Andy just fyi, if you swipe once or twice from the left in the Mango player you can access all the categories (artists, songs, genres, etc). I too had this problem until I figured that out. The player has a terrible UI that needs another overhaul.
Awesome review, Andy! I have never purchased an iBasso DAP. My first recent DAP was Hiby R3 ii and was going to save up for the M23 after watching your review of it but my wife beat me to upgrading my DAP and she purchased me the Hiby R6 Gen 3. I have had it for almost 2 weeks and I'm extremely happy with it. It smashes the Hiby R3.
I used the dx90 long time ago. Since then, I have used several daps from Hiby and Shanling, mostly entry -level stuff. Ibasso knows how to design a dap very well.
Just bought it today and the sound quality is amazing for this price! I have compared with much more expensive DAP and this is the most lightest and smallest one with surprising good sound quality. Now I can finally have a great sound quality DAP in my pocket on the go! Thanks Andy for your recommendation
thanks for pointing out the sharp corners - it is important because if you want to use this player with pleasure a case is a must but then you won't be able to feed your eyes with nice green or blue color of DX180 so you can buy black. I love DX180 for it's easy to use experience, wheel, weight and battery. I think it is a little bit bright sounding but connecting to portable headphone amp elevates what this player can do. DX260 might be somehow better but imho is bulkier and more expensive - instead of paying more for DX260 just buy DX180 and a nice portable headphone amp.
Dear Andy, if you find the following basic thought-regarding the function of IEMs, interesting--please post a response. Here it is. As we know, there are no two pairs of ears or even two single ears that are exactly same as regards their sensitivity to the different frequencies of the acoustic spectrum. Given this, all IEM 'windings'/calibrations (V-shape, etc.) play no actual role when the question comes to a Hi-Fi auditory experience of a musical piece. The hearing experience varies widely. It is thus strongly subjective. So, I think, before selecting any particular IEM, we need to be sure that the source of the analog signal (DAC exit) sent to our ears is a sound spectrum as much as possible flat for our ears only. It is only then that we know we hear what the IEM sounds like (how they handle the original recording). Additionally, we can only then also meaningfully select some specific equalizer set (pop, rock, jazz, etc.), according to our further musical tastes. So, if this is true, the question is: do you know any smartphone app that could flat-adjust the relative volume of the specific parts of the spectrum in accordance to the sensitivity of one's ears? I used to use NEUTRALIZER, but it was controlling only a limited number of bands in the acoustic spectrum and, in addition, it does not seem to perform satisfactorily with latest versions of Android... Any help in this direction will be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks, I agree with your point of view. On the other hand, I never use EQ to fix anything, and for my own usage and the method that I practice, I use something which is known and accepted as Diffused Field Neutral standard like Etymotic ER4SR to give me a baseline of what neutral, accurate and transparent sound is all about. I also use Sennheiser HD600 and Etymotic ER2XR for non Diffused Field Neutral references. Using these listening devices, I would be able to gauge how "neutral", transparent or colored the sources are. Again, I don't do EQ, I am a complete idiot when it comes to EQ or graphs, the method I use purely of describing how I hear them and hopefully my audiences can make sense out of it. Cheers
Hi, I'm following your comments with interest. You recently presented the ONIX Alpha XI1, your evaluation of the ONIX Overture XM5 would be very welcome. A thousand thanks
Great review as always thank you Andy. I never used a DAP before so I think this should be a very good entry DAP. Just want to know, can I have my Apple Music library transfer to DX 180? Thanks again Andy!
Great review as usual!How did you find the DX180 (and the M23) compared to the Q15 you owned in term of sound quality?I'm always hesitating between DAP & Dac-amp portable as Q15,Shanling H5 etc...thanks
My pleasure. Q15 offers a more traditional AKM sound signature which is frontal and slightly colored. DX180 offers the same resolution to Q15 but more transparent and uncolored. DX180 is also more open and wide sounding (less frontal). But I do feel Q15 just a hair denser with sound texture
@@donglemadness Hi Andy, thank for your quick answer.From what you said the DX180 will be the perfect match for laid back iems I owned (such as Penon Quattro , Kefine Delci..)
Andy, great video as always. I got a dx180 last week and love it. I have had trouble getting tidal working within the hiby app though. I had to sideload hiby because it wasnt in play store. So hiby works, but when i sign into tidal within it the circle just spins. Any ideas?
