iBasso DX180 - To DAP or not to DAP?

4⭐️

+ Rich, full, and mature sound signature with an emphasis on the low end

+ Soundstage expansion 

+ Feature rich 

+ Great battery life

+ Android 13

+ Silicone case included

- Some may not want extra bass and rumble

- Sharp edges on the DAP which can be uncomfortable without the case

- USB-C port on the top of the unit is weird coming from smartphones

- Price

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This product was provided by iBasso for a tour through the Audio Geek group. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gear used: 

●LG v30+

●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

●Letshuoer DT03 

●Onix Alpha XI1

●Dunu DTC480 

●Various IEMs

Source:

●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD as well as local FLAC files.

Introduction: 

iBasso is a Chinese company that was founded way back in 2006. They are a well-known manufacturer of digital audio players (DAPs), as well as IEMs and DAC/amps. They offer a wide range of DAPs, from the entry-level DX170 to the TOTL multi-kilobuck DX320. The DX180 is one of iBasso's newest and more budget-friendly releases, coming in at $499, and there are three color options available: green, blue, and black. This will be my first attempt at a DAP review, so let's break down the DX180 and see what it has to offer.

Tech specs:

• Quad (x4) Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips + capable 690mW @32Ω driving power

• Noticeably smoother and quicker user interface

• Dedicated USB receiver for low latency USB-DAC mode

• New aesthetic design, new UI, and removable back cover with battery access and serviceability

• Android 13 OS

• 5.0" 1080x1920P screen, BT v5.0, and 802.11b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi

• 3.5mm SE + 4.4mm BAL outputs (headphone / line-outs shared)

Further specifications can be found here: https://bloomaudio.com/products/ibasso-dx180?variant=40774862143563

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The DX180 comes in a nice little blue box and includes a silicone case and charging cord. The unit itself is well-built and heavier than you might expect. It feels very premium in the hand and has a luxurious build quality. It's a bit thicker and smaller than most smartphones today, so its ergonomics do take some getting used to. The body is made of CNC-machined aluminum, and the color is quite striking. The green variant has a sort of teal undertone and is dark and rich. The scroll wheel functions well, and adjusting it feels good. There is an option in the system to disable the wheel when the screen is off. This is a thoughtful feature as the wheel could be bumped when putting it in and out of your pocket or just by accident in general. There are also three buttons on the same side, located underneath the wheel, that can be used for pause/play, next, and the previous track. The top of the unit features an input for SD cards and the USB-C charging port. The bottom houses the 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs. Placing the USB-C port on the top of the unit and the headphone jacks on the bottom is certainly one way to go, but coming from daily smartphone use, it can be a bit jarring. I'm not sure how common this configuration is with other DAPs, but it makes charging the DX180 while in use a bit bothersome for me. Also, when I put the DAP in my pocket, I would prefer the headphone jack to be on the top so that I don't have to place it upside down. The included silicone case is very handy. It helps protect the fantastic aluminum chassis and keeps it looking clean and scratch-free. It also makes the DX180 more comfortable to hold, as the edges can be a bit sharp, especially near the scroll wheel. The screen has good resolution, but it's not quite up to the same standards as today's smartphones, which is fine, really. I don't need a DAP to have the best screen as long as it's clear and well-lit.

System and features:

The DX180 has a plethora of built-in features, and the Android 13 operating system unlocks even more possibilities from the Google Play Store. There are seriously so many different ways to use and enjoy this device that it would be impossible to cover in this review. Therefore, I will only discuss the options that work best for me, given that I am coming from a smartphone-only environment. I primarily use my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to stream and download Amazon Music and also listen to some local FLAC files. The DX180 can also be used to access the Amazon Music app as well as many others, such as Qobuz, Spotify, Roon, Tidal, and just about any app you can think of through the Play Store. I also utilized the built-in iBasso Mango music player for local FLAC files. This player is impressive due to the number of features packed into it. There are both EQ and PEQ options available, which offer a great deal of customization, and that's not even considering the DX180's five filter options that can be easily accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen at any time. In this drop-down menu, the gain, output, and FIR modes can also be changed. The overall speed at which the system operates is quite good, but I was slightly disappointed by the touch controls. In my experience, the accuracy is inferior to that of most smartphones, and I would have preferred it to be more responsive. 

Battery life:

iBasso's marketing materials claim that the DX180 is capable of getting an average of 15.5 hours at low gain, 13 hours at high gain, and 30 hours through line out. Now, they do preface those numbers with a disclaimer that the playtime will vary depending on file resolution, volume, and headphone/IEM loads. I was able to get over 9 hours of continuous use through the 4.4mm port on high gain mode at a moderate/high volume level, which is definitely lower than the 13 that iBasso claims. This was also without Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabled and with minimal interaction with the screen and system. So, my results were a little disappointing, but I do listen at high volumes and to higher bitrate files, so it does make sense. And to be honest, 9 hours is still a lot—in fact, it's more than enough for me and my needs. Obviously, use cases will vary, so some will get more out of the DX180's battery life than I did. I will also add that it does charge very quickly, and just a short 30-minute charging stint will have you back up and running with a substantial amount of battery.

Sound impressions:

I would characterize the DX180's sound as energetic and revealing yet smooth with a decent bass boost and extension. The overall effect is simply a deeper, fuller, more luxurious, and enjoyable sound than before. It's hard to put into words exactly. It can be like going from 1080p to 4k resolution. The differences may not be obvious and apparent at first glance, but they are there, and the longer you listen, the more you discover. Everything sounds just a bit cleaner and crisper. It seems to take everything up a notch regarding technicalities and resolution. I found it very impressive, and it's a noticeable increase in quality over my usual dongles. The first obvious improvement is the expansive and deeper sub-bass. Also, the midbass has more impact and weight. In fact, the bass is just overall better with every IEM I tested. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Pairing the DX180 with an already bright or energetic set can push it even further, becoming quite troublesome to my ears. Also, with sets that already feature a lot of bass, the DX180 might add even more, which can skew the tuning too much toward the low end. Don't get me wrong, I love me some bass, but not every headphone/IEM will benefit from it.

