- Manufacturer & Model
- iBasso DX180
- MSRP
- $529.00
- Highlights
- Loaded with features.
2TB storage with SD card.
Exceptionally clean output.
Competes with the big boys.
- Summary
- I was not expecting what I got with the DX180. It is a monster of a machine with what it can do, which is everything—it might even clean your house. We love it, and could be fighting over it from time to time. It contains our entire music library, and we can access any song on planet Earth via several streaming services. It may be as clean or cleaner as any headphone/IEM DAC/amp on the market... it's truly that good. I cannot believe anyone would be disappointed in this DAP. Highly recommended!
In the Beginning
It might be hard to believe, but I’ve never owned a Sony Walkman. Portable music players have never really been my thing. I did own a few boomboxes back in the day, but nothing small and portable. Using a phone for music with those pesky in-ear monitors (IEMs) has never interested me. It doesn’t seem like a portable music player, more commonly known nowadays as a digital audio player (DAP), would be anything I’d need or enjoy. However, since my recent retirement, my wife would say I’ve wandered off the deep end with my music-listening experiences. For many years, the extent of our music listening has been in our dedicated AV room, a couple of outside speakers, and our vehicles. What else could a man possibly need? How many different ways can we listen to music, anyway?
Since I retired at the end of 2023, I’ve done quite a lot: I set up a small two-channel listening room, added some not-so-cheap monitors to my office desktop computer, added a NAS music server to our network along with a complete network overhaul, upgraded our sunroom system with a new AVR as well as new indoor speakers in the sunroom, replaced our outdoor speakers, purchased several headphone DAC/amps and more headphones, added HEOS speakers throughout the house, and now… for the first time, I own a DAP. It only took me fifty-eleven years, right? When retirement comes, it’s a must to find things to keep busy, and listening to music in various ways is a great way to do it. Beware of the expense of following this path.
Which DAP?
I hadn’t considered a DAP until one of our staff members at avnirvana.com (@3dbinCanada) posted a thread about his “latest toy”… a DAP. I can’t claim ignorance is bliss; it’s just plain ignorance. As silly as it might sound, I had no idea these gadgets existed. I thought they died with the Walkman portable CD player. As it turns out, they’ve been around for a while, and somehow, I’ve missed them.
The first thing that came to mind when I learned about the DAP was that it would be a great way to store, move, and have a quick listen to our music library, which I spent several weeks transferring from CDs. It would also allow me to experiment with another music-listening avenue while enjoying my retirement. Investigating the numerous DAPs available, I found they can get quite expensive—even up in the $4,000 range—which seems a bit much for such a device that is also somewhat limited by the use of IEMs and headphones. While I enjoy listening to headphones occasionally (much more lately), nothing can replace hearing music in an appropriate home audio setup with freestanding speakers. However, some enthusiasts might use a DAP in an audio-room system as a music source. I could see it being beneficial if the goal is to keep all your music in one location and avoid the separate expense of additional equipment. Nonetheless, I expect most DAP buyers will ultimately use it with IEMs. The last IEMs to enter my ears were well over a decade ago, and I never found any comfortable enough to suit me—hence my previous reference to them being pesky. Granted, the few I tried were among the less expensive variety, so that might not be a fair assessment. Regardless, I’ll need to give them another chance and look for a better-quality pair while searching for a respectable DAP. This review will also briefly compare a few different IEMs I’ll try with the DAP.
I spent several days researching and reading about DAPs (how many different models could there be… countless!). I finally decided on the iBasso DX180 DAP and purchased it from Bloom Audio, the only store I could find that had it in stock. My primary requirements were at least Android 13 OS (Snapdragon 665), a minimum of 1TB SD card capacity, a reasonably small form factor with a 4-5" display, and a $500 or less cost. I prefer Android since I have an Android phone and tablet and am already familiar with several Android music apps. The DX180 fits my requirements easily, has a long list of features, and is one of the few with Android 13. While investigating, I was disappointed to see many DAPs use an older version of Android or some other seemingly sluggish OS. The DX180 is relatively new to the market, introduced in May 2024. After applying a coupon code to the MSRP of $529, my total cost was $474.05 shipped.