I side loaded HIBY App version 4.2.9 Build 5753 and I think I have the same issue as you, can't connect Tidal. But this was never an issue to me because I prefer to use Tidal own App for streaming. If you still want to use HIBY App for Tidal, you need to find the APK that supports it
Lol, I wish I did. Geoff was already named Geoff when I adopted him from the SPCA Animal shelter/rescue two months ago, and I opted to keep his name, that's a very good name anyway
Great review Andy, as always. I like your cat, I'm a cat person too. I can't install the Hiby Music app on my Ibasso DX180 from the Google Play store, it says is not compatible with my device. Can you advise, please? Cheers!
Geoff says thanks! 😹 Yes you can install HIBY Music App on DX180, but not from Play store. You will need to side load it with manual install, just Google for HIBY Music APK and then get the latest version available. That's how I did it
Already did comapring those two, my Burson Playmate 2 with V7 Opamps remained the one with the most resolution and imaging, macro and micro details. But DX180 sounds more open and airy, with a little smoother edged decays
As-salamu alaykum. Hi Andy, great work. Started following your channel recently. Just purchased DX180 and playing with various software players. HiBy software music player seems to be unable to play DSD files bit-perfect. It would convert to PCM. Default Mango and Neutron player works fine. Do you have any comments on the settings in HiBY software music player? Thank you. P.S. HiBy music player apk was side loaded.
It's a problem with HIBY Music App which seems to be limited on DX180. I only play DSD on Mango player while many other FLAC I have I play on HIBY Music
For Diffused Feild Neutral 100% uncolored, 100% transparency and accuracy, Etymotic ER4SR and ER2SE, for neutral and natural, the closest thing to that is the Kinera Idun Golden or I use headphones like Sennheiser HD600. The Tanchjim 4U in Monitoring mode is also as flat neutral as the Etymotic ER series, but I would not use them for pleasure, they can be too lifeless and flat for enjoyment, I like a bit of coloration in the Midbass region which I get from SIVGA Nightingale, my most used IEM still. (I use my Etys and Kinera Idun Golden only for monitoring and source assessment)
@@donglemadness About the Sennheiser HD600 - The big problem for me is that according to graphs, there's a big Sub-Bass roll-off that I can't EQ to much, if I want to Prevent distortion (Because it have a dynamic driver). Thank you
I am looking for a warm, analogue DAP to compliment my detailed, neutral Astell CA1000 DAP. Would love to hear some ideas from anyone in the community.
I don't have R6G3 so it's hard for me to tell. But if anything my experience with HIBY has been great, they are one of the manufacturers that pay attention to quality
A DAP offers tons of freedom for integrated all in one solution without having an external device connected to your phone, it really depends on your subjective preferences
Andy just fyi, if you swipe once or twice from the left in the Mango player you can access all the categories (artists, songs, genres, etc). I too had this problem until I figured that out. The player has a terrible UI that needs another overhaul.
You are a LIFE saver!
Awesome review, Andy! I have never purchased an iBasso DAP. My first recent DAP was Hiby R3 ii and was going to save up for the M23 after watching your review of it but my wife beat me to upgrading my DAP and she purchased me the Hiby R6 Gen 3. I have had it for almost 2 weeks and I'm extremely happy with it. It smashes the Hiby R3.
Awesome James, you are a lucky man!
I used the dx90 long time ago. Since then, I have used several daps from Hiby and Shanling, mostly entry -level stuff. Ibasso knows how to design a dap very well.
Very interested in the N3 Ultra, might be my first DAP saving for it now. Thanks for the review Andy!
My pleasure
Take a look on the shanling m5 ultra, warmer Sound and not a bugged android. I’m loving it 100%.
As always thank you. I ordered the Onix Overture XM5 waiting for it.. this looks interesting as well. All the success to you.
Thanks, you too!
Just bought it today and the sound quality is amazing for this price! I have compared with much more expensive DAP and this is the most lightest and smallest one with surprising good sound quality. Now I can finally have a great sound quality DAP in my pocket on the go! Thanks Andy for your recommendation
My pleasure!
Wow nice. Tempting to get one.
Geoff was having a great time! 😁 This dap is out of my price range right now but is one to consider for the future!
Lol Geoff is taking over AndyAudioVault 😹
@@donglemadness 😆
Think I'll save up for DC07 Pro and use the iBasso usb splitter to power out with my small Anker battery.
Wow i didn't expect it to sound better than M23.
thanks for pointing out the sharp corners - it is important because if you want to use this player with pleasure a case is a must but then you won't be able to feed your eyes with nice green or blue color of DX180 so you can buy black. I love DX180 for it's easy to use experience, wheel, weight and battery. I think it is a little bit bright sounding but connecting to portable headphone amp elevates what this player can do. DX260 might be somehow better but imho is bulkier and more expensive - instead of paying more for DX260 just buy DX180 and a nice portable headphone amp.
My pleasure
thank you a lot f or the review!
