Beyond the MAX.

PROs: Natural, reference tuning, very balanced tonality, fast transient response, lifelike expanded dynamics, deep, black background, and a big soundstage expansion; independent batteries and charging system for analog and digital sections, analog stepped attenuator volume control, 1-bit discrete DAC, FPGA-Master 3.0, hi-res 6” display, solid Ti chassis, Snapdragon 665 w/optimized Android 13, 8GB RAM/256GB Storage, 4.4mm/3.5mm PO, 4.4mm LO dual Android & Mango (Unix) OS, fast charging, great battery life, quality leather case.

CONs: price, size/weight making it more transportable than portable, 2 separate chargers.

The product was provided to me free of charge for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion.

The manufacturer’s website: iBasso.  It can be purchased directly or from authorized retailers, such as Bloom Audio.

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Intro.

As I have mentioned in my previous MAX-series reviews, following in the footsteps of DX220 and DX220Max, DX300 and DX300Max, and DX320 and DX320Max, it was inevitable that we would see DX340Max after DX340.  Max is iBasso’s “money is no object” special-edition platform, where the focus is purely on the best sound quality without compromises.  Max is not about their typical modular design philosophy with a lightweight, slimmer chassis, a single charging port, and various amp cards.  If that’s what you are after, look into DX340.  The idea behind the latest Max series releases is to Maximize performance by utilizing dual, independently charged batteries to fully isolate the analog and digital sections, implementing an optimized discrete-amp circuit with the best available components, using an analog volume control (such as a stepped attenuator), dressing it up in a bulletproof, solid chassis, basically, taking it to the next level when compared to a regular non-Max DX series.

DX340Max Ti continues this legacy, and it seems iBasso took longer this time to perfect it.  Looking at my previous Max-series reviews, it took over a year from DX220Max to DX300Max, two years from DX300Max to DX320Max, and three years from DX320Max to DX340Max.  Of course, you also have to consider that iBasso has been busy releasing a lot more products in the last 5+ years, filling up the gap between Max DAPs with a ton of other audiophile goodies, including more amp cards for their modular top-tier DAPs, which keep them in the spotlight longer.  But when it comes to the absolute flagship Summit-fi releases and comparisons, even when I used DX340 in my various reviews, I was often reminded by my readers to continue featuring DX320Max, one of the reasons you often find both sources in my write-ups.

Another question that always comes up is, should I upgrade or not?  Many recent flagships, and not just from iBasso, were about fine-tuning and optimization, rather than reinventing the wheel.  One consistent thing about iBasso that I have seen throughout years of reviewing their products is that they don’t just try to make their spec look good on paper.  They integrate and optimize every component, piece by piece, to have the maximum impact on the final sound quality.  There is a lot to cover about this new DAP, so expect my typical long review/guide, but it will be partitioned into easy-to-read, easy-to-follow sections.  I know some people go straight to Sound Analysis and Comparison/Pair-up sections, but there are many details in the preceding sections that others can benefit from, even if you already own DX340Max.  Also, I will refer to their modular DX design, such as DX340, as “340”, and Max design, such as DX340Max Ti, as “340m”.  Now, let’s take a closer look at this latest iBasso DX340Max Ti (340m) release.

Unboxing and Accessories.

The unboxing experience for 340m hasn’t changed much since the days of the 220m, 300m, and 320m.  The unit arrived in a large, all-black cardboard box with another gift box inside, the iBasso logo stamped on top.  Under the cover, where you’ll find a metal card bearing an individual serial number, 340m sat securely in a foam cutout in the top tray, surrounded by a velour lining.  With 688 units of 340m being manufactured in total, each one is individually numbered and labeled.

With the top tray out of the way, you will find several useful accessories, split and organized, inside velour drawstring bags and smaller cardboard boxes.  There was a short coax cable for digital SPDIF output, a 4.4mm balanced burn-in cable, an AC adapter (12V/1.5A), a high-quality USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C), extra screen protectors (tempered glass for the front, and plastic ones for the front and the back), two pieces of cleaning cloth, and a pair of spare back panel T5 screws. iBasso recommends at least 250 hours of burn-in time, and using its burn-in load cable is much more convenient and silent, since you don’t need to use the headphones themselves.

