DAP discussion thread

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by zerodeefex, Oct 8, 2015.

  1. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    I spent most of this afternoon listening to my HIbY R6 Pro and my Solaris SE IEMs. Sounded great with just the right amount of bass and a lovely midrange. The problem was that I was also listening to a Moondrop Blessing 2 out of my A & K SE 200. Penon OSG cable on the CAs and Penon OS 849 on the MoonDrop. I think the Moondrop was better most of the time
     
  2. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I get bad subwoofer bass with just about all tips on the market using the og Solaris with low output impedance. Though my only reference for low output impedance is my iPod touch. Too much bass.

    IFI nano and AK120 both control the bass to perfect neutral levels.
     
  3. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I know people like the A&K's stuff, but I have to be honest: Some of their DAPs looks like Playstation 1 Graphics doing it with the Telsa Cybertruck:

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  4. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    It’s called modernism asshole
     
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
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    I just hate that iriver made a European sounding brand up, jacked up their margins and are lauded for it.
     
  6. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    It is called my fingers are being sliced up and that poking feeling in my pants. ;)
     
  7. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Cause it turns you on?
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    To 11? Maybe. I don't get the sharp edges on a DAP. TBH, the looks of the A&K DAPs and the prices are a serious turnoff for me. Those edges needs to be curved like my GF. The Sony DAPs got this part down a long time ago. Liking the Sony sound is a different ball game however.
     
  9. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    For the prices, the industrial design should be by Rodin.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I'm just kidding though I kind of like the design. To quote Wualta's description of the weirdly designed unnecessary square enclosure of the T50rp (the baffle is round, why is the cup square, which is worse for resonance-those corners), I find the AK DAPs "excitingly chunky"
     
  11. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I did like all your posts. ;)

    I know you were giving me shit. Too bad I'm not near ya. :(
     
  12. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    YMO, That is a fugally overly modern looking DAP. My A & K SE 200 is better looking and not as chunky. WHY did A & K wait until their next DAP introduction to FINALLY add a 4.4 balanced connection. Unfortunately I like my SE 200 too much to sell it and buy the new Kahn.
     
  13. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    I met few people at shows, that truly believed A&K is some long established German brand...
     
  14. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    Have you had a chance to spend some more time with you M15 - post burn in? Is the balanced out still lean?
    I noticed my M11 Pro appreciated some burn in to loosen up the balanced out.. although I still find it a bit forward sounding, but works OK with my HD650 as the bass is good (still making up my mind about it though). I agree with you that the 3.5mm out is bit too forward sounding, but maybe it needs some more burn in.

    I recommend you try the Neutron music app - seems the Fiio has gimped its own music app to sound more "hifi" - overly sparkly tops, reverby mids, leaner bass - it's sounded a bit horrid to me. Neutron gets things sounding more natural in my view.

    Have to say I'm intrigued what Fiio is doing nowadays - the M11 Pro certainly has talents I haven't heard in other DAPs - it can sound impressive at time almost like a full blown top tier desktop system, even if it tries too hard to impress with forwardness and overly smooth mids (look at me I am so clean and smooth sounding) - I wouldn't pick this sound for my desktop system necessarily, but the fact is it's impressive anyway that it's coming out of a calculator sized tech.

    I was hoping the m15 will further improve upon this by warming up the sound a bit, offering more oopmh in a calmer and more delicate manner. I guess I was wrong.
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    How does the “genres” section of the Astell and Kern Tidal app work? Is it automatic or can you tag artists with genres?
     
  16. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    Hi everyone, I’m thinking about getting a DAP for my Andromeda 2020. I’m familiar with sources recommended for the original Andro, and for the 2020 version Purr1n recommended “neutral-bright sources (Chord Mojo) or slightly higher Zout with warmer sources (Sony ZX2 or Pixel XL).” I’m reluctant to buy used DAPs because battery life is important to me - both in terms of daily use and overall lifespan, which rules but the ZX2 - but I’d be willing to consider a Mojo or a successor to the ZX2 that can be purchased new.

    The Andro 2020 is darker than its predecessor and apparently less susceptible to different output impedances. I’d originally thought about getting something that has a higher Z out of 1-2 ohms so as to keep the IEMs from being too dark and bassy. This doesn’t really make for many (relatively) affordable options in the current market, though. Essentially, we're looking at just the Sony NW-507 ($830), which does not seem to have been received all that positively, and the AK SR25 ($700). $700 is about as far as I'd be prepared to stretch.

