DAP Review

iBasso DX150 with AMP6, AMP7, and AMP8 modules

External wired/wireless connections.

Both DX150 and DX200 now feature Bluetooth DAC/amp option which allows iBasso DAPs to be paired with your smartphone or a tablet to transmit audio wireless. Due to bandwidth limitation, I’m sure not all hi-res lossless files will be supported, but I still need to test everything. In theory, people play their high res DSDs from internal storage anyway, and this feature is more convenient when you are away from WiFi and can use your phone as a hotspot for audio streaming to your DAP used as an external DAC/amp. Or if you just want a wireless DAC/amp setup. And of course, if you want to improve the sound of your smartphone and save its battery during audio playback, this is also a great option. Pair up was easy, just need to enable the toggle under BT setting of DX150 and let your smartphone search to pair up with a DAP. Don’t pair up with your phone from DX150, only pair up with DX150 from your phone in order for this to work.

You can also use Bluetooth connection from within DAP to pair up with wireless headphones. I tested it with Sennheiser Momentum 2 Wireless, and M2W pair up was fast, yielded clean detailed sound, not exactly on par with my Galaxy S9 aptX connection, but close enough considering DX150 doesn’t support aptX. The only concern here, the same pair of M2W and DX200 was operating 55-60ft across the open space, while M2W and DX150 range was down to 30-35ft.

USB DAC function is supported, and just like with DX200, I wanted to verify it and aware from others that it’s working without a problem. But unfortunately, my aging Windows laptops at home have issues with Thesycon USB drivers due to security signature setting. So, I didn’t get a chance to test it.

You can use DX150 as a digital transport to drive external DAC/amp from SPDIF output, using either coax or optical (mini toslink) connection. I verified it with iFi Micro iDSD BL, using provided short 3.5mm/coax cable as well as my short mini-toslink optical cable. In this pair up, I hear a more neutral detailed sound, typical of Micro iDSD signature. You can use both DX150 volume control and micro iDSD volume control. Switching to optical, also works great but the first time the fit was tight and I had to apply a bit of force to get the plug in. Using optical connection, I hear the sound to be a little cleaner and more transparent in comparison to coax cable.

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Not sure if this is officially supported, but I was also able to use DX150 USB Digital Out as a transport to drive HA-2 portable dac/amp. I did get it to work with DX150 and Oppo HA-2 using Shanling L2 usb-c to micro-usb cable, but the sound was on a brighter side, and I wasn’t too crazy about this pair up. Not sure if this is going to be a matter of trial’n’error with other external DAC/amps since I couldn’t get it to work with Micro iDSD.

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Depending on amp module, if it does or doesn’t have LO, you can connect external amplifier to DX150 Line Out, bypassing its internal amp section. For this test I used a neutral E12A to compare DX150 HO vs DX150 LO + E12A. From this testing, I can hear E12A and AMP6 to have nearly the same neutral tonality and a nice dynamics expansion. This means that DAC output is a bigger contributor to a neutral-warm tonality which is typical of AK4490 – the signature of DX150 DAP with its stock AMP6.

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Conclusion.

It’s very easy to get confused when looking at and comparing DX150 and DX200 DAPs, considering there is a lot of overlap. Especially when you look at the exterior design, modular amp support, flush mounted screen, and updated volume wheel area, some might even think by mistake that DX150 is an upgraded version. But you have to be realistic. No company in their right mind will release a cheaper model and make it superior in performance to kill the sales of their flagship. So the fact still remains, DX200 is iBasso’s current flagship, utilizing a higher end premium DACs with improved sound performance in comparison to DX150.

But at the same time, DX150 is not too far off and with some of the amp modules the gap is even closer. That’s what gives this latest iBasso release a very impressive price/performance ratio. Its neutral sound tuning with a warmish tilt will pair up great with many headphones, giving them a more natural tonality, its selection of different amps (shared with DX200) will allow you to upgrade the sound while still keeping the same DAP chassis without a bulky exterior stack up, and its WiFi and Android OS will let you run any app on DX150, either side-loaded or with full access to Google Play if you install Lurker’s fw. iBasso has been pushing the envelope of price/performance ratio with many of its latest releases, and now after DX200 and DX150, it will be interesting to see what the upcoming DX120 brings to the table.

