iBasso DX120 High Performance Digital Audio Player (Earth Brown)

in 2014, i bought an ibasso dx90 and used it until about a year ago. a year ago, i got a cayin n5ii, and last month a hiby r3 as a handy pocketable portable dap to use when i am out grocery shopping, or running errands. a week ago, i tired of waiting for ibasso to fix the remaining issues with the dx200 (two years (!) since its release, some software issues have yet to be fixed, according to knowledgeable user reviews), tired of waiting for the rumored android 8 upgrade for the dx200, and tired of waiting for the hiby r6 pro to be released without the high output impedance issue that the hiby r6 has. so a week ago i bought the ibasso dx120, expecting a decent-sounding player with responsive non-android single-purpose OS, while i waited further patiently for ibasso and hiby to fix the various issues on their totl daps, and for comparison reviews before i pick one of them to buy. ibasso management, lack of robust reliable bit-perfect wi-fi streaming from every high-quality streaming service is an option only for a few wealthy folk who can afford to buy all the high-res content they want.the ibasso dx120 greatly exceeds my expectations. it eclipses the dx90 in sound quality, and i also prefer its sound signature over those of the n5ii and the r3. uncharacteristically, as pointed out by at least one online reviewer, it is the es9018q2m based cayin that sounds smoother, while the akm4495 based dx120 sounds sharper and more analytical. while the cayin n5ii has excellent sound quality and good resolution, and is fairly neutral throughout its frequency range, i feel the dx120 has slightly better resolution, is neutral through highs and mids and has a slightly boosted bass. the bass lift and analytical mids and highs complement the frequency response characteristic of my final f7200 earphones very well, and the coupling of dx120 and f7200 sounds marvelous. the sound signatures of the dx120 and the es9028q2m based hiby r3 are closer to each other, but the dx120 sounds more controlled and authoritative.i have been listening to the dx120 for less than a week, and only using it to listen to a microSD card with flac ripped from CDs, primarily through the 2.5 mm balanced output, but also sometimes through the single-ended 3.5 mm phone out. in passing, let me mention that while the balanced out jack has a snug fit and grips any 2.5 mm plug firmly, the 3.5 mm jack fit is not as snug as i would prefer - the plug slides in and out with hardly any effort, though the music through the 3.5 mm connection sounds unimpaired to my ears. to place my assessment of the SQ in context, i should mention that i listen primarily to jazz vocal, world music vocal, classical solo and chamber, lieder and opera arias. i have not tried the bluetooth or wifi, nor tried to use it in dac-only mode. for the sound quality it provides, the dx120 is a steal at its asking price.

The sound on this thing is GREAT. It sounds nice and open, lots of space in the soundstage. Nice detail in the top end, bass is well defined and not muddy. Over all tone is rich and neutral, not sterile at all. Not flavored toward lows or highs. I've yet to find a player that equals an iBasso. Its fast, too, MUCH faster loading than my beloved DX90. But mine had pixels in the screen start going bad in a week. Whatever, it happens.. I'm debating on another one of these or a move up to the DX150 or 200 with the replaceable amp modules. One thing for sure, after having a DX90 for years, and then hearing this one, I cannot see myself owning any player that is not iBasso again, ever. Nothing compares. I've test driven others and for me, iBasso totally rules.

Pros:SoundStorage CapabilityBattery LifePhysical ButtonsCons:InterfaceIf you just like to create a playlist or listen to full albums and sound quality is your first consideration this is a great player. If you constantly bounce from song to song this probably shouldn't be your first choice in a HI-def player. The interface isn't slow just clunky, no search, and switching organizing type from artist to album or genre is just clunky.Oh and give it the 100 hrs of burn-in before critically judging the sound

After unit arrived, I tried charging it for 12 hours on 2 different chargers. It remained DOA . So I'm returning it. There's more to it than this but Amazon will not allow it to be posted.

I was a long time iBasso user until I had some bad luck with the DX90. I used a few different players, including the Onkyo DP-X1. And while it was a fine player, it felt more like a smartphone without the phone part, with an Android system and all sorts of features. And if you want that kind of thing, that's great. But all I wanted was a strict music player.When I heard about the DX120, I was cautiously optimistic and did my homework. The more I read about what was (and more importantly what WASN'T) included, I started becoming excited about iBasso again. So I took the jump and ordered one (and lucky me got a defective one! LOL I got a replacement a week later, thanks to Amazon's excellent return service.) I've used it a little over two weeks and I am extremely happy. The player is light and portable, it has plenty of features for controlling the way your music sounds through headphones or in your car. The battery is long lasting, and I don't have to wait long for it to charge up. And the two SD card slots will ensure I have room for all my music for a very long time.Some will be disappointed that there is no Bluetooth feature or a few other things. But if you're looking for a player you can plug headphones into and just enjoy the music, then this is one I recommend. A small, powerful player at a great price.

Great sound quality, I love the tactile buttons.That’s all the good things I have to say. 3 times, I ordered a player and it died within the month. I’m ashamed that I had to go through the return process three times to learn my lesson. One device never turned on, the other two eventually showed distorted video and audio.There’s no way I got 3 lemons in a row, this is clear indication of terrible quality controls at iBasso. I bought a Fiio M11 and for the past year it has worked flawlessly. I wholeheartedly recommend any Fiio product over iBasso for any situation based on my experience.