Why do you have so many DAPs?

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by Claud, Aug 3, 2020.

  1. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    This is a question posed to me by PM from another member. I do not remember my answer, but I guess the answer is I do't know.
    I first bought a Sony ZX300. The sound was OK, but the battery life is great. Its a pretty decent entry DAP, but somewhat expensive for that.
    I next bought an iBasso DX 220. It is a TOTL DAP and sounds like it. Has all the modern convinces like WiFi, OTA updates and you can put your music streaming app on it. This would have been the logical place to stop buying DAPS.
    So, I decided to take a walk with my music. The Sony was lighter and smaller than the iBasso, but the sound is just OK.
    Started looking for a small pocket sized DAP for exercise/walks. I will soon be retired and have time for such thing as walks.
    I found the HiBy R 3. Small, sounds good, but not great, light, has a good screen and.........WiFi for OTA updates etc.
    I liked the R 3 so much that I bought one for my son for Christmas for $150 on Amazon Black Friday special retail is $200.
    Liked the R 3 so much I bought an R 6 Pro in alluminum. Great sound quality, the equal of my iBasso DX 220 with the #8 amp. Has Wifi like its little bro but was easier to put my Tidal app on.
    That should be enough DAPs one would think. It was at this point that the other member asked the question by PM.
    In spite of his guidance , I bought two more DAPs. The new R 3 Saber Pro with nicely improved SQ. and.......
    The A&K SE 200.
    I was looking for a fancy DAP to top off and end my collection. This is it. It has just enough increase in sound quality to be worth the purchase and its like having two DAPS the size of one. Why this particular DAP? Because It checked off my criteria.
    First it wasn't one of those $3000 plus DAPS. To me, that is WAY too expensive. My A & K was half that. Second its unique with two different DAC/amp systems and its an A & K for what's that worth.
    Have I gone overboard? Should I sell off some of these DAPS. I don't think so because I love the variety.
     
  2. theveterans

    theveterans Facebook Friend

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    Like in speaker listening system, portable audio also involves careful matching of transducers to DAPs to get the most satisfying sound. The best technically sounding or most resolute flagship DAPs doesn’t guarantee that all headphones and IEMs will sound great when paired with them and only by trying out different DAP/transducer combination that one will find the best sound out of that chain. There’s also impedance matching as a factor along with a DAP’s sound signature when dealing with sensitive IEMs like from Campfire Audio thus it makes sense to collect different DAPs to serve our varying moods and listening genres
     
  3. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    It does not make any sense at all but this is exactly what we do :(
     
  4. squishware

    squishware Friend

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