 

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45 thoughts on “iBasso DX150 with AMP6, AMP7, and AMP8 modules”

  1. Thanks for the excellent preview as always. I now find the choice of amp modules confusing. Do you think there is too much choice?

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    1. With a current selection, it’s easier to pick. Just figure out what ports you need first, based on your headphones termination. That’s a good start to make life easier.

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  2. Is the discrete circuit used in AMP7 & 8, that offers high voltage and high current outputs, anything like the SATRI circuit used in Bakoon amps?

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      2. Not quite sure about your question. $200 for which amp module? I would stay, don’t buy any new amp modules untill you spend some time with a stock amp6, to get to know its sound better. If you have balanced cables and don’t care about LineOut, you can upgrade to amp8 (4.4mm, which you can use with an adaptor from 2.5mm). It’s not amps but DX150 which is a good investment because you can upgrade its amp module later.

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  3. Excellent information and thanks for all the effort that went into it. It may also interest some to know stuff that I hardly see reported – e.g. I chose the DX150 to succeed my trusty Cowon X7 as it’s one of the few DAPS that can do all of the below:
    – handle m3u playlists with ease
    – display size shows longer file/track names readable by me in a hurry while hunting alphabetically (my eyes are getting older, large clear display is becoming a must!).
    – can be set (with Neutron or JetAudio) to play one track and stop… As I use these devices to play backing tracks for choir performances, we need to be able to cue the next track manually, not have the player dictate the timing.
    The Cowon is still kicking buut will die one day, the DX150 is waiting. Only negative is it doesn’t have anywhere near the battery life of the Cowon X7, but then again, there’s nothing much on the market – let alone suitable – that does.

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    1. not familiar with Cowon X7, but WM1Z can get your 30hrs of battery time. But in general, the average battery life on most of flagship daps is around 10hrs +/- an hour.

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      1. Thanks Twister, the WM1Z is way too pricey for my needs… The Cowon “iAudio X7” was released way back around 2010, it was the flasgship before the “Plenue” series, with 100 hrs battery, 120/160Gb HDD, resistive touch screen and less than $700 here in Aus (it was a step up from their X5 which was a fantastic alternative to the iPod released way back when A&K was still iRiver)…. The X7 is still my player of choice for our choir performances through portable PA Gear due to the large display and battery life…

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  4. I s there a foolproof way to install lurkers firmware? on windows 10 please I have tried and tried and tried and I failed and failed and failed

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  5. I have the DX200 with amp3 and use my Beyerdynamic T5p ii which I feel is a great combo. I am thinking of getting noise canceling headphones. I am more interested it best sound quality as opposed to best noise canceling so I have been looking and Sennheiser HD1 or the wireless HD2. If I got the HD1 I would need the amp7, but then I would not be able to use T5ps. Does the iBasso DX200 use the aptx bluetooth and if yes or no would sound be a big downgrade compared to HD1 and DX200 with amp7?

    My objective is to be able to travel with both headphones, the T5p ii for serious listening and the Sennheiser HD1 or 2 for on the plane.

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    1. i can never keep up with Senns wireless headphones, wireless HD1 on-ear, in-ear, over-year, Momentum, noise canceling, etc… I have their Momentum Wireless ANC from 2 years ago and really enjoy it, ONLY use it wireless, don’t even bother wired. Why do you need another amp to use them? Even wired they should be fine with the amp you have already, despite their high impedance. DX200 doesn’t have aptX. Btw, don’t think they have HD2, I can’t even find it searching. So, I think you should be fine with the amp you have and both headphones.

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  6. Hi,

    thanks for the great review.
    Just one question. I am about to use DX150 with Andromeda. And you wrote comparing AMP7 -> AMP8: that 8 has blacker background … and then in pair-up section for Andromeda ” I tried AMP8, but hissing was too strong,…AMP7 pair was excellent, lifting some veil off.” So I just wandering which of those two produces less hiss. Thanks

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  8. hello twister6.
    I have read a lot of your reviews, I highly appreciate your reviews, I bought many of the devices based on your reviews. Thank you.
    i have a question want to get your help, i am using ibasso it04 headset, am looking at dx150, cayin n5iis or dx200. Can you point me to the right path. cayin n5iis, it04 + d150 + amp8 or dx200 + amp1 i up pick which pair.
    thank you.