My pleasure!
Thank you so much.
No worries!
The small size, excellent battery life, and low temps are impressive features. Though, it seems built-in EQ should be present.
Hopefully, you can review Ibasso DX260.
That's what I am hoping too :D
Well done
🙏
I'd always choose a dap instead of dongles with better sq, thanks for the review.
No problem 👍
Dear Andy, if you find the following basic thought-regarding the function of IEMs, interesting--please post a response. Here it is. As we know, there are no two pairs of ears or even two single ears that are exactly same as regards their sensitivity to the different frequencies of the acoustic spectrum. Given this, all IEM 'windings'/calibrations (V-shape, etc.) play no actual role when the question comes to a Hi-Fi auditory experience of a musical piece. The hearing experience varies widely. It is thus strongly subjective. So, I think, before selecting any particular IEM, we need to be sure that the source of the analog signal (DAC exit) sent to our ears is a sound spectrum as much as possible flat for our ears only. It is only then that we know we hear what the IEM sounds like (how they handle the original recording). Additionally, we can only then also meaningfully select some specific equalizer set (pop, rock, jazz, etc.), according to our further musical tastes. So, if this is true, the question is: do you know any smartphone app that could flat-adjust the relative volume of the specific parts of the spectrum in accordance to the sensitivity of one's ears? I used to use NEUTRALIZER, but it was controlling only a limited number of bands in the acoustic spectrum and, in addition, it does not seem to perform satisfactorily with latest versions of Android... Any help in this direction will be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks, I agree with your point of view. On the other hand, I never use EQ to fix anything, and for my own usage and the method that I practice, I use something which is known and accepted as Diffused Field Neutral standard like Etymotic ER4SR to give me a baseline of what neutral, accurate and transparent sound is all about. I also use Sennheiser HD600 and Etymotic ER2XR for non Diffused Field Neutral references. Using these listening devices, I would be able to gauge how "neutral", transparent or colored the sources are. Again, I don't do EQ, I am a complete idiot when it comes to EQ or graphs, the method I use purely of describing how I hear them and hopefully my audiences can make sense out of it. Cheers
Hi, I'm following your comments with interest. You recently presented the ONIX Alpha XI1, your evaluation of the ONIX Overture XM5 would be very welcome. A thousand thanks
Thanks! I am definitely trying to get ONIX Overture to test. Let's hope I don't have to wait long
Great review as always thank you Andy. I never used a DAP before so I think this should be a very good entry DAP. Just want to know, can I have my Apple Music library transfer to DX 180? Thanks again Andy!
My pleasure. Yes, you can install Apple Music on DX180 since it runs stock Android system, you can install anything you find in Play Store
@@donglemadness just ordered for us$475 4G+128G black, love the sound of Onix Alpha with Cirrus chips, thanks again Andy!
@@donglemadness received the DX180. All I can say is WOW. Love it!👍👍👍
Great review as usual!How did you find the DX180 (and the M23) compared to the Q15 you owned in term of sound quality?I'm always hesitating between DAP & Dac-amp portable as Q15,Shanling H5 etc...thanks
My pleasure. Q15 offers a more traditional AKM sound signature which is frontal and slightly colored. DX180 offers the same resolution to Q15 but more transparent and uncolored. DX180 is also more open and wide sounding (less frontal). But I do feel Q15 just a hair denser with sound texture
@@donglemadness Hi Andy, thank for your quick answer.From what you said the DX180 will be the perfect match for laid back iems I owned (such as Penon Quattro , Kefine Delci..)
Andy, great video as always. I got a dx180 last week and love it. I have had trouble getting tidal working within the hiby app though. I had to sideload hiby because it wasnt in play store. So hiby works, but when i sign into tidal within it the circle just spins. Any ideas?
I side loaded HIBY App version 4.2.9 Build 5753 and I think I have the same issue as you, can't connect Tidal. But this was never an issue to me because I prefer to use Tidal own App for streaming. If you still want to use HIBY App for Tidal, you need to find the APK that supports it
@@donglemadnesswhat is an APK?
APK is a package for installer files for Android system. If you need to install manually, you look for APK files
Did you name Geoff after Geoff Tate (OG Queensryche singer) ?!!! If so i respect you even more
Lol, I wish I did. Geoff was already named Geoff when I adopted him from the SPCA Animal shelter/rescue two months ago, and I opted to keep his name, that's a very good name anyway
@@donglemadness he's adorable... Try a laser pointer as a toy cats love them
LOL, I will find a laser!
it would be interesting to compare with a R2R DAC -HIby rs6 in particular
I am keen on that one too
I would like to see an RS2 comparison. The RS2 is very smooth and analog to my ear.