This is not a paid review, and I did not receive any discount for a review. Neither iBasso nor Bloom Audio knew about my possible review when I purchased it. The review was an afterthought.
The DX180 is not only a DAP that plays music but also a multi-functional streamer, gaming console, navigation device, Bluetooth source, and storage device. Assuming you have an Internet connection, it will stream Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube… you name it. It will work with any app you can find in the Play Store or the Aptoide store. While we plan to use it primarily as a portable music server, it can also be a photo storage device. It’s a better storage device than a phone because it supports up to a 2TB SD card. Also, using it does not disturb your phone when making or receiving calls and texts, nor will it interrupt your Bingo game (no, I do not play Bingo, but my wife loves it). For example, if you’re using the DX180 as a gaming device, there is no need to stop when your cell phone rings or you receive a text message as long as you can multitask. It can also hit the road with Android Auto. The DX180 is feature-rich and highly functional for a multitude of uses. It’s lightweight at only 7.3 oz, a little shorter, about the same width, and slightly thicker than my S24 phone, and it has a very clear display. Check out all the features listed below.
Features
- Quad CS43131 DAC Chipset matrix.
- In-house developed FPGA-Master2.0 as the audio system controller, synchronizing and generating the signal to all audio clocks.
- 2 NDK ultra-low phase noise Femtosecond oscillators.
- Hardware FIR output mode.
- Bit-for-bit playback with support of up to 32bit/768kHz.
- Support of Native DSD up to 256x.
- Android 13 OS.
- 11nm Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC.
- 4GB LPDDR4X + 128G ROM.
- Sharp 5.0″ IPS full screen (1080*1920), with On-Cell capacitive touch panel.
- Support of QC3.0 and PD3.0 quick charge.
- USB digital output up to PCM 32bit/384kHz, Native DSD256, and DoP DSD128.
- Mini coaxial output that supports up to 24bit/384kHz and DoP DSD128.
- USB DAC function that supports up to 32bit/384kHz and native DSD256 input.
- USB DAC for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux computers.
- Support of 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0.
- Support of SDHC and SDXC Micro SD cards up to 2TB.
- Support of USB 3.1 Super speed transfer.
- 2 gain settings for hardware control.
- 100-step volume control.
- Graphic EQ / Parametric EQ.
- Removable back cover design.
- Audio Formats Supported: APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3, DFF, DSF, and DXD.
- Support for M3U playlists.
- 3.8V 3200mAh Li-Polymer battery (replaceable)
Screen: Sharp 5.0" | 1080x1920 P | on-cell capacitive touch panel
Audio Format: APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, ACC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3, DFF, DSF, DXD, and DST
USB: Type C (3.1)
Outputs
Bluetooth: v5.0
Clock: Dual NDK Femtosecond Oscillators
Battery: 3200mAh 3.8V li-polymer battery
Charge Time: 1.5 hours
Average Play Time: 15.5 hours (Low), 13 hours (High), 30 hours (Line Out)
Size: 4.8" x 2.9" x 0.6"
Weight: 7.3 oz
iBasso 1-Year Product Warranty
4.4mm BAL Headphone Out:
Audio Format: APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, ACC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3, DFF, DSF, DXD, and DST
USB: Type C (3.1)
Outputs
- 4.4mm balanced phone out (+ line out)
- 3.5mm SE phone out (+ line out)
- 3.5mm coaxial output
- USB OTG
Bluetooth: v5.0
- Transmitter Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC
- Receiver Codecs (DAC Mode): AAC, SBC
Clock: Dual NDK Femtosecond Oscillators
Battery: 3200mAh 3.8V li-polymer battery
Charge Time: 1.5 hours
Average Play Time: 15.5 hours (Low), 13 hours (High), 30 hours (Line Out)
Size: 4.8" x 2.9" x 0.6"
Weight: 7.3 oz
iBasso 1-Year Product Warranty
4.4mm BAL Headphone Out:
- Max Output Level: 6Vrms
* Low Gain: 4Vrms - Output Power: 690mW + 690mW @32Ω, THD+N＜0.1%
* Low Gain: 500mW + 500mW @32Ω) - Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
- SNR: 133dB
- Dynamic Range: 133dB
- THD+N: -121dB (A-wt, 600Ω)
- Crosstalk: -144dB
