Launched at the end of 2021, the iBasso DX240 music player is considered a product that inherits the essence of its two brothers DX220 and DX200. With powerful upgrades in both hardware and technology, the DX240 promises to bring many top-notch music experiences to audiophiles.
Packaging and accessories
The DX240 music player is boxed in the familiar iBasso style, which is simple and elegant. The only two highlights on the cover box are the youthful colors and the product name printed on the front. Inside the cardboard box, in addition to the music player, users will receive an additional set of accessories including:
1 USB-C to USB-A cable
1 S/PDIF to Coaxial cable
1 3.5mm to USB OTG cable
1 transparent silicone case
Detailed user manual & warranty card
iBasso DX240 High Resolution Digital Audio Player with Bluetooth V5.0 Connectivity, MQA 16x Decoding, Black: Buy it now
Table of Contents
Design
iBasso DX240 inherits the design language from its elder brother DX160 but has a larger design. With a weight of 205g and three-dimensional dimensions of 124 x 71.5 x 19.4mm, the DX240 provides a very comfortable grip. The compact appearance and scientifically arranged buttons allow users to use the music player with one hand more easily.
To increase durability as well as improve anti-interference ability, the entire chassis of the DX240 will be made from high-quality aluminum alloy. The bezel is very well-finished. Covering the outside of the music player’s shell is a rough paint layer with two color options: black and green. To add more emphasis, the knob will have a shiny bronze color. Slightly curved back and edges help the DX240 provide a smoother user experience.
Occupying the entire area of the device’s face is a 5-inch touchscreen display, Full HD 1080p resolution, and pixel density of 448ppi. There are no complaints about the display screen of iBasso DX240. The image quality is very sharp, realistic, and brilliant. On the right side is the volume knob and function buttons that change songs and pause/play music. Meanwhile, the memory card slot will be placed on the left edge. On the top, there will be a Type-C and S/PDIF port. The headphone connection ports are neatly arranged on the bottom.
Because the AMP part is designed as a module, users can easily disassemble and replace the AMP part. The module pre-equipped on the iBasso DX240 is the AMP1 MK3 module with 1 2.5mm Bal port, 1 3.5mm SE PO port, and 1 3.5mm LO port. The externally purchased module is the AMP8 MKII module with 1 3.5mm port and 1 4.4mm Pentaconn Bal port.
Features and technology
As one of iBasso’s best music players, the DX240 is fully equipped with advanced technology and the most powerful hardware system, including:
ES9038 Pro DAC chip supports PCM 32bit/768kHz decoding, DSD512 Native and Full 16x MQA
Snapdragon 660 processor with 4GB RAM for powerful, smooth and smooth performance
FPGA Master technology developed by iBasso in combination with two NDK femtosecond crystal oscillators helps increase the accuracy of signal processing
Android 9 open operating system with a user-friendly interface
Supports dual-band WiFi connection and Bluetooth 5.0 connection
Powerful output power, up to a maximum of 878mW@32Ohm when using the AMP1 MKIII module and 980mW@32Ohm when using the AMP8 MKII module
Inside the iBasso DX240 is a built-in Li-Polymer battery with a capacity of 4400mAh. When using the AMP1 MKIII module, the music player has a battery life of 11 hours (using the 3.5mm SE port at 50% volume) and 10 hours (when using the Bal port).
Sound quality
iBasso DX240, when used with the AMP1 MKIII module, produces a more neutral and natural sound quality than its predecessor, the DX220. Because the low mid is better emphasized, the instrument sounds fuller and has a better texture. Clear layer separation allows for separation between vocal and instrumental parts. The transition between sound ranges is smoother and the bass range sounds more lively and attractive.
Compared to the old AMP1 MKII module, the AMP1 MKIII module has a more realistic and accurate timbre. The tonal ranges have better linearity and the dynamic range is enhanced. The expanded soundstage makes the soundstage more airy and more vivid.
Switching to the AMP8 MKII module, the bass range goes deeper, the mid-range becomes smoother and the treble range sounds softer than the AMP1 MKIII. Energy is focused heavily on the bass and mid ranges. This partly helps make the overall sound warmer, sweeter, and more dynamic. Similar to the AMP1 MKIII module, the combination of iBasso DX240 and the AMP8 MKII module produces sound with very low noise.
Compare
Vs iBasso DX220
In terms of design, the iBasso DX240 has a more elegant and beautiful appearance. A lighter weight and a slightly curved back help the DX240 feel more comfortable to hold. The touch screen on the DX240 provides beautiful and sharper display quality.