    Right now, I have the AK Jr and like it very much. Its resolution and warm tonality appeal. But it lacks slam and has feeble macro-dynamics, to the point of being lifeless and dull. This isn’t a fault of the Andro; powered by a Fulla 2 or Magni 3 on low gain, it’s perfectly punchy and dynamic. My concern is that the AK SR25 might share the same traits I dislike about the AK Jr.. In a post earlier in this thread, animus notes that “The SR15, SE100 and SP1KM all share a familial sound to me. That is, midcentric with this uncanny valley fake warmth and completely dead dynamically.”

    Should I steer clear of the SR25, then? Is there any other new DAP that might pair well with the Andro 2020? (Hiss is a concern, and I’d rather not use an IEMatch). Should I instead go for the Mojo? Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.
     
  17. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    I have Andro v2 and I've used them with ZX2, ZX507, Fiio M11 Pro, Chord Mojo, Dragonfly Red, Woo WA8. From what I read (+ measurements) there's not a vast difference between the 2020 and others, so similar advise applies.

    Cables and tips make big difference too - I'm sticking to original cables (single ended)

    * ZX2 (disabled sound adjustments) + Comply tips = legendary combination, dynamic and balanced combination for Andros. Bit of hiss, but music sounds so good it's forgivable. Sony has endowed the ZX2 with good battery, still using mine and it lasts for days. Even if you buy second hand I think you can take it to sony center and they can replace it? worth checking

    * ZX507 + Campfire Marshmallow tips = bit warmer than ZX2, but just as dynamic and engaging. People who say ZX507 isn't good for Andros might be using them with Comply which makes things too warm - OI of the 507 is bit lower than ZX2, around 1. The 507 has great global eq you can use to also touch up the frequency response a bit if you like.. it's a fine combination and one I'm currently happy to use as a successor to the ZX2

    * Mojo/Dragonfly red + any tips = too much bass.. if you're hardcore basshead you'll like it.. for me OI is too low

    * Woo WA8 - bit strange for my liking - harsh and tiring, I guess tubes + Andro don't gel

    * Fiio m11 Pro + Marshmallow tips - similar to ZX507 as OI is about 1, but because this dap is more resolving with wider mids, and more extended in treble it can sound even better. My goto combination at the moment. Must use Neutron player app, the Fiio one makes things too forward
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
  18. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    Thank you very much for the suggestions, I'm most grateful. I’ll look into the Fiio, it wasn’t on my radar.

    I hadn’t considered the possibility of Sony offering a replacement battery service, this would be well worth looking into, especially if it meant I could get a DAP second hand and more affordably. I can’t say I’d like to spend the same amount on a DAP as I could on a Bifrost 2, and I have zerodeefex's words echoing in my head about the value of DAPs (and not just the iRiver stuff). Wouldn't it be great if there were a company that does for DAPs as Schiit Audio does for DACs and amps?

    I’ll report back if I can find out anything about a battery replacement from Sony.
     
  19. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    Will you give comparable head time to a DAP vs Bitfrost 2? If yes then it's worth investing a bit more (although I agree not over 1000$ - even around 600$ is pushing it).. I say this as the Fiio M11 Pro is a DAC, a DAP and SPDIF out, and the sound quality is on par with any desktop dac matching it's price (ignoring voicing preferences) - the headphone and line out matches and probably bests my Apogee Element interface even if I prefer a more organic/warm sound.. I use my HD650 with it and it drives them optimally with tight sub bass to boot. It doesn't hold a candle to Woo WA8 with the Senns, but that's expected.

    Now the ZX507 is a tricky value proposition - the hardware, software and DSP is wonderful, it gives you that Sony wow factor that makes me squeal like a piglet that's just discovered a smelly truffle.. But, I don't think it gives 700$ of sound quality - it's just a bit more congested, smaller and touch grainier compared to the Fiio when pushing the HD650. it's very good with IEMs like Andro, and it's small and gives you great global DSP, it's plug and play and it's Sony..

    I'm still hoping to one day get a Sony ZX507 form factor DAP that will bend physics and blow my socks off.
     
  20. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    Just so you have an alternative choice, check out the HiBy R6 Pro. It does it all and you can get your on line music, like Tidal on it. Updates are OTA too. Aluminum alloy ones are cheaper. Top rated DAP .https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/hiby
     

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