DAP discussion thread

901s is outstanding

 

This player intrigues me.

Super small with a reported 30 hour battery life and class A amp. Has anyone heard it?

http://penonaudio.com/HiSoundaudio-Studio-S6?search=s6

 

In for a Luxury & Precision LP3.

 

Listening to a tour Aune M2 ($350) now and wasn't expecting much, but wow, this is the second DAP I have heard that can go stackless and sound great - the other being the PAW GOLD. It has surprisingly great SQ that at first listen bests my AK100ii, but I have yet to AB so we will see. It may be my second best for SQ behind the PAW GOLD. While the AK380 may sound a little better, it still requires an amp to get to this level. The M2's biggest weakness at this point is that it has a slight treble glare when turned up too high in volume. However, the full sized signature scales down in volume nicely not requiring the higher volume where this occurs. The only problem is that it sounds so good with your music that you end up turning each song up until it gets there. What is unique about the M2 is its instrument timbre in instrumentals. You can feel the wood and the strings as well as the hollow that usually gets passed up on lessor DAPs. This may well be the best value in a DAP today if you can go without the touch screen.

 

Hisoundaudio/Jack Fu - how long have you got?

 

Go on...

 

I like my little Sony A17 for the time being, but I'm interested in a DAP that can do at least one of the following:

-Has WiFi and the ability to use Spotify or Tidal like a smartphone

Or

-Can take a digital USB input from an android smartphone to use both its DAC and amp (replacing my HA-2)

Any ideas? Would prefer it to be well under a grand. Under 600 ideally

 

It's disheartening how many DAPs are coming in over $500. I realize they're more advanced than iPods or insert generic MP3 player here, but it seems excessive to me.

 

Onkyo DP-X1? Seems to be Android based and not outrageously priced.

 

Thanks! I didn't know about that one, still a bit high for me, but I'll watch the market (is the Pioneer also the same thing?) Probably won't make a decision until my K10's are made anyway.

Just notices the Sony ZX1 is plummeting in price since the zx2 came out, I'm just so new to DAPs idk what's all out there. The cheaper AK stuff doesn't seem to have wifi/android

 

Forget about ZX1, it doesn't have an output z low enough for low z dynamic IEMs or IEMs with crazy crossovers. And K10 probably qualifies both. It also doesn't have enough juice to reasonably make UERM shine. And from trusted sources, ZX2 fares no better. If A17 can be priced $300, then ZX1 from a purely sonic perspective worths only $301, and ZX2 worths $302.

AK Jr sounds OK, probably somewhere near G between M&G by Golden Schlong (TM) standards. AK100ii is the last thing I would consider worthy buying second-hand in the entire AK line up. I got it for 500 USD though. If Groovers+ or Qobuz is your thing, AK100ii at least doesn't sound completely crap and might worth considering.

Also you might want to look at iBasso DX80 - I think kneax has reviewed them or has had some good experience.

The whole DAP market is just wonderfully full of pure crap.

 

@Griffon appreciate you laying that all out, thank you. Yeah the JR or used AK100ii would be high on my list, DX80 also looks good, can use as USB DAC too, thanks. But I think I really would like streaming service capability, then I could completely scrap my phone/HA-2 stack altogether. The Onkyo (and the Pioneer I just found which isn't exactly the same, but Onkyo owns them) seem like standouts, but I'm in no rush

 

If you really want streaming, I'd suggest completely scrap the DAP idea. Use your phone. If a DAP supports WiFi and Tidal or Spotify, 99.99% it's Android based, in which case can be highly susceptible of relatively poor audio implementation because Android itself takes up so much resource.

 

Yeah that's fair, it's why I have the current phone/ha2 stack now, then Sony a17 for my own large library. I really like one device but you bring up a good point. Really liking what I'm reading about this onkyo though, so we'll see

 

Backing the Seiun Pro x player. If you're just listening streaming music services this should theoretically sound better than an Iphone. For $200 it's a cheap gamble.Almost bought an X7 till it was revealed that you could only save offline files to the internal memory which is only 32 gigs.. deal breaker.

 

Just would like to put my impressions out there for the NW-ZX2, I think Sony is kinda on to something with their custom DAC solution, bass has good texture and overall the unit is very non-fatiguing to listen to which I think is kinda of a problem with other DAPs in the market. Piano strikes sounded more right on this DAP then others. Tonal balance is kinda dark smooth sound but not overly so. Hardly any digititus to detect here.

Usability wise the UI is kinda of a dream especially with your choice of any android app, I use Onkyo's HF player mostly. Staging compared to other dacs is very forward.

Downsides? Poor technicalities in the low mids/bass is obvious, with complex playing piano notes tend to sound like a single note rather than being spaced properly. Amp gain and impedance is kinda in the middle of nowhere, seems well suited for dynamic IEMs/sensitive headpones. Not great if you are using multi-driver BAs with wacky impedances and insensitive IEMs. Would be nice if it had a fitting amp attachment for it for harder to drive stuff. Output impedance was measured at ~1.6 ohms.

Keep in mind I'm not very in the deep with portables. Only heard the AK240, DX50 and DX90 at length.