A custom green leather case was included as well.  It’s a nice-quality, premium-looking leather case that enhances the grip of the 340m and protects its Ti finish from scratches, with a metal vent panel on the back.  The DAP is inserted from the top of the case, with a secure magnetic flap over it.  It has a fully open top for easy access to all the PO/LO ports and the DC-IN/charging port for the analog battery.  The bottom has a generous opening for SPDIF, USB-C, and microSD ports.  On the right side, there is a cutout at the top for volume knobs, and below it, covered playback buttons.  None of the buttons are labeled.  Makes sense for Skip buttons since their “direction” can be reversed in Settings, while I would have loved to see the play/pause button have some indentation.

Design.

Starting with exterior dimensions, 340m is not too far off from 320m, 300m, and 220m, and measures approximately 150mm x 90mm x 27mm, with a weight of about 630g w/o case, which is close to the weight of the 320m, and 700g with a case, which I always find to be a good idea when dealing with a bigger/heavier device to enhance the grip.  As a side note, 300m was 825g, 200g heavier due to a stainless-steel chassis, while 320m/340m are lighter due to a more exclusive Ti material. However, it adds to the price due to additional costs and a more expensive manufacturing process.  Yes, it is transportable, not exactly portable. You have to keep in mind that extra room is required for a total of 4 battery cells (for separate analog and digital circuits), a ton of ports, big/tall audiophile-grade capacitors, custom analog stepped attenuator volume, a new digital volume pot, and a big 6” display with 1080×2160 resolution.  But unlike the previous 220m/300m/320m bricks with front (or bottom) volume control, the 340m emerged as an updated, more traditional DAP design with volume controls on the right side.

DX320Max Ti vs DX340Max Ti

The right side of the DAP has hw playback controls with play/pause surrounded by skip next/back, grouped in the middle, under the volume controls (as in plural).  Buttons have a nice tactile response, are all-metal, solid, rattle-free, and unlabeled.  Skip buttons are not labeled because you can flip them in the Audio Control Button menu under Android Settings.  The middle button is traditionally for playback, although it would have been good to mark it on the leather case.  Above the playback buttons, you have 2 identical volume control knobs, the lower one with a more rigid click adjustment (24 coarse steps), controlling a custom 4-wiper stepped attenuator to adjust the analog volume, and a looser, slightly floating multi-function continuous adjustment digital volume wheel which also functions as a power button when you press it (short press for screen on/off, long press for a power shutdown options).  Again, while these wheels look identical, their operation feels different due to variations in functionality.

The left side has no controls.  The back of the 340m has 2 removable screws, giving you easier access to open the back panel and replace the battery.  At the bottom, you have a 3.5mm digital SPDIF output.  Next to it is a USB-C port for charging the digital section battery and other digital in/out functionality.  Next to it is a spring-loaded microSD card slot for easier access to a flash card.  The top of the DAP pays a homage to previous Max models, with each port having a golden surrounding faceplate.  Here, from right to left, you will find a dedicated BAL 4.4mm LO, a BAL 4.4mm PO, a 3.5mm PO port, and a DC-IN port, which also serves as a dual-function port.  DC-IN is used for a 12V AC/DC brick input to charge the analog section battery, and also as a DC-IN input, as found in the latest 340-amp modules and the PB6-amp, to activate Super Gain and power the internal amp from the external supply, bypassing the internal analog battery.

In my review of 220m/300m/320m, I was referring to those Max designs as having the front and back of the chassis because, with the volume knob facing forward, the port orientation was different.  But as I already mentioned, the updated design of the 340m makes it look more like a traditional DAP, with volume controls on the side and corresponding ports at the top and bottom.  Also, while the volume knobs are identical and placed side by side, I got used to their functionality very quickly.  Digital volume was usually set around 95, and I adjusted the analog volume to the closest tolerable level, then micro-adjusted the digital volume to perfection, which was extremely useful with sensitive IEMs.

Page 2 – Under the hood, and OS/GUI.
Page 3 – Sound Analysis, LO test, and Comparison.
Page 4 – Pair up, Wired/wireless connections, and Conclusion.