- Noise Floor: <1.1μV (High Gain)
- Output Impedance: 1.1Ω
- Max Output Level: 3Vrms
- Output Power: 281mW + 281mW@32Ω, THD＜0.1%
- Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
- SNR: 127dB
- Dynamic Range: 127dB
- THD+N: -116dB (A-wt, 600Ω)
- Crosstalk: -118dB
- Noise Floor: <1.1μV (High Gain)
- Output Impedance: 0.6Ω
- Max Output Level: 4Vrms
- Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
- SNR: 133dB
- Dynamic Range: 133dB
- THD+N: -121dB
- Crosstalk: -130dB
- Max Output Level: 2Vrms
- Frequency Response: 10Hz~75kHz -1dB
- SNR: 125dB
- Dynamic Range: 125dB
- THD+N: -112dB
- Crosstalk: -115dB
According to iBasso... The CS43131, Cirrus Logic's flagship DAC chip, boasts an impressive dynamic range of 130dB and an incredibly low THD+N of -115dB. The DX180 utilizes the same DAC matrix technology as the DX260, with Quad CS43131 chips working in unison to exceed the CS43131's theoretical technical limit. The AP measured THD+N reaches an impressive -121dB, demonstrating the superior technology and design concept utilized by the DX180, surpassing that of its competitors. The true measurements of the DX170 are close to the theoretical limits of the CS43131 chipset. However, the DX180 has gone a step further, completely surpassing the obstacles and becoming an insurmountable peak in this price range.
While unfamiliar with other DAPs, the DX180's features and specifications are astonishingly superb. Seriously… SNR of 133 dB and a THD+N of -121 dB … are insanely good. We don’t see these specs on high-end home audio equipment that costs multiple times that of the DX180. However, are the DACs appropriately implemented, and can these measurements be translated into beneficial relevance with the limitations of its primary use with headphones and IEMs? We can all answer that question for ourselves based on our music-listening needs. Of course, I do have an opinion that I will share later.
Unboxing and Setup
I was eager to receive the DX180 and begin my new DAP experience. The package includes the DX180 unit, a USB-C cable, a clear TPU case with a rubberized feel, four screen protectors, a warranty card, and a Quick-Start Guide. I couldn’t find any other case for the unit, but I hope to see a leather case available on Amazon soon. The DX180 arrived at 90% charge and was ready for a super-easy setup. I adjusted the settings and loaded the SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC card I bought from Amazon.
The Android software is fast and sufficient. It isn’t lacking in any way during navigation, downloading, or general use. It’s basically like an Android phone without all the fluff. Any app from the Google Play Store can be installed, although I prefer to keep it simple. The first apps I downloaded were HEOS and Roon ARC. Otherwise, my home screen is minimal, which is how I like it.
Experimenting with the included Mango music app and its dismal performance led me to install one more app: Symfonium music player. I’m not sure if it was my failure to understand Mango or if it was that bad, but I couldn’t get it to work efficiently. Symfonium makes life much easier for music discovery and playback. If you need a music player app, I recommend checking it out. Not only can I designate the SD card for my music folder, but it can also connect to our NAS. It only took a few minutes for all the music on our NAS to be available on my S24, but of course, I used the SD card in the DX180 so that our music would be completely portable. Symfonium is also customizable. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
There is also Roon, although not free. We got in on the lifetime subscription. It's one of the best if you stream music from Tidal and Qobuz. It also allows access to our NAS, and we can build our library with music from streaming sources in addition to our own personal library on the NAS. It also integrates with TailScale, a secure VPN program available in the Play Store. So when traveling, we can connect to Roon and our entire music library.
The DX180’s controls are straightforward. The large volume knob is on the upper right side, with three buttons below it. The SD card holder and USB-C connection are on top, and the line outputs are on the bottom.
