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Players with the Best Music Sound Quality PERIOD?

post #1 of 19
12/1/09 at 2:15am
Thread Starter 
I didn't see this thread anywhere (that's up to date), so here goes:

What Two Players (or audio recorders)have the Best Music Sound Quality PERIOD?

I'm Talking Audio Chip/built-in Amp-Wise?...Basically raw spec-wise what player is the best ?

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post #2 of 19
12/1/09 at 3:19am
hifi man 801
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post #3 of 19
12/1/09 at 4:13am
It's so easy to see it coming. haha!
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post #4 of 19
12/1/09 at 4:51am
This thread comes up a lot, but worded differently each time. The Hifiman should be an easy throw-in because it is built like an audio component, not like a portable component. Most players are built around very similar chips and bits, so finding 'the one' is hard unless you get away from the main stream of iPods, Zunes, Cowons, iRivers, etc., which more or less sound the same (within a few very good guidelines).
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post #5 of 19
12/1/09 at 9:52am
Thread Starter 
i was mainly figuring players like the

amp3, teclast t51, iMod, or the nationite s:flo2 would come up

or

Recorders like the Koss MR-1 or Sony PCM-D50/D1
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post #6 of 19
12/1/09 at 10:07am
But even among those, the story isn't over. If you have the AMP3, you need high impedance headphones which will not hiss, the iMod, an external amp (makes a huge difference). As to the other two, I am ignorant as I have not heard them.
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post #7 of 19
12/1/09 at 11:55am
Teclast T51 & Nationite s:flo 2 are the same player; only difference is the startup & shutdown screens.
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post #8 of 19
12/1/09 at 12:51pm

i'm curious..

How does the Teclast t51 sound compared to the Amp3 , Imod, Cowon D2/S9 or Sony X & Series?

Does it sound Substantially better than them?
Can it drive full size cans easily without an Amp?
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post #9 of 19
12/1/09 at 3:49pm
The RWA iMods should rank high
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post #10 of 19
12/1/09 at 4:04pm
I'd like to hear the iMod and the HiFiMan, but threads like this seem to go nowhere. People charge in, demanding to know which is the 'best', then see the price associated with having the 'best' and suddenly its all too expensive. In bang-for-buck terms, I'd rather look at the DACs/amps that can give me a better result from my laptops than get hung up over DAPs etc. As much as I enjoy the X, its still just a DAP.
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post #11 of 19
12/1/09 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by estreeter View Post
I'd like to hear the iMod and the HiFiMan, but threads like this seem to go nowhere. People charge in, demanding to know which is the 'best', then see the price associated with having the 'best' and suddenly its all too expensive. In bang-for-buck terms, I'd rather look at the DACs/amps that can give me a better result from my laptops than get hung up over DAPs etc. As much as I enjoy the X, its still just a DAP.
i'm not looking to buy i'm just curious to see which two would be considered "Top Tier" in the Digital player world

idk if the imod should be included if it needs an extra amp...is it stock sound not any good or something?
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post #12 of 19
12/1/09 at 5:02pm
For the money you pay, the sound of the iMod must be streets ahead of any iPod, and thats largely Vinnie's claim. An amp will only enhance that, not change the sound ...
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post #13 of 19
12/1/09 at 5:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IDK View Post
I didn't see this thread anywhere (that's up to date), so here goes:

What Two Players (or audio recorders)have the Best Music Sound Quality PERIOD?

I'm Talking Audio Chip/built-in Amp-Wise?...Basically raw spec-wise what player is the best ?
Sony PCM-D50 is the best I've heard (and it has a great headphone amp and excellent build quality).

The new Sony PCM-M10 will likely be in the running as very, very, very similar, sonically.
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post #14 of 19
1/17/10 at 3:44pm
SQ-wise Nationite s:Flo2 (HO) > Korg MR1, Sony PCM-M10, Microtrack 2 (HO in all 3 cases).
It has smooth tonal balance, very datailed sound and wide soundstage. Highly recommended

p.s. LO of the s:Flo2 sounds identically to the LO of iBasso D10 to my ears. Very good sound for $130
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post #15 of 19
1/17/10 at 4:07pm
How does an EQed Cowon S9 hold up?
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