Ibasso DX270....

[tokyo_blues]

After hearing all the feedback on DAPS and smartphones + DAPS, I decided to order the Ibasso DX270 for $1300..
It came out the beginning of this year 2026...
It should be here Thursday...
I will be sure to write a full review.
Stay tuned....

So how does it sound?
How's the interface?
How much music can you load on it?

Tempted. I'm in principle not against listening to music on my phone but I own close to a terabyte of ogg vorbis files and I'm f..ING annoyed that all modern phones I like are coming out without microSD slot nowadays.

Nope. Not getting on the streaming bandwagon. I own all the music I like to listen to already, and If I want more, I'll buy a 3$ CD used off Amazon and rip it to Flac via EAC.

Feels almost like 2005 all over again. Phone for communication needs and DAP for music on the go.

 

[obsessive9119]

So how does it sound?
How's the interface?
How much music can you load on it?

Tempted. I'm in principle not against listening to music on my phone but I own close to a terabyte of ogg vorbis files and I'm f..ING annoyed that all modern phones I like are coming out without microSD slot nowadays.

Nope. Not on the streaming bandwagon. I own all the music I like to listen to already, and I want more, I'll buy a 3$ CD and rip it to Flac via EAC.

Seems like it's 2005 all over again. Phone for communication needs and DAP for music on the go.

With a bit of effort you can stream your own music, which is what I do.

 

[tokyo_blues]

With a bit of effort you can stream your own music, which is what I do.

You may be right but I have two small kids, I don't need more effort

 

[obsessive9119]

I have two small kids, I don't need more effort

I have 4. This is why convenient music is important

 

[xanalog]

coulda just...

...send it to ASR for an objective shake-down [review] to truly find out what you get for the extra zero in price, that is what you are bragging about... I think!

BTW: Welcome aboard, but do show some future restraint in using your qwerty, here at ASR.

 

[Somafunk]

Haha...It makes sense now...
You people are from the U.K
I was wondering why none of you could afford a $1,500 DAP and would rather use your smartphone for music.
I'm from the USA.

No you’re not

 

[Jiraya369]

...send it to ASR for an objective shake-down [review] to truly find out what you get for the extra zero in price, that is what you are bragging about... I think!

BTW: Welcome aboard, but do show some future restraint in using your qwerty, here at ASR.

huh?

 

[ryan74701]

you hit the nail right on the head, it is indeed a man's toy. no real benefits apart from those imagined and one which you would be bored of in a short while

if you really arent happy with cheap stuff, you shoulda gotten the dx340, cus the dx270 aint really all that

I have a dx340 and it’s excellent, also have 5k, it’s fine, but I’d rather just use a standalone device.

 

[ryan74701]

So how does it sound?
How's the interface?
How much music can you load on it?

Tempted. I'm in principle not against listening to music on my phone but I own close to a terabyte of ogg vorbis files and I'm f..ING annoyed that all modern phones I like are coming out without microSD slot nowadays.

Nope. Not getting on the streaming bandwagon. I own all the music I like to listen to already, and If I want more, I'll buy a 3$ CD used off Amazon and rip it to Flac via EAC.

Feels almost like 2005 all over again. Phone for communication needs and DAP for music on the go.

My dx340 is heavy af, I’m talking you could bludgeon someone to death with it, it’s solid cnc metal, screen is better than my old dx240, more ram etc, you can add different amp cards to it that are pricey, I have one but honestly can’t remember which one it is, it’s a niche product but it’s a quality built item you could theoretically have for decades, the battery is removable which is nice. I got mine from bloom, probably the best customer service out there, this forum is very critical of everything so just ignore the crusty basement dwellers.

 

[tokyo_blues]

this forum is very critical of everything so just ignore the crusty basement dwellers.

Yeah. It's pretty easy to spot the people on here who actually don't listen to music, or don't really care about music listening at all.

If what you care, ultimately, is listening to music, you'll soon find out that ergonomics, handling, quality of the interface, speed, reliability, durability are just as important as the fecking frequency response. You pay for those in a good car or kitchen appliance or garden tool, after all.

Of course if all one cares is measurements, a great measuring DAC chip in a paper bag with some copper wires going into the oscilloscope is going to be brilliant.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Yeah. It's pretty easy to spot the people on here who actually don't listen to music, or don't really care about music listening at all.

I think the issue here is people are making a lot of assumptions about other people, e.g. they assume that people who buy a DAP do so primarily for better quality audio (as they are often marketed as such). Moreover, some prices of DAPs do seem quite overpriced/outrageous (many people will just assume that the more expensive ones have better sound), and so people are critical of that as well.