Below is the screen’s default layout and its various indicators. The upper bar will add the sampling rate and FIR mode while the music is playing.
The DX180 also includes a graphic EQ and a parametric EQ. The graphic EQ has 10 bands ranging from 33Hz to 16kHz. You can customize it manually or use one of the five preset EQs. The parametric EQ has six filters that can be configured as peak, notch, low-shelf, high-shelf, bandpass, high-pass, low-pass, or all-pass. There are also five digital filters and the option for 2X FIR output. Ultimately, you can listen and decide which settings you like best. They are supposed to differ slightly, although I couldn’t hear any significant variance myself.
User Manual: http://www.ibasso.com/uploadfiles/download/DX180userguide.pdf
Listening: IEMs
iBasso says the DX180 burn-in time is commonly between 100 and 200 hours, noting that the point of burn-in is to help form the new capacitors and other components. Can this forming process alter the signal’s sound, and is the sound neutral before or after the change? If you’re an electrical engineer familiar with this process, please let me know—I’m curious. After my initial listening evaluation, I was considerably short of that 100-200-hour range, so these thoughts are based on my out-of-the-box experience. In addition to my normal listening, I plan to let the DX180 keep playing music (while I’m not listening) for a few days to facilitate “burn-in.” I’ll edit this review and add a note after sufficient hours.
Update: There are now well over 100 hours on the DX180, and I haven’t noticed any differences in sound quality. It has been excellent from day one. Of course, as others suggest, I may have adapted to the sound and simply not realized any improvements.
Based on a few reviews, I picked up the 7Hz Timeless and the Etymotic ER4XR IEMs mainly because I needed a starting point and felt like the lower side of mid-fi was a good fit. I needed more time to research what I wanted from the more expensive range before ordering. It’s hard to justify spending thousands of dollars chasing something I can’t match with my traditional two-channel room systems. Granted, this is a different kind of listening experience, so perhaps some enthusiasts feel it’s worth the cost. I was floored when I saw some IEMs costing 7-8 grand… there are even a few Limited to 5 Pairs Worldwide [Special Order] at $13,700. I think I kept my spending reasonable, and I have more IEMs to try out later, including a few better-quality models that might be considered on the higher side of mid-fi or even on the lower side of high-end. I also plan to listen with my headphones, but initially, I wanted to experience complete portability and test some better IEMs than I’ve tried in the past.
For my first listening session, I used the 7Hz Timeless IEMs. They have a 14.2mm planar driver with a double-sided array N52 magnet and an ultra-thin diaphragm. I’m a huge planar speaker fan, so I admit to some bias in choosing these. They’re the first respectable-quality IEMs I’ve used. I downloaded several songs to the SD card and began listening with the Mango app. It was late, and my eyes were getting heavy, but at least I could confirm everything worked and sounded good.
The next day, I set up my Roon reference playlist of 67 songs (about 6 hours of music). This may seem like a lot, but it’s a mix of many genres that reveal different aspects of a system’s capabilities. I also use specific songs to test certain features (e.g., tight bass, extended sub-bass, clear vocals, crisp highs). My listening was with the default 2X FIR output and filter D2 settings. Switching through filters, if I heard any differences, they were negligible, so I stuck with the NOS filter (perhaps for psychological reasons). I kept the EQ flat. The following are a few of the songs and what I’m listening for when listening to those songs.
- Cassandra Wilson Dance to the Drummer Again - tight, snappy, and hard-hitting drums on one of the best drum recordings I’ve ever heard.
- Bassotronics Bass I Love You Too - feel and hear the lowest sub-bass octaves.
- Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You - clear, non-shilling, and non-sibilant vocals.
- Alanis Morisette Uninvited - enormous height and width of the symphonic soundstage.
- Tool Chocolate Chip Trip - can I trip out with them… two-channel phase tricks.
- Cassandra Wilson Strange Fruit - horn player on the back left-center of the stage.
- Hanne Boel House of the Rising Sun - stunning vocals with that symphonic soundstage.
