A review of the iBasso player DX120 — continuing the offensive

specifications

the
• DAC: AK4495
the
• frequency Range: 10 Hz ~ 45 kHz (-1 dB)
the
• output power: up to 400 mW @ 32Ω
the
• Output voltage: balanced output — 3.6 Vrms, regular output of 1.8 Vrms
the
• Total harmonic distortion+noise: balanced output — 0.00028%, regular output — 0.00042%
the
• Dynamic range: balanced output — 117 dB, normal output — 115 dB
the
• the Ratio signal/noise: balanced output — 117 dB, normal output — 115 dB
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• Division: balanced output — 116 dB, normal output — 115 dB
the
• Output impedance: balanced output — 0.36 Ω, the usual way — 0.24 Ω
the
• Screen: 3.2″ IPS, 480 × 800
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• Outputs: 2.5 mm balanced, 3.5 mm regular, 3.5 mm line-in, 3.5 mm coaxial
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• Entrance: USB-C support QC2.0
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• Battery: 3700 mA/h
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• hours on a single charge: 16 hours
the
• charging Time QC: to 2 hours
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• memory Card: MicroSD
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• Maximum resolution: 384 kHz/32 bit, DSD128
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• Dimensions: 63 mm × 113 mm × 15 mm
the
• Weight: 165 gr.

Packing and delivery

Despite the standard, the box is made quite nice. The scheme of traditional packaging: thick cardboard box in the «the jacket», but quality materials and unusual gray-blue color scheme give care about the design. Inside, besides the player, you will find:

the
• USB charging cable use the device as DAC
the
• polucha-bumper made of silicone
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• protective glass for the screen and swipe to install it

«warm-up» cable the

• adapter for coaxial output
the
• paper

Design and control

Appearance is also quite possible designers of the company. In iBasso worked on the shape, moving away from the traditional chopped of straight lines, characteristic for their previous players. The novelty has received a completely different appearance, streamlined, with smooth longitudinal faces and unusual textures. Most of the casing is made of aluminum, there are two interesting colors: pale coffee-brown and a kind of greyish blue. Both look at the same time not flashy, but stylish, like the legend of that 120 was originally created for the Japanese market has some reasons. The rear panel of the player is made of glossy black plastic, which slightly spoils the total delight of the latter, but given the fact that developers had to invest at a given price, I don't think it's big trouble.

Controls are fairly freely placed on different faces. Bottom can find all three outputs, and 3.5 mm with gold rings around them look much more spectacular than modest 2.5 mm. to the Right are all the six control buttons: power on/lock screen, adjust volume, and navigate tracks. The buttons are logically grouped and have a different size, which simplifies the management blindly. The keys themselves are a bit lack freewheel, you get used to it and discomfort to use it does not deliver.

Firmware

To the delight of googleanalytics, iBasso decided to do this one without Android (and no wireless interfaces at the same time), it uses their own life, many years well-known fans of the brand under the name of Mango OS. The usual add-on Linux has been seriously upgraded, which improved performance and responsiveness, as well as to optimize the I/o that is supposed to affect the sound. On first impressions, all this company most likely failed than not.

The Main screen causes a good feeling of nostalgia to all fans of the brand: top cover, below the playback controls and the band rewind. Traditionally, under the cover there are buttons, one is responsible for the playback order, the second line displays the quick access menu to the main settings (gapeless, Gein, digital filter, sound mode, and USB mode). Tap on the cover shows three buttons: view information about the track, add to playlist and delete.

Additional settings include language selection (Russian available), screen brightness, Wallpaper, manage timers backlight, sleep, and off idle, system info, reset to factory settings and re-scan the media library.

In General, IOS has proved to be stable and smooth, however, I don't really use complex scenarios.

By the Way, I can't not mention the animation of the volume, I like it very much and I've learned to restrain myself and not to turn the volume all the time.

Sound

To listen To the device used the following headphones: , , , , , , and others.

The midrange is also neutral, not afraid of the word — monitor, with a small bias in the micro-contrast. Fortunately, then developers were able to avoid breathing the icy death that was typical of the sound DX80, and the player perfectly conveys the emotions of what is in the track. From himself, however, he does not add, so here the rule is simple: what in the track, and on the way out. If feeding something poorly recorded or mixed, the result is predictably sad. Qualitative composition will delight the emotions, the minute details of instruments and impressive (more than the average for both directions) of the stage with a great three-dimensional effect.

Compatibility

The Gadget is very powerful, so it is without any problems to cope even with a very demanding workload, including the tight of plenary. With particularly sensitive IEM there is light background noise, but it is perfectly corrected any attenuator.

To warm up — some interesting electronic music, which DX120 shows himself just fine: volume audio effects, powerful bass punch, the details of children's voices — all of it just dissolves in the atmosphere of the composition.

I don't often listen to live, but in this case it is necessary to make an exception for 120-mu perfectly manages to convey the atmosphere of a huge, people-filled stadium in Rio de Janeiro and Bruce, great all this crowd control.

Insights

Two (or so) years in the development were not in vain. iBasso DX120 was not only reasonably worthwhile and impressive-looking player. The company's engineers were able to pack into a relatively compact body, good sound, long work time and plenty of power.