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    1. d150/amp8 vs dx200/amp1 – I would go for d150 with amp8 because it’s a great combo, and I like amp8 more than amp1. Ideally, dx200 + amp8 would be the best, but I see you are sticking to a budget 😉 N5iis is great, but brighter and I like a more natural synergy of dx150 with it04 in that pair up. Plus DX gives you flexibility of amp upgrade and you have full open android when install lurker’s ROM. Apps run smoother on DX than N5iiS.

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  9. Hi Twister 6, love your reviews and the passion you transmit!
    Question: Opus#2 or DX200 Amp 4, 8? I’m in my final hour choices, and would love your opinion…

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    1. DX200 w/amp8 will give you a better sound and a better value and more flexibility. You will need to flash it with lurker’s free rom to get Google play, but it’s much better than opus sideloading solution.

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      1. Thanks so much for the fast reply!
        While you’re here, one last one:
        I’m interested almost exclusively in sound quality and a good looking dap, to drive a CA Atlas while on the move. Was also considering the LP6, still within budget.
        Is the DX200 hardware still a winner, considering the flexibility of “modernizing” the sound through amp8, as opposed to the embedded, fixed quality of the others?

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      2. You probably meant L6, cause LP6 will have r2r dac and cost 2x. I don’t hace atlas, don’t know how it sounds, assuming probably like Vega. L6 is not the best choice due to high output impedance and cave age interface lol! For under $1.5k you have DX200 and Plenue 2mk2. DX200 is a better value cause you get a lot of features.

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    1. It all depends on which way you want to go with dt1990 tonality. To my ears these Beyers are a bit too crisp in upper frequencies, and if you want to warm up the sound – amp5 would be the choice. If you want to squeeze out max performance with more transparency and resolution, which can also make things a little crisper, then either amp7 or amp8, depending on your cable termination.

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  13. I have a n5ii, and am looking to take the next step. My my earphone is the very good CIEM RSM from Alclair (neutral with a hint of smoothness, decent punch). Looking to increase dynamics, soundstage and detail. I was thinking of just going with the n5iis, but it seems like the Dx200 would be the bigger upgrade, especially with amp8. Would you concur? Thanks!

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    1. I concur 🙂 But wait a few more weeks, DX220 is almost here. Let’s see what it brings to the table and how much it will cost. Plus, with a release of a new DX220, you can probably get a really good deal on second hand DX200 😉

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      1. and the DX220 is looking interesting. And now Cayin is throwing the N6ii into the ring. I must now engage in the most difficult act in the world of audiophilia… waiting. I look forward to reading your reviews!

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    1. Dx150 is android dap, you can run any app with it. By default you will have to sideload apps or get apps from apkpure, with Lurker fw you will get Google Play so it makes it easier to get apps.

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      1. Do you have any link or document on how to install Lurker fw ?Currently I have cowon p1 and I like it’s analogish sound signature. can you please suggest a good player which I can use with Qobuz with similar analog/smooth sound signature? My budget is between $300 to 1k

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  16. Have you tried Amp 9 with DX150? I like a neutral/warm signature in my DAPs and got a barely used DX150 for a steal. Curious how the tube amp module might sound.

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    1. not a fan of AMP9, under powered and with high level of hissing (high noise floor), so I personally don’t use it. DX150 is a warmer and less resolving DAP to begin with, so I expect the pair up with AMP9 to be not as beneficial.

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  17. Hello! I have measured with an oscilloscope and a tone of 1 Khz 0 db the 3.5 mm output of Amp 7 and 4.4 mm of amp 8 in the DX150 and they do not deliver their maximum voltage, in the case of amp 7, which should deliver 3.2 Vrms, it delivers 2.4 Vrms; I suspect that it is limited by the hardware of the dx150. regards!

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  18. It’s on high gain and I recently tried again with the same results, amp 1 that comes with the dx150 defaults to 2.4Vrms on high gain and 3.5mm unbalanced output; I did the test with my DX200 and amp7 and in this combination it delivers 3.2 Vrms, that’s why I said that it must be a hardware limitation in the dx150… I don’t know… I would like you to try it too, I love your reviews . regards!!

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