- Maroon 5 Lips On You - excellent vocals and rumbling sub-bass.
- O-Zone Percussion Group Jazz Variants - big bass drum, airy bell tree, and intricately detailed highs.
- Fink Trouble’s What You’re In - guitar slapping and plucking.
- Lindsay Buckingham I’m So Afraid - rock out with the drums and crazy guitar riffs.
I am curious to learn how much of these characteristics using a DAP and IEMs/headphones will be similar to what I experience in my two-channel home systems. I’m not expecting miracles.
After my Roon playlist, I listened to songs on the SD card using Symfonium, then a Roon Nubya Garcia Jazz Mix (23 tracks—bout 2 hours), and finally, a few tracks from Hans Zimmer Live in Prague, which should have sounded huge.
How did it all sound? I was most amazed that I could sit for over eight hours with IEMs in my ears since I’m usually not fond of anything in my ears. Please don’t let my wife read this; she’d investigate the IEM type and start shopping for hearing aids to fit the same way. I’ve lost my excuse now. The music was good, and I enjoyed it more than I expected. Thankfully, the 7Hz Timeless IEMs were comfortable enough to allow such a long listening session.
About three hours in, I swapped the 7Hz for the Etymotic ER4XR. I immediately noticed their bass response was not as extended or smooth, and I heard some distortion. Volume was moderate, so it wasn’t from an excessive level. That’s not to say I didn’t ever crank it up; the 7Hz handled Hans Zimmer’s Crimson Tide / Angels & Demons at very high volume without flinching. I was also not fond of the ER4XR’s barrel shape—inserting them so deeply was annoying. The bass disappeared with the smaller, more comfortable tip because the seal wasn’t as tight. The 7Hz Timeless requires far less insertion into the ear and sounded better in every way to me. The DX180 / 7Hz combo delivered excellent sub-bass extension—clean and snappy. The midrange was smooth, with vocal clarity that might surpass some of my headphones, and the upper end was detailed and precise with no harshness or fatigue. The only real shortfall was a lack of a big soundstage or pinpoint imaging (which you’ll read more about later).
The Mini Soundstage
I’d like to digress for a moment about the concept of soundstage with headphones and IEMs. I often read reviews describing an “incredible soundstage” or a “wide and deep soundstage” for headphones and IEMs. This usually isn’t achievable without complex DSP implementations (such as a Smyth Realiser or BRIR filters). Our heads simply don’t provide enough three-dimensional space to separate instruments as if they’re several feet away. In reality, a stage is typically at least a few meters wide and deep—far beyond what fits “inside” our skulls—so you can’t get a true sense of a large stage with IEMs or headphones alone. Yes, some headphones produce a wider or deeper mini soundstage, but it’s nothing like a properly set up listening room with speakers. Crossfeed circuits might add slight dimensionality, but not by several feet. Some high-end headphones offer better imaging and separation, leading to a slightly out-of-head experience, yet they still don’t resemble a full speaker setup or a live stage. We might still call this phenomenon “soundstage,” as many do, but it’s more accurate to think of it as a mini soundstage—one that doesn’t exist in real life at that scale.
Listening: Headphones
Speaking of headphones, it was time to try the DX180 with a few of mine. I’ve been using headphones more than ever since retiring because they’re convenient while reading and writing on my computer. I still need to figure out how to keep my ears cool after hours of use. We owned a pair of AKG K240s for over 25 years before they fell apart. In 2011, looking for a replacement without spending a fortune, I tested multiple models and ended up with the Audio-Technica A900s. A few years later, the upgrade bug bites again, and after further testing, I bought the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm. I still have them and will mention a few others shortly.
My headphone equipment includes the FiiO Olympus 2 (USB DAC), the Matrix mini-i Pro 4 (DAC/streamer/headphone amp), the WiiM Ultra (DAC/streamer/headphone amp), the SMSL DO400 (DAC/headphone amp), RME Adi-2 DAC FS (DAC/headphone amp), Aune S17 (Class A headphone amp), Topping DX9 (DAC/headphone amp) and the HiFiMAN Serenade (DAC/headphone amp). You can read my comparison review of most of these here: Headphone Amps: A Sound Comparison of Eight Popular Amps.