Comparisons:

●Letshuoer DT03 - The soundstage is noticeably wider and deeper on the DX180, with a bigger bass impact and slam. Vocals are a bit more forward on the DT03, but they sound more natural on the DX180. The DT03 seems to focus more on the midrange, specifically vocals, while the DX180 accentuates the bass energy and extension. However, the DX180 is also more resolving and has better detail. The soundstage is the most noticeable improvement on the DX180; it completely opens up each track and improves the separation. This comparison is not entirely fair, as the DX180 is over five times more expensive. Ultimately, these are different devices for different needs.

●Onix Alpha XI1 - The bass hits deeper and harder with more reverberation and weight on the DX180. The soundstage is similar on these two, but the DX180 has a distinct advantage in depth. The Onix does well to compete in width, though. Vocals are again more forward with the Onix, whereas the DX180 emphasizes the bass. The DX180 offers a more natural, organic, and overall cleaner sound, whereas the Onix can sound a little more processed or digital in comparison. The Onix is the closest dongle of the ones I had for testing in terms of overall performance and features, with its four filter options, but the DX180 is still simply better across the board.

●Dunu DTC480 - It's no surprise at this point that the bass sounds bigger and more full with better extension on the DX180. The vocals are a bit more forward on the DTC480, but the guitar strums are better defined and more resolving with the DX180. The DX180 also offers a thicker note weight, a more natural timbre, and a deeper soundstage, but it is slightly more energetic, so it might not be as great of a match with already energetic IEMs or headphones as the DTC480. The DX180 definitely offers superior sound quality here, but the Dunu DTC480 does well to hold its own. For less than a fifth of the price, the DTC480 is a decent little dongle that can easily be paired with a smartphone or other sources, but function-wise, it's about as barebones as it can be. To my ears, this is the closest dongle that I tested to matching the DX180's tuning, but it's still far from being competitive in quality or features. 

●Hiby FC4 - Again, this one has a bit less bass authority and extension than the DX180. However, the FC4 is actually on par when it comes to timbre and resolution. The DX180 is still smoother and less energetic in the midrange and treble, which might be a better fit for some headphones/IEMs. Overall, it has a more musical presentation and offers a better soundstage and separation. Even if the bass elevation of the DX180 is not always welcome, it's hard to argue with the smoother and more musical presentation of the DX180.

●LG V30+ (using built in quad DAC) - The DX180 offers a more expansive soundstage in both width and depth. It's also a bit more revealing, smoother, has a bigger bass presence and rumble, and a bit more sparkly treble, specifically with things like cymbals. The LG is a bit less dynamic and energetic, but vocals are better separated. The DX180 offers a more refined sound and is quite a lot more powerful, especially through the balanced output. Even though the LG only has Android 9, it is still quick and snappy with more responsive touch controls. The battery life of the DX180 is leagues better, but the LG is old and used, so it's not a great direct comparison. The DX180's battery can also be replaced if needed, which gives it a leg up on most smartphones nowadays. Honestly, the LG sounds pretty close to the DX180, and it only cost me $35 on the used market. Sure, it's not a dedicated audio-first device, but it works really well for my needs and serves as a fantastic little DAP in its own right. It can be loaded with a ton of streaming apps and music players, offering a lot of customizable features like EQ and PEQ. It even has three built-in filters of its own. The differences between these two are fairly subtle unless it's an especially power-hungry set or a TOTL transducer like the AME Mousa that I used in testing. With more budget friendly sets, the differences in sound quality and performance are less distinguishable.

In conclusion:

I think I would really like to own a DAP someday, but for now, I'm enjoying the freedom and versatility offered by smartphones. Anytime I want to hear a specific song, I can simply look it up without worrying about my proximity to Wi-Fi. The built-in amp of the DX180 means I could bid farewell to dongles, but I'm not sure if I want to just yet. Of course, a DAP is more convenient for plug-and-play use on the go, but I personally rarely listen to my devices while moving about anyway, so a dongle doesn't really bother me. What you're essentially paying for in a DAP is an all-in-one audio device that is easily transportable and offers sound quality far superior to that of today's smartphones. And what you get with the DX180 is a quality device packed full of features. From the five easily togglable filter options to the EQ and PEQ options of the iBasso player app, you have a full range of options to cater to the sound exactly the way you like it. And because it's an Android-based system with access to the Play Store, there are a plethora of apps at your disposal. I love that this hobby has so many choices in how you can access and transport your music, and I do believe the iBasso DX180 to be a fantastic DAP that holds great value at its current price. Though for me personally, I'm not sure I can justify spending $500 on an all-in-one device when I can get a similar enough experience and sound quality (at least to my ears) with a 5-year-old LG that cost me only $35. Sure, the DX180 absolutely destroys my old device in terms of battery life, and it has a ton of audio-related functions that the LG does not. But for my personal enjoyment, I am plenty happy with it at this time in my journey. While I do believe a DAP is not essential for enjoying your music, and they may be somewhat of a niche product in an already niche hobby, there is much to gain by having one like the DX180 that offers so much versatility. There is something to be said about having a separate device from your phone for audio enjoyment, and I believe the DX180 to be a fantastic device for that purpose. When my little LG V30 finally decides to kick the bucket, I will have to seriously consider picking up the DX180 as a replacement. I recommend it to anyone looking for an entry-level DAP, and iBasso can be proud of the quality of this latest release.