Comments on Profile Post by Merrick

With a phone you get longer guaranteed updates, a device running the latest OS, and with more RAM for a smoother experience. There are plenty of solid Android phones in that price range.

The only upside I can see for getting a mid level DAP instead is that it’s one device instead of two.

And with dongles you can change the sound by switching dongles, or take advantage of new products on the market. With the DAP, it sounds how it sounds and that’s it.

There's merit in your thinking, but a nice A&K or Sony (or Hiby or Shanling?) might be less overall hassle--decent UI, just plug in your IEM, etc. Also the OS in the DAPs are usually optimized for music.

@joch Which do you recommend in that price range?

Sony has a new DAP -707, Check it out. If convenience is important then DAP simply is better.

Also these dongles just drain battery of phone if connected via USB. One advantage of Sony DAP is longer battery life and hence less hassle. I do have Ifi dongle and a Sony DAP and when on move or when I just want to listen to music on bed, I always reach out for my DAP.

@Ksaurav402 The 707 is $900 on Amazon, definitely out of the $400-$600 price range I was discussing. And if used only to play music, all cellular and Wi-Fi turned off and no extra apps runnings, a recent Android phone should last plenty of time with a dongle.

Looks like Shanling M3 Ultra is currently the most fully spec’ed and featured of the DAPs in this price range.

Just speaking as someone who's disinclined towards dongles because of how horribly cumbersome they can be: Bluetooth receivers could substitute. Might not sound as good (frustrating, that), but much better ergonomics.

Another advantage on Android is most DAPs can bypass Android resampling to 48khz if you're streaming other than Tidal, because you can stream Tidal bitperfect via UAPP app. Other streaming services can't be BP on Android.

I'm also on a lookout for an entry level DAP and just found this useful table on HF, the R6 mkiii just released and I have a hard time justifying the Shanling price https://i.ibb.co/sR0dDpr/1675974634966.png

@nishan99 Thanks for putting that one on my radar! Android 12 and the switchable class A/class AB output is really nice. Not such amazing battery though, guess that’s the cost of lower efficiency amplification.

I have an old AK and Sony zx300. My has more power, dynamics and detail than the 300, but the Sony has a better UI (arguably) and ergonomics (definitely). I guess if you can try, this will better serve you. Also, second hand DAPs can be good deals. P.S. Edit: damn, these AKs are expensive these days.

@joch I have had the ZX300 in the past, I agree it’s a good DAP. It’s not the sound I’m currently looking for, but you’re right that it’s a strong recommendation in that price range.

This is exactly what I did and I've been super happy with it. I don't care about ultimate audio quality, and even with the RU6, battery life on this uber cheap Nokia G10 I got is never a problem. db poweramp has a nicer UI than UAPP, but both get the job done, and like you say, dongles offer flexibility in sound signature, etc.

I've thought about replacing the G10 with an LG V60 to see if the built-in audio system is adequate for dongle-less listening with the option to use a dongle for a different sound presentation.

Shanling M3 Ultra is my bet, a good improvement over my regular M3 on paper at least.

Honestly the more I read about Android DAPs, the more inclined I am to sidestep the whole thing and get a non-Android DAP like the upcoming Shanling M1S or a Hiby RS2.

I have nothing of value to add, except to lol at the Hiby's marketing team on this egregious name, "HiBy RS2 Hi-Fi Audio Player Medium-end DAP with Darwin Architecture"

Hi-Fi, but also Medium-end? wat. it's generally assumed that higher priced offerings provide better sound, but outright saying medium-end? It's not like ppl gonna feel happy about getting 2nd or 3rd best... very odd strategy.

I hereby ask @schiit to rename the 2/64 to the "The Schiit Bifrost 2/64 Hi-Fi Medium-end DAC with Multibit Architecture" to get ppl to just skip it and go Yggdrasil. The Yggdrasil+ Fully Modular Hi-FI It's Really High-End We Promise True Multibit™ DAC.

Another option is the cheap DAP + easy to drive IEMs route. Every time I go to my Shanling Q1 + MD Plus combo (for air travel) I wonder if I really need more (need being the key word there).