There are many similarities between the DX240 and DX220 such as a 5-inch touch screen, easy-to-swap amp modules, 4GB RAM capacity, 64GB internal memory, etc. However, being equipped with a processor chip Snapdragon 660, DX240 processor provides a much faster and smoother user experience. Conversion operations take place more smoothly, lag is almost non-existent. The Android 9 operating system on the DX240 has a nicer and cleaner interface than the DX220’s Android 8. Compatibility on the DX240 has been greatly improved.
Not only does the DX240 have outstanding performance, but it also has a battery life that is 1 to 2 hours longer than the DX220. The decoding quality is also better with the DX240 when the DAC chip is upgraded from ES9028Pro to ES9038Pro. Although both are capable of decoding PCM 32bit/768kHz and DSD512, the DX240 supports MQA 16X, while the DX220 only supports MQA 4x.
Moving on to sound quality. The DX240 with AMP1 MKIII produces a more dynamic and detailed sound compared to the elegant and gentle sound of the AMP1 MKII on the DX220. With many technical improvements, the AMP1 MKIII module produces more natural and fuller sound colors. Layering is also better and the sound stage has more realism. The vocal part has better volume and, a stronger bass range and creates a balanced harmony with the other two sound ranges.
Vs iBasso DX300
Compared to the iBasso DX300 music player, the DX240 is lighter in weight and offers a better one-handed use experience. Both have very powerful performance, so both provide a very fast and smooth usage experience. However, the curved back on the DX240 gives a better grip and a more compact feel. DX300 has better battery life when it can play music continuously for 12 – 13 hours, about 3 hours more than DX240.
DX240 possesses some outstanding advantages compared to DX300 such as the ability to decode DSD512, PCM 32bit/768kHz, and support MQA 16x (DX300 only supports MQA 8x). Because they both use the Snapdragon 660 processor and run the Android 9 operating system, the performance of the two music players is not inferior to each other. The most obvious difference comes from visibility. The 6.5-inch 60Hz IPS screen on the DX300 provides wider and sharper visibility than the DX240’s 5-inch 1080p IPS screen.
Having a larger capacity of RAM and internal memory helps the DX300 have better storage capacity. Also, the modules on the DX300 provide a bit more power than the modules on the DX240. For example, at the same 32Ohm impedance, the MP11 MKI module of the DX300 produces up to 1240mW of power when using the Bal output. That is much larger than the 980mW capacity of the AMP8 MKII module on the DX240.
As for sound quality, the DX240 with the AMP1 MKIII module gives a stronger and more energetic sound. Despite the abundant volume, the bass range is still well-controlled and rarely encroaches on the low mid. Meanwhile, the DX300 with the AMP12 module has a smoother and more natural sound. This somehow makes the mid/treble range become clearer, shimmering, and brighter.
Vs HiBy RS6
Although using the same IPS screen with 1080p resolution, the DX240 has a higher pixel density (with the DX240 it is 448ppi and with the RS6 it is 320ppi). Battery life on the DX240 is a bit better as the music player can operate continuously for 9 – 10 hours (about 1 – 2 hours more than the RS6).
iBasso DX240 and HiBy RS6 use completely different decoding methods. While the DX240 uses the ES9038Pro DAC chip, the RS6 uses the R-2R circuit to decode the signal. Both are capable of decoding DSD, PCM 32bit/768kHz, supported MQA 16x, and LDAC Bluetooth codec. There is not much difference in performance because both music players run the Android 9 operating system, use a Snapdragon 660 processor, and have 4GB of RAM. However, the DX240 has a much stronger capacity. While the RS6 only has a capacity of 690mW@32Ohm, the DX240 has a capacity of up to 878mW@3Ohm when using the AMP1 MKIII module and 978mW@32Ohm when using the AMP8 MKII module.
The sound quality of both is very catchy. DX240 with AMP8 MKII module produces sound quality with better dynamic range and more detailed layer separation. Meanwhile, the RS6 has a richer sound, and the vocals sound more attractive. The fact that the mid-range is placed in the center and pushed forward makes the singer’s voice closer and more familiar.
Although the vocal part on the DX240 has better detail, in terms of emotion, it is still not as impressive as the RS6. The DX240 has a clearer treble range and better presence. As for the RS6, the bass range has more volume and is well spread but is not as high-definition as the DX240. Moving on to the technical part, the sound stage on the RS6 has better depth. As for the DX240, the sound stage has better width and height, and the sound imaging also has higher accuracy.
By spending an amount of about $800, you can immediately own the iBasso DX240 – a compact Hi-res music player with a sophisticated appearance, integrated with much advanced equipment, and possessing attractive sound quality.