Great review Andy, as always. I like your cat, I'm a cat person too. I can't install the Hiby Music app on my Ibasso DX180 from the Google Play store, it says is not compatible with my device. Can you advise, please? Cheers!
Geoff says thanks! 😹 Yes you can install HIBY Music App on DX180, but not from Play store. You will need to side load it with manual install, just Google for HIBY Music APK and then get the latest version available. That's how I did it
@@donglemadness Thank you, Andy!
Hi Andy,
Can you do a real A/B test with the Burson Playmate 2? Is this DAP even in the same tier?
Thank you and have a good day
Already did comapring those two, my Burson Playmate 2 with V7 Opamps remained the one with the most resolution and imaging, macro and micro details. But DX180 sounds more open and airy, with a little smoother edged decays
Hi Andy,
I will be happy to know if the iBasso D16 TAIPAN DAC/AMP worth buying! (Compered to a much cheeper products).
Thanks
I am curious too on that one, would love to try it
As-salamu alaykum. Hi Andy, great work. Started following your channel recently. Just purchased DX180 and playing with various software players. HiBy software music player seems to be unable to play DSD files bit-perfect. It would convert to PCM. Default Mango and Neutron player works fine. Do you have any comments on the settings in HiBY software music player? Thank you.
P.S. HiBy music player apk was side loaded.
It's a problem with HIBY Music App which seems to be limited on DX180. I only play DSD on Mango player while many other FLAC I have I play on HIBY Music
@@donglemadness Thank you Andy!
Hello, how does Bluetooth connectivity behave?
Greetings from Mexico
Saludos. BT works perfectly fine just like any good Android devices, supports LDAC and many other protocols
salam , nk tny .. kalau abg.. pilih ibasso Dx180 or Hiby R6iii?
Tak pernah try plak R6iii so tak tau camna nak compare
For getting the most Neutral / Natural sound, which IEMs / Headphones you recommend to buy ? And are them your favorite?
Thank you
For Diffused Feild Neutral 100% uncolored, 100% transparency and accuracy, Etymotic ER4SR and ER2SE, for neutral and natural, the closest thing to that is the Kinera Idun Golden or I use headphones like Sennheiser HD600. The Tanchjim 4U in Monitoring mode is also as flat neutral as the Etymotic ER series, but I would not use them for pleasure, they can be too lifeless and flat for enjoyment, I like a bit of coloration in the Midbass region which I get from SIVGA Nightingale, my most used IEM still. (I use my Etys and Kinera Idun Golden only for monitoring and source assessment)
@@donglemadness About the Sennheiser HD600 -
The big problem for me is that according to graphs, there's a big Sub-Bass roll-off that I can't EQ to much, if I want to Prevent distortion (Because it have a dynamic driver).
Thank you
Sold my RU7 recently and considering buying the DC07 pro now! Not a dap person but I enjoy your reveiws, feels like new products coming out everyday🫨
Thanks so much for the support!
Purely on the basis of sound quality should i buy Ibasso dx180 or Onix Alpha
You have the budget, get DX180, sound wise both closely matched, but DX180 offer a little more vertical depth to sound density
Compare to dc elite for sound, which one you choose ?
DX180
hello can u review fd15 plz
That's in my wish list. Thanks!
How about DX320?
I haven't tried DX320 yet
I am looking for a warm, analogue DAP to compliment my detailed, neutral Astell CA1000 DAP. Would love to hear some ideas from anyone in the community.
Perhaps you should consider Cayin N3 Ultra in Tube mode for nice warm sound
Cayin RU6 Vs Ibaaso dc04 suggest best all segments
My performance - Rich sound and wide stage
DC07Pro is what you looking at
@@donglemadness DC07 NOT AVAILABLE IN INDIA
Can you get EPZ TP50 or ONIX Alpha? if not then get iBasso DC04Pro then
Non android based dap are they more lasting than android based dap?
Not really, many Android DAPs now are very well built as compared to what we see three years ago
@@donglemadness Do you think Hiby R6G3 is reliable.
I don't have R6G3 so it's hard for me to tell. But if anything my experience with HIBY has been great, they are one of the manufacturers that pay attention to quality
Sound wise how does it compare to the onyx dongle?
Both has similar rich neutral analog tuning, but DX180 offer a little bit of vertical depth to the sound density
@@donglemadnessHi Andy, does the vertical depth also appear in the DC07 Pro, too?
Can you please tell me what is the difference if you have a dab or playing it through your cell phone connected to a dongle. Is it worth paying $500😢
A DAP offers tons of freedom for integrated all in one solution without having an external device connected to your phone, it really depends on your subjective preferences