With the DT 770s, I had to crank the DX180 volume up to reach comparable levels since they’re more demanding than IEMs, and I didn’t have a 4.4mm adapter for extra power. I started with Hans Zimmer on Roon, then moved to my reference playlist, skipping around to different songs and clips since I couldn’t do 6+ hours per headphone for this test. The 7Hz Timeless IEMs were more defined in bass and extension than the 770s, though their presentation wasn’t quite as large. Nevertheless, the 770s sounded just as good through the DX180 as they do through my other headphone rigs.
How would the DX180 handle more serious headphones? I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 800 S and HiFiMAN HE1000SE on my rack. Starting with the 800 S, they sounded as good as I’ve heard them, which says a lot about the DX180. While the 800 S can be a bit bass-shy, what bass they do have is well-defined, and they’re incredibly clear. They also have one of the best mini soundstages. Again, the DX180 kept pace with my other headphone amps. The HE1000SE has better bass than the 800 S but is equally strong in other areas. Once again, the DX180 sounded excellent. I also tried the Arya Organics with the same results—fantastic. The only real concern is volume if you like to listen extremely loud. I’ll discuss that further in the comparison of headphones and electronics.
Listening: More IEMs
Listening to other IEMs, I tried the FiiO FH5s with their default tuning. Priced in the low $200 range, they’re similar in price to the 7Hz Timeless. They fit about the same, though I’d give the Timeless a slight comfort edge. The FH5s use two Balanced Armatures and two Dynamic Drivers, including the 12mm beryllium-plated dome + PU gasket dynamic low-frequency driver, a 6mm beryllium-plated dynamic mid driver, and the Knowles TWFK-30017 BA drivers for treble. I enjoyed the FH5s; they sounded good with the DX180. I could hear even lower sub-bass on the FH5s than on the Timeless, especially on Bassotronics’ Bass I Love You Too. The drum snap was also more pronounced in Hanne Boel’s House of the Rising Sun. However, the Timeless offered slightly better vocal clarity. I'd have difficulty choosing between the two if I were limited to $250 or less. Combining the FH5s’ sub-bass prowess with the Timeless’s clarity would be perfect. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, neither produced a soundstage that extended beyond my head. Still, I’m thoroughly enjoying the DX180 with IEMs.
Next came the Sony IER-Z1R IEMs. These are a triple-driver hybrid design with 12mm bass/midrange dynamic drivers, a side-firing BA treble driver, and a 5mm micro-dynamic tweeter. I probably don’t need to say much more: these almost make me want to give up my HD 800S and HE1000SE headphones. The bass is magnificent, the vocals are crystal clear, and the highs are smooth and detailed. The bass won’t vibrate your outer ear like some big headphones can, but it’s still phenomenal for an IEM. Their only drawback is comfort; the housing feels large for my ears, pressing at the bottom of my outer ear. I don’t have that issue with other IEMs.
When I thought it could not get any better, along comes the Mest, the Unique Melody Mest MKII. The Mest has 7 Traditional Drivers + Dual Sides Bone Conduction System, consisting of a 4-way Quadbrid with 1 Dynamic Bass Driver + 2 BA Mid Drivers+ 2 BA Treble Drivers +2 EST (Electrostatic) Ultra High Drivers + 1 Full Range B2 Bone Conduction Driver. A rather complicated driver system. How could the bass be any better than the IER-Z1Rs? With the Mest, I thought I might be moving a little on those sub-bass notes on Bass I Love You Too. I could certainly feel the bass in my ears. Incredible! Swapping back and forth, the Z1Rs sounded more reserved in the mids and highs, although the bass was still good. It almost made me wonder if these were the IEMs I was listening to the day before when I thought they would be the best I’d hear. They are still better than any others I’d heard, and they are superb IEMs, but the Mest bettered them in midrange clarity and had even smoother treble detail. I was scratching my head at how I had not previously missed that clarity and detail in the Z1R, but now I miss it. However, I understand it can take comparisons like this to help notice differences and shortcomings. And the Mest bass… wow… maybe not as boosted as the Z1R, but slightly deeper and more defined, blending in with the other drivers to form perfection and absolutely the best IEM I’ve listened to. These are keepers!
