Recommendations for a digital audio player

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

aptX and aptX HD are the cherries on the cake. It is more important that the DAP has a high sound quality. Therefore you need high quality DACs and amplifiers.

Aside of that: if you like to have a gapless replay and the capability to use streaming services, you have to look very carefully at the specs. Otherwise you might get another Sony dilemma in disguise.

Dat Ei,

Thanks a lot.

Well, I have been looking at these two DAPs as you know:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072C4YP...A2O129639FFC8U

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hid....22887/reviews

and,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06ZXW3Z..._t3_B00N0DZ8F6

https://headfonics.com/2018/03/hidizs-ap60-ii-review/

I don't think either of them have that stupid EU Law volume-capping (Sony palaver!) as they come from the Far East.

I will need to look at the 'aptX' specs because, as you kindly mention (thanks) one needs a compatible pairs of phones!

Incidentally, here are the two sets of phones I am considering. It has taken me two weeks to narrow my choices:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...KL5A1OLE&psc=1

and,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...KL5A1OLE&psc=1

It may well be the case that neither have 'aptX' as it it not something I have looked for before.

Cheers.

[Dat Ei]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

aptX and aptX HD are the cherries on the cake. It is more important that the DAP has a high sound quality. Therefore you need high quality DACs and amplifiers.

Aside of that: if you like to have a gapless replay and the capability to use streaming services, you have to look very carefully at the specs. Otherwise you might get another Sony dilemma in disguise.


Dat Ei

[Dat Ei]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Hey Paul,

aptX and aptX HD are codecs / protocols for the wireless transmission of audio data over Blutooth. Beside an aptX or aptX HD capable DAP you need Blutooth headphones, which support the corresponding codec. That way you can achive CD Audio sound quality or above.

It is discussible if you need aptX for a high quality DAP with its high quality DACs, because in that scenario digital data will be transferred, so that the headphone and might be cheaper DACs will convert the digital data to an analog audio signal. If you use your DAP in loud enviroments (like car, train, bus, tram etc.) mostly, it is very likely that you can't tell a cheap Blutooth transfer from a aptX or aptX HD transfer.

Nevertheless - the wired transfer of analog audio signals from the high quality DAP will give you the best audio quality in most scenarios.


Dat Ei

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Dat Ei,

Hidizs AP60-ii:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06ZXW3Z..._t3_B00N0DZ8F6

Bluetooth 4.0 with APT-X protocol, double-way lossless Bluetooth transmission allows easy enjoyment of music with low coding delay and high sound quality

Price = 109GBP!

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Hi Dat Ei,

To be honest, I had never even heard of aptX before, until I looked it up after you mentioned it!

It looks like an expensive feature which is built into DAP/phones:

https://www.sonymobile.com/gb/produc...a-xz-premium/*

I think if I owned something of this value, then I would be too worried about taking it out in case I lost it!

Unless you are listening in a quiet environment, and on good quality headphones, can you really hear the difference?

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Hi Gary,

Thanks a lot.

The iPod Classic player/replacement seems to be a regular saga I am hearing. It is most frustrating when you find something you love, and which performs all of the desired tasks, has become discontinued!

The exact same thing as happened to me (and many other owners) of the 1990s superb pair of 'HD 440 ii' headphones from Sennheiser. I have been having a nightmare finding an adequate replacement.

Paul

[Dat Ei]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Good morning,

please apologize my late answer but I've watch the football semifinal last night.

I too would be very interested to hear if/what you finally decide upon.

I did not make a decision so far. There exist several reasons that:

1.) No possibility to check and listen to DAPs I'm interested in. Too bad for an investment in that range.
2.) My favorite DAP iBasso DX 150 (based on the specs and whitepapers) does offer neither aptX nor aptX HD. While aptX could be implemented by firmware and still has a chance to be seen in newer firmware versions (statement from a iBasso support employee), aptX HD requires a chip which is missing in the DX 150.
3.) My iPod is still ok - no need to rush.