But most people here are reasonable, e.g. on this other DAP thread (as long as you don't make/believe unsubstantiated audio quality related claims... then people can get a bit rude here...)

 

[tokyo_blues]

I think the issue here is people are making a lot of assumptions about other people, e.g. they assume that people who buy a DAP do so primarily for better quality audio (as they are often marketed as such). Moreover, some prices of DAPs do seem quite overpriced/outrageous (many people will just assume that the more expensive ones have better sound), and so people are critical of that as well.

But most people here are reasonable, e.g. on this other DAP thread (as long as you don't make/believe unsubstantiated audio quality related claims... then people can get a bit rude here...)

Thanks - I must admit I'm not familiar with the brand itself (iBasso), the pricing of these devices, and whether there's a bling factor attached to them.

Like many on there, I am convinced sound quality should be assessed via a properly designed and run ABX test so let's set that aside.

My question - as someone who doesn't own a DAP, see above - was if the kneejerk negative response OP received was justified or not based on the whole package on offer (eg ergonomics, build quality, software quality, durability, etc).

I'll take a look at your links.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Thanks - I must admit I'm not familiar with the brand itself (iBasso), the pricing of these devices, and whether there's a bling factor attached to them.

I'd say anything more expensive than a phone (which has more features) is too much.

My question - as someone who doesn't own a DAP, see above - was if the kneejerk negative response OP received was justified or not based on the whole package on offer (eg ergonomics, build quality, software quality, durability, etc).

It may be based on other stuff OP said on other threads (a couple of people accused them of being AI...)

And it looks like OP's been frightened off now (or they were banned?)

 

[tokyo_blues]

I'd say anything more expensive than a phone (which has more features) is too much.


It may be based on other stuff OP said on other threads (a couple of people accused them of being AI...)

And it looks like OP's been frightened off now (or they were banned?)

Went through your thread and got the context. Thanks.

 

[waofner]

Haha...It makes sense now...
You people are from the U.K
I was wondering why none of you could afford a $1,500 DAP and would rather use your smartphone for music.
I'm from the USA.

now i got it, this is your cry for help- ok poor boy- tell us what you need!

 

[m8o]

After hearing all the feedback on DAPS and smartphones + DAPS, I decided to order the Ibasso DX270 for $1300..
It came out the beginning of this year 2026...
It should be here Thursday...
I will be sure to write a full review.
Stay tuned....

I actually just won one of these in the Bloom Room raffle give-away @ CanJam NYC 2026!

Still breaking the resistor ladder array in. But def note differences to the FiiO M17, really the only other DAP I use these days.

Def could have stood to be equipped with a better SoC and one version newer Android version like the competition. Super laggy.

Hate hate HATE their Mango Player. The most rudimentary capabilities are missing ... If there is a way to rename a Playlist I have yet to discover it. So many more gaps missing I'm not going to waist any gray matter on trying to remember atm. Power drain in exclusive audio MangoOS mode is pretty bad. But battery lasts a really long time in Andoid mode when you don't use it but leave it on; even w/o activating battery saver mode and of course better if you enable it.

I wrote Davy of ExtremeSD to request he add HiRes Driver support for this DX270 in USB Audio Player Pro / UAPP, and sent him the logs and config files the app can automatically submit to him. And within a few days he added it! So between that unbelievabably capable UAPP app, plus Tonebooster PEQ license, I don't care about the lame Mango player or MangoOS exclusive audio mode.

 

[ryan74701]

I actually just won one of these in the Bloom Room raffle give-away @ CanJam NYC 2026!

Still breaking the resistor ladder array in. But def note differences to the FiiO M17, really the only other DAP I use these days.

Def could have stood to be equipped with a better SoC and one version newer Android version like the competition. Super laggy.

Hate hate HATE their Mango Player. The most rudimentary capabilities are missing ... If there is a way to rename a Playlist I have yet to discover it. So many more gaps missing I'm not going to waist any gray matter on trying to remember atm. Power drain in exclusive audio MangoOS mode is pretty bad. But battery lasts a really long time in Andoid mode when you don't use it but leave it on; even w/o activating battery saver mode and of course better if you enable it.

I wrote Davy of ExtremeSD to request he add HiRes Driver support for this DX270 in USB Audio Player Pro / UAPP, and sent him the logs and config files the app can automatically submit to him. And within a few days he added it! So between that unbelievabably capable UAPP app, plus Tonebooster PEQ license, I don't care about the lame Mango player or MangoOS exclusive audio mode.

I have never used the mango bullshit on my dx340 and I’ve had it over a year