasso's flagship 34301 EKV DAC chip. This DAC chip emphasizes the soundstage and spatial imaging while still staying true to the original mix.

User Interface

The DX320 runs on Android 11, allowing users to both customize their system preferences, and download any streaming services they require through the Google Play Store. The response is very quick and load times are incredibly fast thanks to the DX320's 6G RAM. Mango OS has also been integrated to use as both a media player and sound decoding system if you want to use the DX320 in player-only mode for your own uploaded files. The interface allows for a myriad of customization options, including EQs, sound codecs, etc., and integrates seamlessly across apps. The DX320 is easily one of the fastest and most intuitive DAPs I've used.

Sound Impressions

*For this section, I'm using the player's default settings and using Moondrop Blessing 2 IEMs

The DX320 aims for a flat and accurate sound signature in its default state. This thing can crank some serious output and you won't have to worry about using high-impedance headphones on these. The sound signature remains neutral and rarely distorts, even at high output volumes.

The Dx320's soundstage is incredibly detailed and accentuates spatial details very well. The soundstage takes on an open, airy feel that makes the image feel detailed and realistic. The DX320's soundstage is incredibly dynamic and can make every part of a mix feel separate and organic, but also cluttered if that's what the track calls for. The dynamics are also wide and still retain detail at low volumes (Black Midi's Sweater has never sounded better).

The low end is both organic and surgical in tandem. I can hear warmth and grit, deep subs, and tangible richness, all at a high resolution. With the Dx320's neutral response, the lows don't feel accentuated in any noticeable way, which I greatly appreciate. Rather than artificially boosting the low end, the DX320 allows the original mix to represent itself with crystal-clear quality.

The midrange is flat. I didn't notice any ranges that stood out, in either a positive or negative way. As with the lows, the sheer resolution of the original mix is enough to represent itself without any outside interference. Truly the best-case scenario. The same can be said for the DX320's highs, though there is some slight shaping to tame harsher frequencies. The highs are what help create the airiness of the soundstage and bring clarity and resolution to the sound. 

Overall

Overall, the iBasso DX320 is one of the best portable DAPs I've ever used. The experience was incredibly user-friendly, the device itself is portable and secure, and I never ran into hardware issues when using it. Most importantly, the sound is amazing and brings out the best aspects of every mix. While it does have a steep price tag, it still runs far less expensive than other Hifi DAPs of similar quality. If you're a serious audiophile looking to take your portable listening experience to the next level, I would highly recommend the iBasso DX320. I'm very excited to see how iBasso follows up with this one.

You can buy the iBasso DX320 here