iBasso DX340MAX Launches with Dedicated DSP, Four Batteries and 12V External Power

The iBasso DX340MAX was officially launched today (June 8) in mainland China with a limited production run of 688 units. The DX340MAX stands out for its dual volume control knobs (one for digital volume adjustment and the other for analog volume adjustment) as well as a dedicated audio DSP chip. The power supply system has also been enhanced with support for an external 12V power source and four batteries dedicated to the digital and analog sections. Check out all the details below.

Update (July 3): The iBasso DX340MAX is now available from iBasso’s official store on AliExpress.

DX340MAX Gains Dual Volume Knobs, Dedicated DSP Chip, and Power Supply Enhancements

The DX340MAX introduces several improvements over both the DX340 and the DX320MAX. The most noticeable change is undoubtedly the implementation of two volume control knobs, allowing independent adjustment of digital and analog volume levels. In addition, the dedicated DSP chip provides a dedicated platform for audio processing while significantly reducing the workload placed on the SoC.

The first power-related improvement in the DX340MAX is battery bypass when a 12V external power supply is connected. The second enhancement is the use of four batteries to power the analog and digital sections independently.

Below are detailed explanations of the improvements mentioned above, along with additional upgrades featured in the DX340MAX.

How the Dual Volume Knobs Work

The DX340MAX features two volume control knobs: one analog and one digital. The analog volume control utilizes a stepped attenuator built with 96 high-precision resistors, providing 24 volume levels.

According to iBasso, the digital volume control does not affect sound quality, while the analog volume control helps reduce background noise. The company recommends setting the digital volume between 90 and 100 and then adjusting the desired listening level using the analog volume control.

Purpose of the Dedicated Audio DSP Chip

In most cases, audio DSP algorithms are processed by the DAP’s SoC. However, because the chipset is already responsible for running the operating system, real-time responsiveness for audio-related tasks may be compromised. To address this issue, iBasso implemented a dedicated audio DSP chip.

With the dedicated DSP processor, the system achieves a dynamic range of up to 192 dB and a THD+N rating of -174 dB. At the same time, the SoC remains available to handle other tasks required for running applications and the operating system itself.

Power Supply System with External Power Input and Additional Batteries

Thanks to its 12V external DC power technology, the DX340MAX can bypass its batteries while increasing output power to 2250 mW into a 32-ohm load. This functionality was not available on the DX320MAX, which relied exclusively on battery power.

Another major change is the adoption of four batteries in the DX340MAX instead of the two batteries used in the DX340. The independent power circuits for the analog and digital sections have been retained, but now incorporate two batteries connected in series. As a result, the analog section can receive up to 8.4V, while the digital section operates at 4.35V.

According to iBasso, the use of a larger number of batteries provides greater stability, longer service life, and improved operational safety. In addition, this design increases the driving capability of the amplifier circuit.

Improvements to the Amplification Circuit

The new amplification circuit in the DX340MAX is built around two dual operational amplifiers (op-amps) featuring a Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) of up to 120 dB. This configuration enables fully differential signal transmission while reducing noise interference caused by differences in reference potential. It also isolates the influence of the output stage from the preceding amplification stages.

According to iBasso, the DX340MAX employs “a fully differential four-channel architecture with multi-stage current feedback” in its amplification section. This configuration reduces latency-related issues commonly associated with deep-feedback circuits. In total, 80 transistors are utilized within a two-stage amplification architecture to ensure signal linearity.

Combined with a complementary output circuit, the DX340MAX achieves an output impedance of 0.9 ohms through its balanced output and 0.4 ohms through its single-ended (SE) output.

Use of Premium Components

The DX340MAX employs 48 high-precision metal-film resistors at critical points within the playback circuit. In addition, iBasso selected various electrolytic and film capacitors from brands such as RIFA and Sprague to fine-tune the DAP’s sound signature. According to the company, the result is a presentation characterized by “rich texture, smoothness, and musicality.”

iBasso DX340MAX: Specifications

General Specifications

• Bluetooth 5.0
• Chassis: aerospace-grade titanium alloy
• Display: 6-inch AMOLED, 1080 × 2160 resolution, 1000 nits brightness
• Fast charging support: Qualcomm QC 3.0 and USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.0
• Internal storage: 256GB UFS 2.0
• microSD card support: compatible with SDXC/SDHC/TF cards up to 2 TB
• Operating system: Android 13 and MangoOS
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
• USB-C 3.1 port
• Weight: 610 g
• Wi-Fi 5: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

Battery Specifications

• Analog battery charging time: 2 hours
• Battery configuration: two 3200mAh batteries for the analog section and two 3200mAh batteries for the digital section
• Battery life: up to 17.5 hours of continuous playback
• Digital battery charging time: 3 hours
• Number of batteries: 4

4.4mm Balanced Headphone Output Specifications

• THD+N: -115 dB (600-ohm load), -115 dB (300-ohm load), -110 dB (32-ohm load)
• Dynamic range: 122 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): 122 dB
• Crosstalk: -126 dB
• Output impedance: 0.9 ohms
• Output voltage: 6.45 Vrms @ 32 Ω on battery power; 8.48 Vrms @ 32 Ω with a 12V external power supply
• Output power: 1300 mW @ 32 Ω on battery power; 2250 mW @ 32 Ω with a 12V external power supply

3.5mm Single-Ended Headphone Output Specifications

• THD+N: -104 dB (600-ohm load), -104 dB (300-ohm load), -105 dB (32-ohm load)
• Dynamic range: 121 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): 121 dB
• Crosstalk: -118 dB
• Output impedance: 0.4 ohms
• Output voltage: 3.16 Vrms @ 32 Ω on battery power; 4.27 Vrms @ 32 Ω with a 12V external power supply
• Output power: 330 mW @ 32 Ω on battery power; 570 mW @ 32 Ω with a 12V external power supply

4.4mm Balanced Line-Out Specification

• THD+N: -122 dB (1 kHz / 44.1 kHz / 24-bit / 4 Vrms)
• Dynamic range: 123 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): 123 dB
• Crosstalk: -125 dB
• Maximum output voltage: 4 Vrms

Release Date, Pricing, and Availability

The iBasso DX340MAX is now available on the international market for US$3,727.91 through iBasso’s official store on AliExpress.