The Mest also has the best mini-soundstage of any I’ve heard, surpassing some of my headphones. These made me want to spend the day listening to every song in my reference playlist. They are also very comfortable, which makes a huge difference when listening for extended periods. So the Z1Rs can no longer be rated 10/10 on my list of IEMs… I’ll have to back them up to 9/10 to make room for the Mest being 10/10. If the Z1Rs are fabulous sounding to my ears, then the Mest have to be even more fabulous sounding. Why am I enjoying these IEMs as much as I am? This is fun listening, even if it’s not as good as my better headphones or my AV room.
I got a good night's rest and started my morning with the Z1Rs to verify what I had been hearing. They sound excellent, and if it were not for the discomfort, I could listen to these IEMs all day long and enjoy them. But then I connected the Mest and again realized what I was missing with the Z1Rs. The music seems to come to life with the Mest. I can see how enthusiasts would pick the Z1Rs over most other IEMs, as I would also pick them over the others I’ve heard before the Mest. And if I’d never heard the Mest, I would never know what I would have been missing. Then, there continues to be the comfort factor. The Mest feels right in my ears. I like listening to these IEMs. Now the question is, what can best the Mest?
Listening: Bluetooth Pairing
I have a pair of AKG Y50BT Bluetooth on-ear headphones we got for free about a decade ago. I’d never listened to them, so I figured I might as well test them with the DX180. Pairing was straightforward, and I scrolled through my Roon playlist. While it was uncomfortable to have them pressing on my ears, they actually sounded pretty good. The bass extension was excellent, though the mids and highs were somewhat subdued compared to the 770s. I was pleasantly surprised, as I hadn’t expected much.
Next, I paired the DX180 with my Vanatoo Black Transparent One Encore Plus desktop monitors in Bluetooth mode. These speakers already sound fantastic via USB from my computer, so I was curious if the DX180 might improve things further. I used the Vanatoo remote to switch between the computer (Roon playlist) and the DX180 (Symfonium playlist). I played the same song simultaneously on each device, switching instantly back and forth. Once volumes were matched, I couldn’t tell any difference—both sounded equally good. Any difference in volume made the louder source appear “better,” which reaffirms how crucial it is to level-match when comparing sources. This test also confirmed that the DX180 could produce an excellent soundstage and imaging when paired with external speakers, reinforcing the idea that it could easily serve as a high-quality source in a serious home audio setup.
In short, the DX180 is a viable source for Bluetooth speakers or headphones. I can imagine taking it down to the river with a couple of BT speakers to drown out the cicadas and croaking backup frogs.
Listening: Headphones Electronics Comparison
I began with the FiiO Olympus 2 USB DAC/amp, driving my DT 770s. The FiiO sounded like it had issues—so much so that I wondered if it needed to be trashed. The DX180 was noticeably clearer and more powerful. I’m not sure what’s wrong with the FiiO or if it’s simply aged poorly. I hadn’t used it in a long time, and it had been my only portable amp before the DX180. For the test, I ran the DX180 in USB DAC mode to make switching headphones easier on my PC, but I encountered an odd issue: each time I disconnected from the FiiO and plugged into the DX180, the DX180 would emit nasty distortion. I had to disable and re-enable USB DAC mode to fix the problem. I’m unsure if this is normal, but it won’t really affect me since I don’t plan to rely on USB DAC mode often. Ultimately, the DX180 outperformed the FiiO in every way, likely because the FiiO was malfunctioning.
Next, using the Mest IEMs, I started my Roon reference playlist on the Matrix mini-i Pro 4 and the DX180, carefully matching volume. Proper level matching is crucial because our ears interpret sound differently with even slight volume variations. I swapped back and forth using the 4.4mm output on the DX180, listening closely for differences. There were none, which tells me the DX180 can keep up with most headphone electronics.
