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HiFiMAN HM-801 - The best portable audio player - mini-review and discussion - Page 2

post #16 of 71
7/28/09 at 1:57pm
It doesn't look that big if it's like the bigger of the white paper boxes.
I'd like more details. What kind of memory and the size, how is the GUI etc.

If only I hadn't bought my ipod last year
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post #17 of 71
7/28/09 at 4:34pm
Thread Starter 
I believe the memory is solid-state flash memory, removable (think SD, xD, one of those). The majority of the player is dominated by the large battery. In terms of the GUI, I never tried much in it. I just used the play, back, and forward buttons on the top. The weird buttons on the front, though, look confusing but they appeared to be just an exploded D-pad, basically. Fang was fairly proficient at moving around in it, so I'm assuming it's easy to learn.
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post #18 of 71
7/28/09 at 5:08pm
You Titled this thread as the HM-801 being an "MP3 Player".

It should be noted that it also plays FLAC and Monkey's Audio .ape files. Along with 24/96KHz. Very few players in stock form can do that.

Let alone the superior hardware.

For those that are hesitant because of it's size, think of it this way. It's not meant to replace an iPod nano.

I'm really looking forward to receiving mine. It will be replacing my current portable audio solution which consists of an UMPC and a HeadAmp Pico. Not a very convenient listening set up when walking around.

I am just not willing to compromise sound quality significantly. And with the HiFiMan HM-801, I don't have to.

-Ed
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post #19 of 71
7/28/09 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry, I use that as a generic term for everything including iPods. I'll change the title so it's less confusing.

And yeah, 24/96 in this little thing is really a key feature.
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post #20 of 71
7/28/09 at 8:08pm
I forgot to ask whether you were able to listen to any songs that were FLAC encoded. I think in the review it was only mp3's that were mentioned.

I figured the battery would be big, which is a good thing. I still say that the size of the HiFiMan is appropriate and much better than the current option of lugging around an iMod/amp or finding an out-of-date iRiver to pair with a portable amp/dac.

It really is the difference between 'transportable' and truly portable. I get a kick out of those who lug around a huge setup containing IC's and multiple components under the guise of portability.
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post #21 of 71
7/28/09 at 8:49pm
I listened as well at the NJ Meet. MD1032 hit it on the head. The most obvious difference between the hifiman and other mp3 players is (besides the obvious improvement in detail and clarity) is the soundstage. Its friggin huge!

roy_jones, I listened to Frank Sinatra encoded in .ape (which is the popular lossless format in asia) and it is pretty great

It works very well with the new IEM that Fang had as well. Synergy?
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post #22 of 71
7/28/09 at 8:53pm
I'd buy this product to if it had some type of tone controls. I know purists hate them but you can have tone controls and high end quality in the same package. My taste in musical sound quality is to different to spend alot of money on a device without any tone controls.
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post #23 of 71
7/28/09 at 9:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MD1032 View Post
Sorry, I use that as a generic term for everything including iPods.
...Kleenex...Xerox...Q-Tips
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post #24 of 71
7/28/09 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by roy_jones View Post
It really is the difference between 'transportable' and truly portable. I get a kick out of those who lug around a huge setup containing IC's and multiple components under the guise of portability.
Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean. Like the famous picture of the guy carrying two huge amps in some city with K1000's on his head, right?

This thing is definitely portable. See the picture above compared to a CD. It's significantly larger than my X5 (like I said, maybe 50% larger), but the point is that it's still more convenient than even the most convenient DAP/Amp combo. It's pocketable, but it'll take up the whole pocket.
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post #25 of 71
7/30/09 at 1:42am
Anyone know how the DAC section of this player compares to a Grace M902 or Benchmark DAC?
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post #26 of 71
7/30/09 at 3:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xeon [09] View Post
Anyone know how the DAC section of this player compares to a Grace M902 or Benchmark DAC?
Based on my listening at CanJam, the HM801's DAC is definitely better than the M902's, and at least comparable to the DAC1, if with a different flavor. The HM801 is not joking around, it sounds very good indeed, I'd find it hard to believe that there has been any better sounding portable player ever produced. It sounds very much like having a good home DAC crammed into a DAP, because that's essentially what it is.
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post #27 of 71
7/30/09 at 4:17am
I would like to hear impressions of korg MR-1 plus pico slim/shadow, H1xx->D10 or similar vs this. the 600 does not include extra battery or any memory, so looking more like $800-900 for a decent amount of memory and 2 batteries. if the batteries are that large, I feel that this rig would be just as big as its competitors. all the same i'm still interested in some real comparisons using a good source/amp combo and customs
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post #28 of 71
7/30/09 at 4:30am
Think I'll wait for an updated version that uses SDXC
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post #29 of 71
7/30/09 at 5:00am
I'd like to try the HiFiMan, no question, but given the ease with which my iA7 slips into my pocket I'm not in any hurry to move to a portable that seems to be larger than most folks pockets. Would be great on the desk at work tho.
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post #30 of 71
7/30/09 at 5:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer View Post
Based on my listening at CanJam, the HM801's DAC is definitely better than the M902's, and at least comparable to the DAC1, if with a different flavor. The HM801 is not joking around, it sounds very good indeed, I'd find it hard to believe that there has been any better sounding portable player ever produced. It sounds very much like having a good home DAC crammed into a DAP, because that's essentially what it is.
Hmmm that's flabbergasting.....Have you heard your mighty fine JH13 Pro's with the HiFiMan also? Looks to be the best portable setup. Also to add...how does the AMP section of the HiFiMan compare to a Lisa III, iQube, or RSA P-51 Mustang?
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