For iBasso daps such as the dx160, dx220 (and max), dx300 (and max), and so on
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Currently have a dx300 max on me, and it’s really impressive for the money so far. It’s really good for driving some of the more demanding headphones out there. Signature wise it is a departure from the stock 300 and more inline with the 220 max, pretty overall neutral slightly cleaner leaning, very tight with lots of control, excellent impact and slam in the low end, very large stage that’s likely the largest I’ve heard from a dap. Texture is good, resolution is good, not super organic but loads of fun. Dynamically pretty alive, nice timbre
Really just excellent with most headphones, makes the dv2 sing pretty easily, step above the 220 max and 300 for sure, on the level of like LPGT I’d say with headphones perhaps a bit better in some aspects, but behind something like a p6 pro (although it does have wider stage and more impact with harder to drive headphones, so if those are your absolute priorities then the 300 max might be better, also different signature, gap isn’t as large with headphones vs iems). Ultimate mode sounds better but seems to drain battery faster, also using slow roll off for now but they don’t seem to make too much impact as something like ultimate mode. Gain wise low gain is all you need for iems, but higher gain is helpful for headphones
Also, it is much more usable than the 220 max since it has actual physical controls, so you can use it from a pocket, which drove me nuts about the 220
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Will be interested in seeing more of your thoughts on this, I know that it’s kinda going for something a bit different to the p6p but I’ve wondered for a while how they actually compare
So signature wise the ibasso tilts more clean brighter forward which can help some darker more relaxed iems, the p6p leans a bit more neutral warmer slightly relaxed in comparison
From a technical standpoint, the only things the dx300 max does better than the p6 pro is stage width (but it’s not as accurate in placement of stage, only more width but less depth and placement accuracy, also not as black), and impact/slam. It may even have more control over the bass than the p6p with headphones and may be more macrodynamic with headphones, but I’m not confident enough to say that yet
But when it comes to things like resolution, smoothness, texture, microdynamics, stage placement accuracy, depth, and blackness, speed and separation, timbre, etc, the p6p is still pulling ahead especially with iems. But with headphones the gap gets smaller, but p6p still ahead. I think that the raw strength of the dx300 max’s amp section is what’s pulling most of the weight
But given the price if your main goal is headphones, it’s one of the best for headphones in that range so far
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I suppose a fairer comparison in terms of similar goals for the dap would be the lp6 but I know you’ve not got one of those yourself.
I’m glad I did go for the p6p though, it is a really nice dap even with the quirks 
Yes the more daps I hear, the more I am impressed with the sq, and the more I am feeling a bit more irritated about the quirks lol
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Yeah, surely it’s not that hard to have higher bitrates over usb, track limits and being able to index a library. Most daps are able to do those things
The 300 max really is a beast with headphones, wish these things weren’t limited because this is easily one of the top for the money they ask. I am pretty dang curious to see if the ti version would elevate it to compete with the p6p. Who knows lol, although I’ll likely not be able to get my hands on that one
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Do u think its got enough power to do some planars like lcd stuff justice? 
Absolutely without a doubt
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FUCKING INTERESTING. did not expect a dap to be able to do so. Thats legit awesome!
It’s a real brick so you sacrifice some portability for that but yes it can really get a ton out of something like an lcd. Also has some other quirks like requiring 2 different chargers to charge (you have to charge the audio section and dap section separately). One of those desktop replacer daps for some for headphones
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Oh so u gotta charge the amplifier battery and the dap battery itself seperately? Quite interesting indeed lol. Not too bad tho, but super worth it being chunky for the power it has. Seems really dope
Yes, one is over type c, the other is with a separate barrel jack wall wart.
It is, it’s just irritating they limit them to only 400 normal 100 ti, and all are already gone. Must be some reason they can’t make them in larger quantities
Wait what? So both are limited in how many ever exist? Daaaaaang thats a shame. I do believe i saw u mention something of the kind now that i think about it. Pretty sad for sure lol
It’s because of the akm shortage I’m pretty sure, they are still using AK 4499 in these since they still have stock. They said they will make more units when production gets back underway. Seems like they are unwilling to compromise and go for a competing dac chip.
I mean they did limit the previous 220 max though, and there was no akm shortage during then so no real reason for that one. But if they do actually plan to make more units that’s great
I do wonder how much of a market there actually is for the max model daps or any desktop dap really.
I also wonder why they did end up going for the separate battery chargers again considering that the normal dx300 also has separate batteries in it and it uses one usb c
Not sure, but this does sound very different from the normal dx300 so whatever they are doing it’s not the same lol
Yeah definitely, part of it is probably that keeping similar tooling to the 220 max keeps down costs. (At least it looks the same, just with extra buttons)