iBasso seeks to challenge Astell & Kern and FiiO with its “elegant” flagship portable player

iBasso DX340 portable music player next to a pair of Dali IO-8 wireless headphones on a stand
(Image credit: iBasso)

Chinese brand iBasso is looking to take the fight to the likes of Astell & Kern and FiiO with its latest premium portable music player.

The new DX340 is, says its maker, made “for discerning users who demand both sonic excellence and intuitive usability” teasing flagship performance and engineering in a portable, “elegant” form.

The DX340 houses iBasso's latest audio engine featuring a 1-bit discrete DAC configuration, teasing “remarkable clarity, ultra-low distortion and exceptional timing”. The new unit also offers an impressive suite of high-resolution formats, with PCM support up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside native DSD512.

iBasso DX340 headphone outputs shot

(Image credit: iBasso)

In terms of connectivity options, the DX340 includes balanced and single-ended headphone outputs alongside a coaxial output, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 if you crave the convenience of a wireless connection.

Housed in a stainless steel chassis, the flagship player is equipped with a “vibrant and responsive” 6.0-inch AMOLED display, while physical buttons include a volume wheel alongside external power and play/pause controls.

​The iBasso DX340 is now available at £1499 / $1699 for the standard model and £1899 for a limited-edition titanium version. That puts it in direct competition with the Astell & Kern A&futura SE180 we tested at £1399 / $1499 / $AU2099.

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Harry McKerrell
Senior staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs.

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