Dat Ei

[GaryG45]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Paul,
I wish you good luck in finding a DAP. Until three months ago I had been using a 160GB iPod Classic in my car. It still works, but I decided to use TuneFUSION to copy the majority of my library to MP3 on a 64GB USB thumb drive. I'm able to use the thumb drive in the car, and MP3 is adequate because of the car environment(road noise). I have also thought about a replacement for my iPod in case it dies. I have experimented with Foobar mobile on my iPhone and iPad. At home I like that Foobar mobile media servers option connects to my NAS, where the ALAC version of my music resides. It also connects to Logitech Media Server and Plex Media Server both of which I'm only testing with a small portion of my music library. I hope you can get Foobar to work with your Amazon Fire.

Gary

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Hi,

Rather than create a new thread, I have decided to tag my questions on to this one (already created by Dat Ei).

I was looking at portable/personal music players of which are sensibly priced and appear to offer the desired specs. I came up with two, but my concern (despite excellent reviews) is that I have never heard of the manufacturers before, nor have I ever purchased a brand I am not familiar with:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-P...zs&tag=ymsh-21

https://www.hidizs.net/products/ap60

Or,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HIFI-WALKER...8U&tag=ymsh-21

https://xunnobi.com/reviews/hifi-walker-h2

Many thanks in advance for any kind assistance offered here.

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

I'm in exactly the same position as Dat Ei and have a 160GB iPod Classic, which still works very well, and hopefully keeps going for many more years! It is my third iPod, two earlier gen ones having died. It is my only Apple product, but judging by iTunes, they are another company who are capable of making their software worse with updates!

I've often wondered what I would replace it with, but as you are finding, many players simply do not do, what you want them to!

Oggy,

I have heard no end of issues about iTunes such as it adding material to your collection which you don't even want, and then deleting items! I don't understand the ins and outs but I have heard this quite a lot. Hence, I have no intention of using Amazon Prime Music or similar.

This is my main point really. I like to buy a device purely for what, fundamentally, that particular device should do. A phone being a phone, a DAP being a DAP. Just my thoughts though.

Paul

[Oggy]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Oggy,

Again, the A&K Kann is strictly priced for the elite!:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Astell-Kern...n+player&psc=1

Paul

Paul,

I'm in exactly the same position as Dat Ei and have a 160GB iPod Classic, which still works very well, and hopefully keeps going for many more years! It is my third iPod, two earlier gen ones having died. It is my only Apple product, but judging by iTunes, they are another company who are capable of making their software worse with updates!

I've often wondered what I would replace it with, but as you are finding, many players simply do not do, what you want them to!

Some run on Android, so again foobar2000 becomes an option.

The A&K players are extremely good, but still don't do everything right.

I often listen to music via the iPod in the car, and wouldn't want to be without it.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

I'm in the lucky situation that my iPod is still working and I have no pressure to make a decision shortly. My only enemies at this stage are myself and my impatience.

Dat Ei,

I too would be very interested to hear if/what you finally decide upon.

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

Dat Ei,
I'm not aware of anyone who has either the DX150 or DX200. I know you want experiences from someone who actually owns either dap. I assume you've seen the reviews at Head-Fi or TheHeadphoneList.com. I had to read a review from April 2017 to learn anything about the UI. I didn't read anything about multi-value tags. It mentioned that artists are sorted using the Artist tag and not the Album Artist tag, and there was no search option. Maybe there have been updates to add a search function. I'm very interested in what you decide to purchase.

Gary

Hi Gary,

I never knew about TheHeadphoneList.com either! Cheers.

Funnily enough, my old Sennheiser 440-ii phones dies last month (after 25+ years!) so I will give it a visit...

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

I haven't bought a Hi-Fi magazine for around 30 years, but a friend bought one last month for the review of the new Chord DAC. He gave me the mag, which had a review of three portable players. Cowon Plenue D and two Astell & Kern units, the AK70 MkII and more upmarket Kann. Unsurprisingly they all get 5 star reviews - they probably advertise!

Oggy,

Again, the A&K Kann is strictly priced for the elite!:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Astell-Kern...n+player&psc=1

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Recommendations for a digital audio player

2.) A&K AK70 MkII

- Sound was superb
- no multivalue tag support (i.e. only the first artist listed)
- displays the album artist, but not the artist (track artist)

Hi Dat Ei,

Theses are quality; but of course you are paying through the roof for them!:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Astell-Kern...k70+mkii&psc=1

Paul