iBasso DX170

iBasso DX170 - Smart portable audio

The iBasso DX170 in summary: Yes, they still exist: the smart, audiophile music players with a moderate price. Even if you have to look for them a bit, the iBasso DX170 is definitely a representative of this kind. Reasonably equipped, cleverly operable thanks to Android and with a focus on excellent sound. Curious? Then just read on.

 
The highlights of the iBasso DX170 at a glance:

Musical and highly flexible at the same time! - Android 11 makes it possible

Music with the power of two hearts - Dual-DAC CS43131 in action

Symmetry at its best - 3.5 mm single ended + 4.4 mm balanced jack

Extremely communicative - 2-way Bluetooth, WiFi 6 and much more

Full view at all times - 5.0" Full HD screen with 16.7 million colours
 

A musical star in the sky - And perfectly operable too

The chip shortage is making life difficult for all of us, including the manufacturers of portable music players. If microchips can still be obtained today, they usually end up in high-priced devices in order to still earn money. A welcome exception to this is the iBasso DX170, which should win the hearts of many music lovers with its moderate price and contemporary features.

Another plus point: once you've held it in your hands, you won't want to give it up in a hurry. This is ensured not only by the CNC-machined aluminium housing (black, grey and blue are available), which is available in three stylish colours, but also by the excellent operability and performance. The excellent usability and flexibility is ensured by Android 11 as the operating system. Anyone who owns a smartphone is guaranteed to get to grips with this musical gem in no time at all.

In addition, Android makes it possible to install and use almost any desired app on the player. Be it your favourite music streaming service like Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz or Spotify or whatever you have in mind. If there's an Android app for it, you'll almost certainly be able to use it on the DX170 directly.

Cirrus CS43131 dual DAC - channel-separated for the highest sound quality

Not only is the Cirrus CS43131 digital-to-analogue converter beyond reproach, it is also installed in the iBasso DX170 in a dual version - one for each channel. This assures the music player not only of the highest sound purity and detail, but also the greatest possible support for file formats, resolutions and sampling rates.

In concrete terms, this means signal processing up to 32-bit and 384 kHz PCM as well as native DSD256 in the highest quality. And for true sound purists, MQA 8X is also available.

Balanced or classic headphone connection? - You decide!

In addition to the classic 3.5 millimetre single-ended jack connection, there is also a balanced 4.4 millimetre jack connection for your headphones. If the voltage is already 3.2 Vrms when using the 3.5 mm jack connection, it doubles to 6.4 Vrms when using the balanced jack. And as you are used to with balanced connectors, the crosstalk and also the signal-to-noise ratio improve significantly. But: You have the choice!

A wide range of connection options - wireless or wired

Sure, the iBasso DX170 is a little king when it comes to headphone connections, but it also scores points with the other connections.

Bluetooth 5.0 - interference-free even over long distances

Bluetooth is still the king among wireless protocols when it comes to a fast and uncomplicated connection between transmitter and receiver. With Bluetooth 5.0 in the iBasso DX170, there is also a high range and interference resistance. There are no surprises with the Bluetooth codecs themselves: aptX and LDAC ensure a clean, high-quality connection to any headphones.

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN - music from NAS and the Internet

Even though the iBasso DX170 has a decent storage capacity (32 GB internal + max. 2 GB via MicroSD), sometimes you need a little more. And thanks to WLAN with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, the music can come directly from the NAS at home or from the streaming service of your choice (e.g. Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz). The whole world of music is thus open to you.

Can also be wired - for example, via USB Type-C and coax.

The USB Type-C connection is much more than just a charging port. The iBasso DX170 can receive music digitally, convert it via its high-quality D/A converter to the highest quality (maximum 32 bit/384 kHz and native DSD128) and play it back. Or - and this is also exciting - it can also work as a USB transport if desired. In other words, organise your music internally and make it "ready to play" before it is made available digitally via USB for a downstream DAC. This is certainly an exciting solution, especially for the home.

And if that's not enough, the coaxial digital output is also available on request (up to 24/384 Bit/kHz PCM and DSD128 DoP).

Shields up! - Perfect protection from sound-damaging influences

It's a wonder how much technology can be packed into such a compact space these days. To ensure that all this technology doesn't get in each other's way, and that external influences can't cause interference, a protective shield made of a silicone-steel alloy is used inside the iBasso DX170. Both magnetic and electrical interference fields are thus "banned" from the interior of the player. This means that not a single note is lost and distortions don't stand a chance.

Always in view - with the 5.0"/12.7 centimetre Full HD display

With all the effort that has gone into it, another important detail has also been taken into account. Your music should not only sound first-class, but also look great.

This is made possible by the 5.0"/12.7 centimetre capacitive touch display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and 16.7 million colours. Album covers shine in the most beautiful colours and are razor-sharp. Not to mention the excellent operability via the high-contrast and bright display.

Runs and runs and runs - Large battery with long runtime on board

As much fun as all the possibilities and technical refinements of the iBasso DX170 are, there is of course a downside: power consumption. However, iBasso takes this into account by providing a well-dimensioned battery with a runtime of usually 11 hours (depending on the volume setting, the file format being played and the headphones being used).

And if the battery does run out after a long day, it can be recharged in no time thanks to Quick Charge 3.0, Power Delivery 2.0 and MTK PE (Mediatek Pump Express) and is ready for further musical adventures.

The matching accessories are also included in the scope of delivery

To ensure that you can enjoy your player for as long as possible and that it can withstand minor accidents or falls undamaged, the iBasso DX170 also comes with the right accessories.

A plastic bag is included in the scope of delivery, as well as a screen protector and - for optimal connection - the matching USB cable. Not only can the DX170 be charged, but data can also be transferred quickly to the player and back.