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Top Tier IEM/Customs and HP Out of ...

Poll Results: My Top Tier IEM/Customs goes best with HO of

Poll expired: Aug 15, 2010  
  • 12% (7)
    Cowon
  • 14% (8)
    HM-801
  • 10% (6)
    iPod
  • 12% (7)
    S:flo 2
  • 18% (10)
    Sansa Fuze/Clip
  • 23% (13)
    Sony X/A
  • 3% (2)
    Zune
  • 3% (2)
    Other DAP
  • 0% (0)
    Never use HO
55 Total Votes  
post #1 of 36
5/17/10 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 

Which single DAP would you choose?

 

Feel free to elaborate on the reason(s) of your choice.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

HiFiMAN HM-801
SanDisk Sansa Clip 1 GB MP3 Player (Black)
post #2 of 36
5/17/10 at 3:54pm

If money and size wasn't an issue the hifiman will obviously perform the best because it's closer to a home rig than the others which are just what they are - portable (though S-Flo:2 would win among the rest probably)

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post #3 of 36
5/17/10 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EphemeralHope View Post

If money and size wasn't an issue the hifiman will obviously perform the best because it's closer to a home rig than the others which are just what they are - portable (though S-Flo:2 would win among the rest probably)


+1

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post #4 of 36
5/17/10 at 4:51pm

Sony - FTW!!!

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post #5 of 36
5/18/10 at 6:08am
Thread Starter 


I'm actually comtemplating the purchase of a S:flo2.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by EphemeralHope View Post

If money and size wasn't an issue the hifiman will obviously perform the best because it's closer to a home rig than the others which are just what they are - portable (though S-Flo:2 would win among the rest probably)

Reply
post #6 of 36
5/18/10 at 6:12am
Thread Starter 


My customs are scheduled to arrive at latest next week.  First two DAPs I'm anxious to try are the NW-X1060 and NW-A847.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by nywytboy68 View Post

Sony - FTW!!!

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post #7 of 36
5/18/10 at 8:44am

I chose Sony also! They make great players :)

 

With the price of the HiFi man... I would rather have a Sony player via Lineout to an amp such as the Arrow or Protector and be done...


Edited by Townyj - 5/18/10 at 3:38pm
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post #8 of 36
5/18/10 at 9:10am

Voted for HiFiMan. Not because the amp part might be all that much better than the amp part of some of the other entrants but because what comes before the amp is clearly superior to just about anything else

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post #9 of 36
5/18/10 at 9:40am

Well, if it's free then the HM-801. Then if I don't like it I can sell it and buy one of all of the others.

 

If I have to pay for it, then for the time being I'd stick with a SanDisk or Cowon.

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post #10 of 36
5/18/10 at 10:54am

I voted (against my best judgement) Fuze. I don't think it sounds 'better' than my other players, but it has more to offer. The Apple and Sony sound 'better' in some ways: smoother, and in the case of the Apple, less hiss. But, the Fuze has one thing in its favour: rockbox. And, it performs much better with hard to drive iems than any Sony, Cowon, Apple, etc. I DO not like the Fuze without rockbox however. It is rubbish, has rubbish code support, stupid controls, a stupid light, and pretentious marketing.

 

The S:Flo also drives iems very nicely, but unless firmware is fixed, I'd stay away. Lacking gapless playback is huge.

 

With sensitive iems, a DAP that hisses is hard to manage. So, ixnay on the Sony (unless you don't mind the sound of wind). Cowon don't hiss too badly, but they have pretty shoddy lowΩ peformance, with compressed stereo images and audibly boomy bass. I sold mine because of those two reasons. 

 

If the Fuze was as 'smooth' as the iPod or Sony, I'd love it. As it is, it stays because of Rockbox. 

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post #11 of 36
5/18/10 at 8:39pm
Thread Starter 

Any Sony in particular?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Townyj View Post

I chose Sony also! They make great players :)

 

With the price of the HiFi man... I would rather have a Sony player via Lineout to an amp such as the Arrow or Protector and be done...

 


I missed the opportunity to try the HiFiMan early May.  There were several units right in front of me at a show, but was suprised that no one took interest.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by nc8000 View Post

Voted for HiFiMan. Not because the amp part might be all that much better than the amp part of some of the other entrants but because what comes before the amp is clearly superior to just about anything else

 

 

I think I like your train of thought.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post

Well, if it's free then the HM-801. Then if I don't like it I can sell it and buy one of all of the others.



shigzeo,

I wish I had ears like you.  Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out (if I can't hear the hiss, then maybe I can't hear other things as well).
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post

I voted (against my best judgement) Fuze. I don't think it sounds 'better' than my other players, but it has more to offer. The Apple and Sony sound 'better' in some ways: smoother, and in the case of the Apple, less hiss. But, the Fuze has one thing in its favour: rockbox. And, it performs much better with hard to drive iems than any Sony, Cowon, Apple, etc. I DO not like the Fuze without rockbox however. It is rubbish, has rubbish code support, stupid controls, a stupid light, and pretentious marketing.

 

The S:Flo also drives iems very nicely, but unless firmware is fixed, I'd stay away. Lacking gapless playback is huge.

 

With sensitive iems, a DAP that hisses is hard to manage. So, ixnay on the Sony (unless you don't mind the sound of wind). Cowon don't hiss too badly, but they have pretty shoddy lowΩ peformance, with compressed stereo images and audibly boomy bass. I sold mine because of those two reasons. 

 

If the Fuze was as 'smooth' as the iPod or Sony, I'd love it. As it is, it stays because of Rockbox. 

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post #12 of 36
5/18/10 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nywytboy68 View Post

Sony - FTW!!!

+1

I like the sound quality of Sony players with RE0.  Doesn't need an external amp.  Their internal amp seems to perform very well if used with IEMs.  Very compact in size, pretty amazing really.  Sound quality to size, its really great. 
 


Edited by High_Q - 5/19/10 at 1:50am
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post #13 of 36
5/18/10 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 

Any Sony in particular?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by High_Q View Post



+1

I like the sound quality of Sony players with RE0.  Doesn't need an external amp.  Their internal amp seems to perform very well if used with IEMs.  Very compact in size, pretty amazing really.  Sound quality to size, its really great. 
 

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post #14 of 36
5/18/10 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JiPod View Post

Any Sony in particular?
 


 

I have X1051, and I am satisfied with it.  Even S636F is outputs very good sound, but X1051 is slightly better interms of sound stage.  But, S636F is very compact, very portable.
 

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post #15 of 36
5/18/10 at 9:05pm

I voted s:flo2 but thinking about it I would probably go with "not using a HO". Using the s:flo2's line out port to a great portable amplifier would yield better results. 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

HiFiMAN HM-801
SanDisk Sansa Clip 1 GB MP3 Player (Black)
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