Just for fun, I connected the Aune S17 to the Matrix mini-i Pro 4, grouped both the S17 and the DX180 in Roon, and listened through my HEKse at moderately loud levels. Again, I switched back and forth and couldn’t hear any notable differences. The fact that the DX180 stands on equal ground with the S17 is impressive.
Some DAC headphone amps may outperform the DX180 in terms of volume on headphones with low sensitivity and needing more power. While the 4.4mm output will drive all my headphones to extremely loud and uncomfortable levels, they are not the most demanding headphones to drive. Stay tuned to our reviews here at avnirvana.com for an enlightening headphone amp comparison... coming soon! (It's here: Headphone Amps: A Sound Comparison of Eight Popular Amps)
Regarding that noise issue in the USB DAC mode, I did not experience any noise or issues when swapping IEMs or headphones numerous times in DAP mode, which will likely make it a non-issue for most users.
Update (9/16/24): I tested the DX180 with Dan Clark Audio Stealth headphones, which are notoriously difficult to drive. Even at full volume on the 4.4mm output, I only reached moderate listening levels. Personally, I wouldn’t rely on the DX180 alone if I owned a pair of Stealths. Not for me to worry about, as I won't be keeping the Stealths. Hail to the HEKse headphones.
Listening: Summary
The DX180 DAP now has well over 200 hours, thanks to daily listening sessions and letting it run unattended. I haven’t noticed any improvement tied to iBasso’s recommended break-in period. If there was a change, it must have been gradual enough that I didn’t detect it. It sounded good from the start, and it still does. Maybe it’s better, but I can’t tell how.
This DAP-and-IEM journey has definitely opened my eyes to a new way of listening. I’ve enjoyed these sessions and will keep experimenting with more IEMs. Still, it’s not the same as relaxing in my AV room, where I’m fully immersed and can actually feel the music, creating a more profound, emotional experience. With the DAP/IEM approach, you inevitably lose some of that large-scale soundstage and precise imaging depth, at least compared to a high-end speaker setup. Regardless, it’s a great alternative—especially when I’m writing or researching on my computer—and I enjoy it.
Battery Life
In short, the specs are accurate: battery life is pretty good. I haven’t done a precise measurement, but it’s always been enough to carry me from morning to night (or to keep playing unattended for burn-in) without running dry. It also fully charges in just over an hour. The battery is user-replaceable, which is a standout feature among modern DAPs.
iBasso Service and Support
The first few times I emailed iBasso, they responded quickly. However, my last email about USB DAC noise when connecting headphones went unanswered for three days, prompting me to send a follow-up on the fourth day. Soon afterward, they replied, explaining they’d identified a bug and would fix it in the next firmware update. The brief delay may have been due to them investigating the problem. I don’t know much about iBasso, as this is my first product from them, but I haven’t encountered any serious complaints. A quick search of “iBasso customer service” also yielded positive feedback. They appear to be strong on the service side. I discovered an iBasso Facebook group as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/561513361202690/.
Update (9/27/24): Firmware was released to resolve the DAC noise issue.
Conclusion
I can’t compare the DX180 to other DAPs firsthand, but it’s so satisfying that I have no desire to spend more on a different player. It packs a slew of high-end features, stellar specs, fast processing, and an excellent, neutral sound, all at a reasonable price—provided you’re pairing it with decent IEMs or headphones, which is likely the only major factor in performance. Other than the pickiest audiophiles, I suspect most listeners would find the DX180 comparable to many top-tier streaming DAC/amp solutions, as long as it has sufficient power for your headphones. It’s exceptionally clean and supports unlimited streaming apps via Android. It won’t be a limiting factor in your setup if the headphones/IEMs aren’t extremely demanding. It does exactly what it should without inhibiting sound quality.
Overall, it meets our personal needs perfectly as a portable music server we can use at home or on the go. If you’re looking for a DAP, I highly recommend giving the DX180 a serious look.
[UPDATE: September 27, 2024] See how the DX180 compares in a lineup of eight headphone amps: Headphone Amps: A Sound Comparison of Eight Popular Amps
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