DAP discussion thread

Great. Will look into the how well the AK Jr. works with iPhone/iPad and HD650.

 

I do EVERYDAY (I work in NYC and don't ride into town in a limo, hard as that is to believe).

Nope, especially with HD size files. I never know what I really want to listen to before I know, so I like to have as much of my collection with me as I can at all times. This includes the subway, train, plane, hotel room, walking/running in the park (you know, you can stop for a minute...), walking the streets in NYC, etc. Actually, it's no big deal, I keep my DAP in a small leather (or whatever it is) case and I have 2 128 gb thumb drives on the back (wedged into the "belt clip" I never use) and another in my pocket if I want something from that. So that's 386 gb and with the 64 gb in the SD card that's 450 gb total easily carried around. And 256 gb thumb drives are becoming affordable. But the DAP has to have provision for external storage. To me, a DAP without that is a non-starter.

Now I need a good, small, battery powered DAC/headphone amp that has a coaxial input...

Kevin

 

Dear people,

My choice is very simple in this question, it's the Lotoo PAW 5000. My reasons are:

1. Fast UI. The UI is simple but it's fast, easy to use and bug free.
2. Sound. It's more neutral than the AK Jr. and ZX1 and has more dynamics than them.
3. Price. It costs "only" $400.
4. Battery life.

In my mind the Questyle QP1 has a slightly better sound but it cost 50% more and the UI is seriously bad. Overall the Paw 5000 is a sure winner. Both the AK Jr. and ZX1 are not in same class as the PAW 5000.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Jeremiah

 

Hmm that was my impression as well, when i heard a new unit, however, a burned in unit (not sure you guys believe it or not) was much better, to my ears at least. Try out a friends unit and see for your self

 

I'd love to hear further impressions from folks on the plenue 1, lotoo, sony and others.

Sounds like the AK,jk doesn't have a lot of juice for higher impedance phones?

 

I liked the ak Jr. Slightly warm, "decent" detail retrival, soundstage isn't anything to write home about, best ui of MODERN daps. The questyle qp1 was better though staging, seperation, and tonal balance (though it was huge device!), I didn't like the qp1R though I thought it was slower and sweeter (in a bad way, think syrup).
to be honest I hate this thread I given up on portable audio, then you guys go and reignite my interest


I miss my old zune hd

the ui kicked ass, the size was minuscule, battery was great. I'd still have it if it had flac support, microSD card, line out audio/digital out. Sadly it was made by microsoft soooo you know they like to combine as much good and bad as they can on their stuff.


That being said I am tempted by the AK JR. If I knew how to lift up the pins I'd put in a wm8741 in hardware mode (minimal phase + soft knee filter) and by pass the headphone amp. The size would make a great stack with the leckerton.

edit: did anyone ever get to hear the Tera player?

 

I'm curious about the small Lotoo as well, I like its connectivity options including balanced and BT. I'll probably get a sample unit soon and unless it totally sucks balls, we'll probably stock it.

 

Oh, btw, does the lotoo (and the others) have an easy "lock screen" option where the buttons are disabled so it can be put in a pocket while playing?

The lotoo paw 5000 is $350 on amazon, I might pick one up.


And, I wouldn't recommend the tera player. It was tuned on a portapro (no joke) and maybe that's why it is lacking in extension. It's been a long time since I have heard it, but it was a definite pass.

 

The price tag of most of the current DAP offerings somehow intimidates me. I think I'll stick to my old trusty Clip+ for bus ride.
Glad to hear there are still some good value and performing DAP such as A&K Jr though.

Heard of Lotoo Paw Gold? Priced at $2037 here, wonder how much of it is because the "some parts are plated with 24k gold" sentence in its product description.
even my wedding rings cost less than that btw...

 

Anybody know if the USB port on the AK Jr. will support off DAP storage (thumb drive)?

Kevin

 

thank you!

Finally a logical response damn. Everytime I ask about the sound I just get "its very analog like" and "it lets you listen for hours". Add to the fact that everyone that owns it uses flavor of the month iems that I never listen to or that I didn't like. Well good to know I'm putting that one to rest. Though I like the portapros, very few things my UERMs do better (mostly no grain and microdynamics).

I followed his blog and some stuff he says makes sense, the alternative dac he was looking at looks interesting. The ti dac 8552. 16bit resister string good, monotonic dac good, serial to parrallel input ...ok, internal I/V stage with single transistor f**k. I looked around at the other models and they are either voltage output or specifically built for purpose. it took me 2 hours of skulking around to see that the low power industrial chips all have an internal I/V stage. To be honest I looked around for a dac from one manufacture with 3 criteria and it took around 3 hours I don't know how Mike from found the MB dacs.

 

The price on the Lotoo paw 5000 just dropped to $300...

Can this drive high impedance earphones?

 

not a dap, but has anyone heard the continental dual mono? Pricey as hell at $1500 though

 

also has anyone heard the new hm901s and hm802u?

hifiman has some new amp cards out now, the minibox gold and the discrete card